University of Plymouth, Faculty of Science and Technology
Defra Funded PhD Research Studentship
Use of the Continuous Plankton Recorder to monitor trends in the abundance of
microplastic debris
Start Date: 1 October 2010
For 2010/2011 the PhD studentship consists of an annual bursary of £13,590 plus home
fees of £3,475. The duration of the studentship is 3 years.
Supervisors: Professor Richard C. Thompson, University of Plymouth and Dr Martin
Edwards, Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science
Marine habitats worldwide have become contaminated with large items of plastic debris
including packaging materials, rope and netting. In addition to these conspicuous items
marine sediments and the water column have also become contaminated by small and
even microscopic fragments of plastic debris (microplastics). Collaborative work
between the University of Plymouth (UoP) and the Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for
Ocean Science (SAHFOS, www.sahfos.ac.uk/) shows that the abundance of
microplastics captured by the continuous plankton recorder (CPR) has increased
significantly over the last 40 years. The environmental consequences of this debris are
not fully understood, however particles of this size are ingested by a range of
invertebrates including filter feeders, deposit feeding worms and detritivores and there is
concern that plastic fragments could facilitate transport of the persistent organic
pollutants. Hence it is important to develop methods to quantify and monitor the
abundance of microplastic in the marine environment and to identify the potential
sources and sinks of this debris.
Evidence from the CPR together with other sources suggests that the accumulation of
microplastic fragments is widespread. This studentship will use CPR samples to
examine spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of microplastic debris.
Specifically the project will: quantify broad scale patterns (100s - 1000s of km) in
abundance along selected CPR monitoring routes; quantify small scale patterns (10s –
100s of Km) with distance from land and quantify temporal patterns of abundance over
seasonal and decadal timescales. The project also aims to compare the type and
quantity of plastic captured using CPR with other approaches such as manta trawls and
bongo nets. Work will involve examination of CPR samples collected during the
studentship together with material archived by SAHFOS over the last 50 years.
The student will be based in the Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre
(www.research.plymouth.ac.uk/mberc/) at the University of Plymouth and will work
between main campus and SHAFOS (20 minute walk). The student will receive training
in the use of Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy. In addition the student will
complete a postgraduate induction course, and modules in Research Skills and
Research methods and Laboratory-based Teaching Methods.
For further information about the project, please contact Richard Thompson
(rcthompson@plymouth.ac.uk). Applicants should send a completed application form
(http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pghowtoapply), CV, and a letter detailing their suitability for
the post as well as contact details of two academic referees to Mrs C Watson, Faculty of
Science and Technology, Plymouth PL4 8AA or e-mail c.watson@plymouth.ac.uk
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 8th June 2010
Interviews will be held on Thursday 1st July 2010
Applicants who have not received an offer of a place by the end of end of August 2010
should consider that their application has been unsuccessful.