PhD Studentship: Going to Extremes - Impacts of Global Change on River Ecology

Across the globe, extreme events such as droughts and heatwaves have increased dramatically in frequency and intensity over the past 30 years, with potentially profound consequences for freshwater ecosystems. In some regions, river flows are shifting from perennial to intermittent, modifying the ecological connectivity among habitats within the river network. Where low river flows persist, connections to riparian ecosystems are likely to be enhanced as terrestrial flora and fauna colonise the riverscape, altering biodiversity and the structure and function of food webs. Less is known about the effect of heatwaves on river life but long-term studies suggest the impacts can be long-lasting and profound. Despite the growing prevalence of extreme events, research on their effects in streams and rivers lags far behind other environmental stressors (e.g. acid pulses or pesticides) and has focused on community level responses. Far less is known about impacts on functioning, how aquatic-terrestrial linkages may change, or ecosystem recovery from drought and heatwave pulses.   

The successful candidate will join a team undertaking research to address these research gaps and conduct flow / temperature manipulation experiments in a new state of the art mesocosm facility at the University of Birmingham (see Fig .1 below). These experiments will be combined with sampling and analysis of long-term records of flow, temperature and biodiversity in streams monitored by the Environment Agency. The project also links with a major new study evaluating the impact of global change (warming and droughts) on rivers in Iceland.   

The results of the research will reveal how river biodiversity and ecosystem processes are affected by extreme events in an era of rapid global change, and will be used to help inform and guide climate change mitigation and adaptation policy.  

For further information on this project and details of how to apply to it please click on the above 'Apply' button

Further information on how to apply for a CENTA studentship can be found on the CENTA website: https://centa.ac.uk/

This project is offered through the CENTA3 DTP, with funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Funding covers an annual stipend, tuition fees (at home-fee level) and Research Training Support Grant.

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