Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/B/S/2001/00922
The application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to pollination biology.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr J Cresswell, University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor T Davies, University of Exeter, Engineering Computer Science and Maths
- Grant held at:
- University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Population Genetics/Evolution
- Population Ecology
- Conservation Ecology
- Abstract:
- Currently, we have little qualitative knowledge about how the design of flowers suits them aerodynamically for the capture of airborne pollen. We therefore propose to employ CFD to obtain fundamental new information to explore floral design and evolution, and to predict the airborne movement of genetically-modified pollen in the environment. CFD harnesses a supercomputer to simulate air turbulence and the movement of airborne particles. We will use CFD to study wind pollination in oilseed rape, whose flowers appear suited to insect pollination. We will determine the likelihood that flowers catch pollen at realistic airborne densities and investigate whether floral architecture is optimised for wind pollination. Wind tunnel experiments will be used to validate the CFD simulation by sampling a pollen plume using down-wind arrays of volumetric air samplers and flowers.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/B/S/2001/00922
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Small Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Small Grants
This grant award has a total value of £30,870
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| £16,280 | £2,460 | £7,489 | £4,640 |
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