Proposed MSc dissertation projects 2011-2012

The list of projects below are diverse! If you are interested in any of them

please contact the appropriate supervisor (e-mails given).

Projects involving contemporary aquatic ecosystems

Placement projects linked to PBA consulting

Two project placements with PBA applied ecology (http://www.pba-

consulting.co.uk/index.htm) are offered this year. Both will focus on Malham Tarn, a

large, shallow, highly calcareous “marl lake” in Yorkshire. PBA will assist with

fieldwork and Malham Tarn Field studies centre will provide accommodation at a

highly reduced rate for the entire period of study.

Re-naturalising brown trout – a study at Malham Tarn

This project will be jointly hosted by PBA Applied Ecology (http://www.pba-

ecology.co.uk) and the Field Studies Council http://www.field-studies-

council.org/malhamtarn/, with additional practical assistance from the National Trust

and the Environment Agency. There is a long history of fisheries management at

Malham Tarn (a shallow, highly calcareous “marl lake” in the Yorkshire Dales), going

back to monastic times (Bradley, 2007). Until recently (1996) brown trout (Salmo

trutta) were stocked into Malham Tarn to supplement the wild trout population. Since

this time, however, stocking has ceased although anglers have reported excellent

catches, with some very large fish (a 3.5 lb “beauty” taken by a young Norfolk angler

example). The question, looms, as posed for other lakes and rivers in the UK, do we

really need to stock with farmed fish? This is a particularly important question at

Malham Tarn – which is an SAC with biosecurity concerns. In this study the student

may compare previous available data on the trout population of Malham Tarn with

data collected in summer 2012, to determine changes in population age and size

structure pre and post stocking. The possibility also exists for studies of anglers’

catch returns over several years to supplement the quantitative data. Further,

studies on the diet of brown trout are possible which could include comparisons with

diet data gathered in the 1940s-1950s (Holmes, 1960).

Fish will be sampled via a combination of rod and line fishing (trolling), fyke netting

(with bait) and possibly point-based electrofishing. PBA will provide assistance with

this work. The student will also work with the local fishing club.

Bradley, P. (2007). The History of Malham Tarn. The Malham Tarn Research Seminar, Field Studies Council, 16 - 18

November 2007, 7-13. http://www.field-studies-council.org/media/22659/Malham%20Research%20Seminar%202007.pdf

Holmes M.A. (1960) The brown trout of Malham Tarn, Yorkshire. Salmon and Trout Magazine, 159, 127-145.

Burrough R.J. & Kennedy C.R. (1978) Observations on the brown trout (Salmo trutta) and perch (Perca fluviatalis) of Malham

Tarn, Yorkshire. Field Studies, 10, 635-652.

Diet composition of otters at Malham Tarn

This project will be jointly hosted by PBA Applied Ecology (http://www.pba-

ecology.co.uk) and Field Studies Council http://www.field-studies-

council.org/malhamtarn/, with additional practical assistance from the National

Trust. Otter (Lutra lutra) populations are recovering at many river catchments. They

seem to have arrived at Malham Tarn two years ago, for the first time in living

memory. Malham Tarn is an isolated headwater of the River Aire, set amongst

classic karst area of the Yorkshire Dales. There are now many fresh signs of otter

activity at this site, and they seem to be doing well. Analyses of otter diet will shed

new light on the impact of this recovering predator, and also provide insights into the

site’s re-naturalising fish population and denuded population of white-clawed crayfish.

If you are interested in either of the above placements please contact Carl

Sayer in the first instance. The possibility also exists for a similar brown trout

project at the River Ribble.

Biological diversity patterns at the Glaven River, North Norfolk - please contact

Jan Axmacher, UCL (j.axmacher@ucl.ac.uk) or Carl Sayer, ECRC, UCL

(c.sayer@ucl.ac.uk) The River Glaven Conservation Group

(http://www.riverglaven.org.uk) was formed in 1999 to actively tackle restoration,

conservation and management of this north Norfolk river and its associated

floodplain. The group comprises various stakeholders and the local community, with

representation from all who are interested in a positive future for the Glaven

ecosystem. Although the Glaven is a relatively small river, it has a big following and

the Group has been particularly successful in getting awards to continue restoration

along the river. A set of projects are available for interested students, all of which fit

into the field of restoration ecology:

1. Diversity and distribution patterns of vascular plants in connected and

disconnected floodplain habitats along the Glaven (comparison of banked and

unbanked sites under different land-use management and at “restored” and

“non-restored sites”).

2. Diversity and distribution of different groups of arthropods (depending on

interest e.g. beetles, spiders, dragonflies, butterflies, with a number of projects

potentially viable) along banked and unbanked as well as grazed and fenced

areas along the Glaven.

3. Invertebrate community and diversity responses to river restoration by re-

meandering.

The four projects given below will be joint with Steve Brooks (Natural History

Museum and fellow of UCL) and Nick Isaacs from (CEH Biological Records

Centre). Contact Steve Brooks (S.Brooks@nhm.ac.uk) in the first instance.

1. What impact is the invasion of the small red-eyed damselfly Erythromma

viridulum having on native British species of Odonata? The small red-eyed

damselfly (Erythromma viridulum) colonized Britain in 1999 and is now distributed

across southeastern England. It is now the commonest species in many of the ponds

where it occurs, especially those with large growths of the submerged macrophyte

hornwort Ceratophylum. This rapid expansion suggests that E. viridulum is

displacing native damselflies, either through competition or intra-guild predation. This

project will test the hypothesis that E. viridulum has caused a decline in native

damselfly species were formerly abundant in those ponds, such as Enallagma

cyathigerum, Coenagrion puella and Ischnura elegans. The research will use

detailed distribution data collected by the British Dragonfly Society. Analyses would

build on recent analysis of distributional change in UK ladybirds, which demonstrated

a link between the arrival of the introduced harlequin ladybird (in 2004) and the rapid

decline of several native species. The work would involve advanced statistics using

mixed effects models in R. The project would suit a student with good numeric skills

and interests in invasion biology and insect biodiversity.

2. What is driving the colonisation of England by the small red-eyed damselfly

Erythromma viridulum? In 1999 Erythromma viridulum was recorded for the first

time from England in East Anglia. The species had been spreading northwards in

continental Europe in the years previous to this, apparently in response to climate

warming. For the next few years E. viridulum spread rapidly across southern and

western England. But more recently this expansion appears to have slowed down.

By comparing distribution records with climate data, this project will test the

hypothesis that E. viridulum was rapidly occupying suitable climate space during the

initial expansion period but further expansion will keep track with climate change

trends. The research would include spatial analyses on the spread of E. viridulum,

distribution modelling to compare the UK distribution with the climatic envelope

predicted by its continental distribution. Extensions might include predictions of

whether further expansion is likely under future climate change scenarios. The

project would suit a student with an aptitude for spatial analysis and interests in

invasion biology and species distribution modelling.

3. Range expansion under climate change in UK Odonata. Although many UK

dragonfly species have shown northward range expansion in the last 20 years, the

behavioural or morphological mechanisms driving this response are poorly

understood. This project will test the hypothesis that morphology promotes range

expansion through long-distance colonization of new habitats. The work would

involve spatial analysis of distribution data for around 20 native species of Odonata,

to identify newly established populations and calculate the dispersal distances that

would have been necessary to colonize those habitats. Possible extensions might

involve species distribution modelling. The work would involve data handling and

statistics using R. The project would suit a student with an aptitude for spatial

analysis and interests in climate change and insect biodiversity.

4. Establishing ‘proof of breeding’ from observational records of adult

dragonflies. In order to develop meaningful conservation strategies for dragonflies

in Britain it is necessary to establish which sites support long-term breeding

populations. The British Dragonfly Society has collated data on the distribution of

Odonata in the UK since 1983, providing a rich resource for understanding changes

in the status of native species. Unfortunately, most of records relate to sightings of

adults, which do not provide reliable evidence of a viable breeding population, due to

the fact that adult dragonflies are so highly mobile. Fortunately, several thousand

records include information about adult abundance and whether proof of breeding

(e.g. exuviae, larvae, mating) has been observed. The aim of this project is to

investigate whether proof of breeding can be inferred, either from the abundance of

adults or from the continuous presence of adults over several years. The work would

involve data handling and statistics using R. The project would suit a student with

good numeric skills and broad interests in insect ecology.

The hydrogeomorphological and biological contribution of re-introduced

gravel riffles – Luke Mitchell, ECRC, UCL (l.t.mitchell@ucl.ac.uk) and Carl

Sayer, ECRC, UCL. River channel deepening and widening for flood prevention

purposes has detrimental effects on ecologically important in-stream habitat. Recent

restoration schemes aimed at addressing the loss of suitable trout spawning habitat

on the River Stiffkey, north Norfolk, have introduced several gravel riffles into the

river. Although these gravel augmentation projects are aimed primarily at expanding

existing salmonid spawning habitat, the gravels may play a significant role in terms

of other aspects on stream biology, ecology and hydrogeomorphology.

It is important to consider what the introduced gravel riffles contribute to the ecology

beyond their intended function. Possible objectives could include: how have the

structures changed flow patterns? What is the impact of their physical location on

local hydrology and geomorphology and are they sited in the best place? Do they

provide a food resource to fishes not previously available? How are these structures

utilised by organisms and what are the effects on stream energetics? Furthermore,

investigation could include a novel research approach utilising invertebrates as

biological indicators of trout spawning quality and potential (see Merz & Chan, 2004).

Merz, J.E. & Chan, L.K. (2004) Effects of gravel augmentation on macroinvertebrate assemblages in

a regulated Californian river. River Research and Applications, 21, 1-14.

Parameter uncertainty in hydrological modelling of the impacts of climate

change – Julian Thompson, UCL (j.r.thompson@ucl.ac.uk). Models are

increasingly being used to assess the hydrological impacts of climate change. This is

routinely undertaken by forcing meteorological inputs (e.g. precipitation, temperature,

evapotranspiration) to a previously calibrated hydrological model in line with

projections from global climate model (GCM) simulations for different emissions

scenarios. Such approaches are associated with a range of uncertainties. These

include differences in both baseline and future climate simulated by different GCMs.

The impact of such uncertainty can be assessed by employing a suite of different

GCM projections (e.g. Kingston et al., 2011; Singh et al., 2010). An area of

uncertainty which has received relatively less attention is that of parameter

uncertainty. In most cases, one calibrated model is forced with future meterorological

inputs. However, it may be possible to obtain equally good model performance (the

ability to represent observed hydrological conditions such as river flow) with different

model parameter sets (termed equifinality). This is particularly true of complex fully

distributed hydrological models such as MIKE SHE which can employ autocalibration

approaches. Subsequently the impact of parameter uncertainty on climate change

projections can be assessed by simulating the same future scenarios using models

with different parameter sets. This dissertation project will comprise a literature

review of modelling studies where the impact of hydrological model parameter

uncertainty has been assessed. These issues will be explored through a case study

employing one or more of the MIKE SHE models developed by Thompson (in press)

for catchments in SW Scotland. This will require students to define autocalibration

routines using this state-of-the-art hydrological model and the selection of a number

of the resulting model parameter sets for the simulation of a subset of the UKCP09

scenarios. The project will require students to develop understanding of a complex

modelling system and engage with large data sets.

Kingston, D.G., Thompson, J.R., Kite, G. 2011. Uncertainty in climate change projections of discharge for the Mekong River

Basin. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 15, 1459-1471.

Singh, C.R., Thompson, J.R., French, J.R., Kingston, D.G., Mackay, A.W. 2010. Modelling the impact of prescribed global

warming on runoff from headwater catchments of the Irrawaddy River and their implications for the water level regime of Loktak

Lake, northeast India. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 14, 1745-1765.

Thompson, J.R. (in press) Modelling the impacts of climate change on upland catchments in southwest Scotland using MIKE

SHE and the UKCP09 probabilistic projections. Hydrology Research.

Reconstructing the geographical history of north Norfolk rivers - Helene

Burningham, UCL (h.burningham@ucl.ac.uk), Carl Sayer, UCL. River restoration

is often conducted with little consideration of the historical perspective. In north

Norfolk, the Glaven and Stiffkey rivers were both heavily modified (primarily in terms

of river channelization, over-deepening and levee construction) at some point in the

last few hundred years, but have also both undergone significant change in recent

years as part of a gravel/chalk-bed river restoration programme. The history of

alterations, and the character of the pre-modified system, is not clear, and has

certainly not formed the basis of the current restoration plans. It is essential though

that the morphology and regime of the pre-channelized system is fully characterised

to promote a more sustainable and appropriate restoration programme. This requires

investigation and reconstruction of the past river and floodplain framework, its’

alteration history and possibly some examination of floodplain development.

This project could involve:

- archive research at the British Library and from Digimap to collate a) all past maps

covering the Glaven and Stiffkey catchments and b) historical ecology records

contained within naturalist archives

- GIS analysis of river channel/floodplain dynamics, including changes in landuse

and management

- coring of and stratigraphic analysis selected floodplains, with potential for a litho-

and/or bio- focus

River Restoration: the effect of recreating natural tree fall in rivers – Murray

Thompson (murray.s.thompson@googlemail.com), Natural History Museum

and Carl Sayer, ECRC, UCL. Rivers have lost their voice having been meticulously

tidied and straightened for flood prevention, navigation and fishing. Further, over at

least a century rivers have been used as convenient conduits for waste, sewage and

agricultural runoff. In recent decades water quality has been considered the primary

constraint on the biology of many human-impacted freshwaters, and most

biomonitoring schemes have focused on organic pollution as the dominant stressor.

However, recent improvements in water quality have not always been matched by

the biological recovery that might be expected to follow. This mis-match has led to a

shift in focus to consider other constraints including habitat degradation and

biological dispersal.

Research has shown that channelization of rivers has significant deleterious impacts

on ecology. Large woody debris (LWD), by contrast, can act as an “ecosystem

engineer”, increasing habitat heterogeneity through localised alterations to

geomorphic, hydraulic and sedimentological processes. However, a lack of baseline

data and long-term monitoring comparing control and impacted reaches both before

and after habitat manipulation confounds interpretation of successful rehabilitation. A

pioneering technique has been developed by the National Trust to recreate natural

tree-fall at the River Bure in Norfolk and following this now famous project, other

rivers have been subjected to the same re-wilding approach. In an attempt to

quantify this new restoration technique the right honourable Murray Thompson (NHM,

QMUL, UCL) has surveyed habitat, invertebrates and fish across 15 sites spanning 5

rivers in the presence and absence of natural and introduced large woody debris.

Potential questions and hypotheses linking to and following on from Murray’s work

include:

1. How have biological communities changed after restoration – 2 years on?

The LWD structures discussed above have now had over a year to develop. A

further sampling period would therefore provide critical data regarding the

longer term impacts of restoration. Either or a combination of fish, invertebrate

and plant data could be incorporated.

2. Has habitat restoration increases diatom biodiversity and overall

abundance. Diatoms provide significant energy to riverine ecosystems

through primary production and their biodiversity and response to habitat

conditions make them ideal indicators of change. The distinction and

interaction between water chemistry and habitat constraints as controls over

diatom abundance and diversity could be explored.

There are plenty of opportunities for other project ideas regarding river restoration.

Contact either Murray Thompson or Carl Sayer to discuss further.

Contrasting blowout development and re-colonisation: implications for coastal

dune biodiversity – Helene Burningham, UCL (h.burningham@ucl.ac.uk).

Evidence from maps and aerial photographs indicates that the Magheramore dunes

at the mouth of Loughros More estuary (Donegal) suffered extensive surficial

degradation at some point between 1905 and 1950. This resulted in the development

of a number of blowouts, some of which have since re-vegetated (to greater and

lesser degrees), others have continued to evolve as non-vegetated/erosional

blowouts, whilst within some, small isolated ponds have formed. The water in these

ponds is fed either directly via a local spring or simply via connection with the water

table. To date, very little research has been undertaken on blowout development and

contrasting blowout behaviour within one system. Very little research has been

undertaken on dune ponds, and hence little is known about ecosystem structure and

function of these systems within the wider dune context.

This topic can be explored through a range of different projects focusing either 1)

blowout pond (aquatic) ecology; 2) differential re-vegetation of blowouts and 3)

spatial patterns and organisation of blowouts and their development. Map and aerial

photography can be used to delimit the chronology of the blowouts, and aerial

photography since the 1950s can be used to explore their decadal evolution and the

geomorphic constraints on habitat development.

1) Blowout pond ecology - this project would involve:

- characterise the ecosystems of these individual blowout ponds, and establish the

degree of variability across the site as a whole through ecological and environmental

surveying of ponds

- statistical analysis of species assemblages and environmental controls

2) Differential re-colonisation of blowouts - this field-ecology based project would

involve:

- extensive vegetation and environmental surveying across the Magheramore dune

system

- statistical analysis of species assemblages and environmental controls

- establish main controls on re-colonisation

3) Spatial mapping of blowout characteristics and development - this project would

involve:

- GIS mapping of changes in dune surface character and vegetation cover over the

last 50s from aerial photographs

- field surveying of sedimentary features and habitat

- spatial analysis of patch dynamics

- characterisation of blowout evolution

This topic builds upon ongoing coastal system research (including dune-machair-

saltmarsh conservation) in west Donegal. The National Parks and Wildlife Service

can provide accommodation for the duration of field-based research.

Substrate history of the outer Thames seabed: implications for habitat change

– Helene Burningham, UCL (h.burningham@ucl.ac.uk). The seabed of the outer

Thames estuary is variably formed in mud, sand, gravel, broken shell and solid

London clay (bedrock), and associated mixtures. As such, the seabed is a complex

mosaic of substrate type that forms a significant natural ecosystem supporting a

wide range of habitats and species, recognised in the plethora of Marine Protected

Areas (including Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation

(SACs)) and inclusion in the recent Marine Conservation Zones Project. The

boundaries of these designations are often rather arbitrary, with little link to the

character and dynamics of the underlying seabed. Changes in patterns of substrate

composition are likely to have a significant control on seabed habitat geography, with

considerable implications for the range of mobile species that it supports. The aim of

this project is to reconstruct the substrate history, and hence gain an understanding

of natural variability in possible habitats across the seabed of the outer Thames

estuary. This project is part of an ongoing CERU study examining historical

shoreface dynamics across this region.

The project is likely to involve:

- collation of historical bathymetric charts from the archives of CERU, British Library,

National Maritime Museum and the UK Hydrographic Office [scanning and geo-

rectification where necessary]

- review of seabed from these sources to establish geographic focus

- digitisation of substrate character, development of classified maps, analysis of

historical change

- review of substrate control on seabed habitats

- evaluate implications of substrate changes on the distribution of seabed habitats

Influence of the Shotley gravel-bund on estuary-margin wave processes -

Helene Burningham, UCL (h.burningham@ucl.ac.uk). This project aims to

evaluate the wave-dissipation role of the gravel-bund within the sediment recharge

scheme in the Orwell estuary, Suffolk. In December 1997, a trial sediment recharge

of the eroding Shotley foreshore in the lower Orwell estuary was undertaken by

Harwich Haven Authority in a joint venture with the Environment Agency. After near

complete loss of the fringing estuarine saltmarsh over the last few decades, the

seawall at this location has suffered serious erosion and is in poor condition along

much of its length. The foreshore comprises low intertidal mud and gravel with

isolated remnants of saltmarsh, mostly stripped of vegetation. To evaluate the

possibility of restoring such eroded estuarine foreshores, and reducing wave

damage to the seawalls, 22,000 m3 of muddy dredge material extracted from the

adjacent Port of Felixstowe were pumped behind a retaining bank of coarse gravel.

The trial placement extended over about 450 m of foreshore.

Key elements of the project would include:

- modelling the effectiveness of the scheme in reducing wave impact on the seawall

using the SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) model

- possible fieldwork option to undertake a topographic survey using a dGPS to

develop a 3D DTM of the site, and to deploy a wave recorder to monitor wind- and

ship-generated waves

This project is part of a more extensive, ongoing examination of geomorphic

response at this site.

Marine-forcing of sedimentation in a west coast embayment - Helene

Burningham, UCL (h.burningham@ucl.ac.uk). The Trawenagh estuary on the

west coast of Donegal, northwest Ireland is a broad embayment strongly controlled

by the surrounding granitic pluton. The estuary does not occupy an elongated valley,

like other estuaries on this shoreline, but is notably circular. In addition, unlike other

estuaries here, the inlet is narrow and fixed by two granitic headlands, with no

adjacent dune or beach systems. Recycling between beach, dune and estuary

sediments is an important mechanism of sediment supply and transport in west

coast estuaries, which raises the question of how sediment is supplied to, and

reworked within the Trawenagh system.

The project would include:

- surficial sampling across the intertidal flats of the Trawenagh embayment, grain

size analysis, and inference of sediment transport pathways through grain size trend

analysis

- sediment flux monitoring through measurement of depth-of-activation

- topographical surveying of the intertidal flats

- sedimentary mapping of surface bedforms and stratigraphic features

Around a week of fieldwork, in Donegal, will be involved. The National Parks and

Wildlife Service can provide accommodation for the duration of field-based research.

The Deben flood-tidal delta: a sandy shoal in a gravel and mud dominated

system - Helene Burningham, UCL (h.burningham@ucl.ac.uk). The Deben

system is characterised by a mudflat and saltmarsh estuary that connects with the

southern North Sea through a gravel-dominated inlet. Within this gravel-mud system,

the flood-tidal delta (which is located just landward of the inlet) appears to entirely be

composed of sandy sediments, suggesting that this is a unique coastal sink of sand.

It is not clear however, whether sediment is regularly transported to, from and

around the system. There is some historical evidence to suggest that the flood-tidal

delta has changed in shape over the last century, but morphodynamic understanding

is limited. The aim of this project is to examine the sedimentology, morphology and

behaviour of this flood-tidal shoal.

This project is likely to involve:

- comparison of flood-tidal delta morphology from historical charts

- high resolution topographic survey

- sampling of shoal sediments, including grain size analysis, and inference of

sediment transport pathways through grain size trend analysis

- sedimentary mapping of surface bedforms and stratigraphic features

This project is part of ongoing studies of sand-gravel inlet dynamics on the Suffolk

coast.

Evaluation of a new method for assessing acidification in lakes - Martyn Kelly,

Bowburn Consultancy (MGKelly@bowburn-consultancy.co.uk), Viv Jones

(ECRC, UCL). A new method for assessing acidification of rivers using diatoms

("DAM") has been developed to meet the UK's requirements under the EU's Water

Framework Directive. This is similar to the weighted average models developed by

UCL in the 1980s used for the reconstructions of past pH environments, but which,

at the same time, assesses water bodies in terms of the diatom assemblages

expected if anthropogenic impacts were absent. In theory, this method should also

work on standing waters, but it has not yet been evaluated. The project will a

combination of new data and AWMN data to evaluate the performance of this

method in UK lakes, and will also apply the method to historical data to see whether

the current state of lakes recovering from acidification equates to "good ecological

status".

How will increased temperatures affect macrophyte abundance and growth

rates in shallow lakes? Please contact Carl Sayer ECRC, UCL

(c.sayer@ucl.ac.uk) or Thomas Davidson (thomas.davidson@ucl.ac.uk)

Aarhus University, Denmark & ECRC, UCL. Submerged plants hold to the key to

shallow lake biodiversity. There is a well established effect of nutrients on shallow

lakes and recent work has identified a shortening of the plant growing season at

increased nutrient levels It is very difficult to separate the effects of nutrients from

climate change. It is however, vital that we better understand how increased

temperatures will effects macrophyte abundance. The proposed study will use a

unique shallow lake-climate experiment (Liboriussen et al. 2005), based in Denmark,

to investigate the impact of temperature on macrophyte dynamics. The project will

examine growth rates and stability of the macrophyte populations in the mesocosm

system. Data may be collated from monthly macrophyte surveys since 2003 and the

student will carry out frequent (weekly) macrophyte surveys, determine growth rates,

epiphyte macrophyte load, macrophyte elemental composition and seston

chlorophyll-a in order to examine the effects of temperature and nutrients on

macrophytes abundance and dynamics.

The ecology and conservation of ponds – Carl Sayer, ECRC, UCL

(c.sayer@ucl.ac.uk) Gordon Copp (CEFAS), Ewan Shilland (The “newt man”,

ECRC, UCL), Jan Axmacher (UCL and others. We believe that several myths are

present in the world of pond conservation! Firstly, it is often stated that pond

restoration by tree and mud removal is damaging to the conservation value of ponds

leading to a loss of species unique to the terrestialised “mature” pond state.

Secondly, it is often stated that fish are bad for ponds and current wisdom suggests

that the protected Great Crested Newt (GCN) does not co-exist fish (see

http://www.artrust.org/downloads/Fish_Control_note_September_2010.pdf).

From a landscape-scale perspective and with a consideration of native fishes (e.g.

crucian carp, 3- and 9-spined stickleback), we believe that both of the above

assertions are in error. Our recent research at ponds in North Norfolk (including the

40 x Manor Farm Ponds, Melton Constable) has shown pond restoration to be a

beneficial practice for invertebrate and aquatic plant diversity through the creation of

a mosaic of pond habitats varying in disturbance, shading, water chemistry and

sediment characteristics. We also suspect that pond management has benefits for

other groups such as birds and bats. However, to date, little research has been

undertaken in this area.

Based on the above issues and debates we would be keen to supervise projects

which make a comparison between the ecology and biodiversity of managed “open”

and non-managed terrestrialised ponds. In this respect we are keen to compare the

Manor Farm Ponds with unmanaged ponds on neighbouring farms to get a land-

scale scale perspective. Projects could centre on a range of groups, including

aquatic plants, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, adult dragonflies, bats (in

association with other experts, licenses needed), fishes, birds and possibly even

otters.

Fieldwork would be undertaken in May-June and funds would be provided to support

travel, and subsistence out in the wilderness lands of North Norfolk.

Projects in palaeolimnology

Restoration of acidified lakes (four projects) with the legendary palaeo-

characters Viv Jones, Roger Flower and Rick Battarbee, ECRC, UCL

(r.battarbee@ucl.ac.uk). In the 1980s we used diatom analysis of sediment cores to

show that low alkalinity lakes in many upland regions of the UK had become acidified

due to “acid rain”. Since the mid 1980s acid emissions in the UK have been strongly

reduced and data from the UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network has shown that the

lakes are now beginning to recover, both chemically and biologically. We are now

interested in the extent to which this recovery has been recorded by the uppermost

sediments of specific affected lakes, including Loch Dee and Loch Fleet in Galloway,

Scotland, and Llyn Llagi in North Wales (two projects). For Loch Dee the question is

whether plankton diatom populations that formerly occurred in the lake are re-

appearing; for Loch Fleet, whether the lake re-acidified after experimental liming in

the 1980s and is now recovering naturally, and for Llyn Llagi, an Acid Waters

Monitoring site, whether the sediments have faithfully recorded the changes known

to have occurred in the lake over the last 20 years and whether aquatic plants that

are now appearing occurred in the lake before it became acidified. The projects will

require fieldwork to obtain new cores and diatom analysis to track evidence of

recovery and in the case of the second L. Llagi project, plant macrofossil analysis.

Similar work could be carried out at other sites and the projects could be easily

linked to those on trace metals and SCPs supervised by Neil Rose, allowing, for

example, two students to work on different material from the same sediment core.

The integrity of recent sediment records of lake recovery from acidification –

Roger Flower (r.flower@ucl.ac.uk) & Rick Battarbee, ECRC, UCL. Llyn Llagi is

an upland lake residing in the southern hills of the Snowdonia National Park, North

Wales. It became strongly acidified in the early part of the 19th Century as a result of

atmospheric pollution and acid rain. Acidification changed the ecology of the lake

and, in particular, promoted the development of acid tolerant diatom micro-algae.

The remains of these siliceous algae are well preserved in this lake and have

enables the pace and extent of acidification to be followed through the analysis of

dated sediment cores. Since about 1990, the diatom record (in sediment traps and in

the epilthon) of this lake has shown has show species changes that indicate a

significant recovery in lake water pH. During the past c. 20 years monitoring of the

lake (see http://awmn.defra.gov.uk/sites/site_15.php) has revealed positive changes

in other species and an increase in water pH.

No useful sediment core has been retrieved from Llagi since the 1980s and it is

anticipated that the upper sediments should provide a records of species changes

that correspond with those changes found by monitoring. This project therefore

concerns the integrity and faithfulness of the sediment record in relation to the

monitored data. It is anticipated that post c. 1900 sediment is examined for both

diatom and macrofossil remains in a modern core (2012) from the lake. The core can

be easily dated biostratigraphically using knowledge about past diatom changes and

the palaeoecological changes in surficial sediment used to compare with monitored

data. Results could show that the recent sediment provides a record of species

changes that strongly reinforces the results of the monitoring programme.

Alternatively, for reasons of taphonomy, the sediment record could be incomplete or,

possibly, includes key species not picked up by the monitoring programme.

Furthermore, the results of this study could be used to comment upon the relevance

of past ecological changes to ecosystem services provided by the lake.

When is a bog a lake? Roger Flower (r.flower@ucl.ac.uk) & Carl Sayer, ECRC,

UCL. National nature reserves can include wetlands and open water bodies where

'naturalness' is often considered to be a key aspect. However, the past status of a

particular site may be unverified yet the palaeolimnological techniques usually can

be employed to reveal the past conditions and provide information about former

ecosystem composition and structure. One national nature reserve, a wetland site in

North Wales, is assumed to be a former shallow lake, but palaeolimnological

evidence is lacking. Analysis of a sediment core from the site (Cors Geirch,

Gwynedd) for diatoms and macrofossils could well reveal evidence of more open

water conditions in the past and so substantiate the existence of a former lake.

Fieldwork would be needed to collect Livingstone sediment cores in cooperation with

the Countryside Council of Wales.

Assessing reference conditions and ecological status for marl lakes using

subfossil chironomid assemblages - Steve Brooks, Natural History Museum &

UCL (s.brooks@nhm.ac.uk) and Helen Bennion, ECRC, UCL. The European

Council Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Habitats Directive require

reference conditions to be determined for lakes in order to assess the state of the

sites. Palaeoecological techniques can potentially be employed to describe

reference conditions and assess ecological status of lakes, and diatom remains in

sediment cores have typically been used in these studies. In marl systems, however,

diatom dissolution problems arise and data interpretation is therefore problematic.

Fortunately, a number of other organisms preserve in lake sediments including non

biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae).

This project aims to assess the usefulness of subfossil chironomid assemblages for

identifying reference conditions and ecological status for marl lakes. The project will

be linked to an ongoing PhD palaeoecological investigation of three English marl

lakes (all SSSIs), Cunswick Tarn, Hawes Water and Malham Tarn, being undertaken

in collaboration with Natural England. Chironomid assemblages in a number of levels

in sediment cores from the selected lakes will be analysed. Faunistic change from

the reference condition will be determined to provide an assessment of ecological

status. The student will gain experience in techniques such as microscopy,

taxonomy, ordination, dissimilarity measures and transfer functions. The results will

be compared with plant macrofossil and Cladocera data being generated as part of

the PhD project, to examine the benefits of a multi-proxy approach. The project

should provide valuable information to Natural England on reference conditions and

trajectories of ecological change and should thereby assist in the setting of

conservation objectives.

Recent ecological regime shifts in shallow lakes on the Yangtze floodplain, SE

China - Carl Sayer, ECRC, UCL & Dr. Xuhui Dong, Nanjing Institute of

Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

(xhdong@niglas.ac.cn). Shallow lakes have been described as existing in two

alternative equilibrium states, dominated by either submerged plants or

phytoplankton. Determination of the mechanism driving the transition between these

two states is important for lake management strategies. Two representative Chinese

shallow lakes, one macrophyte-dominated (Longgan Lake, 316 km2) and the other

algae-dominated (Taibai Lake, 25 km2) from the floodplain of the middle and lower

reaches of the Yangtze River, have been selected to study the ecological processes

and changes that preceed and mediate plant loss. Previous palaeolimnological work,

including 210Pb dating, geochemical analysis, diatom, pollen and chironimid analysis

has been conducted at both of the lakes (Yang et al.,, 2006; Yang et al.,, 2008; Liu et

al.,, 2011). Sediments in Taibai Lake clearly record the shift from macrophyte to

algae-dominance. In contrast, Longgan Lake has maintained macrophyte dominance

over the past 150 years and this is again recorded by sediment proxies. However, to

date, no direct fossil data of aquatic macrophytes analysis (e.g. macrofossil analysis)

exist for the lakes, so reconstructions are currently incomplete.

The candidate will work on macrophyte macrofossil records from the two lakes. They

will spend at least a month in China undertaking field and laboratory work

(macrofossil identification). This project is linked with the National Basic Research

Program of China (973 program) and full fieldwork expenditure and living cost in

China (including dozens of Tsingdao beers and delicious Chinese cuisine) will be

covered by this program. ECRC masters fieldwork funding may cover part of the

international flight tickets and for the remainder of the cost students can apply to the

Royal Geographical Society (http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Grants/Grants.htm) or the

Great Britain China Centre (http://www.gbcc.org.uk/).

Liu Q., Yang X.D., Anderson N.J., Liu E.F. & Dong X.H. (2011) Ecological regime shifts in response to both natural and

anthropogenic forcing of a shallow lake on the Yangtze Floodplain, SE China. Ecohydrology, DOI: 10.1002/eco.1222.

Yang X.D., Anderson N.J., Dong X.H. & Shen J. (2008) Surface sediment diatom assemblages and epilimnetic total

phosphorus in large, shallow lakes of the Yangtze floodplain: their relationships and implications for assessing long-

term eutrophication. Freshwater Biology, 53, 1273-1290.

Yang X.D., Shen J., Dong X.H., Liu E.F. & Wang S.M. (2006) Historical trophic evolutions and their ecological responses from

shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River: Case studies on Longgan Lake and Taibai Lake.

Science in China Series D-Earth Sciences, 49, 51-61.

Repeat coring for inferring lake recovery from eutrophication: analysis of

overlapping diatom sequences from Lough Augher, N. Ireland - Carl Sayer,

ECRC, UCL (c.sayer@ucl.ac.uk), Helen Bennion, ECRC, UCL and John

Anderson, Loughborough University. Lough Augher, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland

underwent eutrophication as a result of untreated effluent disposal by a local

creamery from 1900 until 1972-73 when primary sewage treatment began.

Subsequently in 1976 effluent was directed away from the lake and since this time

the lake has been recovering. The recent palaeolimnology of Augher has been

intensively studied with a series of cores collected in the mid-1980s, 1990 and in

1998. Diatom sequences generated for these cores document the eutrophication of

the lake and since the 1980s diatom compositional change has suggested re-

oligotrophication (Anderson & Rippey 1994). By collecting a new core from an area

of the lake with rapidly accumulating sediments, the proposed study will seek to

provide a further update on the trajectory of change. Diatom assemblage shifts since

1998 will be determined and comparison with previous core data will allow for a

rigorous assessment of the extent of biological recovery. In particular the study will

evaluate the value of repeat coring for monitoring recovery in lakes, an approach that

may have much merit in lake management. Funds will be provided for a coring trip to

N. Ireland.

Anderson, N.J. & Rippey, B. (1994) Monitoring lake recovery from point-source eutrophication: the

use of diatom-inferred epilimnetic total phosphorus and sediment chenistry. Freshwater Biology 32,

625-639.

Does SCP analysis of annual sediment trap samples provide a comparable

record to that stored in lake sediments? – Neil Rose, ECRC, UCL

(nrose@geog.ucl.ac.uk). Since 1991, the UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network (UK

AWMN) has operated an annual sediment trapping programme in eleven acid

sensitive lakes. These sediment trap samples have been analysed for a number of

determinands including spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) unambiguous

indicators of deposition from industrial fossil-fuel emissions. These well resolved

sediment trap data have been used to calculate fluxes to the sediment record and to

compare with sediment core analyses undertaken prior to the start of the trapping

programme. It has always been assumed that data from the traps and cores are

directly comparable. This project aims to test this assumption. A new sediment core

will be taken from selected UK AWMN site(s) and sliced at fine intervals (0.25 cm)

over the uppermost sediments in order to cover the last 20 years. The core will be

dated at the UCL BEIF facility and analysed for SCPs. Archived sediment trap

material will also be analysed for SCPs so that the two datasets can be directly

compared. The project will therefore provide useful information on the use of the

sediment trap approach in atmospheric deposition monitoring and on the

comparability of the two techniques.

Does trace metal analysis of annual sediment trap samples provide a

comparable record to that stored in lake sediments? – Neil Rose, ECRC, UCL

(nrose@geog.ucl.ac.uk) and Handong Yang, ECRC, UCL. Since 1991, the UK

Acid Waters Monitoring Network (UK AWMN) has operated an annual sediment

trapping programme in eleven acid sensitive lakes. These sediment trap samples

have been analysed for a number of determinands including trace metals. These

well resolved sediment trap data have been used to calculate fluxes of these

pollutants to the sediment basin and to compare with sediment core analyses

undertaken prior to the start of the trapping programme to assess the response of

the sediment record to dramatic reductions in metal emissions since the 1970s. It

has always been assumed that data from the traps and cores are directly

comparable. This project aims to test this assumption. A new sediment core will be

taken from selected UK AWMN site(s) and sliced at fine intervals (0.25cm) over the

uppermost sediments in order to cover the last 20 years. The core will be dated at

the UCL BEIF facility and analysed for trace metals. Archived sediment trap material

will also be analysed for the same metals so that the two datasets can be directly

compared. The project will therefore provide useful information on the use of the

sediment trap approach in pollutant monitoring and on the comparability of the two

techniques.

Can lake sediments really provide an historical record of atmospheric metal

pollution? - Handong Yang, ECRC, UCL (hyang@geography.ucl.ac.uk), Neil

Rose, ECRC, UCL and Rick Battarbee, ECRC, UCL. Sediment cores taken from

remote lakes have been widely used to provide an historical archive of trace metals

deposited from the atmosphere. This approach assumes that changes observed in

the sediment record are directly related to trends in metal deposition. However, trace

metals are also deposited from the atmosphere onto lake catchments and are stored

bound to the catchment soils. Where the catchment soils are vulnerable to, for

example, erosion or leaching, these bound metals may also be transferred to the

lake. These processes operate over different time-scales and hence temporal trends

in metal inputs from the catchment may differ from trends in atmospheric deposition.

The resulting trace metal sediment record is therefore a combination of temporal

trends in atmospheric deposition as well as trace metal inputs from the catchment.

As a result sediment metal record may not faithfully reflect the atmospheric pollution

history. The aim of this study is to try and quantify catchment sources of trace metals

to the sediment record of a selected lake in order to determine how catchment inputs

affect the historical record of these pollutants. This will be done using a sampling

transect from catchment soils through to a sediment basin and a range of analytical

approaches.

The quest for a reference site for Felbrigg Lake, Norfolk - Carl Sayer, ECRC,

UCL (c.sayer@ucl.ac.uk), Gavin Simpson, ECRC, UCL and Tom Davidson,

NERI, Denmark & ECRC, UCL. The EU Water Framework Directive requires that

lakes are restored to good status meaning minimal deviation from reference

conditions. One way of establishing reference conditions for a damaged site is to use

the analogue matching (AM) approach. AM works on the principal of space-for-time

substitution (or ergodism) and the assumption that similar analogue lakes/aquatic

ecosystems to those which existed in the past can be found in space. Thus it is

assumed that spatial analogues can help to increase understanding of past lake

states. In one study of acidified lakes, Flower et al. (1997) compared pre-acidification

and modern surface sediment diatom assemblages by statistical matching

procedures. They argued that good analogue sites (i.e. those with low dissimilarity in

terms of species composition) might act as ‘whole-lake’ target ecosystems for

acidified lakes. Hence sampling in such sites might help to identify lost species and

communities. Such an approach relies on the existence of deterministic relationships

between species at different trophic levels and although appealing, its value beyond

that of multi-proxy studies remains to be fully assessed.

The proposed study will seek to test the above hypothesis for Felbrigg Lake, a small,

shallow, eutrophic lake in Norfolk. Over the last five years a series of

palaeolimnological studies have been undertaken at the site focusing on a full

spectrum of biological groups including diatoms, Cladocera, chironomids, other

invertebrates and macrophyte remains. Analogue-matching of sediment samples

based on diatoms and cladocera (combined) has identified two potential UK

reference lakes for Felbrigg pre-1850, Oxwich Pool, Wales and Loch Watston,

Scotland. In the proposed study the student will undertake careful and detailed

sampling of the contemporary biological communities of these two sites (focusing

particularly on macrophytes and invertebrates) with a view to making comparisons

with the multi-proxy record of biological remains from Felbrigg pre-1850.

Comparisons will be made at both the species and functional level and in this way it

will be possible to assess the true effectiveness of an analogue matching approach

for setting lake restoration targets. Full support (financial and otherwise) will be

provided with sampling. A frisbee is essential of course.

Flower et al. (1997) Matching diatom assemblages in lake sediment cores and modern surface

samples: the implications for lake conservation and restoration with special reference to acidified

systems. Hydrobiologia 344, 27-40.

A high-resolution climate record for NW Europe over the past millennium from

a Scottish sea loch. Jonathan Holmes, ECRC, UCL (j.holmes@ucl.ac.uk)

The sea lochs of NW Scotland lie in sensitive locations with respect to climate

change over the NW Atlantic. Their rapidly accumulating sediments provide excellent

high-resolution archives of changing climate over this region. This project is an

outgrowth of work undertaken at St. Andrews by Dr Bill Austin and colleagues, on

the Holocene sediments from Loch Sunart. Here, oxygen and carbon isotope

analyses of benthic foraminifera from an 8000 year core and, at higher resolution,

from a ~1000 year core, are sensitive to changes in water circulation within the loch,

which in turn are linked to changes in changes in atmospheric circulation (e.g. Austin

and Inall, 2002, Polar Research, 21, 251-8; Gillibrand et al, 2005, Continental Shelf

Research, 571-87), which may in turn be linked to shifts in modes of climatic

variability associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Unpublished work by

Jonathan Holmes and colleagues has augmented the benthic foraminiferal isotope

record with high-resolution determinations of Mg/Ca ratios in the benthic ostracod

Krithe for the 8000 year record: at this site, the Mg content of Krithe is a good proxy

for bottom water temperature. The aim of this MSc project is to extend the Krithe

Mg/Ca record at high-resolution to the last 1000 year sequence. The ostracod

geochemical record will be combined with existing (Cage et al. 2010, Quaternary

Science Reviews) isotopic data from this ~3 m-long core. The student would be

welcome to spend time working with Bill Austin and colleagues at St. Andrews,

although we envisage that most or all of the analytical work can be undertaken at

UCL. Funding may be available to cover the geochemical analyses and travel to St.

Andrews.

The response of shallow-lake ostracod faunal assemblages to historical fish

kills: a palaeolimnological investigation - Jonathan Holmes ECRC, UCL

(j.holmes@ucl.ac.uk), Carl Sayer, ECRC, UCL. The aim of this project is to

examine the response of ostracod faunal assemblages to massive fish-kill events by

studying one or two well-dated, high-resolution lake-sediment records from shallow

lakes in Norfolk, E. England. At two sites, Wolterton and Barningham, massive fish

kills occurred in the 1970s associated with pollution events. These events are well

represented in the sediment records from each of the lakes. Detailed studies of algal

pigments, cladocerans, molluscs, chironomids and plant macrofossils have been

undertaken (Sayer, unpublished data). These data show how the lakes’ ecology

responded in a profound way to the kill events. These records provide an invaluable

insight into the functional ecology of shallow lakes. Ostracods are known to be

abundant and well preserved in the sediments from both sites, but have not yet been

studied. Detailed faunal assemblage analyses of ostracods from the sediments will

provide insights into the response of ostracods to changing ecological status of

shallow lakes and help to provide modern ecological information for key species.

Modern sampling of ostracods from each lake could be undertaken to help the

interpretation of the fossil assemblages. Although the project is primarily

palaeoecological in focus, stable isotope analyses of ostracod shells could provide

further insight into changing nutrient dynamics and carbon cycling within the lake

associated with the fish kill events. Palaeoecological analyses of ostracods will be

undertaken at UCL. Isotope analyses, if included as part of the project, would also be

performed at the UCL Bloomsbury Environmental Isotope Facility (BEIF). Funding

may be available to help cover fieldwork and isotope analyses.

Decadal-scale changes in ostracod faunal assemblages in a shallow English

lake: evaluating ecological controls on freshwater ostracods using

palaeoecological records. Jonathan Holmes, ECRC, UCL (j.holmes@ucl.ac.uk),

Carl Sayer, ECRC, UCL. Ostracods are potentially valuable palaeoecological

indicators in shallow, temperate freshwater lakes. However, their full potential has

not been released owing to a lack of modern ecological information for key species.

Modern calibration studies provide one means of generating ecological information.

In this project, we envisage a rather different approach, which will involve generating

ostracod faunal assemblages from a lake sediment core and evaluating these using

other palaeoecological data. The proposed study site is Felbrigg Hall Lake (Norfolk,

UK). Previous work on the ~200-year-long sediment records from this lake (e.g.

Sayer et al., 2010, Freshwater Biology doi: 10:1111/j1365-2427.2009.02535.x) has

yielded a wealth of sedimentological and palaeoecological (plant macrofossils,

diatoms, molluscs, zooplankton) remains that are indicative of changing nutrient

levels, aquatic plants, trophic structure and other aspects of aquatic ecology that

may control ostracod communities. The sediments are well dated and contain

abundant ostracod shells that re yet to be studies. The project will involve ostracod

faunal assemblage analysis from one or more of the ~80 cm-long sediment cores

from this lake that are held within ECRC archives. An unpublished pilot study of

modern ostracod assemblages already exists for similar shallow lakes in eastern

England, but this could be added to with further sampling of Felbrigg Hall Lake and

other nearby waterbodies, depending on student interest. Although the project is

primarily palaeoecological in focus, stable isotope analyses of ostracod shells could

provide further insight into changing nutrient dynamics and carbon cycling within the

lake. Palaeoecological analyses of ostracods will be undertaken at UCL. Isotope

analyses, if included as part of the project, would also be performed at the UCL

Bloomsbury Environmental Isotope Facility (BEIF). Funding may be available to help

cover fieldwork and isotope analyses.

Methane generation in European lakes and its impact on the carbon-isotope

composition of biogenic carbonates: implications for the interpretation of

carbonate carbon-isotope signatures in lake sediments. Jonathan Holmes,

ECRC, UCL (j.holmes@ucl.ac.uk), Oliver Heiri, University of Bern. Lakes are

significant sources of methane. However, temporal changes in methane flux and the

factors controlling these changes are poorly understood. Carbon-isotope signatures

in lake sediments may reveal past episodes of methane formation. Co-genetic

carbon dioxide produced as a result of methanogenesis is strongly enriched in 13C,

whereas the methane itself is 13C-deplete. The13C-enriched co-gentic CO2

contributes to the dissolved inorganic carbon pool in lakes, from which carbonate

precipitates are formed. Thus, positive excursions in carbon-isotope values in lake

sediments might be taken to represent past episodes of methanogenesis. However,

factors other than mehanogensis can cause significant 13C enrichment in lake-

sediment carbonates. The aim of this project is to determine the precise effect of

methane formation on biogenic (ostracod shell) carbonate from a series of methane-

producing and non-methane-producing lakes across Europe. The lakes have already

been sampled and monitored measured for contemporary methane production and

for a range of other physical and chemical variables by colleagues from the

University of Bern, who will supply samples for analysis and associated data. The

project could also involve examination of partitioning of redox-sensitive metals, such

as Fe and Mn, into ostracod shells from the modern lakes with a view to developing

a valuable palaeo-redox indicator. This project may focus entirely on contemporary

samples, or could involve analysis of lake-sediment sequences, depending on

student interest.

Macrofossil evidence of recent palaeolimnological changes in Doñana National

Park, a high value wetland in SW Spain - Roger Flower (r.flower@ucl.ac.uk) &

Carl Sayer, ECRC, UCL. Assessing the current status and stability of the aquatic

ecosystem in valued wetland areas requires knowledge of past conditions. Where

long term monitoring is absent the biogeochemical records of environmental change

contained in wetland lake sediments are often the most useful source of past

information. This project is concerned with utilizing sediment records of

environmental change in the Doñana National Park, a high value wetland in SW

Spain.

As well as being a National Park, the Doñana wetland is internationally famous for its

wetland flora and fauna and especially its bird populations. There are 27,000 ha of

seasonal marshes in the Guadalquivir delta and a series of coastal sand dunes.

During the 20th century the wetland has experienced major and sustained changes

as a result of human demands for land and water. Particularly since the 1920s,

drastic changes in land use have occurred in the watershed and are thought to have

had major impacts on wetland hydrology and ecology (Fernandez-Ales et al. 1992).

Although the extent of marsh vegetation has clearly declined, there are few long-

term limnological data about how the ecology of shallow lakes has changed.

Information about reference conditions for past aquatic ecosystems is therefore

lacking.

Sediment cores have been obtained from two shallow lakes within the National Park

and the sediment core from Laguna de Santa Olalla has been shown to contain a

rich macrofossil record. Furthermore, radiometric dating (by measurements of 210Pb

and 137Cs) on the core has established a sediment chronology for the past ~100

years. Sediment sub-samples will be characterized for lithostratigraphic features and

biological analyses for micro-invertebrates and plant remains will be undertaken. The

nature and abundance plant remains and the Daphnia ephipia are expected to reveal

evidence of eutrophication and possibly other environmental changes.

Several staff at the University of Barcelona have indicated an interest in this

palaeolimnological study and Prof. AC Stevenson (University of Newcastle Upon

Tyne UK) has carried out pollen analysis of the core.