This PhD is embedded within the Arctic PRIZE project and examines the uptake and cycling of different forms of nitrogen (N) by different phytoplankton groups using techniques such as mass spectrometry.
The recent decline of Arctic sea ice is one of the most pronounced examples of contemporary physical climate change on Earth. The Arctic PRIZE project aims to determine how these sea ice changes will affect biological and biogeochemical systems in this climatically sensitive region. Nitrogen availability is a principal determinant of phytoplankton community composition and abundance.
Supervisors
Professor Keith Davidson, SAMS
Dr Sian Henley, University of Edinburgh
Funder
Natural Environment Research Council
University
Peer-reviewed publications
Henley SF, Porter M, Hobbs L, Braun J, Guillaume-Castel R, Venables EJ, Dumont J, Cottier F (2020) Nitrate supply and uptake in the Atlantic Arctic sea ice zone:seasonal cycle, mechanisms and drivers. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A 378: 20190361. https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2019.0361
Judith Braun, Maria Mooshammer, Wolfgang Wanek, Judith Prommer, Tom W N. Walker, Tobias Rütting, Andreas Richter (2018) Full 15N tracer accounting to revisit major assumptions of 15N isotope pool dilution approaches for gross nitrogen mineralization. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 117, 16-26
Eugenio Díaz-Pines, Saúl Molina-Herrera, Michael Dannenmann, Judith Braun, Edwin Haas, Georg Willibald, Cristina Arias-Navarro, Rüdiger Grote, Benjamin Wolf, Gustavo Saiz, Cisco Aust, Jörg-Peter Schnitzler and Klaus Butterbach-Bahl (2016) Nitrate leaching and soil nitrous oxide emissions diminish with time in a hybrid poplar short-rotation coppice in southern Germany. GCB Bioenergy, 9, 613-626
Poster presentations
University of the Highlands and Islands Research Student Conference 2017
Teaching experience
2015
Seminar and Exercise on Stable Isotopes in Ecology - Stable Isotope Tracing (Master level), University of Vienna, Austria
Tutoring: Field course in functional ecology (Bachelor level)
2014
Tutoring: Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry Laboratory: Techniques in Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology (Bachelor level)
Fieldwork experience
2018
January: Polar night cruise (water sampling and stable isotope uptake experiments), Barents Sea, NO
April/May: Spring cruise (water sampling and stable isotope uptake experiments), Barents Sea, NO
June/July: Summer cruise (water sampling and stable isotope uptake experiments), Barents Sea, NO
2014 – 2015
Performance of fieldwork (soil sampling and performance of isotope tracer experiments) and laboratory work at the SILVER facility for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry at the University of Vienna, Austria
2011 – 2012
Fieldwork (gas sampling, soil sampling, performance of isotope tracer experiments) and laboratory work within the KiLi project framework, Tanzania
Public engagement experience
Polar science outreach events as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival, UK
Employment history
2015-16 Student Assistant. University of Vienna (Austria)
2011-12 Research Assistant. IMK-IFU (Germany)
Qualifications
2016 MSc Environmental Sciences. University of Vienna (Austria)
2012 BSc Biology. University of Innsbruck (Austria)