The role of Amazon wetland trees in methane production and emissions

Wetlands are the largest natural sources of atmospheric methane - a greenhouse gas that is 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping radiant energy. Despite growing research efforts there are large uncertainties in the sources and strengths of methane emitted from global wetlands.

The Amazon basin contains some of the most extensive wetlands on Earth and airborne/satellite observations indicate that annual methane emissions are between 40-50 million tonnes. However, when methane is measured at ground level nearly half of the emissions recorded by satellites cannot be accounted for, leading to a massive discrepancy. Our recent work in the Brazilian Amazon has shown that methane emissions from flooded trees have the potential to fill this ‘methane gap’ (Pangala et al., Nature 2017), as previous studies had omitted to measure fluxes from the trees that dominate these ecosystems. Trees in the Amazon basin are flooded for 4-5 months a year during the rainy season and, during this time, they act as a pathway for the transport and release of methane produced in flooded soils to the atmosphere. Flooded forest trees in the Amazon basin are estimated to be emitting 20 million tonnes of methane annually. Despite their importance, we know very little about the origin (where methane is produced?), processes (how methane is produced?) and emissions (how methane is transported?) of tree methane. Therefore, this PhD project will combine in-situ investigations in Brazilian floodplains with novel isotope probing and labelling techniques in automated mesocosms to develop fundamental understanding of methane dynamics in one of the most diverse yet threatened ecosystems on the planet - the Amazon flooded forests.

Further information: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_363.pdf

Academic Requirements: First-class or 2.1 (Hons) degree, or Masters degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.

Deadline for applications: Midnight 9 February 2018

Provisional Interview Date: TBC – March 2018

Start Date: October 2018

For further information or informal discussion about the position, please contact Dr Sunitha Pangala ([Email Address Removed])

Application process: Please upload a completed application form (download from http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_Funded_PhD_Application-Form.docx) outlining your background and suitability for this project and a CV at LEC Postgraduate Research Applications, http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/graduate-school/phd/apply-online/. Applications and CVs must be submitted as either word documents or pdf files, no other file types are accepted. Please note only applications submitted as per these instructions will be considered. Please do not email applications in as they will not be considered.

You also require two references, please send the reference form (download from http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_Funded_PhD_Reference_Form.docx), with your details completed, to your two referees and ask them to email it to Andy Harrod ([Email Address Removed]), Postgraduate Research (PGR) Co-ordinator, Lancaster Environment Centre by the deadline. References must be submitted as either word documents or pdf files, no other file types are accepted.

Due to the limited time between the closing date and the interview date, it is essential that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.

Please note if English is not your first language you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English (see: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-requirements/requirements-p2/). This evidence is only required if you are offered the funded position, it is not required as part of this application process.