Impact of multi-stressors on seagrass seed germination and survival: implications for natural bed dynamics and restoration programmes

This project is part of the NERC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training, ECOWILD. For more details, and for a full list of projects offered under this programme, please visit: https://ecowild.site.hw.ac.uk/

This project examines how combinations of abiotic and biotic stressors affect germination and survival of seagrass seeds and seedlings, alongside use of synthetic materials (e.g. polyacrylamide) as a matrix for planting, which may protect against stressors, but may also constitute stressors on benthic infauna. This knowledge will help to understand the dynamic interannual changes in seagrass density and bed extentobserved in nature and will help inform seagrass restoration efforts by allowing targeted planting of seeds in the best available areas. It will involve seed collection, aquarium work, challenge of seedlings with combined stressors, verification of stressor levels in the field and mapping of these to predict in situ germination and survival rates. Work involved will include testing of different approaches for seed planting and sediment mixtures, including enrichment, and possible effects of these approaches on benthic biota.

Skills to be developed will include seed collection and plant husbandry, field measurements of biotic and abiotic stressors, use of laboratory challenge protocols, chemical analytical techniques, statistical analyses, GIS mapping, networking and communication with agency and stakeholder groups.

 

Supervision:

Primary supervisor Dr Alastair Lyndon - HWU

Second supervisor Prof Teresa Fernandes - HWU

Stakeholder supervisor Dr Hazel Selley - Natural England

Co-supervisor Dr Helena Reinardy - University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI)

 

Eligibility:

This project is open to all students, whether home, EU or overseas.

The successful candidate will have at least an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate honours degree in the relevant subject area and ideally a Masters Degree. We may also consider candidates who can demonstrate appropriate alternative learning such as experience gained in the workplace or professional qualifications.

We recognise that not every talented researcher will have had the same opportunities to advance their careers. We therefore will account for any particular circumstances that applicants disclose (e.g. parental leave, caring duties, part-time jobs to support studies, disabilities etc.) to ensure an inclusive and fair recruitment process.

 

Funding:

This is a full scholarship which will cover tuition fees for Home students and provide an annual stipend in line with UKRI recommended levels (£19,237 in 2024-25) for the 44 months duration of the project.
Due to CDT funding rules and Institutional policies, there is a cap on the number of scholarships that can be awarded to international students. Once this limit has been reached, ECOWILD CDT scholarship will only be awarded to students who are eligible for Home fee status.

 

How to apply: 

You must apply via the ECOWILD website: https://ecowild.site.hw.ac.uk/how-to-apply/

We will be holding ‘meet the supervisor’ events on March 25th, 26th and 27th (online) – if you can’t make these but are interested in this project, please contact the lead supervisor directly (see below for details).

Links to the scheduled ‘meet the supervisor’ events, as well as the full list of projects advertised under this CDT, can be found here: https://ecowild.site.hw.ac.uk/phd-training/

 

Enquiries:

Project specific enquiries: a.r.lyndon@hw.ac.uk

General enquiries: ecowild@hw.ac.uk

 

Timeline:

The closing date for applications is 29th April and applicants must be available to start in October 2024. We expect interviews to take place beginning June 2024.