What are the aims of this research project?
Soils are among the most biodiverse habitats on earth, and soil organisms are vital to the functioning of ecosystems. Until recently, exploring this biodiversity has been difficult because these organisms remain hidden underground and a very limited number of people have the skills to identify them. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology however, mean that it is now possible to identify the organisms present in soil by extracting and sequencing DNA from small soil samples. This research project will enable hill walkers to become Citizen Scientists, collecting small soil samples for DNA analysis to explore the biodiversity hidden in Scotland’s mountain soils. The alpine zone on Scottish mountain summits includes some of our most important natural and undisturbed habitats, but these are under threat from climate change and other factors such as air pollution. Even though thousands of hillwalkers visit the Munros (3000ft summits) every year, we currently know very little about soil biodiversity in Scottish alpine habitats. The aim of this project is to radically change this by using DNA sequencing to detect and identify organisms in soil samples collected from the summits of Munros across Scotland. This will enable us to develop a picture of how soil biodiversity varies across Scotland’s alpine zone, to identify areas of high soil biodiversity, and to create a baseline against which to measure future change.
Who is funding the project?
The project is funded by the Scottish Government Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) as part of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Strategic Research Programme, project JHI-D4-3 Scotland’s biodiversity: People, Data and Monitoring.
Who is involved?
The project is led by Dr Andrea Britton and Dr Andy Taylor.
What will I be asked to do?
Participants are asked to ‘adopt’ a Munro for sampling and to collect a small soil sample (50ml) at each of three pre-determined locations on the mountain while out hill walking (these will be near the summit and close to main walking routes). We also ask you to take a photograph of the vegetation at each of your sampling points. Full instructions and a sampling kit will be provided when you adopt a Munro, and we will supply reply-paid envelopes for return of the samples to the James Hutton Institute for DNA sequencing. Collecting the samples will add around 1-1.5 hours to your hill walking day. Updates on the progress of the project will be given on the project website and at the end of the project we will invite all participants to an online seminar to share the findings.
What skills do I need to take part?
You should be a competent hill walker and be comfortable with safely travelling and navigating in mountain environments. You will also need to be able to use a GPS to locate and record 12-figure grid references for your sampling points. The Munros include a wide range of summits with varying levels of difficulty, when choosing one to adopt you should pick one that is appropriate to your personal level of hill skills and fitness.
What will happen to the information I provide?
In order to send out sampling packs and to contact you with any queries about your samples, or to pass on information about the results of the study, we will need to collect and store your name, email and postal address. All personal data will be held securely in password protected files with access only to authorised research team members. Files will be stored on secure servers of the James Hutton Institute in the UK. All personal data will be deleted at the end of the project.
Can I withdraw from the study if I wish to?
You can withdraw from the study at any point. If, for any reason, you are unable to collect samples from your adopted Munro, please tell us by emailing the project team. This will allow us to make your Munro available for someone else to adopt.
What are the benefits of taking part?
The Munros are visited by thousands of hill walkers every year, but we know very little about the below-ground biodiversity that they support. By taking part in this study, you will be contributing to our understanding of biodiversity in this special habitat and will have a chance to learn more about the mountain habitats you experience while out hill walking.
Health and safety
You are responsible for your own health and safety. Hill walking in mountainous environments can be a hazardous activity and when you select a Munro for adoption you should be certain that the summit and access route that you choose is well within your personal level of mountain skills and fitness. We want you to enjoy taking part in this project and for your visit to be trouble free, so we ask that you do not take any unnecessary risks. Please remember:
- Always check the weather forecast the day before your trip and be prepared to abandon sampling in the event of bad weather. You can check the forecast using a specialist mountain weather forecasting service such as www.mwis.org.uk.
- Mountain habitats may pose potential dangers, particularly on steep slopes, cliff tops, rock outcrops and screes. Extreme care should be taken if approaching any of these areas during your participation. If you have any concerns about accessing your designated sampling locations, then you should not approach them – samples may be collected from a more accessible location instead.
- When selecting a Munro to adopt, choose a summit that is well within your personal level of hill skills and fitness. Remember that collecting the samples will add an extra 1-1.5 hours to your day. Information on walking routes on the Munros can be found at www.walkhighlands.co.uk/munros
- Collection of samples will require that the ground is snow free at your sample locations. The sampling period for this project is June to September during which time most Munros will be snow free, but bear in mind that higher elevation summits may hold snow in sheltered locations well into June or even longer and so may be best sampled later in the season.
- Please be aware that deer stalking takes place in many mountain areas from 1st July onwards. Be sure to plan ahead for your visit and check this website for advance information: https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/practical-guide-all/heading-scottish-hills
- We ask that you take all necessary precautions during your sampling visit. If possible, work with a ‘buddy’ or let someone know where you are planning to go and when you are likely to be back. This is essential when visiting remote areas. We recommend that you carry a mobile phone, although remember that these may not work in remote regions. Always carry a first aid kit and wear appropriate clothing, particularly footwear and protection from sun, wind and rain. Additional information on mountain safety can be found at www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills
Ethical Review
The project has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Committee of the James Hutton Institute.
Further Information
For further project details, please contact:
Dr Andrea Britton or Dr Andy Taylor.
Privacy Notice
The James Hutton Institute (“Hutton”, “us” or “we”) will use your personal data for the purposes of the research undertaken in the project “Mountain heights, hidden depths: unearthing alpine soil biodiversity” in accordance with our privacy notice.
Our main privacy notice will explain what we do with personal data in more detail as well as your rights. Or, if you have any queries about your personal data you can contact our Data Protection Officer.
