Good Vibrations: Evidencing the Links Between Soil Acoustics and Soil Health

Project Code: BUTLER_UEA_ARIES27

Good Vibrations: Evidencing the Links Between Soil Acoustics and Soil Health

Project Code: BUTLER_UEA_ARIES27

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Simon Butler, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Professor Brian Reid, School of Environmental Sciences, UEA

Dr Richard Cooper, School of Environmental Sciences, UEA

 

Scientific Background:

Soil invertebrates play a major role in carbon cycling, soil aggregation, plant health and food web dynamics. Maintaining and enhancing soil biodiversity is therefore fundamental to optimising soil health and function. However, current methods to monitor soil biodiversity and measure its response to soil and land management practices are costly and intrusive. Acoustic monitoring has long been used in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to detect individual species and monitor biodiversity. Recent work suggests a valuable role for acoustics in monitoring soils too, with early studies linking soil acoustic characteristics to invertebrate abundance and diversity and detecting changes in soil acoustic characteristics in response to restoration management.

 

Research Methodology and Objectives:

Despite its potential, the field of soil acoustics is in its infancy, with key knowledge gaps relating to the impacts of soil characteristics on sound propagation, and the relationship between specific soil acoustic characteristics and critical soil functions. The overarching aim of this project is therefore to better evidence the link between soil acoustics and soil health. Specifically, the student will sample and quantify soil acoustic properties at a portfolio of sites across a mosaic of land-use management, crop type and soil characteristics to:

Obj1: Parameterise and calibrate the relationship between soil biodiversity and soil acoustic characteristics.

Obj2: Determine the influence of soil texture/structure and properties such as carbon stocks, moisture content and compaction on this relationship.

Obj3: Establish the links between soil acoustic characteristics and other factors such as land management practices and above-ground biomass.

 

Training:

The successful candidate will receive extensive training in field and lab data collection skills and the application of ecological principles and concepts to applied issues. You can expect to achieve a high level of competency in statistical modelling, gain a wide range of skills in critical thinking, scientific writing and science communication, and be encouraged to develop independent lines of research alongside the core objectives.

 

Person Specification:

We seek an enthusiastic individual with a degree in Ecology, Environmental Sciences or a related subject. Experience of undertaking acoustic monitoring and biodiversity surveys, and familiarity with computer packages such as R and GIS will be an advantage.

References

  • Robinson, J.M., Annells, A., Cavagnaro, T.R., Liddicoat, C., Rogers, H., Taylor, A. & Breed, M.F., 2024. Monitoring soil fauna with ecoacoustics. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 291(2030), p.20241595.
  • Metcalf, O.C., Nunes, C.A., Abrahams, C., Baccaro, F.B., Bradfer-Lawrence, T., Lees, A.C., Vale, E.M. & Barlow, J., 2024. The efficacy of acoustic indices for monitoring abundance and diversity in soil soundscapes. Ecological Indicators, 169, 112954.
  • Morrison, C. A., Auniņš, A., Benkő, Z., Brotons, L., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylarecki, P., ... & Butler, S. J. (2021). Bird population declines and species turnover are changing the acoustic properties of spring soundscapes. Nature Communications, 12(1), 6217.
  • Cooper, R.J., Hama-Aziz, Z.Q., Hiscock, K.M., Lovett, A.A., Vrain, E., Dugdale, S.J., Sünnenberg, G., Dockerty, T., Hovesen, P. & Noble, L., 2020. Conservation tillage and soil health: Lessons from a 5-year UK farm trial (2013–2018). Soil and Tillage Research, 202, 104648.
  • Keenor, S.G., Lee, R. & Reid, B.J., 2025. Physical protection of soil carbon stocks under regenerative agriculture. Soil, 11(2), 957-973.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2027. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 16 December 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from bespoke training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or immigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential and will be stored on the UEA SharePoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be asked to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. Please see https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information.

Apply Now

Apply now via the University of East Anglia Application Portal