Assessing the role of chemical pollution has played on shaping UK riverine invertebrate populations - with a focus on pesticides

Using some of the longest and most consistent biodiversity monitoring data globally, this project investigates the role chemical contaminants in the decline of aquatic invertebrate populations against a background of natural population dynamics for supporting more effective future monitoring and environmental protection. The project is carrying out new analyses of extensive datasets to establish which UK aquatic invertebrate organisms are showing declining population trends, the evidence chemical stressors are responsible, which groups of organisms are more susceptible to chemical pollution and what features of the invertebrates may make them more or less susceptible to pollutant impacts. A major focus of this work is on pesticides. The project also involves assessing the utility of eDNA methods for monitoring riverine invertebrates compared with current organism capture methods. This multi-disciplinary studentship project provides an exceptional training in the areas of ecotoxicology, population biology, modelling, analytical chemistry, advanced statistical methods, programming and handling big data. Through direct stakeholder engagement the student is gaining in-depth knowledge in conservation biology, environmental monitoring, and chemicals risk, management and domestic and international policy. This project is funded under the NERC-funded ECORISC (Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment Towards Sustainable Chemical Use) Centre for Doctoral Training programme.