Evaluating efforts to create temperate rainforest: recruitment of biodiversity and resilience to natural enemies

Director of Studies:  Dr James Buckley  

2nd Supervisor:  Dr Jennifer Rowntree  

3rd Supervisor:  Dr Thomas Murphy  

4th Supervisor: Professor Kevin Watts, Forest Research

Applications are invited for a 3.5 years PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1 October 2025 

The British and Irish Isles have very low levels of current tree cover and what remains is frequently of poor condition [1]. The UK government has therefore proposed increasing tree cover to 16.5% in England by 2050, through tree planting and/or natural regeneration via seed dispersal. Tree planting is expensive but necessary for woodland expansion [2], yet a lack of long-term monitoring means the capacity of planted woodland and natural regeneration to support healthy and resilient native woodland is often unclear [3]. This project focuses on Temperate Rainforest, an internationally important woodland habitat found in mild and wet climates and characterised by extensive growth of epiphytes (ferns, mosses and lichens). 

This project will assess the recruitment of biodiversity (above and belowground) and health (extent of pathogen infection and herbivore damage) of woodlands created by tree planting and natural regeneration in the temperate rainforest zone of SW England. Long-established temperate rainforest sites will be used as a control habitat for these comparisons. Aboveground surveys of epiphytes and natural enemies (insect herbivores and pathogens) will be conducted, as well as DNA metabarcoding of soil fungal communities to provide insight into the recruitment of key mycorrhizal fungal partners. Additional sampling of planted sites along a temperature and precipitation gradient identified from recent climate mapping of SW rainforest [4], using the approach adopted in [5], will provide insight into climatic effects on the recruitment of rainforest indicator species. The student will visit field sites across two growing seasons to collect data on plant health and community diversity, as well as samples for molecular metabarcoding analysis.

The candidate should have experience of field and lab-based (molecular) research, and an interest in understanding and communicating the importance of UK woodland restoration and expansion. The project will provide the postgraduate student with extensive fieldwork experience, as well as laboratory and analytical skills in metabarcoding. Experience of mapping using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) would be an advantage. Site selection will provide opportunities to network with a range of landowners and practitioners. 

Reid, C, Hornigold K., McHenry E, Nichols C, Townsend M, et al. (2021). State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2021, Woodland Trust. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/publications/2021/04/state-of-uk-woods-and-trees-2021/  

Murphy TR, Hanley ME, Ellis JE, and Lunt PH. (2022). Optimizing opportunities for oak woodland expansion into upland pastures. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 3(1), e12126. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12126  

Bauld J, Guy M, Hughes S, Forster J and Watts K. (2023). Assessing the use of natural colonization to create new forests within temperate agriculturally dominated landscapes. Restoration Ecology,  31 (8), e14004. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14004 

Murphy TR, Chernyuk K, Roszkowski M, Lewin S, Lunt PH, Buckley J. (2024). State of Temperate Rainforest in SW England – mapping and report. South West Rainforest Alliance, University of Plymouth. Preview map available at: https://swtemperaterainforest.nextgis.com/resource/414/display?panel=layers  

Buckley J, Widmer A, Mescher MC, & De Moraes CM. (2019). Variation in growth and defence traits among plant populations at different elevations: Implications for adaptation to climate change. Journal of Ecology, 107, 2478–2492. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13171 

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in Biological or Environmental Science or a relevant Masters qualification.  

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.  

Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded ARIES studentship of fees, maintenance stipend (£19,237 p.a. for 2024/25) and research costs.  

A limited number of ARIES studentships are available to International applicants. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK. 

NB: The studentship is supported for 3.5 years of the four-year registration period. The subsequent 6 months of registration is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ period. 

ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential. 

For further information, please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact  Dr James Buckley .

Please see our apply for a postgraduate research programme page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. 

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our Apply for a postgraduate research programme page or contact the Doctoral College .

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview after the deadline. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications.  Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.