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UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH)
Background:
Humans have massively altered flows of nitrogen on our planet, leading to both benefits for food production and multiple threats to the environment. There are few places on Earth more affected than South Asia, with levels of nitrogen pollution rapidly increasing. The result is a web of interlinked problems, as nitrogen losses from agriculture and from fossil fuel combustion cause air and water pollution. This damages human health, threatens biodiversity of forests and rivers, and leads to coastal and marine pollution that exacerbates the effects of climate change, such as by predisposing reefs to coral bleaching. Altogether, it is clear that nitrogen pollution is something we should be taking very seriously.
A major research hub established under the UK Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF), the “South Asian Nitrogen Hub" is a partnership that brings together 32 leading research organizations with project engagement partners from the UK and South Asia. All eight countries of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP) are included in this venture.
The overall goal of the GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub is to develop an approach that links the many impacts of human alteration of the nitrogen cycle on environment, health, food security and climate resilience.
Maldives National University (MNU) is the lead agency for the project in the Maldives. As the proceeds of the project, MNU requires the services of a researcher from MNU to work in affiliation with a senior marine biologist hired for the project, to carry out specific activities that fall under objective 3 and 4 of the project.
The hub has four key objectives:
OBJECTIVE 1: To establish an approach that integrates the scientific, social, cultural and economic evidence needed for an effective NITROGEN POLICY ARENA.
OBJECTIVE 2: To identify the solutions to producing more food and energy with less pollution, maximizing resilience and co-benefits, while minimizing trade-offs.
OBJECTIVE 3: To improve understanding and awareness of KEY NITROGEN THREATS in South Asia, including education through MOOCs.
OBJECTIVE 4: To integrate regional nitrogen flows and impacts in South Asia
Objectives for Work Package 3.2:
Address the threat of eutrophication to coral reefs, which can both predispose and prevent recovery following temperature-driven coral bleaching’ (e.g., the 2016 event led to >95% coral death in some areas). Technology deployment by UK and India will allow investigation of historical change and source attribution using 15N techniques, while sharing reef monitoring protocols (inc. coral recruitment, predation) and strengthening capacity with Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with additional support through UN Environment, SACEP and IUCN. Comparison of uninhabited/populated atolls, supported by data on herbivorous fish stocks (inc. Laccadive, Andaman & Nicobar) in the context of ocean acidity, will help inform how much agricultural and waste-water measures could aid coral recovery
Work package level Specific objectives:
Identify the impact of elevated nitrogen on the susceptibility of corals to temperature-induced bleaching
Identify the impact of nitrogen on the recovery rate of reefs impacted by temperature-induced bleaching and other disturbances (sedimentation etc.)
Identify the role of seagrass and mangroves on influencing nutrient cycling and hence the impact on adjacent coral reefs
Identify atmospheric nitrogen inputs and impacts
Identify and quantify the sources of nitrogen to our field-site reefs.
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