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Current research I am currently doing research at the Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience at the University of Dundee, funded by SNH & SEPA
Developing adaptation and mitigation strategies to minimise the impact of climate change on the conservation interests of Scotland's standing freshwaters Scotland is a country with outstanding freshwater systems providing multiple social, economic and cultural functions as well as providing ecosystem services of global importance. Scotland's lochs contain more than 90% of the total freshwater resource and occupy approximately 3% of the country's land mass. With over 25,000 lochs (>0.1hectare) standing freshwaters are an important part of Scotland's landscape and they come in a myriad of forms and sizes contributing to habitats of international importance for numerous species. There is little comprehensive data covering the ecology of these areas with major gaps in knowledge relating to the distribution of physical types and current conditions. Predicting how these systems might respond to future climate changes greatly amplifies uncertainties and conflicts implicit in environmental management across the entire standing water resource base. This project will examine the potential impacts of climate change on the ecohydrology of lochs in Scotland - that is of the coupled changes in hydrological systems and the subsequent effects on freshwater ecology. This research will explore the geodiversity of lochs (distribution of types and formative processes), their national and international significance, and will consider their conservation and management priorities in respect of current and future pressures. Recent publications Muir, A.P. and Muir, M.C.A. (2011) A New Rapid Assessment Technique for Amphibians: Introduction of the Species List Technique from San José de Payamino, Ecuador. Herpetological Review42(2): 184-187.
Teaching responsibilities Geography Level 1
Lectures in The Changing Biosphere module
Geography Level 2
Lectures in Environmental Management
Part of the Field Trip staff.
Geography Honours
Lecture on the Conservation honours option.
Administrative/Student support roles
Study Abroad/ERASMUS coordinator for the school
Work on aspects of the Student Lifecycle Project.
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