Nuisance macroalgal blooms are on the rise globally, driven by anthropogenic drivers such as eutrophication and climate warming. Once established, macroalgal blooms can have significant negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and amenity value, which in turn can have financial impacts e.g. fisheries, tourism. As a consequence there is increasing interest in identifying and reducing the drivers of these blooms and where this can’t be achieved, developing sustainable methodologies to remove this algae. Budle Bay, Northumberland is of significant conservation importance (SAC, NNR, SPA, MCZ), but is increasingly subjected to seasonal periods of nuisance blooming algae with likely implications for Budle Bay’s conservation features. In order to better understand the impacts of these macroalgal blooms, this PhD will determine the temporal and spatial persistence of these blooms, what drives their abundance and distribution and explore the impacts of presence and potential removal of this algae on the wider ecosystem (from salt marsh - invertebrates - birds). It is anticipated that this research will be linked to work on developing a value chain for nuisance algae.
Brief methodology: 1. UAV remote sensing with ground-truthing to determine the spatial and temporal persistence of algal biomass; 2. Determination of drivers leading to the observed pattern of algal persistence; 3. Determine the impacts of nuisance blooms on biodiversity and ecosystems functioning; 4. Develop sustainable harvest techniques; 5. Develop ecosystem models to fully understand the dynamics of the system in question.
The student will gain skills in experimental design, remote sensing, field and laboratory techniques as well as statistical and ecological modelling. As part of a wider project, the student will gain valuable networking skills across a wide range of project partners.
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