Future fens: using palaeoecology to inform restoration and conservation of the Lincolnshire Fenlands

未来的沼泽：利用古生态学为林肯郡沼泽的恢复和保护提供信息

• 批准号: 2461735
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Sheffield
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2461735
• 关键词: Future; fens; using; palaeoecology; inform

Background The fenlands of eastern England represent a unique landscape, shaped by 500,000 years of natural and anthropogenic processes. The area's low relief has resulted in a sensitivity to episodes of marine and freshwater inundation, producing a diverse and species rich landscape (Brew et al. 2015).Much of this ecologically rich fenland has been lost. Artificial drainage in association with agricultural intensification has transformed wetland areas into arable land, leaving only 1000 fragmented hectares of undrained fenland (Morris et al. 2000). Continuing intensive cultivation and hydrological imbalance has caused desiccation and wastage of peat soils via oxidation and wind erosion. Many parts of the fenland continue to fall below current sea level, reducing its biodiversity capacity and subsequently decreasing the agricultural resource base.Immediate palaeoecological investigation of the remaining fenland is imperative for aiding conservation and informing the land management potential of the fenland, particularly when faced with additional challenges associated with climate change and accelerated sea-level rise.ObjectivesThe overall aim of the project is to undertake a palaeoecologically informed conservation study of the Lincolnshire Fenlands (e.g. Mccarroll et al. 2017). The specific objectives are to:- Establish a landscape change record, including vegetation, hydrological and anthropogenically induced landscape changes of a selection of geographically diverse sites across the Lincolnshire Fenlands throughout the Holocene. - Use the land-use record to determine how the ecological conditions of the landscape have altered according to long term environmental and anthropogenic influences. - Utilise the palaeoenvironmental data generated to inform current and future conservation and regeneration of both wetland fens areas and agricultural land. Novelty Little palaeoenvironmental research has been undertaken on past landscape and sea-level changes in the Lincolnshire Fenlands, particularly the siltlands which have been overlooked due to the lack of overlying peat deposits. Climate-induced changes (e.g. storm surges, flooding, erosion) are projected to increase in future years and add to the vulnerability of the region, making the need for scientific studies in the area ever more pressing. CASE partnerThe Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust own and manage the last vestiges of surviving fenland in Lincolnshire including the Baston and Thurlby Fen SSSI and a new fen restoration project at Willow Tree Fen. The major question being posed and the one this PhD will help to address is: 'what are we trying to restore the fens back to?' This meets the Trust's strategic aim of 'restoring and creating habitats that contribute to healthy functioning ecosystems and an environment more resilient to climate change and other challenges'.The Trust will give the student access to seven nature reserves in the region, allowing the Lincolnshire Fenlands to be used as a living laboratory. They will host the student at Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, training them in field techniques and accompanying them into the field. They will train the student in conservation and policy orientated aspects of the work ensuring the research was transferable and applied. The office, workshop and welfare facility at Willow Tree Fen will provide a field base for the PhD student. Brew, D et al. (2000) Holocene sedimentary evolution and palaeocoastlines of the Fenland embayment, eastern England. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 166, 253-273.McCarroll, J. et al. (2017) Application of palaeoecology for peatland conservation at Mossdale Moor. Quaternary International 432, 39-4. Morris, J et al. (2000) Reconciling agricultural economic and environmental objectives: the case of recreating wetlands in the Fenland area of eastern England. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 79, 245-25.

背景英格兰东部的沼泽地代表着一种独特的景观，由50万年的自然和人类过程塑造。该地区的低地势导致对海水和淡水淹没事件的敏感性，产生了多样化和物种丰富的景观(Brew等人)。(2015)。这片生态丰富的沼泽地已经失去了大部分。与农业集约化相结合的人工排水将湿地地区变成了耕地，只留下了1000公顷未排水的林地(Morris等人。2000)。持续的精耕细作和水文失衡导致泥炭土壤氧化和风蚀而干化和流失。沼泽地的许多部分继续低于目前的海平面，降低了其生物多样性，从而减少了农业资源基础。对剩余的沼泽地进行即刻的古生态调查是必要的，以帮助保护和了解沼泽地的土地管理潜力，特别是在面临与气候变化和海平面加速上升相关的额外挑战时。2017年)。具体目标是：-建立一个景观变化记录，包括全新世林肯郡芬兰地一些地理上不同地点的植被、水文和人类活动引起的景观变化。-使用土地利用记录，确定景观的生态条件根据长期环境和人为影响发生了怎样的变化。-利用产生的古环境数据，为湿地沼泽区和农地的当前和未来的保护和再生提供信息。对林肯郡芬兰兹地区过去的景观和海平面变化进行了少量的古环境研究，特别是由于缺乏上覆的泥炭矿床而被忽视的粉砂土。气候引起的变化(如风暴潮、洪水、侵蚀)预计将在未来几年增加，并增加该地区的脆弱性，使该地区对科学研究的需求变得更加迫切。案例合作伙伴林肯郡野生动物信托基金拥有并管理林肯郡最后一片幸存的沼泽地，包括巴斯顿和瑟尔比沼泽SSSI，以及在柳树沼泽的一个新的沼泽恢复项目。提出的主要问题，也是这位博士将帮助解决的问题是：我们试图让Fens恢复到什么水平？这符合该基金会的战略目标，即“恢复和创造有利于健康运行的生态系统和更能适应气候变化和其他挑战的环境的栖息地”。该基金会将允许学生访问该地区的七个自然保护区，使林肯郡芬兰德成为一个活的实验室。他们将在林肯郡野生动物信托基金接待这名学生，培训他们的田间技术，并陪同他们进入田间。他们将对学生进行保护和以政策为导向的工作方面的培训，以确保研究可转让和应用。柳树芬的办公室、车间和福利设施将为这位博士生提供一个实地基地。BREW、D等人。(2000)英格兰东部芬兰湾全新世沉积演化和古海岸线。地质学会，伦敦，专题出版物，166,253-273。(2017)古生态学在莫斯代尔沼泽泥炭地保护中的应用。第四纪国际432，39-4。Morris，J等人。(2000)协调农业、经济和环境目标：在英格兰东部芬兰区重建湿地。农业、生态系统和环境79,245-25。