http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/3889 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 05:36:56 GMT 2026-06-07T05:36:56Z http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6787 Title: Assessing pedagogic benefits of the virtual world to enhance fieldwork Authors: Maddison, Janine Abstract: This research explores the evolving landscape of fieldwork practice, particularly the integration of digital tools in Higher Education (HE) fieldwork within the biosciences. Informed by expert panel interviews, a facilitators of fieldwork survey and student focus groups, the study examines the purpose of both traditional in-field approaches and emerging digital fieldwork practice. A fieldwork taxonomy is presented within this research, which uses pedagogic approach and delivery mode to define fieldwork practice. It investigates the role students can play in co-designing digital tools to address specific pedagogical challenges in fieldwork. Using an iterative design process, the research develops a Digital Field Notebook (DFN), Digital preparation resources, and a Virtual Field Trip (VFT). Student feedback is also used to exemplify the Technology Pedagogic and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework to support the integration of technology in fieldwork. Additionally, expanding upon the role of student partnership, this research examines the feasibility of working with students to design, develop and deliver low-cost live fieldwork broadcasts. In evaluating the co-production partnership valuable insights into skill development and the future role of live broadcasting in fieldwork are shared. Despite students being involved in developing the DFN and recognising the benefits of this digital tool, barriers to the digital tools, barriers to their adoption within biosciences fieldwork remain. Recognising the need for practitioner training to address knowledge and skills gaps when adopting digital tools and the potential for adopting open scholarship practice, the digital tools were shared with the wider fieldwork community as Open Education Resources (OERs) during participatory workshops. These workshops played a key role in disseminating the tools, increases knowledge of the digital tools with participants, facilitating collaboration among attendees, fostering new ideas and supporting the integration of digital tools in fieldwork practice. Description: Ph. D. Thesis. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6787 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6786 Title: Life history, ecology and management of blue sharks (Prionace glauca) in the North Atlantic Authors: Lucas, Solomon Abstract: Overfishing has caused a decline of oceanic sharks and rays by over two thirds since 1970. Resilience to fishing pressure is informed by species-specific life history strategies, which are shaped by phylogeny, environment and individual energy budgets. Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are potentially more resilient to fishing pressure, with their relatively high reproductive output compared to most other sharks. However, blue sharks are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN red list, with declines of more than 50% across three generations in the North Atlantic. To support life history assessments and halt population declines, low-cost methods to assess blue shark growth and to mitigate fisheries bycatch are needed. In addition, the genetic population structure of blue sharks is unresolved, with contrasting evidence for panmixia and regional substructure, preventing effective conservation and management. This thesis aimed to investigate the relationship between shark life history strategies and conservation biology, assess blue shark genetic population structure, and test low-cost methods to assess body size and to reduce bycatch. The thesis starts by exploring the potential for sensory deterrents to reduce marine megafauna mortality in fisheries. The efficacy of sensory deterrents is context specific, depending on species biology, fishery and environmental characteristics. Next, life history strategies of 151 elasmobranch species are assessed using energy budget models. Elasmobranch life history strategies are structured along two axes: pace of life (the fast-slow continuum) and a reproductive strategy axis. Species’ life history strategies, population growth rates and demographic resilience changed between a low and high feeding level. The thesis then develops and tests designs for low-cost stereo-video and laser photogrammetry systems. Stereo video performed significantly better than laser photogrammetry in both pool and field trials, offering a cheap and accurate method to attain non-invasive length measurements of pelagic sharks. The thesis further assesses genetic structure of blue sharks for 307 individuals across eight global sampling locations. Subtle population substructure was found between one cluster in the eastern and southeastern Pacific and a second cluster for all other regions, which suggests they should be treated as independent management units. Finally, the thesis investigates behavioural response of blue sharks to ferrite magnet deterrents deployed on fishing lines. There was no significant difference in bait choices between control and magnet lines. Further development in sensory deterrents is required before implementation in fisheries. Overall, this thesis investigates conservation challenges and multidisciplinary assessment of blue sharks, with potential applications for fisheries management Description: Ph. D. Thesis. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6786 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6781 Title: Investigations into Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Catalysts via Gas Diffusion Electrodes Authors: Fidment, Ella Abstract: The advancement of carbon dioxide (CO2) electroreduction technology is crucial for address ing climate change by transforming CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. eCO2RR offers a route to decarbonise energy requirements for industries where energy-dense molecules are typically used to provide energy, such as aviation and domestic heating. However, developing catalysts that afford selectivity towards multi-carbon products is still the focus of much re search. With longer reduction pathways requiring more electrons, multi-carbon products are still hard to produce at significant rates. Furthermore, degradation of the gas diffusion elec trode is an issue under the electrochemical conditions for CO2 electroreduction. Flooding of the gas diffusion electrode reduces the availability of CO2 at the ideal triple phase reaction centres and hence the selectivity towards carbonaceous products reduces and hydrogen evo lution (HER) increases. This thesis presents research on the optimization of gas diffusion elec trodes for CO2 electroreduction, focusing on the effects of bimetallic catalyst selectivity and hydrophobicity. The hypothesis of this work was the addition of gold with the Cu2O catalyst would have a higher faradaic efficiency for multi-carbon products. The catalytic performance of Au-Cu2O bimetallic catalysts in gas diffusion electrodes was evaluated and it showed enhanced selec tivity for CO2 reduction to ethanol and propanol when compared to the Cu2O catalyst. The research found that the presence of gold in the catalyst composition significantly influences the reaction pathway by facilitating CO insertion and dimerization, leading to a higher selec tivity for C2+ oxygenates over ethylene. Chapter 4 presents the work on Au decorated Cu2O microparticles via electrodeposition were observed to produce higher faradaic efficiency of longer chain alcohols compared to Cu2O microparticles, however the overall rate of production of carbonaceous products decreased. The rate of ethanol and propanol production increased by 2 and 4.5 nmol s-1 cm-2 respectively with the AuCu2O compared to Cu2O. Overall the inclusion of gold in the catalytic layer resulted in higher *CO concentration which favoured high length carbon products. Faradaic efficiency of hydrogen was marginally lower at 16% faradaic efficiency with AuCu2O with respect to Cu2O. In exploring the role of hydrophobicity, the impact of modifying gas diffusion layers with hy drophobic additives was assessed. Nanoporous carbon particles, functionalized with polyfluoroaromatic compounds, were employed aiming to enhance CO2 diffusion whilst main taining hydrophobicity. The hypothesis of this work was that the use of polyfluorophenyl car bons as an additive in the catalyst layer would prevent flooding in the gas diffusion electrode. Initial results indicate that these hydrophobic substrates improve the faradaic efficiency for carbon monoxide production with Ag catalysts. However, the durability of hydrophobicity un der electrochemical conditions poses a challenge, as the effectiveness of these additives de creases over time, affecting the overall stability and efficiency of the CO2 reduction process. The hydrophobicity of nanoporous carbon particles functionalised with fluorophenyl mole cules was measured with capacitance in different potential windows and compared to na noporous carbons absent of functionalisation. It was found that the capacitance per mass was 2.69 F/g of PhF5CIC with respect to a capacitance per mass of 10.92 F/g of CIC. When a more negative potential window was applied, the capacitance of PhF5CIC per mass increased to 6.8 F/g for the PhF5CIC, providing evidence for electrowetting of PhF5CIC. PhF5CIC was utilised as a hydrophobic additive in the catalyst layer with Ag particles and the ratio of CO/H2 was measured. At 5 min, the ratio of CO/H2 faradaic efficiency was 50, showing preference of CO2 electroreduction with respect to HER. However, under longer electrochem ical conditions, the CO/H2 faradaic efficiency ratio lowered to 3 at 22 min, indicating electro lyte intrusion. This is in agreement with the capacitance studies conducted to measure hydro phobicity, whereby hydrophobicity of PhF5CIC decreases significantly under electrochemical conditions. Description: PhD Thesis Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6781 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6780 Title: Combatting pesticide resistance in insects using botanical bio-synergists Authors: Fenton, Hannah Abstract: Over 600 species of pests have developed some level of resistance to pesticides, rendering many products ineffective and reducing the options for pest management. With increasing restrictions on future pesticide use and withdrawal of active ingredients, together with the decline in the rate of new insecticide discoveries, options need to be explored to extend the useful life of products currently available. Plant derived compounds (botanicals) have been shown to interfere with the activity of enzymes that detoxify insecticides and are involved in metabolic pesticide resistance in insects. The use of such compounds can increase the efficacy of insecticides, thereby reducing required application rates and/or counteracting metabolic resistance, allowing effective control to be restored without increasing application rates. In vitro enzyme assays and efficacy testing were used to evaluate whether botanicals could enhance pesticide efficacy against insect pest species associated with brassicas. These included cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala), peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and cabbage root fly (Delia radicum). Botanicals were tested in combination with selected plant protection products and efficacy compared to single product applications, using standard laboratory efficacy testing methods. Data showed that the efficacy of pyrethroids against field-collected P. chrysocephala, which have developed resistance against this pesticide group, can be restored when used in combination with some botanicals, such as neem oil. Pyrethroid efficacy can also be enhanced against M. persicae and P. xylostella when combined with lemongrass oil and garlic oil. Similarly, efficacy of Spinosad against D. radicum can be increased when used in combination with botanicals such as parsley-seed oil and thymol. Enzyme activity assays (esterase, glutathione S-transferase and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase) have also indicated that several botanicals interfere with the function of certain enzyme groups that detoxify insecticides, some of which correlates with the mortality data from the bioassays. Botanicals may counteract the metabolic resistance of some insect pests and thereby restore efficacy and/or allow the reduction of pesticide required for effective control, which could have implications for protecting oilseed rape and other high-risk crops. Description: PhD Thesis Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://theses.ncl.ac.uk/jspui/handle/10443/6780 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z