Project Description

Primary Supervisor - Professor Simon Butler

Soil invertebrates play a major role in carbon cycling, soil aggregation, plant health and food web dynamics. Maintaining and enhancing soil biodiversity is therefore fundamental to optimising soil health and function. However, current methods to monitor soil biodiversity and measure its response to soil and land management practices are costly and intrusive. Acoustic monitoring has long been used in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to detect individual species and monitor biodiversity. Recent work suggests a valuable role for acoustics in monitoring soils too, with early studies linking soil acoustic characteristics to invertebrate abundance and diversity and detecting changes in soil acoustic characteristics in response to restoration management.

Despite its potential, the field of soil acoustics is in its infancy, with key knowledge gaps relating to the impacts of soil characteristics on sound propagation, and the relationship between specific soil acoustic characteristics and critical soil functions. The overarching aim of this project is therefore to better evidence the link between soil acoustics and soil health. Specifically, the student will sample and quantify soil acoustic properties at a portfolio of sites across a mosaic of land-use management, crop type and soil characteristics to:

Obj1: Parameterise and calibrate the relationship between soil biodiversity and soil acoustic characteristics.

Obj2: Determine the influence of soil texture/structure and properties such as carbon stocks, moisture content and compaction on this relationship.

Obj3: Establish the links between soil acoustic characteristics and other factors such as land management practices and above-ground biomass.

Training: The successful candidate will receive extensive training in field and lab data collection skills and the application of ecological principles and concepts to applied issues. You can expect to achieve a high level of competency in statistical modelling, gain a wide range of skills in critical thinking, scientific writing and science communication, and be encouraged to develop independent lines of research alongside the core objectives.

Person Specification: We seek an enthusiastic individual with a degree in Ecology, Environmental Sciences or a related subject. Experience of undertaking acoustic monitoring and biodiversity surveys, and familiarity with computer packages such as R and GIS will be an advantage.

Entry Requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).

Funding

ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.

ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential.

After submitting their application for the relevant ARIES project(s), applicants are expected to complete the ARIES Equality and Diversity Form Applicants - 2027 Entry – Fill in form. One form is required per application, so applicants applying to more than one project must complete a separate form for each.

Please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk for further information.

References

Robinson, J.M., Annells, A., Cavagnaro, T.R., Liddicoat, C., Rogers, H., Taylor, A. & Breed, M.F., 2024. Monitoring soil fauna with ecoacoustics. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 291(2030), p.20241595.

Metcalf, O.C., Nunes, C.A., Abrahams, C., Baccaro, F.B., Bradfer-Lawrence, T., Lees, A.C., Vale, E.M. & Barlow, J., 2024. The efficacy of acoustic indices for monitoring abundance and diversity in soil soundscapes. Ecological Indicators, 169, 112954.

Morrison, C. A., Auniņš, A., Benkő, Z., Brotons, L., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylarecki, P., ... & Butler, S. J. (2021). Bird population declines and species turnover are changing the acoustic properties of spring soundscapes. Nature Communications, 12(1), 6217.

Cooper, R.J., Hama-Aziz, Z.Q., Hiscock, K.M., Lovett, A.A., Vrain, E., Dugdale, S.J., Sünnenberg, G., Dockerty, T., Hovesen, P. & Noble, L., 2020. Conservation tillage and soil health: Lessons from a 5-year UK farm trial (2013–2018). Soil and Tillage Research, 202, 104648.

Keenor, S.G., Lee, R. & Reid, B.J., 2025. Physical protection of soil carbon stocks under regenerative agriculture. Soil, 11(2), 957-973.

Good vibrations: evidencing the links between soil acoustics and soil health (BUTLER_UEA_ARIES27)

Welcome to Norwich

Project Description

Entry Requirements

Funding

References