QUADRAT DTP: Assessing the restoration of UK Carbon sinks using geophysics and microbiology

Occupying just 3% of the Earth’s land surface, peatlands are our largest carbon store on land. Worldwide they store 550 gigatonnes of carbon, representing 42% of all soil carbon and exceeds the carbon stored in all other vegetation types, including the world’s forests. They are places where people derive clean water and food, and can act as buffers for environmental disasters, such as flooding. They are also of global significance for biodiversity with the majority of peatland species and habitats rare, threatened or declining. Degradation of peatlands occurs due to aerobic ingression due to drainage/ overgrazing, this promotes sub surface microbial aerobic activity which allows degradation of the majority of soil organic matter. Urgent action worldwide is required to protect, sustainably manage and restore peatlands. This involves protecting them from degrading activities such as agricultural conversion and drainage, and restoring the waterlogged conditions required for peat formation to prevent the release of carbon stored in peat soil
Current restoration processes focus on blocking drains to raise the water back to pre-drainage levels but does not consider water table fluctuations or the effect this has on biogeochemical restoration mechanisms. There is an assumption that the restored peatland is the same physically as pre-restoration. This is often not the case, degraded peatlands undergo compression and compaction once drainage and drying is allowed. Once rewetted, a secondary macro-porosity (fracture-type flow) can occur that increases hydraulic conductivity which may affect the microbial processes and biogeochemistry of the restored area.
Here we consider which microbial and geophysical mechanisms should be considered to ensure the successful restoration of peatlands by monitoring actively accumulating, degrading and restored peatland locations. This PhD will provide novel cross disciplinary training in geophysical geo-electrical methods such as ERT, GPR and SP as well as microbial sampling and analysis such as high-throughput DNA sequencing, amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Work will be carried out in the field (Garron Plateau) and in the lab comparing the geophysical & microbial ecology of active, degrading and restored peatlands to identify carbon sequestration mechanisms

The team providing training and supervision are
Dr Rory Doherty - Restoration and monitoring of peatlands
Dr Deepak Kumaresan - Microbial Ecology
Dr Jean Christophe Comte - Near Surface geophysics

The project will run in collaboration with stakeholders providing site access (Northern Ireland Water, Mourne Heritage Trust) Beyond the central training opportunities provided by the QUADRAT programme, the project will provide specific training in the areas of geophysical monitoring (Aberdeen), Microbial sampling and Analysis (QUB).
Further Reading
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15972
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.300
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.064

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates should have (or expect to achieve) a minimum of a 2.1 Honours degree in a relevant subject. Applicants with a minimum of a 2.2 Honours degree may be considered providing they have a Distinction at Master’s level.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

• Apply for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Natural and Built Environment
• State name of the lead supervisor as ‘Name of Proposed Supervisor’ on application
• State ‘QUADRAT DTP’ as Intended Source of Funding
• Select the ‘Visit Website’ link below or visit https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/user/u_login.php to apply now

Please note that you do not need to submit a Research Proposal with your QUB postgraduate application, as the proposal is contained within the advertisement.