PhD in Biological Sciences
PhD / DPhil
| Level | PhD / DPhil |
|---|---|
| Student | Clare Collins |
| Status | Current |
| Part Time | No |
| Years | 2023 - 2027 |
| Project Title | Effective Biodiversity Monitoring of River Rewilding Projects using eDNA Modelling |
| Project Description | Rewilding introduces change and whilst the aim of such ecological restoration is to mitigate biodiversity loss, we need community-wide and spatially-explicit data to understand the success or failures of these aims. Environmental DNA metabarcoding is less invasive than traditional biodiversity monitoring methods and more sensitive at detecting rare and elusive species. In rivers, eDNA can travel some distance, hampering the community understanding in these habitats. As part of the University's REWILD cluster, I will be modelling to predict the source location of the eDNA to improve the effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding as a community-wide and spatially-explicit monitoring technique for rewilding projects. I will apply this work to real world river rewilding projects such as the migration of the twaite shad up the river Severn and the reintroduction of the burbot to the river Wissey. |
| Awarding Institution | University of Hull |
| Director of Studies | Jon Bolland |
| Second Supervisor | Lori Lawson Handley |
| Additional Supervisor | Robert Dorrell |