PhD Studentship: Coastal Peatlands of Subtropical Eastern Australia

All UK vacanciesPhDPhD Studentship: Coastal Peatlands of Subtropical Eastern Australia

Physical and Environmental Sciences,Geography,Environmental Sciences

Short info about job

Company: University of Exeter

Department: Geography Department

Hours: Full Time

Type / Role: PhD

Phone: +44-1277 3438690

Fax: +44-1229 9178771

E-mail: N\A

Site:

Detail information about job PhD Studentship: Coastal Peatlands of Subtropical Eastern Australia. Terms and conditions vacancy

The University of Exeter and the University of Queensland are seeking exceptional students to join a world-leading, cross-continental research team tackling major challenges facing the world’s population in global sustainability and wellbeing as part of the recently launched QUEX Institute.

The student will have the chance to study in the UK and Australia, and will graduate with a double degree from the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland.

Find out more about the PhD Studentship via http://www.exeter.ac.uk/quex/phds

Academic Supervisors

Dr Angela Gallego-Sala (University of Exeter)

Dr Patrick Moss (University of Queensland)

Project information

The globally unique patterned fens and associated wetland communities of subtropical eastern Australia are relatively poorly studied, particularly in terms of carbon storage potential and long term response to a range of environmental factors (e.g. rising temperatures, increases in sea level, water extraction, urbanisation and alterations in fire regimes). These systems are an important component of the World Heritage listing for the iconic Fraser Island (largest sand island in the world).  Patterned fens are generally associated with high northern latitudes or alpine regions but exist also in this sub-tropical setting. This project will investigate these wetland systems by focussing on an environmental gradient from the subtropics to the tropics in eastern Australia. The study sites will span an area all the way from North Stradbroke Island (adjacent to Brisbane) to Byfield National Park (central Queensland).

In particular, this study will focus on peatland ecosystem dynamics and how climate impacts peatland extent and carbon accumulation. This will build on previous research that has focussed on sedimentology and palaeoecology of the patterned fens and will provide important information about how these World Heritage listed systems have responded to changes in the past and how they may respond to future climate change. Furthermore, data from these peatlands will also be incorporated into maps and into models of peat distribution and accumulation for the last 1000 years, which will help to fill a large gap (coastal eastern Australia) in the global understanding of peatland ecosystem dynamics. You will be based at The University of Exeter but will spend a significant part of their studies at The University of Queensland (12 months), where the field research will be undertaken.

Full tuition fees, stipend of £15,000 p.a, travel funds of up to £15,000, and RTSG of £3,000 are available over the 3 year programme.

Responds for PhD Studentship: Coastal Peatlands of Subtropical Eastern Australia on FaceBook

Read all comments for PhD Studentship: Coastal Peatlands of Subtropical Eastern Australia. Leave a respond PhD Studentship: Coastal Peatlands of Subtropical Eastern Australia in social networks. PhD Studentship: Coastal Peatlands of Subtropical Eastern Australia on Facebook and Google+