PhD Studentship: Global Change Impacts on Hyper-Diverse Amazonian Ecosystems

• Assess climate change impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem stability

• Investigation of various aspects of modern and palaeoenvironments using: pollen, charcoal, macro-fossils, Ar-Ar dating

• Field work in the Ecuadorian Andes

• Potential to provide insights valuable to climatologists, ecologists, biologists, and policy makers

 

To effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of predicted human-induced global climate change (+5ºC by 2100), an understanding of likely ecosystem response and sensitivity is required. However, global scale models of response probably do not accurately simulate how global change will impact at an ecosystem (plant community) level. Recent palaeoecological studies demonstrate that the response of ecosystems to external forcing occurs on an individualistic level, resulting in the re-assortment of taxa into communities that have no known modern analogue. To examine the response of individual taxa, determine the robustness of plant communities, and assess biotic responses to global change, we need to investigate the fossil record. Of all biodiversity hotpsots, the eastern tropical Andes, is identified as the one most susceptible to projected climate changes. However, the environmental history of these hyper-diverse ecosystems is extremely poorly understood due to a lack of suitable study sites.

 

Scientific objectives:

 

1. To provide the first palaeoecological record for the Ecuadorian Amazon from a prior interglacial.

2. To establish the degree of ecological stability within a pristine hyper-diverse ecosystem.

3. To determine the impact of climate change on ecosystem stability.

 

The initial samples required for this project are stored at The Open University and these sediments will be dated using the Ar-Ar laser-probe and a high-res multi-proxy palaeoecological investigation will be conducted (pollen, charcoal, macrofossil).  Modern ecological and climate data collected during field work will facilitate the reconstruction of past ecosystems and climates. Training will be provided at the supervisor's institutions and the Instituto Giofisico (Quito, Ecuador).

 

The Department has a thriving postgraduate community and the postgraduate training program provides a full range of courses covering: research techniques, scientific methods, information technology, communication and interpersonal skills, tailored to the needs of each student.

 

 

 

Alternative sources CAN be sought for non-UK/EU citizens.

 

For further information see:

 

 

Research environment: