Research Projects

Ongoing research projects

Adaptive Management of Barriers in European Rivers (AMBER)

Constituted of an EU-wide consortium of scientists, hydropower and non-profit organisations, AMBER aims to explore and use innovative solutions to reconnect rivers. Across European rivers, many hundreds of thousands anthropogenic barriers exist, many of which are obsolete. Although some of these barriers may be of importance for economical, historical or societal reasons, and might even limit or prevent the spread of invasive river species, they form a major threat to the ecological integrity of river networks by reducing longitudinal connectivity vital for many biota, but especially for highly mobile groups like fish. A wide range of fishes, both migratory and more sedentary ones, depend on freely available rivers for completing their respective life cycles, and for seeking shelter, food or nursery habitat. It is therefore urgently needed that all barriers in rivers across the EU are recorded, their impacts - currently and in the future - on the river system examined, and opportunities for re-opening rivers explored, all of which are key points the AMBER project is focused on. For several work packages within AMBER, Durham University (Martyn Lucas and Jeroen Tummers) works in close collaboration with the University of Southampton and Danish Technical University (DTU) Aqua. Durham University is contributing further expertise to the AMBER project in the field of hydromorphology by remote sensing (Dr. Patrice Carbonneau, Mr. Shobhit Pipil - Geography) and socioeconomics (Prof. Riccardo Scarpa, Dr. Sergio Vallesi - Business School). The project received funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.

Behaviour and evolutionary ecology of charr ecomorphs in the high Arctic

We are interested in the evolutionary processes of speciation (led by Prof. Rus Hoelzel, Durham) and the behavioural ecology of multiple ecomorphs of this salmonid (“Darwin’s fish”) in sympatry and in relation to extreme climate conditions (led with Carolyn Rosten [NI, Norway] and with Kate Hawley (Norwegian University of Life Sciences / Norwegian Inst. for water Research), Guttorm Christensen (NIVA Akvaplan) and Thrond Haugen (NMBU).

The ecological impacts of Aquatic Invasive Species on stream ecosystems and on the conservation of target species

This project is led by Shams Galib, Commonwealth funded PhD student at the University of Durham, supervised by Dr Martyn Lucas. Signal crayfish, one of the most successful and widely distributed invasive species, is being used as the focal invasive species in this project that is being carried out in the rivers of nothern England.

Improving river connectivity for lowland river fishes

Lowland river fishes are often overlooked when it comes to fish migration and the need for free flowing rivers, as many fish passage designs are geared towards the socially and economically important fishes, such as salmon and sea trout. Led by Angus Lothian (Durham University), and in partnership Dr Chris Gardner and Toby Hull (South East Rivers Trust), supervised by Dr Martyn Lucas (Durham University), we were interested in how effective a Low Cost Baffle fishway was at facilitating upstream movement of several lowland river fishes – barbel, chub, dace and roach – and how the fish behaved around the weir and fishway.

Behaviour of three trout phenotypes at a Larinier super active fishway

As fishways construction becomes an increasingly common technique for mitigating the impacts of barriers to movement, and increasing the ecological status of a river, it is important to ensure that the design functions well for the all potential fish that might use it. Led by Angus Lothian (Durham University), with Harrison Anton (Durham University), Robert Cavaye (Durham University) and Dr Michael Schwinn (Danish Technical University), and supervised by Dr Martyn Lucas, we are interested in how three phenotypes – anadromous, potamodromous, and juvenile – of brown trout behaved and utilised a Larinier super active fishway during the upstream spawning migration period using a combination of Radio and PIT telemetry.

Effects of phenotypic variation on behavioural ecology of trout

This project is run by Harrison Anton (Durham University) and Robert Cavaye (Durham University), with Angus Lothian and supervised by Dr Martyn Lucas. This study is investigating how three different phenotypes move and utilise different habitats during the autumn spawning period.

Fish assemblages and aquatic habitat response to removal of a tidal weir

This project is part of the PhD studentship of Jingrui Sun at Durham University, supervised by Dr Martyn Lucas, in collaboration with the Tees Rivers Trust. This tidal barrier in NE England is impassable to many fish species.Fish community metrics will be evaluated using electric fishing in multiple 20m zones below and above the weir, before and after removal.In addition, habitat changes as a result of barrier removal are studied.

The diversity and adaptability of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), and their potential to respond to climate change

Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) are the most Northernly distributed freshwater fish on the planet, and are the only fish species present in many high Arctic lakes. They display extensive morphological, ecological and behavioural variability, and multiple ecotypes are found to co-exist in lake systems. In this project we integrate genetic, ecological and fatty acid analyses to explore the adaptability of Arctic charr at the Northern and Southern extremes of their biogeographical range. This project is led by PhD student Ellie Ward and is funded by the DurhamARCTIC programme. It is supervised by Prof. Rus Hoelzel (Bioscience), Dr Martyn Lucas (Bioscience) and Prof. Erin McClymont (Geography) in collaboration with Guttorm Christensen (NIVA Akvaplan, Tromsø).

Ecology and conservation of African anguillid eels

This project is led by Céline Hanzen, PhD student at the University of Kwazulu Natal, supervised by Dr Gordon O’Brien (UKZN), Prof. Colleen Downs (UKZN) and Martyn Lucas. Anguillid eel species are declining worldwide but very little is known about the status and ecology of those species in Africa and how best to conserve them. Céline’s research will help to change that.

Integrating genetics and telemetry to inform conservation management of Atlantic salmon

This project is being led by Sunny Bradbury, PhD student at the Rivers and Lochs institute, University of the Highlands and Islands Inverness College. Sunny is supervised by Prof. Eric Verspoor at UHI, cosupervised by Dr Ben Williamson, Environmental Research Institute, Thurso and Martyn Lucas. Sunny is investigating the interplay between local genetic variation, adaptation and how it may affect smolt run timing and behaviour.

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