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DISC: Research Required in the Solent |
Effective coastal management needs to be based on sound scientific research. This webpage has been developed to give information on research projects that Solent Forum members would like to see taken forward. They can be carried out by students as a post or undergraduate dissertation and will also be taken to the various Solent Forum Sub Groups to see if they can be taken forward via joint working between Solent Forum members.
If you are a student and are interested in taking forward research on the different aspects of the Solent you may like to undertake one of the projects identified by the Solent Forum which are detailed below. If you would like further information on any of these projects contact the Solent Forum Office.
If you have any research projects that you would like us to add to the website, please contact the Solent Forum.
Coastal Defence
Environment Quality
Fisheries
Historic Heritage and Maritime Archaeology
Landscape and Seascape
Marine Industries
Natural Resources
Physical Processes
Planning
Public Information
Recreation and Tourism
Transport, Ports and Shipping
Wildlife and Habitats
1. Examine the socio-economic implications of practical saltmarsh management techniques in the Solent
2. Investigate the natural, human and economic assets at risk from coastal flooding in the Solent area
1. Monitor levels of nutrient inputs of Isle of Wight and Solent estuaries and assess the relative contribution of point and diffuse discharges as part of the Review of Consents under the Habitats Directive.
2. Investigate the volume of oil spillages and discharges into the Solent, from all craft and sources to increase the understanding of the impact of incremental spills*
1. Investigation into interaction between marine wildlife and fisheries
Historic Heritage and Maritime Archaeology
1. Investigation into the number of designated conservation areas for heritage and archaeology in the Solent and how these have changed over time
1. Investigation into the change to the Seascape of the Solent over the last 20 years
2. Investigation into the number / percentage of landscape features lost, degraded or enhanced in the Solent over the last 10-20 years
3. Investigation into the changes in landscape assessments carried out by the Solent local authorities
4. Study into the number, extend, quality and degree of landscape and seascape improvement schemes in the Solent over the last 10 years
5. Investigation into the perceived quality of the coastal landscape in the Solent
1. Research into the economic importance of marine industries (excluding the ports industry) in the Solent
2. Research into the level of employment reliant on marine industries (excluding the ports industry) in the Solent
3. Research into the diversity of the marine industry base in the Solent
4. The Environment Centre (Southampton) are currently looking at improving the re-use of waste wood - many marinas have cut-offs from pontoons that could be redirected from landfill. Need to get support for this project to work and also identify sources of wood*.
1. Investigate the levels of aggregates used in the Solent coastal area from secondary and recycled sources rather than marine to use as an indicator.
1. Review the impact of current marine and coastal aggregate extraction licenses and coastal defence systems on coastal processes and habitats
2. Research the processes influencing the distribution of coastal habitats in the Solent, and the potential for retaining these resources in the face of projected sea level rise and climate change
3. Promote research into the causes of recent coastal changes (natural and anthropogenic), determine future trends, and assess the potential for the amelioration of such changes (e.g. by removal of groynes).
4. Review existing research investigating the links between offshore aggregate dredging and coastal sediment supply, and determine whether additional work is needed.
5. Collate and review research on estuary dynamics, including the effects of sediment removal in relation to its impact on coastal habitats. Develop and implement a range of innovative techniques (including intertidal recharge) for ‘recycling’ and strategic disposal of waste dredged sediments within the estuarine system with the aim of restoring and enhancing coastal accretion and the natural coast and flood protection functions and biodiversity of coastal and estuarine habitats
6. Examine the economic, suitability and environmental impact of recycling marina dredged ‘waste’ sediments for promoting coastal accretion.
7. Investigate the beneficial use of fine dredged materials to promote intertidal flat accretion. Initiate an environmental assessment for a potential pilot project.
8. Develop a range of measurement techniques to monitor and analyse the performance of saltmarsh systems and inter-tidal recharge techniques. Consider and assess the environmental impact and feasibility of a pilot project utilising material from Southampton
1. Collate information on uptake of wetland and waterside land options in the vicinity of Isle of Wight estuaries (water level, fen, reed bed. Ditch management) of Countryside Stewardship Schemes
2. Project to look at the links between the Solent Forum indicators project, which developed indicators for measuring the health of the Solent, and LDFs, sustainability appraisals etc to guide local planning authorities*.
1. Project looking at the usefulness of interpretation and its different forms*
2. Develop a new agreed co-ordinated approach to providing information to the public on water quality in light of the Proposed Revisions to the Bathing Water Directive*
3. Improved information dissemination for public access. Attempt to change public opinion and increase understanding, perhaps using a website*
1. Investigate the issue of the variation in speed limits around the Isle of Wight and the wider Solent. Is there a need for more coherence within the byelaws?*
2. Investigate disturbance by recreational activity especially to birds: collate/promote existing research and good practice
3. Investigate impacts of recreational activities on BAP and SEMS habitats and species*
4. Research methods of recording the number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation on the Solent coast
5. Investigate the intensity of recreational activity (both land and water based) on the Solent coast
6. Develop measure for the indicator proportion of attractions with implemented environmental quality management plans on the Solent coast
7. Research into the level of participation at coastal based recreational facilities in the Solent
8. Project looking at tourism and recreation promotion and best practice
9. Solent Forum project to improved access for walkers and cyclists especially the potential for a Hayling island circular path (involvement of sustrans)
1. Investigate the economic importance of the ports industry in the Solent and how it has changed over time
2. Study examining the level of employment reliant on the ports industry in the Solent and how it has changed over time
3. Research into how to calculate the proportion of journeys taken by public transport in the Solent area
1. Complete coastal and estuarine habitat surveys and update maps of habitat distribution and quality, in liaison with the Solent CHaMP. Monitor the success of habitat management and restoration initiatives.
2. Develop programmes to monitor the extent and quality of coastal habitats, taking into account CHaMP recommendations.
3. Continue research into the use of remote sensing (e.g. LIDAR, CASI) for monitoring the extent and rate of change in soft coast habitats, initially at two year intervals.
4. Establish an agreed monitoring programme for coastal biodiversity (in particular bird numbers) to use as an indicator of the 'health' of coastal systems.
5. Investigate the extent of natural transitions between coastal and terrestrial habitats and initiate a restoration programme to increase the extent of such transitions.
6. Identify potential sites for restoration of eelgrass beds and draw up a strategy to implement restoration.
7. Develop and use standardised procedures for long-term monitoring of eelgrass beds in Hampshire (extent, health, associated communities), building on the CHaMPs baseline and existing monitoring programmes e.g.[i]) as part of a UK-wide network of eelgrass).
8. Research the natural and anthropogenic factors which influence the recruitment, establishment, persistence and loss of eelgrasses.
9. Clarify the classification and extent of Solent saltmarsh behind seawalls.
10. Carry out research and survey to determine key areas suffering from erosion and any accreting sites, then determine the potential for retaining and/or augmenting the saltmarsh resource in the Solent.
11. Collate the results of research into the factors (including grazing, natural sedimentation and re-vegetation) influencing the establishment and development of saltmarsh vegetation in the Solent.
12. Identify and undertake conservation research on areas where rehabilitation and re-creation of wet grassland may be undertaken (e.g. Lower Test and Avon Valley).
13. Ensure that appropriate indicator species are being used for coastal wet grassland habitat quality monitoring (more information may be needed on breeding bird populations and plant and invertebrate communities) and improve monitoring undertaken.
14. Monitor seawater intrusion into coastal wet grassland, using vegetation indicators, hydrology and water quality.
15. Ensure that the important transition zone between fresh and brackish water (e.g. for ditch invertebrate biodiversity) is maintained and responses to changes monitored as part of overall water management plans.
16. Develop a strategy, using current monitoring programmes, to determine the condition of SAC lagoons in the Isle of Wight and to monitor the impacts.
17. Investigate the development of a marine reserve in the Solent investigate: possible of areas; methods of implementation; systems of management etc*.
18. Analyse trends from baseline data of breeding, low tide and high tide wader monitoring.
19. Undertake research into the effects of management practice and other impacts on the Solent's biodiversity.
20. Investigate the sediment budgets within specific systems in the Solent.
21. Undertake research into the probable effects of managed realignment on new sites in the Solent.
22. Identify local effects of climate change on the Solent's biodiversity.
23. Determine the effects of pollutants, including residual effects of former pollution / nutrification in the Solent.
24. Research the success of the SEMS bait digging code of conduct and obtain baseline information from areas where bait is collected.
25. Carry out an audit of potential Saline Lagoon creation sites in the Solent
26. Undertake a review of saltmarshes historically and currently grazed in the Solent area, with a view to restoring extensive or light grazing to larger areas of middle and upper saltmarsh habitat.
27. Investigate the impact of recreational activities on the BAP and SEMS habitats in the Solent*
28. Production 'Birds of the Solent' book which analyses and presents attractively the huge amount of data gathered*
29. Project looking at the marine ecology of the Solent and the data which has been collected*
30. Project to investigate if debris on the foreshore is beneficial or not*
* These are projects put forward by Solent Forum members at the Spring Solent Forum meetings
See other Solent Forum Projects
This page was last updated on 09/05/05
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