Quantifying how extreme weather events affect biodiversity

WARREN_UENV25ARIES

Quantifying how extreme weather events affect biodiversity

WARREN_UENV25ARIES

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Rachel Warren, Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Professor Tim Osborn, UEA, ENV

Dr Jeff Price, UEA, ENV

 

Scientific background

Climate change is affecting biodiversity. Species distributions are changing and spring is advancing. In the future, risks are projected to become even greater. At UEA, the Wallace Initiative (wallaceinitiative.org) has used computer models to examine potential impacts of climate change on 125,000 plant and animal species. However, like most other studies, this is based on changes in average climate.

Yet we know that biodiversity responds strongly to extreme climatic events (e.g., 2018’s hot, dry summer and 2024’s wet spring). Thus, projected impacts based only on changes in average climate may be underestimates. In this project, you will have the opportunity to develop ground-breaking new approaches to explore how species respond to an expected increase in extreme climatic events.  You will greatly improve standard tools and develop entirely new ways to project impacts of climate change on biodiversity, both globally and in the UK.

Method

You will begin with existing computer models that predict the geographical range of species, and existing future projections of daily and monthly climate data, to explore how species ranges respond to transient changes in climate as opposed to mean climate. You will explore how to adapt these existing computer models to incorporate variables indicative of drought, heavy precipitation events and extreme heat. Finally you will feed this information into computer models to improve projections of climate change impacts on biodiversity to better inform climate policy and conservation planning.  You will test your predictions and methods using data from various regions around the world.

Training

You will acquire enhanced computational, coding, statistical and spatial analysis (GIS) skills increasing your employability.  You will join the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research which informs climate change related decision-making.

Person specification

Computational and statistical skills including GIS are essential.  Knowledge of R or similar coding preferred.  Degree in biological, ecological, computational or climate sciences preferred.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Biological, ecological, computational or climate sciences preferred, but other quantitative or natural sciences disciplines are suitable.

References

  • Warren, R., Price, J., Graham E., et al. 2018. The projected effect on insects, vertebrates and plants of limiting global warming to 1.5°C rather than 2°C. Science 360, 791-795
  • Price, J., Warren, R., Forstenhaeusler N., Osborn T et al., 2022. Quantification of drought risks between 1.5°C and 4°C of global warming in six countries Climatic Change 174, article no 12
  • Warren, R., Price J., Vanderwal J. et al. 2018. The implications of the United Nations Paris Agreement for Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas. Climatic Change 147, 395-409.
  • Price, J., Warren R.,, and Forstenhaeusler N., 2024. Biodiversity losses associated with global warming of 1.5 to 4°C above pre-industrial levels in six countries Climatic Change 177, article number 47
  • Harris, R.M.B., Loeffler F., Rumm A., et al. 2020 Biological responses to extreme weather events are detectable but difficult to formally attribute to anthropogenic climate change. Scientific Reports 10, Article number 14067

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2025. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 8th January 2025.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£19,237 p.a. for 2024/25) and research funding. 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 postgradute researcher (PGRs) benefit from bespoke graduate 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.
  • 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 imigration 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 ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • If funded under the BBSRC-NERC DLA scheme, ARIES studentships will be 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. See https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information

Apply Now

Apply via the  University of East Anglia application portal