A5005582622- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Banana Cultivation and Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Irrigation Practices and Water Management
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Agriculture and Rural Development Research
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Botanical Studies and Applications
- Soil and Unsaturated Flow
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Service-Learning and Community Engagement
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
The Open University
2010-2025
American Association For The Advancement of Science
2023
Birkbeck, University of London
2013-2016
University of London
2014
Universidad de Londres
2013
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
2007-2009
See also the Commentary by Peuelas et al .
Increasingly, research is moving towards more interdisciplinary endeavours. Effective collaboration between people from different disciplines necessary to maximize the potential benefits of interdisciplinarity for future activity. This paper analyses an approach fostering skills required successful cross-disciplinary perspective group early-career researchers. Our reflection on how specially designed encounters can help shape initiatives draws discussion a four-day workshop, post-event...
Summary The ‘One Hundred Important Questions Facing Plant Science Research’ project aimed to capture a global snapshot of the current issues and future questions facing plant science. This revisiting builds on original 2011 paper. Over 600 were collected from anyone interested in plants, which reduced final list 100 by four teams panellists. There was remarkable consensus most important topics between subpanels. We present top science 2022, ranging how plants can contribute tackling climate...
We currently face significant, anthropogenic, global environmental challenges and the role of ecologists in mitigating these is arguably more important than ever. Consequently there an urgent need to recruit train future generations ecologists, both those whose main area ecology, but also involved geological, biological sciences. Here we present results a horizon scanning exercise that identified current facing teaching through surveys teachers, students employers ecologists. Key were...
The concept of ‘sustainability’ has developed into a rich discourse concerned with diverse human responsibilities in our economic life, and as such it is constant danger over-simplification. conventional two-way analysis sustainability, (1) needs ends (2) means to meet needs, the scheme nine planetary boundaries, are taken starting points for more balanced proposal set out this conceptual paper. Inspired by framework Doughnut Economics drawing on collection recent articles journal, we...
Citizen science has been gaining momentum in the United States and Europe, where citizens are literate often interested science. However, developing countries, which have a dire need for environmental data, such programs slow to emerge, despite large untapped human resources close proximity areas of high biodiversity poorly known floras faunas. Thus, we propose that parataxonomist paraecologist approach, originates from citizen-based science, is well suited rural countries. Being or vocation...
Abstract Declining soil fertility limits smallholder macadamia productivity in Malawi. To reverse this trend, it is essential to apply organic and inorganic fertilisers an efficient effective manner. Yet, fertilizer recommendations for ( Macadamia integrifolia ) production Malawi are not site-specific. Nutrient imbalances can occur if applied without a clear understanding of whether they required or not. This may lead yield losses, unnecessary costs, other environmental issues associated...
Hedges are both ecologically and culturally important a distinctive feature of the British landscape. However overall length hedges across Great Britain is decreasing. Current challenges in studying relate to dominance research on rural, as opposed urban, hedges, their variability geographical breadth. To help address these educate public importance hedge habitats for wildlife, 2010 Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) programme coordinated hedge-focused citizen science survey. Results from 2891...
Abstract Questions How is the composition of wet meadow plant communities influenced by water regime? What controls soil nitrogen ( N ) availability along a gentle regime gradient? Is vegetation response to subtle changes in mediated availability? Location Cricklade, W iltshire, southwest E ngland. Methods A field survey community and was conducted gradient table depth (mean between 25 70 cm) at species‐rich hay This study complemented controlled mescosm undertaken depths 5 45 cm, laboratory...
Macadamia nuts constitute a vital component of both nutrition and livelihoods for smallholder producers in Malawi. We conducted comprehensive mixed-methods study, combining qualitative quantitative analyses, to explore varietal preferences production challenges among these farmers. Leveraging cross-sectional data from 144 members the Highlands Cooperative Union Limited, our study underscores several significant findings. Our findings reveal that majority macadamia farmers (62%) are aged over...
Abstract The global food system's reliance on a few species threatens and nutritional security. Species diversification, including indigenous species, is viable option to address this issue. Diversity enhances systems' resilience against climatic economic shocks. It offers resources for improved breeds allows farmers mitigate risks. However, successful diversification demands collaboration among farmers, researchers, academics, professionals, retailers, consumers, policymakers. This review...
The demographics of environmental and Earth scientists are not representative the UK’s multicultural society. We sought to widen diversity engage equitably through two related engaged research projects, “Walking Walk” “Landscape Stories.” This paper offers a critically reflexive account, based on methodology duoethnography, how we co-constructed “third space” with for minoritized community groups scientists. create conditions inclusive leadership informed by connectedness, respect, humility...
Summary The growing literature on the phylogenetic structure of plant communities places great emphasis role niche conservatism ( PNC ) in community assembly. However, patterns revealed by such analyses are difficult to interpret absence independent data structure. While there is increasing evidence that coexistence does depend upon differences, it still not clear most cases what relevant axes are. We address this problem testing for within A frican R estionaceae (‘restios’), a clade endemic...
Macadamia is an essential commodity crop in Malawi. The nuts are a lucrative and used for household consumption, income generation among farming families as foreign exchange earning at country-level. production Malawi has increased significantly recent years. the seventh top producer of macadamia valued £23.5 million, with global market share 3%. In 2018, country was fourth-largest exporter that were £18.2 million. majority (90%) this grown by large commercial estates smallholder’s only...
Climate change is altering suitable areas of crop species worldwide, with cascading effects on people reliant upon those as food sources and for income generation. Macadamia one Malawi’s most important profitable species; however, climate threatens its production. Thus, this study’s objective to quantitatively examine the potential impacts suitability macadamia in Malawi. We utilized an ensemble model approach predict current future (2050s) under two Representative Concentration Pathways...
Our current global food system is understood to require a fundamental transformation based on holistic approach maintain long-term fertility, healthy biodiverse agroecosystems, and climate-proof/secure livelihoods. Recently, there has been growing recognition of smallholder farmers' contributions addressing key environmental social development issues, including poverty, security, climate change, sustainable development. One specific agroforestry-based agriculture, in which edible...
The demographics of environmental and Earth scientists are not representative the UK’s multicultural society. We sought to widen diversity through two related engaged research projects, 'Walking Walk' 'Landscape Stories'. This paper offers a critically reflexive account, based on methodology duoethnography, how we co-constructed ‘third space’ for these projects. create conditions inclusive leadership informed by connectedness, respect, humility intentionality. argue that science be more...
Abstract As urban land use expands, understanding the conservation of biodiversity in settings becomes increasingly important. Urban areas contain a wide range remnant natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic woodlands but these is not well studied. are usually constrained size subject to management which may be focused on promoting biodiversity. habitat critical importance, characteristics need better understood maximise their within limited footprint landscape. We used repeat line-transect...
Abstract Consistent, repeatable segregation of plant species along hydrological gradients is an established phenomenon that must in some way reflect a trade‐off between plants' abilities to tolerate the opposing constraints drought and waterlogging. In C 3 tissue carbon isotope discrimination ( δ 13 C) known vary sensitively response stomatal behaviour, reflecting limitation photosynthesis during period active growth. However, this has not been studied at fine‐spatial scale natural...
Species in plant communities segregate along fine-scale hydrological gradients. Although this phenomenon is not unique to fynbos, community regenerates after fire and therefore provides an opportunity study the ecological genesis of niche segregation. Following wildfires at two field sites where we had previously mapped vegetation monitored hydrology, seeds were moved experimentally >2500 intact soil cores up down soil-moisture gradients test hypothesis that segregation established during...