Projects (35)

Linking microbial genes to methane emissions from peatlands under water-table changes Jun 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2027
• Explore methane producing methanogens and methane consuming methanotrophs diversity
and functional genes across multiple peatland sites under water table changes and
quantitatively link it to methane fluxes.
• Study populations of methanogens an... Read More about Linking microbial genes to methane emissions from peatlands under water-table changes.

Assessing and Protecting Spawning Herring and Associated Biodiversity: WOSHH-eDNA-Sound Apr 1, 2023 - Mar 31, 2025
Assessing and Protecting Spawning Herring and Associated Biodiversity: WOSHH-eDNA-Sound
Herring helped to generate local income, identity, and societal change for centuries in Scotland, but their numbers on the west coast have been in decline since... Read More about Assessing and Protecting Spawning Herring and Associated Biodiversity: WOSHH-eDNA-Sound.

Ivermectin impacts on freshwater organisms in a variable world Oct 1, 2024 - Mar 31, 2028
The overview of the research objectives is given below. There will be scope for the candidate to adapt and develop these as the project progresses and their expertise as an independent researcher grows.
1.Undertake laboratory-based toxicological ass... Read More about Ivermectin impacts on freshwater organisms in a variable world.

DIRTT 2.0 consultancy Oct 2, 2023 - Dec 2, 2024
ENU to conduct a further survey to follow-on from our work on the first project. we were a partner on the original EU funded DIRTT project but post-Brexit were not able to participate in this follow-on project, although we are named as an associate p... Read More about DIRTT 2.0 consultancy.

Methane-derived carbon in urban drainage ponds: characteristics and links to riparian ecosystems Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Urban drainage ponds commonly have high methane production,
leading to local emissions. Dissolved methane may also act as a
carbon source for local food webs, through bacterial methane
oxidation, as has been found in other freshwaters, notably dee... Read More about Methane-derived carbon in urban drainage ponds: characteristics and links to riparian ecosystems.

West of Scotland Herring Hunt (WOSHH) Nov 1, 2021 - Apr 30, 2025
West of Scotland Herring Hunt (WOSHH)

Herring helped to generate local income, identity, and societal change for centuries in Scotland, but their numbers on the west coast have been in decline since the 1970s. Since herring use specific seabed hab... Read More about West of Scotland Herring Hunt (WOSHH).

Impacts of cliff-top walkers and boats on the nesting success of seabirds at St Abbs's Head, Scotland May 1, 2016 - Jul 31, 2024
Collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland, St Abb's Head to determine the impacts of cliff-top walkers and boats on the nesting success of seabirds at St Abbs's Head, Scotland

Applicability of the optical mesoscope technology to assess physical effects of noise on statocysts of marine invertebrate embryos/larvae: A proof of concept Feb 1, 2020 - Jan 31, 2023
We perceive oceans as quiet,but increasing levels of man-made noise can have negative effects on marine organisms. Invertebrates are under-represented in noise-related research but play significant roles in aquatic ecosystems. Noise can adversely... Read More about Applicability of the optical mesoscope technology to assess physical effects of noise on statocysts of marine invertebrate embryos/larvae: A proof of concept.

Methane-derived carbon in upland stream food webs Oct 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2024
The project is a SUPER-DTP funded PhD studentship. The work will focus on the understanding of the processes involved in, and the significance of, the incorporation of methane as a carbon source via methane-oxidising bacteria (MOB) into upland river... Read More about Methane-derived carbon in upland stream food webs.

Optimizing Citizen-Science Tools for Mangrove Crab Fisheries Management in Brazil Jul 1, 2021 - Nov 30, 2021
NERC funded 'Research Experience Placement' / SUPER DTP

Characterising spatial freshwater soundscapes on an urban-rural gradient Apr 3, 2023 - Sep 29, 2023
The project aims to compare existing methods with a new methodology based on sensor arrays and utilising spatial audio algorithms, which can identify which direction a particular sound comes from and attenuate sounds from other directions. It will al... Read More about Characterising spatial freshwater soundscapes on an urban-rural gradient.

Bundling seagrass carbon with mangroves Jan 1, 2023 - Dec 31, 2023
The high costs of measuring carbon stocks and increments in subtidal seagrass beds mean that fully accredited seagrass carbon projects, using current standards and protocols, are not usually financially viable. The required precision means that any m... Read More about Bundling seagrass carbon with mangroves.

The effects of parasites on food web structure and dynamics: new ways to improve accuracy and ecological realism Sep 1, 2021 - Sep 30, 2025
The main rational for this project is to gain a better understanding of how parasites affect food web structures and dynamics in commercially important marine fish species in Scottish waters. With e.g. herring being a key species in food webs of West... Read More about The effects of parasites on food web structure and dynamics: new ways to improve accuracy and ecological realism.

CPD Introduction to Sedge Identification 2025 Jan 1, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025
Open CPD course delivered online , involving up to 20 student learning hours over up to 8 weeks, introduces ecological consultants and land managers to identification of common sedges using botanical keys.

Fishy Tales Jul 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2024
Fishy Tales is an outdoor theatre and marine species identification event intended to engage public audiences with local marine ecology and the West of Scotland Herring Hunt (WOSHH) research project. It is funded with £10k by NERC's Growing Roots Pr... Read More about Fishy Tales.

Restoring Gambian riverine mangrove wetlands Dec 14, 2023 - Sep 30, 2026
community based mangrove restoration in the Gambia, using new techniques to restore salinised flats and working towards carbon accreditation for long term income

Blue Carbon and Green Seagrass in Kenya Dec 14, 2023 - Dec 13, 2026
developing biodiversity credits to support seagrass conservation in Kenya

First Recordings of the Soundscape of Pristine European Flat Oyster Reefs Jan 1, 2022 - Aug 31, 2022
European flat oyster reefs (EFORs) are ecologically and economically important as they improve water quality, increase overall biodiversity, store carbon and are a much valued food source. Over fishing in the early 1900’s vastly reduced number and ex... Read More about First Recordings of the Soundscape of Pristine European Flat Oyster Reefs.

Marine Soundscapes and eDNA for Assessing Biodiversity and Functioning of Re-establishing European Flat Oyster Reefs, Ostrea edulis Sep 27, 2021 - Mar 26, 2025
Marine Soundscapes and eDNA for Assessing Biodiversity and Functioning of Re-establishing European Flat Oyster Reefs, Ostrea edulis’

Wester Ross Herring Spawning Ecology Sep 23, 2020 - Mar 31, 2023
Historically, herring was abundant around the West of Scotland and of high importance to the local economy. Today, the estimated herring stock size in ICES area 6a is at near an all-time low. In March 2018 and 2019 herring spawn was recorded near Loc... Read More about Wester Ross Herring Spawning Ecology.