PhD Study : Remote sensing for ecological monitoring in the marine environment: advancing best practice

Summary

Acoustic techniques are the mainstay of mapping in the marine environment, frequently applied to a range of activities, including: hydrography, civil and military applications and increasingly the development of offshore renewables (Lurton, 2002). These technologies are routinely used to map a wide range of seafloor environments in terms of their geology and geomorphology and they are increasingly being applied to the survey and monitoring of benthic habitats (Brown et al., 2011). In spite of this increasing use, there remains a lack of consensus about whether they can be used to predict ecologically significant boundaries (Kostylev, 2012) or detect environmental change for monitoring purposes (McGonigle et al. 2010).

The ecological significance of acoustic classifications has not yet been adequately explored because many previous studies are limited by a lack of; 1) spatial and temporally relevant ground-truth data at a comparable scale, 2) repeat acoustic surveys, and 3) true independence between ground-truth data and acoustic classifications. Recent international efforts to standardise the acquisition of MBES backscatter data (Lamarche and Lurton, 2017) need to be evaluated in the ecological context in order to understand if these techniques are fit for the purpose of habitat characterisation. Against this backdrop, there are increasingly sophisticated methodologies emerging from several different perspectives, in terms of data acquisition (multi-frequency acoustics; laser scanning) and processing (Object Based Image Analysis, photogrammetry), all of which would advocate a multi-disciplinary approach to best practice for benthic habitat characterisation.

This PhD project will investigate the use of novel approaches to data acquisition and processing for habitat characterisation in the marine environment. It will also seek to refine protocols for the acquisition and processing of temporally coincident ground-truth data at a range of scales, using the best available technologies. This will allow us to refine and enhance current methods used to characterise seabed features and benthic habitat with maximum efficacy in areas of national and international significance.

Objectives

*To critically examine the use of multi-frequency MBES backscatter data optimised for benthic community analysis.

*To explore techniques to optimise the analysis of spatially and temporally relevant optical ground-truth data for the fine scale characterisation of geomorphological complexity and epifaunal community structure.

*Examine the links between sedimentary composition and infaunal community structure, and to explore the interrelationships and surrogacies with acoustic response.

*To determine the utility of novel technologies for the fine scale characterisation of geomorphological complexity and community structure over a range of contrasting features in the sublittoral marine environment.

*To explore the optimal analytical frameworks for the modelling of ecological communities that can account for spatial and temporal dependency structures inherent in many existing datasets.

References: Brown, C. et al. (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.02.007 || Kostylev, V. (2012). DOI: 10.1002/9781118311172.ch20 || Lamarche, G., & Lurton, X. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-017-9315-6 || Lurton, X. (2002). An introduction to underwater acoustics: principles and applications. Springer Science & Business Media. || McGonigle, C. et al. (2010). https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsq015

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 65%
• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Experience of presentation of research findings

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living