Dr Rhian Thomas

  • Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography and Freshwater Science (School of Geographical & Earth Sciences)

telephone: 01413302287
email: Rhian.Thomas@glasgow.ac.uk

Ges, East Quadrangle, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ

Import to contacts

ORCID iDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3060-4641

Research interests

My current research focuses on improving and adding new knowledge of the habitat, ecology and behaviour of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera), a critically endangered bivalve (IUCN Red List), of which Scotland is home to approximately half of the global population. The species is in decline across its range so it is crucial we better understand how to improve conservation management of this globally endangered species. My research brings together both Government bodies, such as SNH and SEPA, and also industry, such as SSE.  We are specifically looking at how the mussel responds to changes in the flow regime, and the mussel's relationship with its host fish, which can be Atlantic salmon or brown trout here in Scotland. 

Another research interest are the associations between environmental drivers of change and disease risk in northern Tanzania.

My PhD was based on the development and evaluation of a cellular model to simulate braided river dynamics. The fieldwork for this research was carried out in the Harper-Avoca catchment in the South Island of New Zealand.

 

 

 

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2018 | 2016 | 2007 | 2002
Number of items: 11.

2023

Hurst, M. D. and Thomas, R. (2023) The physical geography of Scotland in the Scottish Geographical Journal. Scottish Geographical Journal, 139(1-2), pp. 1-19. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2023.2231405)

2022

Philo, C. , Hurst, M. , Laurie, E. and Thomas, R. (2022) ‘In the critical department’: refreshing the Scottish Geographical Journal. Scottish Geographical Journal, 138(1-2), pp. 1-15. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2022.2082515)

Curley, E. A.M. , Thomas, R. , Adams, C. E. and Stephen, A. (2022) Adaptive responses of freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera, to managed drawdowns. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 32(3), pp. 466-483. (doi: 10.1002/aqc.3759)

2021

Curley, E. A.M. , Thomas, R. , Adams, C. E. and Stephen, A. (2021) Behavioural and metabolic responses of unionida mussels to stress. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 31(11), pp. 3184-3200. (doi: 10.1002/aqc.3689)

Curley, E. A.M. , Valyrakis, M. , Thomas, R. , Adams, C.E. and Stephen, A. (2021) Smart sensors to predict entrainment of freshwater mussels: a new tool in freshwater habitat assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 787, 147586. (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147586)

2018

Clements, E.A., Thomas, R. and Adams, C.E. (2018) An investigation of salmonid host utilisation by the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in north-west Scotland. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 28(3), pp. 764-768. (doi: 10.1002/aqc.2900)

Brackley, R., Lucas, M. C., Thomas, R. , Adams, C. E. and Bean, C. W. (2018) Comparison of damage to live v. euthanized Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts from passage through an Archimedean screw turbine. Journal of Fish Biology, 92(5), pp. 1635-1644. (doi: 10.1111/jfb.13596) (PMID:29537067)

2016

Brackley, R., Bean, C. , Lucas, M., Thomas, R. and Adams, C. (2016) Assessment of Scale-Loss to Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar L.) Smolts from Passage Through an Archimedean Screw Turbine. In: 11th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics (ISE 2016), Melbourne, Australia, 07-12 Feb 2016, ISBN 9780734053398

Clements, E., Thomas, R. and Adams, C. (2016) Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera Margaritifera) Host Choice and Behavioural Responses to Changes in Flow Regime. In: 11th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics (ISE 2016), Melbourne, Australia, 07-12 Feb 2016, ISBN 9780734053398

2007

Thomas, R. (2007) Cellular modelling as a tool for interpreting historic braided river eveolution. Geomorphology, 90(03-Apr), pp. 32-317.

2002

Thomas, R. (2002) Simulation of braided river flow using a new cellular routing scheme. Geomorphology, 43(03-Apr), pp. 179-195.

This list was generated on Mon Dec 4 05:31:23 2023 GMT.
Jump to: Articles | Conference Proceedings
Number of items: 11.

Articles

Hurst, M. D. and Thomas, R. (2023) The physical geography of Scotland in the Scottish Geographical Journal. Scottish Geographical Journal, 139(1-2), pp. 1-19. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2023.2231405)

Philo, C. , Hurst, M. , Laurie, E. and Thomas, R. (2022) ‘In the critical department’: refreshing the Scottish Geographical Journal. Scottish Geographical Journal, 138(1-2), pp. 1-15. (doi: 10.1080/14702541.2022.2082515)

Curley, E. A.M. , Thomas, R. , Adams, C. E. and Stephen, A. (2022) Adaptive responses of freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera, to managed drawdowns. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 32(3), pp. 466-483. (doi: 10.1002/aqc.3759)

Curley, E. A.M. , Thomas, R. , Adams, C. E. and Stephen, A. (2021) Behavioural and metabolic responses of unionida mussels to stress. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 31(11), pp. 3184-3200. (doi: 10.1002/aqc.3689)

Curley, E. A.M. , Valyrakis, M. , Thomas, R. , Adams, C.E. and Stephen, A. (2021) Smart sensors to predict entrainment of freshwater mussels: a new tool in freshwater habitat assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 787, 147586. (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147586)

Clements, E.A., Thomas, R. and Adams, C.E. (2018) An investigation of salmonid host utilisation by the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in north-west Scotland. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 28(3), pp. 764-768. (doi: 10.1002/aqc.2900)

Brackley, R., Lucas, M. C., Thomas, R. , Adams, C. E. and Bean, C. W. (2018) Comparison of damage to live v. euthanized Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts from passage through an Archimedean screw turbine. Journal of Fish Biology, 92(5), pp. 1635-1644. (doi: 10.1111/jfb.13596) (PMID:29537067)

Thomas, R. (2007) Cellular modelling as a tool for interpreting historic braided river eveolution. Geomorphology, 90(03-Apr), pp. 32-317.

Thomas, R. (2002) Simulation of braided river flow using a new cellular routing scheme. Geomorphology, 43(03-Apr), pp. 179-195.

Conference Proceedings

Brackley, R., Bean, C. , Lucas, M., Thomas, R. and Adams, C. (2016) Assessment of Scale-Loss to Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar L.) Smolts from Passage Through an Archimedean Screw Turbine. In: 11th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics (ISE 2016), Melbourne, Australia, 07-12 Feb 2016, ISBN 9780734053398

Clements, E., Thomas, R. and Adams, C. (2016) Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera Margaritifera) Host Choice and Behavioural Responses to Changes in Flow Regime. In: 11th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics (ISE 2016), Melbourne, Australia, 07-12 Feb 2016, ISBN 9780734053398

This list was generated on Mon Dec 4 05:31:23 2023 GMT.

Grants

NERC-funded CASE PhD £86,776: Investigating the impact of changing hydrodynamics on the behaviour of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel

NERC-funded IAPETUS PhD: Salmonid host utilisation by the Freshwater Pearl Mussel 

BBSRC/DfID-funded (£3million+): SEEDZ (Social, Economic and Environmental Drivers of Zoonotic Disease in Tanzania), 10% FTE

SAGES+ PECRE £3K

LKAS, University of Glasgow funded PhD Scholarship

University of Glasgow Maternity Returners Scheme, £10K

SNH-funded contract £3.9K

SSE-funded contract £1.9K

Supervision

I am currently lead supervisor for 3 PhD students:

Chris Uzzell - Investigating the association between environmental change and disease risk in Tanzania. Lord Kelvin-Adam Smith PhD Scholarship (2014-1018). 

Ed Curley - Investigating the impact of changing hydrodynamics on the behaviour of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). NERC CASE PhD, SSE CASE Partner, SNH and SEPA staff advisory board (2016-2020).

Sarah King - Salmonid host utilisation by the Freshwater Pear Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). NERC IAPETUS PhD, with SNH (2017-2021) 

 

Completed:

Rob Brackley - Impact of low-head turbines on fish passage

Khruewan Champangern

Teaching

My current roles are Head of Geography Degree Programmes, Geography Examinations Officer and Adviser of Studies. 

I teach on every year of the undergraduate geography degree, Level 1 World of Resources, Level 2 Fluvial Processes, Level 3 Geographical Techniques and Geographical Thought, and my Undergraduate Honours option, Environmental Hazards. I also teach on the postgraduate MSc Sustainable Water Management Masters degree, Ecology and Restoration of Water Systems module. 


Rhian Thomas