Reefs of Rubbish: Understanding the role of litter in streams to inform sustainable management of urban infrastructure
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography
Abstract
Litter is ubiquitous in most urban rivers with significant implications for water quality as well as sediment and water conveyance. Additionally, anecdotal evidence suggests that litter may provide important habitat for fish, invertebrates and aquatic plants, especially in streams with otherwise uniform morphology, substrate and flow regimes.
My research will examine the effects of litter on habitat heterogeneity and its interactions with sediment, flow and ecology. This research will be used to inform future management of urban waterways to ensure resilience in the context of a changing climate, whilst also maximising the habitat potential of these anthropogenic environments.
My research will examine the effects of litter on habitat heterogeneity and its interactions with sediment, flow and ecology. This research will be used to inform future management of urban waterways to ensure resilience in the context of a changing climate, whilst also maximising the habitat potential of these anthropogenic environments.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1957812 | Studentship | EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2017 | 20/07/2021 | Hazel Wilson |
| Description | This work has so far discovered that litter in rivers is used as a habitat by invertebrate animals and increases their diversity and distribution in urban streams. This is counter-intuitive because litter is an eye-sore and often associated with poor habitat quality. Because litter is visually ugly and can be dangerous to people and wildlife, it should be removed from rivers but, this project indicates that such removal will not necessarily lead to an improvement in river life. Indeed, it suggests that litter removal might reduce the diversity and abundance of life in rivers. The habitat provided by litter should be replaced by less harmful alternatives during litter clean-ups. This project has also found that large litter (car tyres) can impact habitat conditions in the surrounding riverbed. This has significant impacts on macroinvertebrates by providing fast flow areas, and causing the accumulation of organic matter and sediment. These impacts were more important in a sand-bed river, as opposed to a gravel-bed river, because the tyres created unqiue hard and stable habitat within the otherwise inhospitable sand-bed. These results suggest that large litter can have a greater impact than smaller litter, both by providing an attachment surface and by changing conditions in the surrounding riverbed. |
| Exploitation Route | Findings from the completed project showing the effects of litter on invertebrate communities in rivers have relevance to those in the river management and environmental sectors. The results suggest that litter is an important habitat type in urban rivers, providing an ecosystem function that is otherwise lacking from rivers where natural debris, such as wood, is routinely removed. Further research into why litter impacts invertebrate diversity and distribution is necessary but, these findings suggest that clearing litter from rivers may not benefit diversity at that site and, therefore, consideration should be given to providing other physical structures into urban watercourses to replace litter that is removed. This is especially important in particularly degraded rivers which have little habitat diversity. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| URL | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/fwb.13657 |
| Description | Findings from published paper (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/fwb.13657) have been featured in national newspapers (the Daily Mail and the Telegraph), international news websites (E&E news), and regional TV (East Midlands today). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Petersen Fund (SFS Endowment Fund) |
| Amount | $1,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Society for Freshwater Science |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 05/2020 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Interview for national news |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press release led to media interview with East Midlands today BBC news which was televised. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Presentation of results to Blue Green Nottingham group (practitioner/industry group) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 15 minute presentation and questions to group of approximately 20 researchers/practitioners based in Nottingham. Presentation was on practical implications of research for the River Leen |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |