STREAM: Two Rivers' eDNA and Anthropogenic Pollutant Monitoring
Project Overview
Overflow discharges by water companies and agricultural run-off flowing into UK rivers have been identified as a critical problem increasing pollution and reducing water quality, with rising pollutant levels driving concomitant reductions in biodiversity. This studentship, part of the RED-ALERT CDT, characterises the relationship between pollutant distribution and biodiversity changes in the Rivers Taff and Ely. Using environmental DNA and water samples, the research employs metabarcoding to characterise the diversity of plants, animals, and bacteria at sites spanning the headwaters to Cardiff Bay. Simultaneously, Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry is used to detect pollutant types and quantities. To validate pollutant impacts on identified species, assays are developed to determine concentration thresholds that trigger species declines. All results are incorporated into an online dashboard presenting findings through interactive maps and summary statistics for stakeholder decision-making.
RED-ALERT CDT. This studentship is part of the RED-ALERT CDT (Real-time Environmental Digital water-based systems for Alerts, Leveraging Ecosystem Resilience and Transformation). RED-ALERT’s vision is to train and empower a new generation of leaders to transform how we manage aquatic environmental health via Real-Time Digital Water-Based Systems. Underpinned by emerging concepts of Digital Water Fingerprinting and Wastewater-Based Epidemiology, the CDT convenes private, government, regulatory and public sector organisations with world-leading researchers in genetics, ecotoxicology, sensor technology, Internet of Things, autonomous real-time data collection, mathematical modelling, data analytics, informatics and social science.
Research Themes. The project aligns with RED-ALERT Theme 1 (Water Fingerprinting) through the generation of biodiversity and pollutant profiles for the Taff and Ely rivers, and Theme 3 (One Health Modelling) by developing a tool to translate complex omics and pollutant big data into a user-friendly format suitable for stakeholders involved in decision-making and management.
Living Labs. The Taff and Ely rivers form one of four UK Living Labs within the RED-ALERT programme. This studentship fully aligns with this third Living Lab by carrying out activities along these two rivers, focused on the characterisation of pollutants and biodiversity between the rivers’ headwaters and Cardiff Bay. The data generated will further contribute information for this Living Lab and support additional monitoring activities.
Methodology. The student will use metabarcoding of environmental DNA to characterise biodiversity and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry to analyse pollutants across sampling sites. Assays will be developed to test the effect of pollutant concentrations on selected river species, enabling identification of threshold limits that result in species declines.
Training. Training will be provided in eDNA sample collection, extraction, library preparation, and metabarcoding bioinformatics. GCMS training will be provided for pollutant analysis and assay development. Computational training will support the development of the online dashboard.
Online Dashboard. The results of the analyses of water biodiversity and pollutants will be incorporated into an online dashboard that presents research results in a user-friendly manner using maps and summary statistics relevant to stakeholders. The platform will serve to provide new data as this is updated on a regular basis, contributing to the Digital Water Fingerprinting framework within a One Health context.
Team
