Landscape-scale risk assessment across different spatial and temporal scales
Projects within this theme are developing approaches for assessing temporal and spatial variation in the vulnerability of communities within real landscapes to chemicals. Projects will integrate an understanding of the factors and processes that influence the types, concentrations and bioavailability of chemicals in the environment with an understanding of the ecological and ecotoxicological processes that influence the sensitivity and recovery of species and communities exposed to chemicals and other stressors.
A landscape-scale understanding is essential to developing a systems-based approach to chemical assessment and management.
Projects that align with this theme are;
Holly Hulme - Cardiff University
Project: Synthetic chemicals in terrestrial and freshwater biota: drivers and consequences of landscape scale variation
Partner: Syngenta
Working alongside the Cardiff University Otter Project and case partner Syngenta, my PhD project aims to develop a deeper understanding of the temporal and spatial variation in ecosystem exposure to synthetic pollutants at a landscape scale using sentinel species samples. Existing data collected as part of the LIFE APEX and Environment Agency H4 Indicator projects are being analysed to identify differences in chemical mixtures between contiguous terrestrial and freshwater systems.
The datasets provide a comprehensive overview of current contaminants in the environment across Europe, while also enabling an evaluation of temporal trends for the Eurasian otter and Common buzzard in the UK. Working with stakeholder partners, I aim for the outputs to guide predicted models for a targeted selection of under-reported chemicals and assess the risk of toxic chemicals to the chosen study species. The insights gained from this study contribute to the development of more robust biomonitoring strategies, which are more effective for evaluating the risks associated with synthetic chemicals to both wildlife and human health.
Contact: hulmeh@cardiff.ac.uk
Marianne Lotter-Jones - University of York
Project: Towards design of chemical-resilient agricultural landscapes
Partner: Syngenta
Based at University of York under the supervision of Professor Colin Brown and the support from project partners at Syngenta and HSE, I am looking into designing principles for agricultural landscapes that maintain food production, minimise environmental risks from PPPs and other stressors, and promote resilient delivery of ecosystem services.
The UK has some of the lowest levels of biodiversity in Europe; 41% of species have declined since the 1970s. As agriculture makes up 69% of UK land use, it is a key starting point for improving land management for biodiversity.
Current agri-environment schemes promote field level management measures to improve biodiversity, but this has failed to recover biodiversity numbers because many organisms live on much larger, more ecologically relevant scales: the landscape scale.
With this project, I have set out to review the current principles and practices of landscape design. I plan to select test systems and develop landscape-scale scenarios in order to model how current landscape design features affect biodiversity and crop production. Using modelling, simulations, and very importantly - talking to key stakeholders like farmers and policy makers - I will develop and analyse strategies of landscape design interventions.
Contact: marianne.lotter@york.ac.uk
Isabel Navarro Law - University of York
Project: Mesocosm experiments to integrate landscape-scale factors into future directions for pesticide risk assessment
Partner: Fera
Macrophytes located in small water bodies (such as ponds, ditches and streams) are at significant risk of herbicide exposure from surrounding agricultural land. Currently, UK pesticide risk assessments focus on the impact of a single herbicide treatment on the immediate health of an individual plant.
Over two successive seasons I will use novel E-flow mesocosms based at Fera to investigate the impact of both individual herbicides, as well as mixtures, on macrophyte community composition and long term recovery. I aim to determine whether current UK risk assessments sufficiently protect aquatic plants. I will also investigate how different abiotic factors influence the distribution of macrophytes in small water bodies, to better understand where the most vulnerable macrophyte communities occur.
Contact: ihnl500@york.ac.uk
ECORISC CDT
Department of Environment and Geography
University of York
York
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1903 322999
ecorisc-cdt@york.ac.uk