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Because of their importance to terrestrial environments, much research has been carried out into how contaminants impact on earthworm health. As well as investigating how contaminants impact on earthworms I am also interested in how earthworms impact on contaminants.
Mr Bader Albogami is investigating routes of metal uptake using novel isotopic methods.
PhD title: Metal uptake by earthworms
Co-superivor: Dr Stuart Black, University of Reading
Funder: Ministry of Higher Education Saudi Arabia
Datees: 2011-
Ms Alice Johnston is modelling earthworm field populations in response to pesticide applications.
PhD title: Modelling earthworm population dynamics in agricultural fields
Co-supervisors: Professor Richard Sibly (main supervisor), Reading, Dr Permille Thorbek, Syngenta, Dr Tania Alvarez, EcoRiskSolutions
Dates: 2010-
Dr Tom Sizmur investigated how earthworms alter the mobility and availability of metals at contaminated sites. Broadly, earthworms increase metal mobility due to changes in the pH and organic matter status of the soil. In 2012 his paper "Impact of gut passage and mucus secretion by the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris on mobility and speciation ofarsenic in contaminated soil" won the SETAC Europe/Eurofins Best Publication award in the category Chemical Analysis and Environmental Monitoring.
PhD title: Impact of earthworms on metal mobility and availability.
Co-supervisor: Dr B. Palumbo-Roe (British Geological Survey)
Funder: BBSRC– BBD5267291
Dates: 2007-11
Dr Jose Gomez-Eyles studied proxies for the bioavailability of PAHs to earthworms and plants. His thesis was shortlisted for the 2011 Scopus Young Researcher Award
PhD title: Biological and chemical screening procedures for polluted soils
Co-supervisor: Dr Chris Collins, Reading
Funder: BBSRC – BBD5267291
Dates: 2006–2010
Dr Danni Sinnett studied the trophic transfer of metals, not just from soils to earthworms but also to nettles and snails.
PhD title: Development of an ecological risk assessment framework for community greenspace
Co-supervisor: Mr Tony Hutchings, Forest Research
Funder: Forest Research
Dates: 2006–2010
Dr Melanie Bottoms worked on the toxicity of veterinary medicines to earthworms.
PhD title: Bioavailability and toxicity of veterinary medicines to soil biota and microfauna
Co-supervisors: Dr Andrew Parker, Professor Rainer Cramer
Funder: University of Reading
Dates: 2005–9
Dr Sian Ellis investigated variation in earthworm mortality during pesticide field trials.
PhD title: Quantifying the variability of the toxic response of earthworms to the reference chemical Carbendazim in the field
Co-superviors: Dr Phil Wege, Syngenta
Funder: 2005-8
Dates: NERC Industrial CASE studentship with Syngenta – NER/S/C/2005/13472
Dr Jane Andre also studied the evolution of earthworms in response to metal stress. Specifically she worked on earthworms from Cwmyswyth that can survive in lead- and zinc- contaminated soil. Her paper "Molecular genetic differentiation in earthwormsinhabiting a heterogeneous Pb-polluted landscape" was ranked "Exceptional" in Faculty 1000 with a score of 9.
PhD title: Earthworm adaptations to metals: inorganic speciation, biochemical fingerprinting andmolecular genetics
Co-supervisors: Professor John Morgan, Dr Pete Kille, Cardiff University and Dr Stephen Sturzenbaum, Kings College London
Funder: NERC– NER/S/A/2004/12418
Dates: 2004 – 8
Dr Johanne Nahmani worked with a range of field contaminated soils to determine soil chemistry impacts on lead availability and toxicity. She also worked on the kinetics of lead uptake.
Project title: Lead accumulation, toxicity and availability to Eisenia fetida (OECD standard worm)
Co-I: Dr Stuart Black
Funder: Leverhulme trust, F/00 239/E
Dates: 2003 - 5
Dr Caroline Langdon compared lead toxicity in different earthworm species and helped develop protocols in the lab. to determine the impacts of metal speciation on toxicity.
Project title: Lead accumulation, toxicity and availability to Eisenia fetida (OECD standard worm)
Co-I: Dr Stuart Black
Funder: Leverhulme trust, F/00 239/E
Dates: 2002-3
Dr Becky Arnold studied the response of earthworms to long term exposure to copper at Coniston copper mines. She also investigated the impacts of speciation on copper uptake.
PhD title: Earthworm– copper interactions
Co-supervisor: Dr Stuart Black, Reading
Funder: NERC– NER/S/A/2001/06327
Dates: 2001 - 5
Dr Nic Davies carried out experiments investigating the field relevance of laboratory-based toxicity tests used to determine the toxicity of metals to earthworms.
Project title:Mineralogical controls on the bioavailability of lead to earthworms
Co-I:s Dr Stuart Black, Dr Steve Hopkin, Reading
Funder: University of Reading
Dates: 2000 – 1
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