Variability of CO2 and its impact on biota in natural and anthropogenically impacted freshwater environments,NERC FRESH CDT studentship, PhD in Biosciences

Lead Supervisor:
Professor Rod Wilson, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter

Additional Supervisors:
Dr Ian Armstrong, Pulcea
Dr Robert Ellis, Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter
Professor Martin Genner, University of Bristol

Location: University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter EX4 4QJ


The NERC Centre for Doctoral Training in Freshwater Biosciences and Sustainability (GW4 FRESH CDT) will provide a world-class doctoral research and training environment, for the next generation of interdisciplinary freshwater scientists equipped to tackle future global water challenges. GW4 FRESH harnesses freshwater scientists from four of the UK’s most research-intensive universities (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter) plus world-class research organisations the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and British Geological Survey (BGS).

For an overview of the GW4 FRESH CDT please see website www.gw4fresh.co.uk.
For information regarding eligibility criteria see: http://www.gw4fresh.co.uk/how-to-apply/doctoral-students/

Note, the research projects listed are in competition with 23 other studentship projects available across the GW4 FRESH CDT Partnership. Up to 12 studentships will be awarded to the best applicants.

Project Details:

1) The first theme of this CDT is addressed as follows:
The student will for the first time use precision analytical equipment previously developed for marine ecosystems to tackle climate change ("ocean acidification") research questions, to precisely quantify carbonate chemistry and pCO2 in particular in a wide range of natural and anthropogenically impacted freshwater environments (from rural wilderness rivers to urban rivers/lakes to sport fishery ponds and land-based recirculating aquaculture systems). This will establish both the average conditions but importantly it will also answer the following primary question: Q. "What is the current variability in CO2 and carbonate chemistry within freshwater environments ranging from natural to heavily impacted settings".

2) The second theme is addressed as follows:
Through collaboration with our aquatic physics-engineering industrial partner (Pulcea.com), we will test existing sensing technology currently used by the climate change and aquaculture sectors for direct real-time measurements of aquatic dissolved CO2. The best current technology (used by climate change scientists) is precise but extremely expensive (£8000+), labour-intensive to produce reliable and reproducible data, and insufficiently robust for most aquaculture and freshwater environmental monitoring. Analytical techniques used to quantify carbonate chemistry parameters and calculate pCO2 are even more expensive (£20,000+) and do not produce real-time data, requiring preserved samples to be stored, shipped to the laboratory, and analysed by highly skilled technical personnel. We aim also to support our industry partner in developing the best possible robust but cost-effective pCO2 sensor technology. This will address the following question: “What are the key technological features in existing aquatic CO2 sensors that need to be improved upon in order to develop new, robust, precise, and cost-efficient sensors that can be utilised across a wide range of freshwater settings?”

3) The third theme is addressed as follows:
To “enhance ecosystem health, natural capital and ecosystem service resilience” in relation to changes in CO2 in freshwater settings, requires the development of suitably robust, precise and cost-effective sensor technology. This is a pre-requisite for any subsequent measures to improve freshwater conditions for biota. Thus item 3 here is an integral part of item 2.

4) The fourth theme is addressed as follows:
In order to “create integrated solutions to utilise freshwater ecosystem services sustainably” requires a dramatically improving our understanding of how variables such as CO2 interact with existing environmental variables (temperature/oxygen/pollution) to impact on freshwater ecosystems. This will be addressed by using the data from theme 1 to design lab experiments using freshwater animals (fish and invertebrates) to quantify ecological and aquaculture relevant end-points in response to realistic average and temporally varying CO2 levels. This would include feeding, growth, energetics (metabolic rate using automated respirometry), immune function, and welfare-relevant behaviour. This would address the following question: Q. "How does the current (and future-predicted) variability in CO2 and carbonate chemistry within freshwater environments impact aquatic animals in nature, in sports fisheries and in aquaculture".

This project will address the real-life challenges associated with long-term changes in CO2 (i.e. climate change), as well as the short term changes associated with anthropogenic pollution (e.g. eutrophication) and the current limitations to freshwater aquaculture (particularly in the most intensive settings such as land-based RAS).

How to apply
Applications open on Monday 8th October and close at 9:00 on 17th December 2018

You will need to complete an application to the GW4 FRESH CDT for an “offer of funding”.

Please complete the application form at http://www.gw4fresh.co.uk/how-to-apply/doctoral-students/ also sending a copy of your CV and a covering letter to the CDT by 9:00 on 17th December 2018.