biodiversity
November 11, 2015
Ecological Sciences (Research Page)
Ecological Sciences (ES) is a multi-disciplinary collective of over 56 researchers with a unique breadth of scientific expertise, skills and knowledge in the ecology, physiology and systematics of microbes, lichens, fungi, plants, invertebrates...
December 12, 2022
The James Hutton Institute has been awarded £350,000 of funding to further develop its innovative software to support global food security efforts.
Hutton’s homegrown software platforms, GridScore and Germinate, will support the...
December 12, 2022
COP15 is currently taking place in Montreal, Canada, where governments from around the world have gathered, aiming to agree on a new set of goals to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity.
November 11, 2022
MERLIN, a project committed to transformative ecosystem restoration through Nature-based Solutions, co-led by the James Hutton Institute, is offering companies a unique opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge work to develop products and...
July 7, 2022
Two species of fungi new to the UK have been discovered in Scotland’s Cairngorm mountains by a team of volunteers working with the James Hutton Institute and Plantlife, the international wild plant conservation charity.
Amanita...
June 6, 2022
After a two-year enforced hiatus, the James Hutton Institute’s return to the Royal Highland Show was a success: a steady stream of visitors visited the marquee including farmers, research partners and families, as well as a significant...
June 6, 2022
TO ENTER BEST SOIL IN SHOW 2022, PLEASE REVIEW AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORMS:
June 6, 2022
June 6, 2022
Research and innovation underpinning Scotland’s road to net-zero: come and see it at the #RHS200 (News)
The Royal Highland Show (23-26 June 2022, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB) is one of Scotland's most iconic events, and while it showcases the very best of farming food and rural life, it could be argued that it is actually a science, research...
May 5, 2022
An innovative survey of Scotland’s mountain hares involving volunteer citizen scientists has been hailed as a success in a new report published today.
Last year, hillwalkers, bird and mammal surveyors and other outdoor enthusiasts took...
May 5, 2022
Research by James Hutton Institute and Heriot-Watt University scientists has carried out the first review of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Scotland’s waters.
May 5, 2022
Ahead of the International Day for Biological Diversity on Sunday 22nd May, Dr Kenneth Loades stresses the importance of preserving biodiversity.
There is nothing better than waking up early on a warm summer morning to hear a variety of...
May 5, 2022
A Hutton scientific study summarising six years of agricultural research undertaken for the Scottish Government highlights the impact of the use of ecological principles in agriculture on sustainability, resilience, and provision of ecosystem...
April 4, 2022
Circularity in integrated agricultural systems may be key to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions (News)
Intensification and the separation of crops, livestock and forestry production systems in agriculture contributes greatly to climate change and biodiversity loss. A new 1.33 million European funded project, co-ordinated by researchers at the...
March 3, 2022
Professor Robin Pakeman, a plant ecologist at the James Hutton Institute, has received the honour of being elected a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
Formed in 1991 as the Institute of Ecology...
March 3, 2022
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute are calling on community landowners from across Scotland to help them develop a greater understanding of the agricultural activity carried out on their land. The research also explores perceptions...
March 3, 2022
A study carried out by researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), with the James Hutton Institute and the Environmental Research Institute (University of the Highlands and Islands) delivered the first national assessment of the emerging...
February 2, 2022
A new report published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) and co-authored by Professor Richard Aspinall, an Honorary Fellow of the James Hutton Institute, calls for action from policymakers...
January 1, 2022
The James Hutton Institute has joined Angus Council, Agrico UK, Arbikie Distillery and SoilEssentials Ltd in signing a letter of intent to develop a Centre for Agricultural Sustainable Innovation (CASI) headquartered in Forfar, Angus.
The CASI...
January 1, 2022
The Crop Production in Northern Britain Conference, the foremost summit discussing environmental management and crop production in northern environments, is back this year as an online event on 1-2 March.
CPNB 2022 brings together agronomists,...
January 1, 2022
Beavers could make an important contribution to improving the condition of Scotland’s rivers, including helping to improve water quality and limiting the effects of drought, new research from the University of Aberdeen and the James Hutton...
December 12, 2021
Soil seed banks are a hidden stock for plant diversity and are critical for the recovery of disturbed ecosystems. A new study co-authored by Prof Robin Pakeman, a senior scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences...
December 12, 2021
A report by a multi-stakeholder working group of the European Technology Platform ‘Plants for the Future’, featuring contributions from James Hutton Institute scientists, has identified three principles that will help transition...
November 11, 2021
Diseases affecting different UK tree species have been shown to have a multiplying effect on the loss of associated biodiversity, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists and partners in the UK and Portugal has found.
In a study...
November 11, 2021
The Dee Catchment Partnership, a collective of organisations tasked with looking after the river Dee catchment in north east Scotland, has won the Nature and Climate Action award at the RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards. The highest accolade for...
September 9, 2021
Bioinformaticians at the James Hutton Institute are supporting a 10-year, US$58m initiative launched by the Crop Trust and the Government of Norway to improve global food security and climate resilience.
The newly announced BOLD (Biodiversity...
September 9, 2021
The partnership in charge of looking after the river Dee catchment in north east Scotland is a finalist in the Nature of Scotland Awards. Shortlisted for the Climate Action Award, the Hutton-supported Dee Catchment Partnership has been recognised...
August 8, 2021
Large-scale conservation work across the Dee catchment has been given the green light thanks to a major cash injection of over half a million pounds. A variety of projects comprising floodplain restoration, woodland expansion and peatland...
August 8, 2021
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute will contribute to one of six research teams tasked with developing new tools and approaches to help trees and woodlands adapt to climate change and enable the UK to reach the goal of net zero...
August 8, 2021
Dr Ruth Mitchell, a Plant Soil Ecologist at the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences department, has been appointed as a member of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), Trees and Woodlands Science...
June 6, 2021
The partnership tasked with looking after the River Dee catchment has published a summary of its achievements over the last 15 years and is seeking public comment on priorities for future projects. Established in 2003 with the support of the...
June 6, 2021
Arable Scotland, the premier event for the Scottish arable industry, returns on 29th June 2021. Now in its third year, the event brings together the key players in food production, academia and farming to discuss key issues and provide a wealth...
June 6, 2021
The James Hutton Institute is delighted to support one of seven Climate Beacons that are taking shape across Scotland in the run-up to and beyond the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference that’s happening in Glasgow this November.
May 5, 2021
The partnership tasked with looking after the river Dee catchment in north east Scotland is a finalist in the Inspiring Aberdeenshire Awards. Shortlisted for the Beautiful Aberdeenshire Environmental Award, the Dee Catchment Partnership’s...
May 5, 2021
Legume plants can make ‘smart’ management decisions when it comes to interacting with their symbiotic bacterial partners to harness nitrogen from the atmosphere, a research team including a James Hutton Institute scientist has shown,...
April 4, 2021
Assessing the impacts of lime application to pastures on soils, biodiversity, and forage quality (Project)
In the UK the addition of lime to agricultural land was strongly encouraged by Government subsidy payments to farmers, but since subsidies ceased in the late 1970’s the application of lime has declined with subsequent acidification of many...
April 4, 2021
April 4, 2021
Even if it has not yet been detected north of the border, Scottish growers must take adequate steps to monitor growing areas for the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), a new potential threat to the UK’s agricultural,...
March 3, 2021
Celebrating the inspirational people, projects, groups and organisations working hard to protect Scotland’s precious environment, the tenth Nature of Scotland Awards are open for applications until Tuesday 14th June, with the James Hutton...
March 3, 2021
A series of eight free-to-attend webinars and networking events will explore the many opportunities surrounding legume production and use.
The webinars series will take in April and May this year and are being organised by the European...
March 3, 2021
The James Hutton Institute has welcomed the publication of the new 10-year UK Plant Science Research Strategy.
The document provides a framework for research and skills development to ensure UK plant science can play a strong role in solving...
March 3, 2021
A recent study published in Conservation Letters co-authored by a James Hutton Institute ecologist has investigated the number of women and the geographic distribution among the 1051 top-publishing authors in 13 leading journals in ecology and...
January 1, 2021
Recognition of the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership’s (NESBiP) 2020 Biodiversity Champion Awards has this year gone virtual. The awards acknowledge the efforts of local individuals and projects that have had positive impacts in...
December 12, 2020
River corridors exemplify places in busy farmed landscapes where researchers and land managers can use environmental measures for multiple benefits. These areas often fringe the main working points of the farm but are important interface zones...
December 12, 2020
Dr Jorunn Bos, a principal investigator in the Division of Plant Sciences of the University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council Consolidator grant worth almost €2 million to...
December 12, 2020
A scientific team featuring researchers of the James Hutton Institute and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) has scooped the Innovation Award at the prestigious RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards 2020. Led by Royal Botanic Garden...
November 11, 2020
An international research team including scientists from the James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee has reached a milestone on the way to unravelling the species-wide genetic diversity of domesticated barley. With the complete genome...
November 11, 2020
We hear about ‘climate change’ and ‘biodiversity loss’ all the time these days. We hear considerably less about how to tackle them, so it’s time to shout about a project that does just that. The restoration of the...
November 11, 2020
How can we use the Natural Capital Protocol (NCP) to help land managers when considering agricultural land use decisions? How can the NCP contribute to ongoing initiatives to test natural capital approaches in land-based business in Scotland?...
November 11, 2020
Moorland management in Scotland has come under the spotlight in a series of reports assessing the socio-economic and biodiversity impacts of driven grouse moors and the employment rights of gamekeepers.
October 10, 2020
October 10, 2020
Scientists from the UK’s foremost agricultural research organisations, including the James Hutton Institute, have teamed up to create a new UK Crop Microbiome Cryobank (UK-CMCB) to safeguard future research and facilitate the sustainable...
September 9, 2020
Despite encouraging progress in several areas, the health of the natural world is suffering badly and getting worse. Eight transformative changes are, therefore, urgently needed to ensure human wellbeing and save the planet, the UN warns in a...
August 8, 2020
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and partner institutions are developing a suite of digital resources to help farmers harness the potential of crop mixtures to improve the sustainability of their production systems.
August 8, 2020
The James Hutton Institute's bioinformatics group within the Department of Information and Computational Sciences has unveiled a new version of Germinate, the Institute's open-source, fully featured plant database infrastructure and...
June 6, 2020
Chalara: Ash Die-back Virtual Woodland Environment (Research Page)
Introduction
Chalara dieback of ash is a disease of ash trees caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea. The disease causes leaf loss and crown dieback, usually leading to tree death. First found in the UK February 2012, local spread is by wind and...
June 6, 2020
Biodiversity —the variety of species, the genes within them, and the habitats in which they live— is threatened like never before. According to figures from the United Nations Environment Programme, we are on the verge of mass...
June 6, 2020
Different groups of soil fungi control the interactions between seedlings and established trees and can play a key role in the development or restoration of forests, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists has found.
April 4, 2020
The UK has seen an unprecedented upsurge in gardening during the current lockdown, and as the nation finds itself restricted in time spent outside of their homes, it is only natural to try and make the best of the green areas which we can access...
April 4, 2020
Plant viruses can be just as devastating for agricultural crops and the security of food supply as some of the world's most notorious viruses, SARS-CoV-2 among them, have been for the human population. Plant viruses can be useful as...
April 4, 2020
MycoNourish, an ambitious new biotechnology company and spin-out of the James Hutton Institute, announced today the completion of a £150K funding round led by Techstart Ventures. The funding, combined with a recent £125K Higgs Award...
April 4, 2020
“Society's priorities must be human health and the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we also need to be thinking ahead to the resumption of conservation practice and education. There is an opportunity here to remind people of...
November 11, 2019
Understanding and improving the sustainability of agro-ecological farming systems in the EU (Project)
October 10, 2019
An innovative research project aims to demonstrate the benefits of using crop species mixtures as a sustainable crop production system. The Sustainability in Education and Agriculture using Mixtures (SEAMS) initiative is providing a platform for...
October 10, 2019
Wading birds are an important part of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage but, like many species of birds, waders are in decline. Since 1994 curlews have declined by 60%, and lapwings numbers have halved over the same time period. The...
October 10, 2019
A blog created in celebration of Deeside’s wildlife, and Inspired by the BBC’s ‘Watches’ series has been launched by the Dee Catchment Partnership. “DeeWatch”, aims to encourage locals to explore Deeside by...
October 10, 2019
Social scientists based at the James Hutton Institute have pioneered the use of video as a participatory research technique in Scotland, in the context of a project aiming to understand the way the people of Cumbernauld connect with the green...
August 8, 2019
Scientists of the James Hutton Institute will meet with European colleagues to discuss all scientific aspects of diversifying agricultural and food systems, on the practical implementation of crop diversification in value chains and on policy-...
August 8, 2019
Rewilding in the Scottish uplands could take decades without the intervention of land managers, a new long-term grazing experiment at Glen Finglas has shown. The experiment, the first of its kind in Scotland, was set up in 2002 to explore how...
July 7, 2019
The North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership (NESBiP) is delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Stuart as their new coordinator. Previously employed by Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service in Duthie Park, Alex will bring experience of...
July 7, 2019
Ground-breaking research into the soil beneath our feet, just published in the journal Nature, transforms current understanding of life on land by revealing that the world’s largest animal populations are found in high-latitude sub-arctic...
July 7, 2019
Two projects aimed at restoring biodiversity in the River Dee catchment will receive more than £350,000 from a new competitive national fund from Scottish Natural Heritage. The Aberdeenshire projects were selected alongside 12 others across...
June 6, 2019
Ambitious plans for the establishment of two open science campuses at the James Hutton Institute’s sites in Dundee and Aberdeen were outlined by the Institute’s Chief Executive, Professor Colin Campbell, at the Scottish Society for...
May 5, 2019
Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history — and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns a landmark new report from the Intergovernmental...
April 4, 2019
Newbie UK Case Studies (Project)
Case Studies in the UK
TEXT
Key contacts
Lee-Ann Sutherland Adam Calo
Follow @newbieuk
April 4, 2019
Open Farm Sunday 2019 (Event)
Come and spend a fun family day at Mylnefield Farm!
The Institute will be taking part in Open Farm Sunday 2019 on 9 June.
April 4, 2019
NEWBIE - New Entrant netWork - Events (Project)
NEWBIE Events
At Newbie UK, we're working to be abreast of the ongoing work of farmers, advisory services, and governments to support and research new entrant farming. Any questions about events you see? Send an email to Adam Calo.
April 4, 2019
NEWBIE - Background (Project)
In NEWBIE, “new entrants” are defined as anyone who starts a new farm business or becomes involved in an existing farm business. They comprise a wide range of ages, agricultural experience and resource access. Newcomers and successors...
April 4, 2019
Oak trees have long had a reputation for supporting a range of biodiversity, however, research published today has uncovered just how many species depend on British oak to survive. The decline of these iconic trees, currently threatened by pests...
March 3, 2019
Young filmmakers with a passion for nature are being sought for a new competition that aims to encourage businesses to see the benefits of the natural world.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital (SFNC), of...
March 3, 2019
An eight-year-old campaigner, a social media whizz kid, a budding nature detective and several keen camera trappers have all been recognised as 2019 Young Wildlife Champions by the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership, in a drive to...
March 3, 2019
Recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in nature conservation, the eighth annual Nature of Scotland Awards are open for applications until 4 June, with the James Hutton Institute again sponsoring the Food and Farming...
February 2, 2019
Britain’s iconic oak trees have a reputation for supporting biodiversity, but a changing climate is making them increasingly susceptible to threats from pests and diseases. A research collaboration featuring James Hutton Institute...
December 12, 2018
UnderStories - Storying woodland use, management and expansion in the Cairngorms National Park (Project)
What is the story with woodlands in the Cairngorms National Park? Or should we say, what are the stories, as there are many threads of stories of actual, former or speculative woodlands weaving in and out that make this area what it...
October 10, 2018
For many people fungi are simply the edible mushrooms that appear on your dinner plate or the toadstool you pass by in your local park, however fungi are some of the planets most vital organisms. They provide powerful medicines including...
September 9, 2018
Craigiebuckler Autumnwatch (Event)
Join the staff at the James Hutton Institute as they bring to life the activities of the creatures great and small that make their home within the grounds of Craigiebuckler. A week of free events providing a window on the wildlife at the...
July 7, 2018
Farmers and land managers can improve agricultural productivity by using crop mixtures and taking into consideration the role of evolution in shaping the plants they grow, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists and partners at ETH...
June 6, 2018
UK Alpine Ecology Network: Projects (Research Page)
This page lists recent projects relevant to UK alpine ecosystems.Contact us if you have papers or reports that you would like to be listed on this page.
Return to main Alpine Ecology Network page
June 6, 2018
UK Alpine Ecology Network: Publications (Research Page)
This page lists recent research papers and project reports relevant to UK alpine ecosystems. Contact us if you have papers or reports that you would like to be listed on this page.
Return to main Alpine Ecology Network page
June 6, 2018
UK Alpine Ecology Network: Meetings (Research Page)
Here you will find details of past meetings of the UK Alpine Ecology Network along with links to workshop reports and presentations where available.
Return to main Alpine Ecology Network page
Inaugural meeting January 2018, James Hutton...
June 6, 2018
UK Alpine Ecology Network (Research Page)
The UK Alpine Ecology Network was formed in 2018 as a means of bringing together scientists, conservationists and land managers with an interest in the ecology of alpine ecosystems across the UK. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in...
April 4, 2018
A new short film produced by the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership and acclaimed wildlife photographer Pete Cairns offers a glimpse of the incredible biodiversity that the North East of Scotland has to offer, from dolphins and humpback...
March 3, 2018
Biodiversity continues to decline in every region of the world, significantly reducing nature’s capacity to contribute to people’s well-being. This alarming trend endangers economies, livelihoods, food security and the quality of life...
March 3, 2018
Come and spend a fun family day at Glensaugh Farm!
The Institute will be taking part in Open Farm Sunday 2018 on 10 June.
February 2, 2018
Gabrielle Flinn from RSPB will deliver this Aberdeen Entomological Club seminar entitled “Rare invertebrates in the Cairngorms project: one year on”. It will be held at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen (and screened to the...
September 9, 2017
NEFERTITI will establish an EU-wide highly connected network of well-specified demonstration and pilot farms, which is designed to enhance thematic knowledge exchange, cross fertilisation among actors and efficient innovation uptake in the...
July 7, 2017
The James Hutton Institute will be hosting a BioBlitz event at its site in Craigiebuckler on Friday 28th July - come and help ecologists identify as many species of plants, animals and fungi, in a race against the clock to learn as much as...
June 6, 2017
To help reverse the widespread declines in biodiversity seen over the last century, a range of agri-environmental schemes have been run in Scotland; currently efforts fall under the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS) that forms part of...
June 6, 2017
Managing the uplands for biodiversity (Project)
Management of the uplands is largely carried out through manipulating the numbers of livestock and of wild herbivores such as red deer. Changes in livestock numbers over recent years have been driven through changing methods and rates of...
June 6, 2017
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) is an essential part of the process of adaptive management, the process of learning from our actions in order to update and improve future ecosystem management. Across Europe we have a number of...
April 4, 2017
What makes a system resilient, and how can we manage for resilience?
April 4, 2017
RD 1.3.2 Ecosystem services provision (Project)
Using a range of innovative tools and techniques, our research explores the impact of management interventions on ecosystem services. We focus on the ecosystem services provided by woodland and semi-natural (upland) habitats. Our work on...
April 4, 2017
The North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership (NES BP) celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2017, and to mark the occasion it organised its first-ever Biodiversity Champions Award prize giving ceremony to recognise the efforts of local...
March 3, 2017
This Work Package addresses the challenge of protecting and restoring our natural capital – our biodiversity and ecosystems - by combining information on ecosystem function, delivery of benefits, resilience, and management practices.
February 2, 2017
Consumption of berries may have beneficial effects on health related to type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The beneficial effects may be due to the presence of protective polyphenol...
November 11, 2016
Only 1 day to go! We're looking forward to welcoming all our delegates to Dundee.
The next meeting of the IOBC-WPRS Working Group, in conjunction with the British Ecological Society Agricultural Ecology Special Interest Group, will be held...
November 11, 2016
Dr Kerry Waylen, a social scientist based at the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographic Sciences group in Aberdeen, has been invited to speak at a Science Forum preceding the next meeting of the Convention on Biological...
November 11, 2016
With the latest Progress Report on the Scottish Government’s Biodiversity Strategy expected to be published in early 2017, this seminar will provide a timely opportunity for policymakers and other key stakeholders to consider the...
September 9, 2016
Our Science (Research Page)
Our work covers much of the terrestrial environment and involves soils, water and crop production.
Soils
Physical, chemical and biological processes within soils underpin a vast range of ecosystem services. Our work deals with the fundamental...
July 7, 2016
MAGIC takes a fresh look at the Europe’s goals for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the policies and instruments intended to support these goals. Many issues – including water, energy and food security - are interconnected...
January 1, 2016
Juliette Dinning will deliver this Aberdeen Entomological Club seminar entitled “Dragonflies and damselflies of north east Scotland”. It will be held at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen (and screened to the Institute’s...
January 1, 2016
The croplands around Scotland’s coasts are an ancient form of managed land. Hunting communities occupied the area after the last ice retreated. Farmers arrived 5000-6000 years ago, bringing their crop seed with them. For thousands of years...
December 12, 2015
Staff and Students (Research Page)
Staff
For students, follow the link here: Students
May 5, 2015
Whether you have green fingers or not, every breath you take, every meal you eat owes a debt to plants. From one little seed, planted into soil, many green lives can arise - from small herbs up to big trees, or from ornamental flowers to...
May 5, 2015
The search for Scotland’s leading lights of conservation has begun with entries now open for the RSPB’s prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards, with the James Hutton Institute sponsoring the Innovation category.
The annual...
March 3, 2015
Dr Jack A Gilbert, leader of the Hospital Microbiome Project, Earth Microbiome Project, Home Microbiome Project, and co-founder of American Gut will be visiting Dundee to deliver the 2015 CLS/Hutton Distinguished Lecture on Tuesday 21 April...
February 2, 2015
We all think we have some idea of what ‘natural’ is, whether it’s the green meadows we pass by on the train or the fresh and colourful vegetables we pick out in the market. However, our countryside and the food we eat are the...
January 1, 2015
Senior soil ecologist Dr Helaina Black has been appointed to the leadership of the Ecological Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute, following the retirement of Dr Pete Goddard.
November 11, 2014
Conservation heroes from across the country were honoured last night at the third annual RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards, where Professor Iain Gordon, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute, presented the Innovation Award to the Native...
October 10, 2014
Soils@Hutton - Soil Information and Education (Research Page)
Introduction to Soils
Exploring Scotland's Soils
October 10, 2014
Soils@Hutton - Soil and food security (Research Page)
Soils & Sustainable production
October 10, 2014
Soils@Hutton - Soil and Climate Change (Research Page)
Learn more about soils & climate change
September 9, 2014
International agricultural journalists had a unique opportunity to see environmental science in action at the James Hutton Institute farm at Glensaugh, as part of the activities organised during the International Federation of Agricultural...
July 7, 2014
TRANSGRASS innovatively combined collaborative video, interactive Touchtable technology, and ecological surveys with a series of workshops to develop a transdisciplinary platform for the integration of contested forms of knowledge...
May 5, 2014
James Hutton Institute senior research entomologist, Professor Nick Birch, has been nominated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to present his Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme for raspberries and its...
May 5, 2014
Developing Molecular Approaches to Elucidate the Ecology and Function of Orbatid Mite Communities (Research Page)
May 5, 2014
Host Identity and Climate as Determinants of Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Distribution in Scotland (Research Page)
Background
Over 85% of land plants are obligate associated with mycorrhizal fungi illustrating the importance of the symbiosis. Fungi provide water and essential nutrients to their host plants in exchange for carbohydrates derived from...
May 5, 2014
A new EU training-partnership including the James Hutton Institute aims to promote wild plant conservation underpinned by the use of native plant seeds. The programme will train a new generation of higher level researchers, improve the...
April 4, 2014
Hydropower resources research (Research Page)
Hydropower plays a key role in Scotland’s renewable energy contributions and renewables targets for 2015 (50%) and 2020 (100%). Our research is supporting the sustainable planning, development and management of this resource. We are...
February 2, 2014
The Atlantic Maritime Croplands – sustainability and environment (Research Page)
A case study on sustainable agriculture and the environment at the James Hutton Institute
January 1, 2014
Vibrant Rural Communities workshop (Research Page)
A workshop was held at Birnam Arts and Conference Centre on 20 November 2013 to provide an update on research being conducted as part of the Vibrant Rural Communities theme of the Food, Land and People Strategic Research programme, funded by...
January 1, 2014
You might not think of microbes when you consider biodiversity, but it turns out that even a moderate loss of less than 5% of soil microbes may compromise some key ecosystem functions and could lead to lower degradation of toxins in the...
January 1, 2014
LandSFACTS publications (Research Page)
Publications relating to the LandSFACTS model.
January 1, 2014
LandSFACTS (Research Page)
LANDscape Scale Functional Allocation of Crops Temporally and Spatially
January 1, 2014
Scenarios and land use futures (Research Page)
Environmental, economic and social issues associated with agriculture are often fundamental for rural prosperity and sustainability, with consequent implications for any debate about future land use. A key to supporting the planning of change is...
January 1, 2014
Realising Land's Potential stakeholder engagement events (Research Page)
Stakeholder engagement events relating to theme topics
Health and wellbeing conferences and workshops
Date
Title
Theme role
Venue
25 November 2013
December 12, 2013
FarmPath – Farming Transitions: Pathways towards regional sustainability of agriculture in Europe (Project)
The overall goal of FarmPath is to identify and assess future transition pathways towards regional sustainability of agriculture in Europe, and the social and technological innovation needs required to initiate and progress along these pathways....
November 11, 2013
Bacterial endosymbionts and beneficial insects (Research Page)
A promising area for managing insect pests is through improved understanding of the importance of microbes associated with insects. Many insect species rely on symbiotic bacteria for their survival and these ‘hidden players’ residing...
October 10, 2013
Integrated pest management - weeds (Research Page)
Expertise and capability at the James Hutton institute, Dundee
September 9, 2013
Dr John Holland, Head of Farmland Ecology at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) will give this seminar "Utilising and improving the potential of agri-environment schemes for wildlife and ecosystem services" at the James...
August 8, 2013
The intensification of agriculture could have an impact on threatened populations of farmland birds due to its effect on one of their most important food sources, the sawfly.
In the first genetic study of farmland sawflies in the UK, scientists...
June 6, 2013
Scottish Rivers Handbook (Research Page)
The Scottish Rivers Handbook has been produced by the James Hutton Institute and the University of Stirling for CREW, the Centre of Expertise for Waters.
It is an accessible, fully illustrated 36 page book providing an overview of the physical...
June 6, 2013
Biodiversity (Research Page)
The term biodiversity describes the diversity of life on Earth. Diversity can occur at a number of levels of biological organisation, from genes, through to individuals, populations, species, communities and entire ecosystems.
June 6, 2013
Land (Research Page)
Landscapes and regions are where many natural processes and human activities interact and potentially conflict in different ways, giving complex challenges for sustainable management.
Managing landscapes has to satisfy multiple purposes and has...
March 3, 2013
Cost-effectiveness, disproportionality analysis and multiple benefits of the EU Water Framework Directive (Research Page)
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to deliver good ecological status (GES) for Europe’s waters. It includes economic principles, such as the use of cost-effectiveness analysis of measures to achieve GES and of derogation on grounds of...
March 3, 2013
Chen Wang (Member of Staff)
Dr Chen Wang is a Landscape and Visualisation Scientist, who joined the Information and Computational Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute in 2010.
March 3, 2013
Improving implementation and increasing uptake of measures to improve water quality in Scotland (Research Page)
Guidance and advice for improving implementation and increasing uptake of measures to improve water quality in Scotland
The Scotland River Basin Management Plan (2010) requires implementation of programmes of measures to support achievement of...
February 2, 2013
URflood: Links (Research Page)
Partners
The James Hutton Institute
Suomen ympäristökeskus (Finnish Environment Institute)
University College Dublin
February 2, 2013
URflood: Case Studies (Research Page)
Please use the links below to read more about the country specific case studies
February 2, 2013
URflood: Project Approach (Research Page)
The aims of the project will be delivered via the following work packages:
August 8, 2012
The conservation status and management of mountain hares (Research Page)
Evidence suggests that mountain hare numbers have declined in recent years; however the extent of this decline and whether this represents a long-term decline or is the low phase of a synchronised population cycle is not clear.
August 8, 2012
Estimating mountain hare numbers (Research Page)
Estimating animal abundance or density is a central requirement in ecology and remains one of the most challenging areas of wildlife management. Methods of estimating animal numbers must be tailored to the survey objectives, habitat and species.
August 8, 2012
How are mountain hare populations linked in space? (Research Page)
Anthropogenic pressure and climate change are generating an increasingly fragmented landscape in which natural mountain hare populations are becoming more isolated and subsequently prone to greater risk of local extinction due to stochastic...
August 8, 2012
Distribution of mountain hares (Research Page)
The distribution of Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) in Scotland (2006/07)
May 5, 2012
Ecosystem services approaches for water management (Research Page)
Since the release of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, ecosystems have become widely recognised as natural capital assets supporting and supplying services which are highly valuable to humans.
There is a growing appreciation of the important...
May 5, 2012
Future scenarios for water resources (Research Page)
Scotland has water resources of generally high quality and with adequate volume to meet current demands. However, these resources are not uniformly distributed and there are significant pressures on both quantity and quality in certain regions....
February 2, 2012
Soil diversity (Research Page)
The complexity of the soil system with many large gradients including nutrients and gases such as oxygen drive a massive diversity below ground. It has been estimated that there are over 40,000 different organisms contained within a gram of soil...
February 2, 2012
COMET-LA was a project coordinated by the University of Cordoba and funded under the European Commission Framework Programme 7. The acronym stands for “COmmunity-based Management of EnvironmenTal challenges in Latin America”. The...
October 10, 2011
Implications of copper (Cu) on estuarine ecosystem functioning (Research Page)
Many antifouling paints, applied to ships’ hulls and other marine structures, contain copper (Cu) as an active ingredient. As a result many European waterways are becoming increasingly Cu contaminated. This work is investigating the effects...
October 10, 2011
Coastal soils (Research Page)
A number of Scotland's rarer soils are found at or near the coast. Perhaps the best known are the sandy soils of the machair of the Inner and Outer Hebrides and the west Highlands. The soils are calcareous - which in itself is very rare...
October 10, 2011
Carbon stocks in salt marshes (Research Page)
Salt marsh occurs in the intertidal zone and has a number of functions including a filter for pollutants, protecting coasts from flooding and providing habitat for a number of salt tolerant species. More recently it has been recognised salt...
October 10, 2011
Carbon cycling (Research Page)
We are collaborating with staff at Oceanlab (Aberdeen University) in a number of projects, mainly involved with carbon cycling, covering both estuaries and the deep sea. This work is fundamental as deep sea sediments cover over half of the earths...
October 10, 2011
Ecosystem functioning (Research Page)
Studies are continuing into land run-off and coastal ecosystem functioning and the subsequent increased turbidity and particle loading in the water column.
To better understand the biogeochemical processes occurring in sandy intertidal...
October 10, 2011
Analytical Services (Research Page)
Our Analytical Group carries out a range of analyses on marine and estuarine sediments. We quantify analytes such as heavy/toxic metals, organotin compounds (now banned as antifouling agents on boats) and a range of persistent organic pollutants....
October 10, 2011
Ecosystem goods and services (Research Page)
This work is examining the potential for increased food production in the Ythan catchment and its likely impacts on meeting nature conservation obligations, using the ecosystem approach. The ecosystem approach is a management tool to conserve our...
October 10, 2011
Sand dune survey of Scotland (Research Page)
The NCC Sand Dune Survey of Scotland which took place from 1975-1977 has since been digitised and is currently being used for two projects.
October 10, 2011
East Grampian Coastal Partnership (Research Page)
The East Grampian Coastal Partnership is a group of individuals, with representatives from local authorities, industry, conservation bodies, recreation and tourism groups, local residents and many others with an interest in the future wellbeing of...
October 10, 2011
Understanding our resources (Research Page)
To optimise the potential of Scotland’s natural assets and provide local responses to global change, we must build on existing work and continually improve our knowledge to support strategic needs and enable well informed decision making....
October 10, 2011
Climate change and coast flooding (Research Page)
Climate change has the potential to have significant impacts on our coastal communities through increased storm events and sea level rise. An evaluation tool has been developed to compare Scotland’s coastal management policies against...
October 10, 2011
Attitudes towards biodiversity management (Research Page)
Public attitudes towards biodiversity and its management are poorly understood, raising concerns over the effectiveness of public participation in biodiversity policy making. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with members of the public to...
October 10, 2011
Visualisation and coastal developments (Research Page)
The link between natural environments and their restoration has been the focus of much research including its importance for human wellbeing. We are carrying out a series of studies looking at community perceptions of renewable energy...
October 10, 2011
Scotland’s coastal assets (Research Page)
Scotland’s natural assets provide a wealth of goods and services which are of benefit to human wellbeing, such as food, fuel, climate regulation and recreation opportunities. To ensure a sustainable future we must balance our economic and...
October 10, 2011
Global Change - the local context (Research Page)
Our work in this area reflects the external pressures Scotland is facing and explores how we can adapt to global changes such as demographic shifts, social attitudes, global trade and climate change.
The impacts of which, are generally out with...
