If you are seeking to deliver an impactful dissertation topic, with direct relevance to environmental policy makers or, simply looking for inspiration for your final year project, you can search for ideas below.
You can search the research questions that have been directly submitted to us, or browse other collections of research ideas from partner organisation such as Natural Resources Wales and Climate Cymru. We are still adding relevant keywords to the data, so try a different search term if nothing comes up or get in touch for support searching the database.
If you do find a question of relevance and decide to address it through your dissertation, we would really like to know about it. Please fill out the form that can be found here.
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**HIGH PRIORITY** What are the productivity and survival rates of seabirds at various Welsh colonies?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): **HIGH PRIORITY** Productivity and survival rates of seabirds at various Welsh colonies,”Seabirds, Productivity, Survival rates, Welsh colonies, Marine birds”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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**HIGH PRIORITY** What are the reasons for the decline of herring in Milford Haven?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
There has been a recent decline in herring abundance observed in the Milford Haven
Waterway. Various projects could look at the possible reasons for this decline, including:
suitable conditions for spawning of herring in Milford Haven; analysis of multi-year
environmental data, changes in sediments; egg numbers (possibly eDNA work to detect
peak spawning times) etc. This could potentially also include further genetic and otolith
work. Further analyses of historic data regarding sub race of herring in Milford Haven and
links to wider population of herring spawning grounds in Wales could be investigated.
Suggested level of research: PhD
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): **HIGH PRIORITY** Reasons for the decline of herring in Milford Haven,”Herring decline, Milford Haven, Marine species, Habitat change, Fisheries”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
**HIGH PRIORITY** What are the reasons for the decline of maerl in Milford Haven?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The maerl bed in Milford Haven has been declining for several years now (decreasing
percentage of live maerl etc) but the reasons for this decline are unclear. This project
would be an investigation into the historic environment of Milford Haven and previous
suitable conditions for estuarine habitats e.g. maerl, through use of deep cores, ancient
DNA etc. What were the conditions in Milford Haven historically that promoted favourable
conditions for maerl beds and other estuarine habitats and species? What has changed,
what is now impacting the estuary and what can be improved?
Suggested level of research: PhD
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): **HIGH PRIORITY** Maerl, Milford Haven, Habitat decline, Marine conservation, Environmental threats, fish
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
**HIGH PRIORITY** What are the reasons for the decline of sponges in the Menai Strait?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Monitoring has shown declines in the abundance and biomass of sponges in the Menai
Strait but the reasons for the decline are unclear. This project would undertake sponge
health investigations. For example: What are the impacts of water quality on sponges?
Microbiome related lab trials may be possible. Pathogen impacts relating to water quality
or other sources could be investigated. Seasonal changes could be studied, and
comparisons made to other sponge samples. Following on from recent investigations it
would be useful to study the growth and health changes of Haliclona oculata, Halichondria
panicea and Amphilectus fucorum related to varying levels of sewage inputs. Ideally
modelled data could be used to estimate past expected levels at the site followed by tank
studies to look at growth compared to current levels. This would include various expected
inputs related to sewage e.g. bacteria, suspended matter, ammonia / nitrogen etc. This
could be accompanied by monitoring in the field at sites at different distances to sewage
outfalls.
Suggested level of research: PhD
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): **HIGH PRIORITY** Decline of sponges in the Menai Strait,”Sponges, Menai Strait, Habitat decline, Marine species, Ecosystem health”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
**HIGH PRIORITY** What is the efficacy and potential longer-term impacts of acoustic deterrent devices?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
There remains a gap in knowledge of how some marine mammal, fish and bird species
respond to acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs). They are routinely advised as potential
mitigation techniques for tidal energy and other industries/activities but while there is some
information for seals around aquaculture sites, and for fish at power stations, our
understanding of how effective these are for some species remains limited or unknown, for
example for delphinids like bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins. There are multiple avenues of
research, but this can mainly focus on three or four different areas:
• basic research on the behavioural response of a species (birds, mammals, fish) to a
specific type, or types, of ADD in the shorter term
• similar to the above, but focusing more on longer term deployment (e.g. Findlay et al
2024 is a good example based on evidence from Scottish aquaculture on the West
coast)
• physiological (particularly stress) responses, with a specific focus on impacts on energy
budgets and fertility and / or linking these to population models such as IPCoD or
DEPONS.
Suggested level of research: PhD
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): **HIGH PRIORITY** Efficacy and longer-term impacts of acoustic deterrent devices,”Acoustic deterrent devices, Marine mammals, Impact assessment, Long-term effects”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
**HIGH PRIORITY** What is the sensitivity and longevity of the species that make up the Fragile sponge and anthozoan community Section 7 habitat?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Limited data exists on the longevity and sensitivity of fragile sponge species and other
species that form the Fragile Sponge and Anthozoan habitat listed under Section 7 of the
Environment (Wales) Act. In order to understand how best to manage, determine condition
and evaluate impacts, information is needed on how long the species live for, growth rates
and how they respond to pressures (mainly physical, but other pressures such as
sedimentation and water quality may also be relevant). The study could involve in situ
recording, use of photo monitoring datasets and lab experiments. The research ask is
quite broad and would benefit from collaboration with other Nature Conservation Bodies
where this is also a feature of protected sites. It is hoped that outputs from this research
would feed into evidence gaps within MarESA (Marine Evidence based Sensitivity
Assessment) and update sensitivity information for these communities.
Suggested level of research: PhD
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): **HIGH PRIORITY** Sensitivity and longevity of species in Fragile sponge and anthozoan community Section 7 habitat,”Fragile sponge, Anthozoans, Section 7 habitat, Species longevity, Marine conservation”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
**HIGH PRIORITY** What is the tipping point of community change in benthic sediment habitats when hard substrates are introduced?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This project would examine sediment community change in areas where hard substrates
are introduced as part of offshore infrastructure developments. There are various
directions a project could head in, such as investigating the hard substrate-related tipping
points that would lead to community change in different sediment types at local or regional
scales, and at differing spatial densities or distributions. Work could include an evidence
review and analysis of monitoring data from industry, as well as targeted field based
studies to gather data from specific sites.
Suggested level of research: PhD
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): **HIGH PRIORITY** Tipping point of community change in benthic sediment habitats when hard substrates are introduced,”Benthic sediment, Community change, Hard substrates, Marine habitats, Ecological impact”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Action research on how to engage intergenerational audiences in grappling with the complexities of effective design, particularly for care home gardens and other settings and particularly, how this could be supported by a Gamifying approach, such as that being taken by Swansea University.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
It would help my work if more people could understand how Nature Based Solutions can simultaneously address multiple issues, e.g. well-designed gardens and parks can
help with:
● Reducing emissions by cutting vegetation less often, binding carbon into live biomass in the plants, soil etc.
● Mitigating impacts of climate change by utilising the cooling effect of shady plants and trees (instead of air con) to protect buildings and their occupants / residents.
● Supporting biodiversity and human wellbeing by managing our environments for wildlife benefit.
I am currently working with Local Places for Nature funding to create gardens for care homes and other similar settings serving the needs of deprived communities such as elderly and disabled people. But this is capital only funding, with limited revenue for community engagement aspects of the work. I’m eager to engage care home residents, staff, managers and families/friends/ visitors/ in co-designing these spaces along with neighbouring community groups and potential volunteers, including pupils and staff of nearby schools.
We’re working with UNISON and Wales Union Learning Fund to develop and deliver staff training on aspects of this agenda, including coping with extreme weather events. But I’d like to take this work to the next level, and include an Action Research dimension, to capture something from the process and make it available to benefit others working in this field.
Ultimately my goal would be to see this approach integrated into the wider Nature Recovery Action Plan process, whereby publicly owned land such as care home gardens would be protected for nature (as required by COP15 : what’s been agreed, and what it means for Wales) and managed accordingly; and public bodies and trade unions would support their staff and members to engage fully in this process for the wellbeing of future generations – although this is admittedly an ambitious goal, given current circumstances, but one I see as vitally necessary to a sustainable and Just Transition.
Keywords (discipline, other): Sustainability, Planning, Environmental Policy, Action Research, gamification, social care, horticulture, nature based solutions, Just Transition, Nature Recovery Action Plan
Website/URL links: https://research.senedd.wales/research-articles/cop15-what-s-been-agreed-and-what-it-means-for-wales/
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Ceredigion council
Contact Details
Name: Rachel Auckland Email Address: rachel.auckland@ceredigion.gov.uk Phone: NA
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Adapt to the threat posed by a changing climate on groundwater
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Due to climate change we expect to see:
– an increase in seawater intrusion to groundwater near the coast.
– an increase in flooding from groundwater
– an increase in spring and other shallow abstraction sources drying up due to changing rainfall patterns
Changing rainfall patterns means springs and other shallow sources are likely to dry up more often.
We need to understand where this might happen and advise what mitigation, if any, is possible.
Demand for renewable sources of heating and cooling such as ground source heat pumps is likely to increase the pressures on groundwater in urban environments
We need to assess where increased demand for groundwater might occur and ensure we have appropriate ways of regulating these uses
Keywords (discipline, other): Groundwater, climate change, sea level rise, pollution, ground source heat pumps
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/news-and-blogs/blogs/the-state-of-our-groundwater-in-wales-why-we-monitor-it-and-what-it-is-telling-us-about-groundwater-levels/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Are artificial reefs a good thing for fish populations and benthic communities?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): Artificial reefs’ effects on fish populations and benthic communities,”Artificial reefs, Fish populations, Benthic communities, Marine habitat, Biodiversity”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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