IAP-25-009

Ecological Colonisation of New Anthropogenic Rocks

Humans have become the main drivers of landscape change on Earth. We excavate, transport and deposit far more sediment around the Earth’s surface than natural agents such as rivers (Syvitski et al. 2022). Ecological colonisation of deposits of this anthropogenic sediment and material is well-studied (e.g. Ash et al. 1994; Batty 2005). However, pilot data shows that some anthropogenically-deposited sediment is turning into rock at rates far faster than found in nature (MacDonald et al. 2023; Owen et al. 2025). This new rock is creating virgin habitat, but the ecological colonisation of this type of anthropogenic rock is not known, although work on other anthropogenic materials is emerging (Natanzi et al. 2021).

The overall aim of this project is to determine whether physical and chemical properties of anthropogenic rocks correlate with the distribution of species.

This aim will be addressed through the following objectives:
• Conduct ecological survey of areas of anthropogenic rock
• Map sedimentary facies of the anthropogenic rocks
• Conduct drone survey to assess survey roughness
• Collect samples of anthropogenic rock for analysis of chemical composition
• Synthesis of findings

In order to achieve these objectives, a selection of case study sites will be used. Anthropogenic sediments can be highly varied in there type so this project will focus on one type which readily turns into rock – those derived from ferrous slag (MacDonald et al. 2023; Hilderman et al. 2024; Owen et al. 2025). Ferrous slag is the by-product from iron and steel making, and is composed of minerals rich in calcium, aluminium, iron and silicon; the slag crystallises from molten form when removed from the smelting furnace (e.g. Piatak et al. 2015). The molten slag is typically granulated when cooling and is thus deposited as a sediment. While some slag is reused for aggregates or as a cement substitute, there are billions of tonnes of slag stockpiled as a sedimentary deposit on the Earth’s surface. The project will use case study sites in West Cumbria, which the supervisory team are familiar with. At the case study sites, the anthropogenic rocks are found on the shore (Owen et al. 2025) and so the ecology comprises foreshore and intertidal species. Other case study sites are possible.

At the chosen case study sites, the student will conduct standard ecological surveys on the anthropogenic rock substrates. The same sites will be mapped in terms of the distribution of sedimentary facies in the rock, documenting the spatial heterogeneity of substrate physical properties such as a grain size. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Lidar will be used to create a 3D surface model to assess substrate roughness. Substrate samples will be collected in a grid patterns across the case study sites with samples processed for further laboratory analysis at the University of Glasgow to determine spatial heterogeneity in chemical composition. Scanning electron microscope imaging and chemical mapping will be used investigate mineralogical and chemical changes with lithification. X-Ray Diffraction will be used to determine anthropogenic rock mineralogy and laser ablation mass spectrometry will fingerprint microchemistry. There is also scope for various other types of geochemical analysis (e.g., carbon isotopes), depending on the outcomes of the other analyses. The data will be synthesised in a GIS-based approach to determine patterns and correlations to address the overall aim.

Year 1

Literature review; ecological survey; rock mapping and sampling

Year 2

Complete repeat ecological surveys; complete mapping and sampling; commence laboratory chemical analysis of samples

Year 3

Write up ecological survey results as a paper; laboratory chemical analysis of samples; start writing up anthropogenic rock mapping paper(s)

Year 3.5

Complete any remaining analysis; synthesise ecological and rock results; completion of thesis

This project will equip the student with a range of analytical and transferable skills which are desirable for careers in research or industry (e.g. ecological consultancy, land management).

Research Methods
Fieldwork at the case study sites will be conducted with the supervisory team. Full training will be given in all of the laboratory techniques to be used in the project, mainly at the University of Glasgow but also in collaboration with some external facilities.

Researcher Development
Technical & personal skills development will be undertaken with guidance from doctoral advisors and within the framework of the DLA Researcher Development Statement. Researcher developmental training will be provided by IAPETUS3 and supplemented by the University of Glasgow. The School of Geographical and Earth Sciences at the University of Glasgow (GES) has a large research student cohort (currently ~60 PhD students) that will provide peer-support throughout the research program. The scholar will participate in GES’s annual progression assessment and post-graduate research conference, providing an opportunity to present their research to postgraduates and staff within the School, and to also learn about the research conducted by their fellow postgraduate peers. Additionally, skills in NERC’s ‘most wanted’ list for PhD student training will be developed, including in multi-disciplinarity, data management, numeracy, and fieldwork, in addition to principles and practice of various other laboratory analytical techniques such as stable isotope geochemistry. Training and experience in national and international conference presentations, and preparation and submission of papers to international peer-reviewed journals will also be provided.