Call to tender: development of soil ecosystem model

The Soil Biodiversity Programme is a major NERC Thematic Programme which aims to understand the roles played by soil biota in key ecosystem processes. The Programme is intensively studying a single upland grassland site in Scotland, and gathering the data into a central database. The Programme now wishes to develop a comprehensive model in order to integrate these results.

Particular emphasis needs to be given to a model that accurately predicts the fluxes and transformations of carbon in the system under a range of experimental perturbations, using information on the changes in the soil biota observed both in space and time. There are no constraints on the nature of the model, provided it meets the criteria specified by the Programme.

The time available for the modelling project is limited to approximately one year, preferably starting in early 2003. Tenders with total costs exceeding £100,000 (including VAT, if chargeable) are unlikely to be successful.

Details here
Contact: Dr Andrew Sier - Programme Manager
Address: Soil Biodiversity Programme
CEH Merlewood
Grange over Sands
Cumbria, LA11 6JU

Telephone: 015395 32264
Fax: 015395 34705
Email: soilbio@ceh.ac.uk