LATEST NEWS
Some fantastic PhD opportunities on dune slack wetlands,
for a start in October 2025 :
#1 A multidisciplinary study of dune environments; past to present
ACCE+ DLA; Supervisors: Prof Laurence Jones (UKCEH), Dr Katherine Selby (University of York), Graham Williams (NRW) bit.ly/4ivAy23
Dune slacks are seasonal wetlands found within coastal sand dune systems. They support many rare plant and animal species, but are under threat from multiple factors, including excess nutrients and drying out due to climate change. This project will use a range of ecological, palaeoecological and hydrological techniques to answer the following questions: 1) Can historical dune slack environments provide a baseline and inform possible trajectories for restoring dune slacks to good ecological condition?, and 2) How do nutrient availability and hydrological change interact in dune slacks and influence their biological diversity?
#2 How does climate change influence dynamics between saline and freshwater coastal wetlands?
Ecowild CDT; Supervisors: Dr Katherine Selby (University of York), Prof Laurence Jones (UKCEH), Dr Marina Pugh & Dr Anissia Halwyn (Natural England) & Dave Bromwich (Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust) bit.ly/3CSKMZZ
Climate change has multiple and complex impacts on coastal wetlands. Sea level rise will increase the height of the fresh groundwater table, but coastal erosion will lower it. At the same time, management decisions about coastal defences may change the boundary between fresh and salt, and the conservation implications of this are unclear. This project will use a mix of palaeo-ecological and ecological techniques to understand from past habitats what future conditions might look like.
See links above, or contact: Laurence Jones LJ@ceh.ac.uk, and Katherine Selby Katherine.selby@york.ac.uk
#3 Above-below ground interactions for nature recovery in coastal sand dune wetlands
Project highlights
- Research one of the rarest habitats in Europe, a UK wetland priority habitat which is a focus of nature recovery.
- Opportunity to shape the project to your interests but focusing on interactions between ecological processes above and below-ground.
- Work on internationally important long-term ecological experiments (50 years of data)
Project highlights
- Develop remote sensing approaches for monitoring wetland biodiversity hotspots.
- Understand how changing climate impacts flooding frequency and extent in coastal wetland nature reserves.
- Work with key policy and management partners to apply new knowledge and advance management of important nature recovery sites.
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Impacts of dog flea treatment on aquatic invertebrates in dune slack ponds
The Dynamic Dunescapes Team shares one of the commissioned studies undertaken as part of the Dynamic Dunescapes (DuneLIFE) project (LIFE 17 NAT/UK/000570; HG-16-08643). The study looked at the potential impacts of the pet flea treatments Fipronil and Imidacloprid on the aquatic invertebrates of twelve dune slack ponds from three sand dune Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) around the English coast: Braunton Burrows, Sefton Coast and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe & Gibraltar Point.
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Amsterdam Dunes demonstration site for an innovative system for wildlife monitoring
Managing and protecting nature requires effective and cost-efficient monitoring techniques. To achieve this, advanced technologies such as low-power digital sensors, wireless communication technology, and automated approaches are needed. ARISE: knowing Nature in the Netherlands | Naturalis
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics have teamed up with Waternet, the site manager at the Amsterdam Dunes nature reserve, to accomplish the following aims:
- To develop and put into practice an innovative system for wildlife monitoring using an automated camera trap network
- To test the cost-efficiency of the automated system compared to manually applying traditional camera trapping
- To study the distribution, habitat use, activity, population structure and community composition of ground-dwelling mammals and birds
First results are now described:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c1bce45e4d7f4a6c91e5cf91acee1ae5
More info : Luc Geelen / luc.geelen(at)waternet.nl
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Foredune Dynamisation Manual
Authors: Bas Arens et al., Editorial staff: Albert Oost, Bas Arens and Sonja van der Graaf, Editorial staff English edition: John Houston and Kenneth Pye
A must for all freaks of dynamic dunes...
"Our dunes are special, formed by the dynamics of sand, wind, water and vegetation. In the past, most management attempts aimed at reducing these dynamics. But today we focus on how to utilise these natural processes. It is important to know how this system functions. Chapter 1 describes the system with specific attention to the hydrological elements and the different forms of dune dynamics.
There are varying reasons for the current interest in the restoration of aeolian processes. In the Netherlands for example, the aim can be to limit the negative effects of nitrogen deposition, or the goal can be the promoting of water safety (sea defence). Before intervening in the system, it is important to think carefully about which goals you want to achieve and to realise that not all goals are possible everywhere. "
The manual you will find as pdf HERE
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