Supervisors: Professor David Sear, Dr Pete Langdon, Professor Mary Edwards and Prof Melanie Lang (BGS).
This research is aimed at evaluating the use of lake sediment records for reconstructing long term Atlantic salmon populations and associated marine derived nutrient imports. The main management objectives in optimizing the success of fisheries might, in part, be attained by manipulating the chemical, physical and biological processes that affect salmon (Armstrong et al., 1998). A key objective of fisheries management is to increase the productivity of the river, either through preservation of key physical characteristics, or through rehabilitation of degraded habitats. Data from a series of studies has begun to show that reductions in Atlantic salmon runs may have resulted in reduced nutrient inputs to UK rivers relative to historical (pre-major exploitation by humans) conditions (Lyle & Elliot 1998; Jonsson & Jonsson 2003 and Nislow et al., 2005). It is suggested that this could result in reduced productivity. Certainly, the evidence for reduced runs of Atlantic salmon exist in the catch records for the past 140 years (Figure 1), but we have no idea how large salmon runs were prior to significant human disturbance (Parrish et al., 1998). This is important for a number of reasons; first because in order to determine species conservation targets it is important to have a natural reference for local ecosystems; second it is important to understand the nutrient contribution to streams prior to human disturbance; and finally, we need to understand long term population dynamics in response to environmental dynamics including changes in terrestrial and ocean systems. In the UK, quantitative historical records based on rod and net catches only go back to the late 18th Century; earlier records lack quantitative value. Furthermore, such historical data only report human-impacted populations (Montgomery 2003). Thus, there are significant uncertainties surrounding the magnitude and dynamics of natural Atlantic salmon runs in rivers bordering the North Atlantic and their contribution to catchment nutrients and productivity. The research has the potential to deliver direct benefits for the understanding and management of salmonid fisheries. In addition, lake sediment archives provide an opportunity to integrate evidence of environmental changes in the catchment including large flood events, forest clearance and periods of wet/dry climate alongside marine derived nutrient reconstruction that would allow the identification of these controls on salmon population.
For the full advert please see http://www.soton.ac.uk/geography/postgraduate/research_degrees/studentships.page
Applications are invited from students with upper second or first class degrees in a suitable field including Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science and Geography.
Funding: This is one of a range of topics currently being advertised. The funding will go to the project(s) with the best applicant(s). The studentship is to be funded at RCUK level, currently £13,590 per annum, with an RTSG of £750. The studentship is open to British and EU nationals only. International students can apply to the topic but they must be able to meet the difference between home/EU and International tuition fees themselves.
Deadline: 1 March 2012
Applications: http://www.soton.ac.uk/geography/postgraduate/research_degrees/apply.page
