E5 Investigating the Biodiversity and Ecological Determinants of Fungus Gnats (Sciaridae): An Emerging Pest in Glasshouse Environments

Supervisors: Dr Arthy Surendran (SRUC), Professor Neil Havis (SRUC), Laura Ross (School of Biological Sciences – Institute of Evolutionary Biology, UoE), Matt Elliot (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)

Start date: October 2025

Duration: 3.5 YEARS

Stipend: UKRI stipend levels (£19,237 in 2024/25)

Location: Edinburgh

Closing date for applications: 6 January 2025

Description: As the UK transitions towards a ban on peat in plant-growing media, the adoption of more sustainable alternatives such as wood fibre, wood chips, and green compost has led to a rise in the prevalence of fungus gnats in glasshouse environments, where they can become significant pests. Despite their growing impact, fungus gnat has been one of the least studied and understood families of Diptera in the British fauna. This lack of research has sparked numerous questions about their biology, behaviour, and virulence, especially about their increased presence in peat-free growing media.

This project will investigate and identify various fungus gnat species present in the glasshouse setting in the UK by employing metabarcoding. The most prevalent species will be selected to study their biology, lifecycle and virulence. Further, the bionomics of the selected species with respect to the peat alternatives will be studied in detail. With special attention to the diet, the shift in fungus gnat’s diet from fungi and algae to living plant cells marks a critical turning point, enabling them to transition from being mere nuisances to significant agricultural pests. This dietary adaptation allows them to damage crops and ornamental plants, intensifying their threat. Muti-omics such as genomics and proteomics tools will be utilised to study the underlying mechanisms.

Finally, the project will evaluate the existing control strategies and develop new environmentally friendly control methods. This includes the production of sterile males or traps utilising the pheromones/volatiles, phototaxis etc.

Eligibility:

For entry to PhD study, applicants are expected to have at least one of the following:

• an undergraduate degree, usually with first or upper second (2:1) class honours or equivalent in a relevant subject, or

• a relevant master’s qualification or equivalent evidence of prior professional practice.

International applicants and candidates from non-English speaking countries will need to meet the minimum language requirements for admission onto the programme of study. These can be found in the Entry Requirements section of the PhD in Agriculture, Rural and Environmental Studies webpage

Application Process:

To apply for an SRUC PhD studentship, please follow the guidance below. The SRUC Doctoral College can provide you with support for your application.

Informal enquiries about the project and your application should be addressed to the project supervisor, Dr Arthy Surendran – [email protected]

Applications are to be submitted via the University of Edinburgh application portal: https://e4-dtp.ed.ac.uk/e5-dtp/supervisor-led-projects/project?item=1734. Applicants are asked to ready the full project description before applying.

If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]