Plants on the edge: examining the resilience of the vegetation to climate extremes at University of Bristol on FindAPhD.com

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Dr Martin De Kauwe Applications accepted all year round Self-Funded PhD Students Only

About the Project

Project Background:

Climate change is rapidly altering the growing conditions of terrestrial ecosystems, with widespread evidence of more frequent, more intense, and longer-duration droughts and heatwaves. Examining the response and recovery of plants to droughts and heatwaves provides valuable insight into the species resilience we may anticipate from climate change. Thus, an improved understanding of plant responses as conditions become more extreme is fundamental to our capacity to accurately simulate future changes in the carbon/water cycles and predict associated changes in species distributions.

The student will seek to uncover the underlying resilience of plants by integrating ecosystem responses to climate extremes with those occurring across natural gradients as the climate warms. You will make extensive use of observations (eddy covariance and experiments), and use innovative quantitative techniques to probe the theory embedded within models. The student will also have the opportunity to run and develop their chosen modelling tool (either stand-scale or land surface; JULES/CABLE). This project will ensure that future predictions accurately capture plant responses to changes in temperature, humidity, and water availability.

This project will draw on supervisory expertise that bridges ecophysiology, model-data fusion, vegetation modelling, and remote sensing. The PhD will split into achievable milestones, allowing the student to work clearly towards targets (including scientific papers), while still maintaining intellectual freedom to refine project directions.

Candidate requirements:

Students with a strong background in biology, mathematics, physics, atmospheric science, engineering, or a similar quantitative science are encouraged to apply.

Programming experience with Python, R, C/C++, or Fortran 90 is highly desirable, but not essential.

A strong drive to understand the dynamics of plant ecosystems is essential.

Student applications are encouraged from under-represented groups.

For further information: Plant and Agricultural Sciences | School of Biological Sciences | University of Bristol

Funding Notes

This project is available to international students who wish to self-fund their PhD or who have access to their own funding. Please contact Dr Martin de Kauwe directly for information about the project and how to apply ([Email Address Removed]).

References

De Kauwe, M.G. et al. (2020) Identifying areas at risk of drought-induced tree mortality across South-Eastern Australia. Global Change Biology 26: 5716-5733. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15215

De Kauwe, M.G. et al. (2021) To what extent can rising [CO2] ameliorate plant drought stress? New Phytologist, 231: 2118-2124. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17540

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University of Bristol

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