KYLE WESTON

PhD Student

Research Title: Chironomid 13C: A Novel Paleolimnological Tool Towards a Process-Based Understanding of Carbon Dynamics in Tropical Freshwater Ecosystems
Research Group: Tropical Environmental Change (TEC)
Thesis Advisor: Prof David Taylor

In my BSc Geography dissertation and Masters by Research thesis, I explored climate and lake environment history in the United Kingdom, using fossil chironomids (non-biting midges) which are preserved in lake sediments. My PhD research aims to build on this by reconstructing the biogeochemistry of tropical lake and reservoir systems to gain a process-based understanding, including how they transform and store carbon. A suite of paleolimnological proxies will be used but I will focus on measuring the carbon isotopic content of chironomids, a new tool for tracing carbon flows through the aquatic food web.

I am interested in understanding how we as humans impact and are impacted by freshwater ecosystems. This flows out from my belief that effective stewardship of the environment is not only a duty but is crucial more than ever for a healthy and stable society in the long term. My aim is to contribute to a positive relationship between humans and the environment.