Clare Collins

PhD in Biological Sciences
PhD / DPhil

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

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

MSc (by thesis) Environmental Sciences
MRes

Status Complete

Part Time Yes

Years 2019 - 2023

Project Title Analysing microplastics in Antarctic fishes from the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area in the Southern Ocean

Project Description Understanding microplastic uptake in fish is of global importance for environmental pollution monitoring of ecosystems as well as understanding the potential ecological implications, human health risk and global economy impacts of plastics within commercially fished species. Much of the research in fish so far has focussed on areas of high human population or industry, but understanding the occurrence of microplastics pollution in more remote areas is vital for defining the scale of the problem and understanding organism uptake at lower pollution levels.
In this study, fish caught in 2017 as part of a monitoring survey from the remote Marine Protected Area around South Georgia were sampled for ingestion of plastics. Differences in plastic types and concentrations were determined between locations around the island and across a generalist feeder and a specialist feeder.
Fish guts were digested with a commonly used method, 2M potassium hydroxide to isolate suspected plastics using microscopy. Contamination was controlled and monitored throughout all steps with strict QC followed. All potential microplastics were chemically characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.
Microplastics particles were found across all locations and observed in the guts of both generalist and specialist feeders. Most of the particles were fragments (87.5%) and almost half (40.6%) were a composite material rather than pure plastic polymer. The findings provide much needed evidence on microplastics ingestion by fish in a remote Marine Protected Area. This information will contribute to baseline figures for monitoring future microplastics pollution in this important ecosystem.
Keywords: plastics, microplastics, composites, marine, ecosystems, pollution, conservation, Antarctic, polar, fishes, ingestion

Awarding Institution University of Hull

Director of Studies Bryony Caswell

Second Supervisor Cath Waller

Additional Supervisor Magnus Johnson

Status	Complete
Part Time	Yes
Years	2019 - 2023
Project Title	Analysing microplastics in Antarctic fishes from the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area in the Southern Ocean
Project Description	Understanding microplastic uptake in fish is of global importance for environmental pollution monitoring of ecosystems as well as understanding the potential ecological implications, human health risk and global economy impacts of plastics within commercially fished species. Much of the research in fish so far has focussed on areas of high human population or industry, but understanding the occurrence of microplastics pollution in more remote areas is vital for defining the scale of the problem and understanding organism uptake at lower pollution levels. In this study, fish caught in 2017 as part of a monitoring survey from the remote Marine Protected Area around South Georgia were sampled for ingestion of plastics. Differences in plastic types and concentrations were determined between locations around the island and across a generalist feeder and a specialist feeder. Fish guts were digested with a commonly used method, 2M potassium hydroxide to isolate suspected plastics using microscopy. Contamination was controlled and monitored throughout all steps with strict QC followed. All potential microplastics were chemically characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Microplastics particles were found across all locations and observed in the guts of both generalist and specialist feeders. Most of the particles were fragments (87.5%) and almost half (40.6%) were a composite material rather than pure plastic polymer. The findings provide much needed evidence on microplastics ingestion by fish in a remote Marine Protected Area. This information will contribute to baseline figures for monitoring future microplastics pollution in this important ecosystem. Keywords: plastics, microplastics, composites, marine, ecosystems, pollution, conservation, Antarctic, polar, fishes, ingestion
Awarding Institution	University of Hull
Director of Studies	Bryony Caswell
Second Supervisor	Cath Waller
Additional Supervisor	Magnus Johnson

BA Double Honours French and Media
BA

Status Complete

Part Time No

Years 1999 - 2003

Awarding Institution University of East Anglia

Clare Collins' Qualifications (3)