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Tory MilnerPhD Research Student MSc Environmental Management, University of Stirlling (2004) Supervisor: Start Date: 1st October 2006 tel: +(44) 1786 466550 fax: +(44) 1786 467843 |
Research Interests
My main research interests lie in exploring the interactions between fluvial geomorphology and ecology. I am particularly interested in developing tools, especially process based river typologies as a method to link these two disciplines. My current research project focuses on the geomorphic controls of rivers types in Scotland, and explores whether different types possess a distinct macro-invertebrate and macrophyte community.
Research Project
Geomorphological and ecological validation of river typing within Scotland: A basis for assessing the impact of river engineering on ecological status
(Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA))
Traditionally, the interactions between geomorphic character and biological communities have been poorly quantified. However, environmental legislation such as the European Union’s Water Framework Directive and Habitats Directive have encouraged the need to (i) classify rivers into types based on their natural morphology and geomorphic processes and (ii) link the natural biota to river types under natural conditions. Typing now forms the basis for evaluating environmental sensitivity to river engineering and determining reference conditions for river restoration. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has modified the Montgomery and Buffington (1997) river typology. The modified typology identifies eleven distinct river types (e.g. bedrock, plane bed, plane riffle, wandering and meandering). In this study, 43 reference condition sites in the upper Dee catchment were chosen to determine the geomorphic validity of the proposed typology, and assess whether river types support a distinct biological community (focussing on macro-invertebrates and macrophytes). Cluster analysis of the morphological variables has identified groupings of the river types, which can be predicted by a suite of geomorphologically controlled variables (e.g. slope, valley confinement, and upstream catchment area). Boundaries appear to be fuzzy, probably relating to local controls and glacial history within the catchment. Individual river types do not support a distinct biological community, although clustering of the biological data does show the relevance of physical habitat, and a number of clusters are apparent. The typology provides a useful geomorphologic and ecological baseline to examine the impacts of river engineering on the ecological status of rivers in the UK.
Keywords: geomorphic, river typology, biological communities, Water Framework Directive, ecological status.
Several of my study sites within Scotland:
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A meandering channel of the Lui Water, the River Dee, Aberdeenshire |
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A bedrock channel of the River Dee, Aberdeenshire |
Publications
On the way!!
Conferences
2009 - AGU Fall Meeting, San Franciso, California, USA.
2009 - First Triennial Symposium for the International Society of River Science (ISRS), University of South Florida, St Petersberg, USA.
2009 - An International Workshop Defining Hydromorphological Condition and Links to Ecology, The Macaulay Institute, Ballater, Scotland.
2006 - An International Conference on Riverine Hydroecology: Advances in Research and Applications incorporating The 10th International Symposium on Regulated Streams (TISORS) and The 2nd International Symposium of Wood in World Rivers (ISWWR II) University of Stirling, Scotland.
Poster presentations
Milner T.S., Gilvear D.J. and Willby N.J. (2009) Geomorphological and ecological validation of river typingin Scotland An International Workshop Defining Hydromorphological Condition and Links to Ecology, The Macaulay Institute, Ballater, Scotland, 1-4 March 2009. 
(PDF 75KB)
Non research activities
I am a keen paddler, and specialise in white water kayaking and canoe polo. In the past few years, I've paddled extensively in Scotland, and have travelled overseas to sample the Alpine rivers of Slovenia, the lakes of north-eastern USA and the tumbling white water of Quebec in Canada. My other interests include cycling and climbing.
