Research interests
We are currently experiencing a global biodiversity crisis, with an average fall of 68% in population size of well-monitored species seen in the last 50 years (WWF Living Planet Report 2020). In order to protect biodiversity we need better tools for monitoring, and increased understanding of the impact of environmental pressures. My research focuses on developing DNA-based tools for monitoring biodiversity to understand how species are distributed, how they interact with one another, and how they respond to environmental pressures and conservation strategies such as reintroduction and rewilding. I have a particular interest in invasive non-native species, including harlequin ladybirds and freshwater invertebrates such as Dreissenid mussels and killer shrimp. My group have developed environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting invasive species, monitoring entire communities, and investigating impacts, for example of invasive species, beaver reintroductions and more general rewilding projects. I work closely with a number of stakeholder groups within the UK DNA Working Group, to facilitate understanding and uptake of DNA based methods. Current and recent projects include:
Evaluating biodiversity impacts of beaver reintroductions on invertebrate and vertebrate communities using environmental DNA (Tom Spencer PhD, funded by Natural England)
Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of environmental DNA for monitoring and management of Dreissenid mussels (Sara Peixoto PhD, funded by NERC Panorama DTP, CASE Studentship with Yorkshire Water)
Untangling molecular food webs of non-native invertebrates and their communities (Dr. Marco Benucci, PhD 2020)
Environmental DNA: from detection of priority invasive species to monitoring entire macroinvertebrate communities in freshwater ecosystems (Dr. Rosie Blackman, PhD 2017)
Development of an eDNA-based tool for lake fish monitoring in the UK (main collaborators Dr. Bernd Haenfling (UoH), Dr. Dan Read and Prof. Ian Winfield, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Prof. Nigel Willby, University of Stirling, in partnership with the Environment Agency, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency)
Postgraduate supervision
I am interested in supervising PhD and MSc by Research projects in the following areas:
Molecular ecology, invasive species, invasion ecology, environmental DNA, metabarcoding, environmental genomics, molecular food webs, ecological networks, biodiversity impacts, reintroduction, rewilding.
The following funded projects are currently being advertised:
1. Uncovering the hidden biodiversity benefits of beavers using environmental DNA (NERC Panorama DTP, https://panorama-dtp.ac.uk/research/uncovering-the-hidden-biodiversity-benefits-of-beavers-using-environmental-dna/)
2. Uncovering the biodiversity impacts of rewilding on entire ecological communities at a landscape scale using environmental DNA (UoH funded PhD cluster: REWILD)
Please contact me at l.lawson-handley@hull.ac.uk for more information