environmental research institute Spring 2012 erielements River Thurso challenges convention The River Thurso conveys im- factors all conspire to ensure that portant trace minerals to the sea. the dissolved organic material This land-ocean interaction, repli- (DOM) stays dissolved, even un- cated all along Scotland’s north der marine conditions. The materi- coast, plays a vital role in supply- al (mostly peat-derived humic sub- ing essential minerals and nutri- stances) is comprised of suspend- ents to the myriad of microorgan- ed colloids which remain stable, isms that are at the base of the and so are able to escape the es- marine food web. However, the tuarine mixing zone and be ex- efficiency of this pump in delivering ported to the marine environment. bioavailable substances is highly In near-shore waters of north and dependent on how much of the nu- west Sutherland, about 20% of the trient load remains in solution (or initially dissolved iron is still solu- suspension)- and for how long. In ble under marine pH and salinity most coastal areas and river mouth conditions. In Thurso Bay, north- systems of the world, these sub- ern Caithness, it is about 100% stances do not travel very far from the river mouth because they are Guided by these findings, ERI re- prone to flocculation. As a result, searchers have recently turned they are removed from the water their attention to the headwaters column to a large degree during of River Thurso in an attempt to mixing with seawater and ultimate- explain why this river has such an ly accumulate in coastal and shelf exceptionally high carrying capaci- sediments. ty for trace minerals. A key part of these efforts is the work done by Oceanographers are taught that Jenny Chang, a joint ERI-National estuaries and river mouths act as Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan filters, removing a large proportion Jenny Chang sampling surface run-off in PhD student. of land derived substances before the field it can be carried to the ocean. Re- Jenny’s work cently, there has been a growing will help us recognition that, in some river mouth systems at to identify the ingredients that least, a significant fraction of the minerals and nutri- enable this particular river wa- ents conveyed by the river are still present in a sta- ter to carry the best part of its ble form in the marine environment, although greatly dissolved load to the ocean. diluted in seawater. One such example of a river Only then can we decide how mouth system that challenges the conventional view many river catchments world- of estuaries as filters for land-derived material can wide offer similar geochemical conditions and what be found in…Thurso. this means for the global flux of minerals to the ocean, from eroded rocks via these river systems. The Flow Country comprises flat-lying, bog-pool sys- tems . It contains a multitude of small, organic-rich Contact: [email protected] rivers which link the peatland carbon stores to the marine environment. A number of poorly understood New faces at ERI Dr Roxane Andersen, Peatland Scientist My role within ERI will be to develop, lead and coordinate peatland research in the North of Scotland and the Islands, in collaboration with a network of partners including research- ers, stakeholders and policy makers. With the Flow Country on the doorstep, this is a dream place for a peatland ecologist and I hope to make the most of it! I completed a PhD in plant sciences in 2009. Before joining ERI, I spent three years as a post-doc at the James Hutton Institute (Aberdeen) working mainly on two projects related to peatland res- toration. While peatlands will be the main focus of my work here, I also co-supervise stu- dents on a project looking at the impact of land-use on plant diversity and ecosystem ser- vices in riparian strips in Québec. I look forward to getting to know everyone at ERI & hopefully developing new partnerships. Contact: [email protected] Barbara Bremner, STEM Co-ordinator/Contract Research My role is split between the co-ordination of the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) activity which ERI delivers, developing student placements and contributing to contract research. Every day is different and can include anything from liaising with inter- national students to sourcing information on adaptation to climate change. ERI is ideally placed to introduce young people to the possibilities of a career in environmental science. Part of my role is to build up a network of contacts and opportunities which will help con- nect schools to the working world of science. My background is in marine biology and ecology & I worked for many years as an environmental conservation adviser throughout Scotland. Contact: [email protected] Dr Neil James, Contracts Researcher and STEM Co-ordinator My research aims to provide advice regarding renewable bio-energy to local rural areas as part of RASLRES (Regional Approaches to Stimulating Local Renewable Energy Solu- tions), and adaptation to climate change to different audiences of coastal communities as part of the CoastAdapt. I also provide support for ERI’s STEM and outreach activities. Be- fore arriving in the Highlands, my work has varied in terms of species, environments, and scales; from macroecological work on North American terrestrial birds, to amphibians on Scottish mountains, and marine zooplankton across the globe. Contact: [email protected] Dr Philippe Gleizon, Research Fellow My interests are in physical oceanography and fluid mechanics. During the past fifteen years, I worked both as researcher and consultant on environmental issues related to the quality of coastal waters and sediments, the sediment dynamics in estuaries and the envi- ronmental radioactivity. My mission at ERI is to support physical oceanographic modelling work. In particular, I am developing a wind wave model of the Scottish Seas, under the MaREE project framework. The model aims to provide waves characterisation in the area, which will be used for identifying sites of highest wave energy resource or potential maintenance risks. It is anticipated that the model can be used as a basis of more specific studies such as the wave current interaction at tidal energy sites. Beyond the specificity of this model. Contact: [email protected] Kirsty Lees, Research Technician I began at the ERI as a MaREE Research Technician in December. Previously, I worked as a Field Ecologist for the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), mostly on mammals and birds. My main interest is in the potential ecological impacts of renewable energy. While at FERA I worked on several projects which monitored the flight paths of birds through current and proposed windfarm developments, both on and off-shore, using a specially configured Radar. I am excited to have the opportunity to be involved in the MaREE project and to focus my interest in renewables on the marine environment. I am also happy to be based back in the north of Scotland having spent 8 months living on North Ronaldsay in 2008 & 2009 working for the RSPB in Golspie. Contact: [email protected] 2 ERI wins Green Energy Award The Environmental Research Institute fought off stiff competition to win the Scottish Green Energy Award 2011 for Contribution to Skills and Training. ERI was chosen because the judging panel felt that we had made the great- est contribution to the development of today and tomorrow’s workforce. ERI was also shortlisted for the Public Sector Initiative Award. The honour was announced at the 10th Anniversary awards held at the National Museum of Scotland on 1st December 2011. Delighted ERI Director, Stuart Gibb said ‘The award is a tribute to our fantas- tic team and the support of our colleagues and funders. Being part of Scot- land’s newest university and being situated on the shores of the Pentland Firth, it is natural that we should address education and training needs for the Scottish renewables industry. We aim to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to make a real contribution to the sector’. Diving seabirds, how deep do they go? As the Scottish Government pledges to provide 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, renewable energy developments are becoming common features of the land and sea. The Pentland Firth, in the north of Scotland is no excep- tion, with sites recently leased for wave and tidal stream devel- opments. However, the environmental effects of marine renew- able energy devices are unknown. Diving seabirds may be at risk from direct impacts. The main concerns are over the po- tential habitat loss and collision with tidal stream turbine blades. One species known to feed in high flow environments such as the Pentland Firth and dive to depths at which tidal tur- bines are proposed to be operating is the black guillemot (locally known as the tystie). Unlike gannets and kittiwakes, little is known about this inconspicuous species of seabird, meaning that it is impossible to estimate (with confidence) the A Black Guillemot risk posed by tidal devices. Scientists from the ERI, with the help of Simon Foster from Scottish Natural Heritage, are tagging tysties on the island of Stroma, Caithness to try and shed light on the situation. Last summer (2011), using depth re- corders and GPS loggers attached to the birds, Dr Elizabeth Masden and others from ERI investigated the behaviour of black guillemots asking questions such as ‘Where do they feed?’ and ‘How deep do they dive?’ The birds however, had a different idea and unhelpfully removed the majority of loggers before the scientists could find the answers to their questions! Tysties 1 – Scientists 0.