Restoring wetland functions in farming landscapes: what influences the effectiveness of new ponds?

Professor Dr Philip Warren and Professor Lorraine Maltby,
CASE studentship with Syngenta and Pond Conservation

Large numbers of water bodies have been lost from agricultural landscapes and many of those that remain are contaminated with high levels of nutrients and pesticides, reducing biodiversity and their capacity to provide ecosystem services. Whilst creation, or restoration, of extensive wetland areas is unlikely to be possible in productive agricultural landscapes, multiple smaller water bodies, such as ponds can play an important role in reducing the impacts of diffuse pollution lower in the catchment by trapping sediments, reducing nutrient loads and degrading pesticides, as well as supporting high landscape-scale biodiversity. However, there is little scientific understanding of the functioning of such small, dispersed, freshwater patches in a landscape that can be used to guide habitat creation activities and to ensure that they deliver the desired environmental benefits. The focus of this proposal is to investigate the ecological factors that determine the colonisation trajectories, biodiversity and ecosystem service potential of newly created water bodies in rural landscapes. Working closely with Pond Conservation and Syngenta, the student will address three main questions: To what extent do habitat and landscape characteristics influence pond biodiversity and ecosystem service potential? How does the spatial configuration of ponds influence colonisation trajectories and community composition? How do physico-chemical properties change during the establishment of new ponds, how is this influenced by the location of the pond and what are the consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem service potential?

To apply, please complete an online application form which can be found at www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying
The closing date is 15th January 2013