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Carl Sayer is a Professor in the Department of Geography at University College London (香港六合彩) where he leads the Pond Restoration Research Group (PRRG). His research centres on the restoration ecology and palaeoecology of freshwater habitats (including lakes, ponds and rivers) with a particular focus on landscape-scale conservation in the farmed environment and rewilding.
- More about Professor Sayer
Carl has published over 120 scientific papers in these fields. He has worked at the interface of science and conservation for 25 years and is a co-founder and Director of the , co-founder of the , as well as working in the . Carl is also a key advisor to , and many conservation NGOs on freshwater conservation science.
He is a regular contributor to the media including (2021), (2020), (2020), (2020), (2019, 2023), (2022), (2022) as well as local radio where he has communicated on the restoration of farm ponds (including 鈥済host ponds鈥�), meadows and underwater soundscapes.
In 2022 Carl was awarded the prestigious Sydney Long Memorial Medal for Nature Conservation in Norfolk (awarded by and every two听years). He has given over 120 talks and workshops for nature conservation groups, natural history societies, farmers and the general public on freshwater conservation. He is scared of Black Shuck.
Employment
- Professor, 香港六合彩 (2020-)
- Reader, 香港六合彩 (2016-2020)
- Senior Lecturer, 香港六合彩 (2011-2016)
- Lecturer, 香港六合彩 (2002-2011)
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Fellow, Environmental Change Research Centre, 香港六合彩 (1998-2002)
- Post-doctoral Research Assistant, Environmental Change Research Centre, 香港六合彩 (1997-1998)
Recent Awards
- Sydney Long Memorial Medal for Nature Conservation in Norfolk. Awarded by Norfolk Wildlife Trust & Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists Society (every 2 years) 2022
- 香港六合彩 Provosts Education Award for "Outstanding Response to Teaching During the Pandemic" (Winner) 2021
- 香港六合彩 Student Choice "Inspiring Teaching Delivery & Excellent Personal Tutoring Award(s)" (Nominee) 2020
- CIEEM NGO Impact Award to the Norfolk Ponds Project (2019)
- Campaign for Protection of Rural England (CPRE) "Best Campaign" award to Norfolk Ponds Project 2018
- 香港六合彩 Student Choice "Outstanding Personal Tutoring Award" (Nominee) 2018
- Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership "Outstanding Achievement Award" 2017
- 香港六合彩 Student Choice "Outstanding Personal Support Award" (Nominee) 2017
- 香港六合彩 Student Choice "Outstanding Personal Support Award" (Nominee) 2016
- 香港六合彩 Student Choice "Outstanding Teaching Award" (Nominee) 2015
- 香港六合彩 Public Engagement Award (Winner) 2015
- 香港六合彩 Student Choice "Outstanding Teaching Award" (Nominee) 2013
- Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership Group Award for conservation awarded to the River Glaven Conservation Group 2013
- Teaching
I teach on the following course:听
I teach on the following modules:
Undergraduate
Dissertation (GEOG0037)
Postgraduate
- Scientific Basis for Freshwater and Coastal Conservation (GEOG0108, Convenor)
- Aquatic Systems and Monitoring with Fieldclass (GEOG0173, Convenor)
- Lakes (GEOG0096, Convenor)
- Aquatic Macrophytes (GEOG0107)
- Biological Indicators of Environmental Change (GEOG0122)
- Publications
To view Professor Sayer's publications, please visit 香港六合彩 Profiles:
- Research Interests
Research ethos
I am a passionate environmentalist with a research interest in aquatic habitats, including ponds, lakes and rivers. I was born in a small Norfolk village surrounded by ponds and developed a very early passion for natural history, especially in freshwaters. I now undertake research into the current-day ecology and ecological history of aquatic habitats and make major efforts to transfer scientific findings into practical conservation and restoration action. I am especially keen on landscape-scale ideas in conservation and in re-wilding approaches that put into place natural recovery processes. My research comes under a number of key themes:
Pond restoration research
A major part of my conservation-led research has been focused on ponds, especially in farmland landscapes.听The Pond Restoration Research Group听pages give details of this work which includes studies of pond terrestrialisation, pond restoration by tree and scrub removal, and influences of territorialisation, pond management and fish on landscape-scale biodiversity., including pollinators, birds and bats. An important part of this research is focused on the recovery of rare pond species, especially the crucian carp (Carassius carassius), a fish which has been in steep decline in the UK since the 1970s.
Shallow lake ecology and Palaeoecology
Research in this field has centred on the interface between contemporary shallow lake ecology and palaeoecology. A key research strand has been the reconstruction of centennial-scale changes to the submerged macrophyte communities of shallow lakes using plant macro-remains. Combined with studies of plant seasonality, this work has alluded to some of the key pathways and mechanisms that underly eutrophication-induced plant loss in shallow lakes. Much work has also focused on the development of new palaeolimnological procedures suitable for analysing lesser-studied fossil remains in sediment cores, especially from invertebrates and fishes.
River restoration research
I have a strong interest in the restoration of lowland chalk rivers, inspired by my work with the River Glaven Conservation Group. This research seeks to determine the hydro-ecological consequences of key river restoration techniques, especially river-floodplain re-connection, re-meandering, the use of large wood and the introduction of beavers.
Rewilding
I am a great fan of the rewilding movement and of giving wetland habitats the chance to self-heal via natural processes. In this respect, I am passionate about the need to set farming back from UK rivers and associated floodplain wetlands and to allow for a nature-driven ecological recovery. My ideas are summarised in this Blog post for Wild East.
Conservation of the European Eel
Recently I have started some research into the distribution and passage of the European eel in the catchment of the River Glaven, Norfolk. 听A major focus of this work is the use of headwater ponds and grazing marsh ditch systems by eels and their potential importance for eel conservation. I am undertaking studies in elver recruitment. A major source of information for these studies is the stories and experiences provided by local people, especially the Great Roger Grady, a retired eel catcher.
- Impact
I am a great believer in the need to transfer research findings and scientific knowledge into practical conservation action and policy. In these respects, I am a regular speaker to local interest groups, natural history societies, landowners and the general public with regard to lake, pond and river conservation. I am a regular adviser to Natural England, Broads Authority, Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership, National Trust and the Norfolk Rivers Trust on aquatic conservation issues.
I am a co-founder of the听听(RGCG) which has led the way in terms of river-catchment conservation and restoration in East Anglia over the last decade, winning a number of river restoration and biodiversity awards.
I co-founded founded the听听(NPP) in 2014 with Helen Greaves. The NPP aims to promote and enact pond conservation and restoration in Norfolk, whilst influencing UK conservation policy more generally.听Each year we arrange pond restorations, pond restoration workshops for landowners and farmers and attend agricultural shows and other events to promote the NPP.
I have written several popular articles and blog posts to help inform UK aquatic conservation and to publicise 香港六合彩 research. Also, I have made a number of TV (BBC News, Countryfile) and Radio (BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5, BBC Local Radio) appearances especially to promote the work of the Norfolk Ponds Project. Do listen to this听episode for a flavour of the work that the NPP does.
In 2015 I received the Provost's award for 香港六合彩 "Engager of the Year".
- Research Students
Current PhD Students
- Reagan Pearce: Bringing back the burbot (2020-present)
- Tahir Khanzada: Palaeoecological approach to assist aquatic conservation at the catchment scale (2019-present)
- Eftesum Eftesum: Palaeoecology of farmland ponds and implications for conservation (2019-present)
- David Downes: Restoration of farmland pond landscapes (2018-present - part-time)
- Lucia Lecioni: Recent responses of Scottish Lochs to eutrophication, climate change and lake restoration inferred from palaeolimnology (2014-present - part-time)
- Helen Greaves: Assessing the value of pond management for biodiversity conservation (2011-present - part-time)
Previous PhD Students
- Eleri Pritchard: Impacts of signal crayfish on UK upland stream biota (2017-2021)
- Jonathan Lewis-Phillips: Contribution of pond management to avian diversity and abundance on farms in lowland England (2015-2019)
- Richard Walton: The pond pollinator pantry: Assessing how pond management influences pollinators in the UK farmland landscape (2015-2019)
- Lucy Roberts: Reconstruction and impact of salinity change in coastal lakes (2014-2018)
- Emily Smith: Conduits of invasive aquatic species to the UK: The Angling route (2014-2018)
- Dan Chadwick: Conservation of the White-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes in the face of invasive non-native species pressures (2015-2019)
- Sara Varandas: Hyrdrological influences on invertebrate communities in coastal temporary ponds (2014-2018)
- Isabel Bishop: Assessing the changing status of Najas flexilis in Scottish mesotrophic lochs using the sediment record: implications for conservation (2011-2018)
- Hannah Robson: Causes of decline in the common scoter: Evidence from palaeoecology (2013-2017)
- Emily Alderton: 鈥淕host ponds鈥�: resurrecting lost ponds and species to assist aquatic biodiversity conservation (2013-2017)
- Hannah Clilverd: Hydroecological monitoring and modelling of river-floodplain restoration in a UK lowland river meadow (part-time, 2007-2016)
- Luke Mitchell: Hydrogeomorphic succession of rehabilitated gravel habitat and implications for salmonid spawning (2010-2015)
- Dave Emson: Palaeoecological studies in ponds to explore past Lemna abundances and consequences for pond food-webs (2006-2014 - part-time)
- Murray Thompson: Consequences of woody debris introduction in lowland chalk rivers and implications for restoration ecology (2009-2014)
- Victoria Shepherd: Coleopteran diversity in floodplain ecosystems (2008-2012)
- Jorge Salgado: The relative importance of eutrophication and connectivity in structuring biological communities of the upper Lough Erne system, Northern Ireland (2007-2012)
- Emma Wiik: Understanding the ecological response of marl lakes to enrichment: a combined limnological and palaeolimnological approach (2008-2012
- Xuhui Dong: Using diatom to understand climate-nutrient interaction in shallow lakes: evidence from observational and paleolimnological records (2006-2010)
- Genevieve Madgwick: Macrophyte community change in two lowland lake districts in the UK (2005-2009)
- Daniel Hoare: Did boat-derived toxicity lead to plant loss in the Norfolk Broads shallow lakes? (2003-2007)
- Tom Davidson: Zooplankton ecology and palaeoecology in nutrient enriched shallow lakes; (2002-2006)
- Amy Burgess: The potential of UK lowland reservoirs for the development of diatom-nutrient palaeolimnological inference models (2000-2004)
- Research Grants, Prizes and Awards
Consultancy projects for conservation agencies
Approximately 拢600,000 of consultancy from Natural England, National Trust, Norfolk Wildlife Trust Broads Authority, Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership, Countryside Council for Wales and Environment Agency managed through ENSIS Ltd.
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- 2015: 拢3.65M (FEC) and 拢789,040 to 香港六合彩 for NERC Consortium Grant (Co-I) on 鈥淗ydroscape: Connectivity x stressor interaction in freshwater habitats鈥� (香港六合彩 PI Neil Rose, other 香港六合彩 Co-Is Jones, Bennion)
- 2014-2015: 拢12,308 from NERC Impact Accelerator Award Phase III (PI). "Norfolk Ponds Partnership project"
- 2013-2014: 拢64,971 for NERC Urgency Grant (Co-I) on 鈥淨uantifying ecosystem resilience: catastrophic collapse and recovery of a large river food web鈥�
- 2013-2015: 拢148,000 for NERC BESS project (PI) on 鈥淒ispersal and biodiversity impacts on community assembly and ecosystem services in shallow lake landscapes鈥� NE/K015486/1
- 2011-2014: 拢79,000 for NERC Industrial CASE PhD Studentship (PI) on 鈥淎ssessing the value of pond management for biodiversity conservation鈥�
- 2008-2012: 拢78,000 for NERC CASE PhD Studentship (Co-I) on 鈥淯nderstanding the ecological response of marl lakes to enrichment: a combined limnological and palaeolimnological approach鈥�
- 2006-2009: 拢49,592 for NERC Small Grant (PI) on 鈥淔ish kills and their consequences in shallow lakes: the potential of palaeolimnology鈥� NE/D008344/1
- 2004-2006: 拢24,910 for NERC Small Grant (PI) on 鈥淎chieving species-level identification of fossil oospores from UK Characeae鈥� NE/C515155/1
- 2003-2004: 拢29,213 for NERC Small Grant (Co-I) on 鈥淓cological influences on larval chironomid communities in shallow lakes: implications for palaeolimnological interpretations鈥� NER/B/S/2003/00824
- 2000-2002: 拢34,000 for NERC Small Grant (Co-I) on 鈥淎ssessing the value of plant macrofossil records in shallow lakes鈥� NER/M/S/2000/00320
- 1999-2000: 拢35,011 for NERC Small Grant (PI) on 鈥淧alaeoecological methods for reconstructing past fish communities in shallow lakes鈥� GR8/04350
- 1998-2002: c.拢150,000 for NERC Fellowship (PI-Fellow) on 鈥淚nferring eutrophication-related changes in the trophic structure and biodiversity of shallow lakes鈥� GT5/98/22/CB
British Ecological Society
- 2016- 拢1899 鈥淥utreach Award鈥� from the British Ecological Society on 鈥淎dopt a Pond (Pilot Project) 鈥� The Big Twin Pond Dig鈥� (with Helen Greaves)
Royal Society
- 2004-2006: c.拢18,000 for Joint Project Grant between 香港六合彩 and the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, China (Co-I) on 鈥淧alaeolimnology and shallow lake ecosystem restoration鈥�
- 1999-2000: c.拢25,000 China Fellowship Grant to Carl Sayer (PI) for Yan Zhao on 鈥淩epresentation of aquatic vegetation by macrofossil remains in a shallow lake鈥�
香港六合彩
- 2015: 拢9418 (PI) for 鈥淚nfluencing UK farming sustainability and nature conservation via the Norfolk Ponds Project鈥� from 香港六合彩鈥檚 Higher Education Innovation Fund allocation.
Defra
- 2003-2004: 拢1250 (PI) 鈥淭ributyltin contamination of the Norfolk Broads II鈥�
- 2001-2002: 拢5000 (PI) 鈥淭ributyltin contamination of the Norfolk Broads I鈥�
European Union
- 2020- 310,000 Euros to 香港六合彩 (PI) to 香港六合彩 for Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation project 鈥淧ond Ecosystems For Resilient Future Landscapes in a Changing Climate (PONDERFUL)
- 2010-2014: c. 227,000 Euros going to 香港六合彩 (Participant) for FP7 project 鈥淏iodiversity of Freshwater Ecosystems: Status, Trends, Pressures, and Conservation Priorities (BIOFRESH)鈥� Contract No. 226874
- 2004-2009: c. 1.5 M Euros to 香港六合彩 (Participant) for FP6 project 鈥淚ntegrated Project to Evaluate the Impacts of Global Change on European Freshwater Ecosystems (EURO-LIMPACS)鈥�
National Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
- 2012-2014: 拢24,645 =250,000 RMB (Co-I) for 鈥淗istorical patterns and mechanisms of aquatic plant changes in large shallow lakes: a case study on Liangzi Lake鈥� Project No. 41102105
