Andrea Britton
Andrea Britton is an applied plant ecologist with 13 years experience and holds a post-doctoral research post in the Ecological Science area of research.
Current research interests
Andrea's primary interest is in the influence of abiotic and anthropogenic factors on spatial and temporal dynamics of plant communities and the consequences of this for both ecosystem functioning and vegetation management and conservation. She has a particular interest in the ecology of mountain vegetation, especially lichens and lower plants, and much of her current work focuses on mountain environments. Recent projects include quantifying change in Scottish mountain and upland vegetation, impacts of pollution (particularly nitrogen deposition) and climate change on alpine heathland vegetation and biogeochemistry (Carbon & Nitrogen cycling and water quality) and studying the effects of climate on the ecology and distribution of alpine lichens. Much of her work has strongly applied or policy relevant aspects; for example, through her participation in the DEFRA Terrestrial Umbrella consortium much of her work relating to nitrogen deposition assists with the development of UK air pollution policy, while a partnership project with SNH is currently addressing the potential for translocation to be used as a tool to conserve populations of rare lichen species threatened by climate change.
Bibliography
Andrea's highlighted publications
- Johnson, D.; Vachon, J.; Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C., (2011) Drought alters carbon fluxes in alpine snowbed ecosystems through contrasting impacts on graminoids and forbs., New Phytologist, 190, 740-749.
- Helliwell, R.C.; Britton, A.J.; Gibbs, S.; Fisher, J.M.; Potts, J.M., (2010) Interactive effects of nitrogen deposition, land management and weather on soil solution chemistry in a Scottish low-alpine heath., Ecosystems, 13, 696-711.
- Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C.; Lilly, A.; Dawson, L.A.; Armitage, H., (2009) Cold storage: climate change and carbon sequestration in the alpine zone., Towards integrated biodiversity policy: developing a shared understanding of the impacts of environmental and management change on biodiversity in upland ecosystems. Battleby, Perth, 24 November 2009
- Helliwell, R.C.; Britton, A.J.; Fisher, J.M.; Gibbs, S.; Coull, M.C.; Futter, M.N., (2009) The nitrogen time bomb: is nitrogen leaching a serious threat to the quality of soils and waters in remote mountain areas?, Towards integrated biodiversity policy: developing a shared understanding of the impacts of environmental and management change on biodiversity in upland ecosystems. Battleby, 24 November 2009.
- Hester, A.J.; Britton, A.J.; Towers, W.; Hewison, R.L.; Beale, C.M., (2009) The only constant is change: long term biodiversity trends in the uplands., Towards integrated biodiversity policy: developing a shared understanding of the impacts of environmental and management change on biodiversity in upland ecosystems. Battleby, 24 November 2009.
Andrea's most recent publications
- Armitage, H.F.; Britton, A.J.; van der Wal, R.; Pearce, S.; Thompson, D.B.A.; Woodin, S.J., (2012) Nitrogen deposition enhances moss growth but leads to overall decline in habitat condition in mountain moss-edge heath., Global Change Biology, 18, 290-300.
- Armitage, H.F.; Britton, A.J.; Woodin, S.J.; van der Wal, R., (2011) Assessing the recovery potential of alpine moss-sedge heath: reciprocal transplants along a nitrogen deposition gradient., Environmental Pollution, 159, 140-147.
- Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, .C.; Lilly, A.; Dawson, L.A.; Fisher, J.M.; Coull, M.C.; Ross, J., (2011) An integrated assessment of ecosystem carbon pools and fluxes across an oceanic alpine toposequence., Plant and Soil, 345, 287-302.
- Brooker, R.W.; Britton, A.J.; Gimona, A.; Lennon, J.J.; Littlewood, N.A., (2011) Literature review: species translocations as a tool for biodiversity conservation during climate change., Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report, No.440, Inverness.
- Demars, B.O.L.; Britton, A.J., (2011) Assessing the impacts of small scale hydroelectric schemes on rare bryophytes and lichens., Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report, No 421, Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness.
- Phoenix, G.K.; Emmett, B.A. Britton, A.J.; Caporn, S.J.M.; Dise, N.B.; Helliwell, R.C.; Jones, L.; Leake, J.R.; Leith, I.D.; Sheppard, L.J.; Sowerby, A.; Pilkington, M.G.; Ashmore, M.R.; Power, S.A., (2011) Impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition: responses of multiple plant and soil parameters across contrasting ecosystems in long-term field experiments., Global Change Biology. Published online.
- Britton, A.J.; Fisher, J.M., (2010) Terricolous alpine lichens are sensitive to both load and concentration of applied nitrogen and have potential as bioindicators of nitrogen deposition., Environmental Pollution, 158, 1296-1302.
- Papanikolaou, N.; Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C.; Johnson, D., (2010) Nitrogen deposition, vegetation burning and climate warming act independently on microbial community structure and enzyme activity associated with decomposing litter in low-alpine heath., Global Change Biology, 16, 3120-3132
- Pearce, I.S.K.; Britton, A.J.; Armitage, H.F.; Jones, B., (2010) Additive impacts of nitrogen deposition and grazing on a mountain moss-sedge heath., Botanica Helvetica, 120, 129-137.
- Black, H.I.J.; Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C.; Langan, S.J.; Taylor, A.F.S.; Booth P.D., (2009) To establish soil indicators to assess the impact of atmospheric deposition on environmentally senstive areas., Consultancy Service, SEPA.
- Britton, A.J.; Beale, C.M.; Towers, W.; Hewison, R.L., (2009) Biodiversity gains and losses: evidence for homogenisation of Scottish alpine vegetation., Biological Conservation, 142, 1728-1739.
- Britton, A.J., (2008) The montane heathland lichen guide., Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen.
- Britton, A.J.; Fisher, J.M., (2008) Growth responses of low-alpine dwarf-shrub heath species to nitrogen deposition and management., Environmental Pollution, 153, 564-573.
- Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C.; Fisher, J.M.; Gibbs, S., (2008) Interactive effects of nitrogen deposition and fire on plant and soil chemistry in an alpine heathland., Environmental Pollution, 156, 409-416.
- Britton, A.J.; Pakeman, R.J., (2008) Vegetation monitoring of Rum natura habitats., Final Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
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