Elizabeth Townsend

Profile

I am a PhD candidate investigating the impact of freshwater invasive non-native species on suspended sediment loads across the River Derwent Cathchment in North Yorkshire. In 2016, I graduated with a degree in Zoology from University College London, and have spent the last 4 years working as an environmental contractor managing invasive non-native species across Yorkshire’s rivers.  

Research interests

This project in funded through a NERC DTP research grant in collaboration with Yorkshire Water, who are interested in undertaking work which will help reduce the cost of sediment removal from drinking water across the county, whilst also increasing the biodiversity and amenity value of Yorkshire’s rivers.

My project aims to address the following research questions:

1. What affect do invasive non-native species have on the sediment load of thr River Derwent catchment in North Yorkshire?
2. Which management techniques offer the best solution to reducing sedimnet loads whilst increasing biodiversity and amenity value?
3. How can these techniques be applied at a catchment scale?

Qualifications

• 2016 BSc Zoology, University College London