Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/P009697/1
Population connectivity of native and invasive species in the Fens: what are appropriate habitats for conservation?
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr L T Lancaster, University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
- Grant held at:
- University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Conservation Ecology
- Anthropogenic pressures
- Biodiversity conservation
- Genetic diversity
- Invasive species
- Population genetics
- Abstract:
- The conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in wetlands are recognized internationally as integral to the maintenance of sustainable freshwater resources and the ecosystem services that they provide. Biodiversity management revolves around the complementary objectives of improving both habitat quality and habitat connectivity. However, we currently lack insight into how to restore connectivity for assemblages of native and at-risk species in wetlands, while not accelerating invasions. Such an effort requires that the environmental drivers of dispersal and gene flow be well characterized across a range of species affected by fragmentation and restoration strategies. This studentship will develop novel approaches for characterising and modelling population connectivity in freshwater ecosystems and apply them to an important UK freshwater environment, the Fens. The Fens (3900 km2 of wetland surrounding the Wash in England) provides habitat for >13,000 species, 1500 of conservation concern and 50 endemics. Once Britain's largest wetland, the Fens is now highly fragmented and contains <1% original habitat. Biodiversity loss is accelerating across the Fens due to agricultural intensification, invasions, and climate change (Mossman et al. 2012, Fens Biodiversity Audit). The recently published Fens for the Future strategic plan (Final Report, 2012) highlights the need to improve connectivity throughout the Fens, and has proposed a set of new dispersal and stepping stone habitats to set aside restore for this purpose. An initial connectivity study led by University of East Anglia (Panter et al 2013) used biodiversity data to evaluate whether proposed corridors would likely bridge areas of high biodiversity. However, data are lacking on patterns of species movement across the now-fragmented Fens, and how these movement patterns will likely be affected by restoration measures. The project's overarching aims are: A) to develop a novel, adaptable analysis pipeline and platform to evaluate how fragmentation and subsequent creation of dispersal corridors alter the effective movements of native and invasive wetland species, taking into account unique movement patterns in aquatic species and environments. B) to evaluate a set of proposed restoration plans for the Fens, in order to determine the most cost-effective approach to improving connectivity for native species while not promoting the spread of invasives. To achieve these aims, the student will apply a joint landscape genetic and individual-based modelling approach, gaining transferrable skills in these in-demand research techniques. 1) The student will develop a set of realistic species movement maps for the Fens. This portion of the project will rely on microsatellite marker development, analysis of population genetic data for population network structure and dispersal, and landscape genetic analyses of spatial patterns using GIS-based data. 2) The student will also develop predictive modelling scenarios for future species movement trajectories under proposed placement of dispersal corridors and stepping stone habitats. For this, the student will be trained as a co-developer of RangeShifter, state-of-the-art software developed by the Travis group and already used to inform terrestrial connectivity planning. The University of Aberdeen will lead the project, with Natural England as the non-academic partner organization. This partnership will ensure effective knowledge exchange between scientists and practitioners. Outputs of the project will inform Natural England managers, working in collaboration with other stakeholder members of the Fens for the Future steering group to help them develop their strategic plans for the area. The study also has wider academic and applied benefits by providing a novel approach for evaluating the consequences of fragmentation and restored connectivity for both native and invasive wetland species.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/P009697/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £88,292
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £17,296 | £11,000 | £59,998 |
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