Daniel Jolly

Daniel is PhD researcher in the School of Environmental Sciences, specialising in understanding the impacts of biodegradable plastics on ecosystem function and structure. Daniel undertook his undergraduate studies of Environmental Geography at the University of York where his interests focused on marine environments the the interactions between climate and ecology. He further specialised in functional ecology and in particular, marine and coastal environments during his postgraduate Master's studies. His Master's Thesis was titled "Investigating the impact of temperature and food availability on intraspecific functional and behavioural trait variation". Daniel's current research as a PhD student focusses on biodegradable plastics, and how their role as litter in the open environment could empact the structure and functioning of ecological communities.

Research Interests

How biodegradable plastics may impact invertebrate community structure and succession in marine and freshwater ecosystems.

The potential interactions and roles biodegradable plastics may cause as an environmental stressor in conjunction with other environmental conditions such as temperature, nutrient loading and oxygen content.

How biodegradable macroplastics evolve over time and the different potential impacts on ecosystem function they may have at different stages in their life cycle.