Helaina Black

Honorary Associate
Ecological Sciences
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

Helaina’s research in soil ecology and soil science spans over 28 years with extensive practical experience in agricultural and semi-natural ecosystems of UK and Africa. Her research projects typically involve multi- to trans-disciplinary approaches and engage stakeholders from farmers, regulators, policy-makers to Governments at local to international levels. Since 2011, Helaina has won >£2.5M in research funding from RCUK, Natural England, SEPA, SNH, EU and Scottish Government.

Biography

Through a career based in a number of large research organisations and more recently as a Company Director and Trustee of a charity, she has a wealth of experience in coordinating and leading scientific and organisational teams.  Examples include: the soils component of Countryside Survey 2000 (MASQ: 1997-2002); Scottish Government RERAD Programme WP3.3. the Function and Value of Soils (2006-2011) and currently the NERC/Dfid funded ESPA ALTER consortium (2014-2016) which is investigating links between soils and ecosystem services in Ethiopia and Uganda. Helaina currently holds a position on the UN FAO supported Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils; she is a past President of the British Society of Soil Science and a member of the British Ecological Society. Helaina is a visiting lecturer at Lancaster University and takes an active role in teaching soil science to post-graduates through the NERC Summer Schools (2015 is “Dirt Science:An introduction to soil systems”) and the NERC Joint NERC-BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Soil Science (STARS).

Research

My current research centres on improving our ability to measure, monitor, manage and predict the contribution of soils to social, economic and environmental benefits. This embraces the significance of soil biodiversity in ecosystems; the multi-functionality of soils; opportunities to improve soil functions and implications of drivers of change on soils e.g. climate, pollution, people and policy. Under the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme, she is working with colleagues on developing “good ecological status of soils”. This includes a comprehensive PLFA analyses for soil microbial community structure in the National Soil Inventory for Scotland and investigating the relative sensitivity of soil quality indicators to pollution in partnership with SEPA. Other projects include:

  • NERC / DfidALTER (Alternative Carbon Investments in Ecosystems for Poverty Alleviation) is a 3 year international research initiative with partners from UK, Ethiopia and Uganda. ALTER aims to demonstrate how improved knowledge about soil degradation can be used to address poverty issues.
  • Establishing the soils baseline for the Natural England Long Term Monitoring Network(including chemical, physical and biological characteristics).
  • With colleagues from SNH and SEPA, Helaina is involved in the implementation of the Soil Monitoring Action Plan as part of Scottish Government’s Environmental Monitoring Strategy.
  • Assessing soil change in the SCIAF coordinated Kulima Programme in Zambia, Malawi and Burundi which is funded by Scottish Government Aid and SCIAF. This includes a novel multi-aspect assessment of soils in over 1000 households using sustainable agricultural management practices
  • SCOPE Rapid Assessment Project on the Multiple Benefits of Soil Carbon with publication of a new SCOPE CABI book in late 2014
  • UK Soil Observatory portal funded by NERC and BIS
  • Scotland’s soils website for The Scottish Government

Publications

The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Journals

Prior to appointment

  • Chamberlain, P.M.; Bull, I.D.; Black, H.I.J.; Ineson, P.; Evershed, R.P. (2006) The effect of diet on isotopic turnover in Collembola examined using the stable carbon isotopic compositions of lipids., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38, 1146-1157.
  • Chamberlain, P.M.; Bull, I.D.; Black, H.I.J.; Ineson, P.; Evershed, R.P. (2006) Collembolan trophic preferences determined using fatty acid distributions and compound-specific stable carbon isotope values., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38, 1275-1281.
  • Chamberlain, P.M.; McNamara, N.P.; Chaplow, J.; Stott, A.W.; Black, H.I.J. (2006) Translocation of surface litter carbon into soil by Collembola., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38, 2655-2664.
  • Kirby, K.J.; Smart, S.M.; Black, H.I.J.; Bunce, R.G.H.; Corney, P.M.; Smithers, R.J. (2005) Long-term ecological change in British woodlands (1971-2001): a re-survey and analysis of change based on the 103 sites in the Nature Conservancy “Bunce 1971” woodland survey., English Nature Research Report, No. 653, 139pp.
  • Heath, J.; Ayres, E.; Possell, M.; Bardgett, R.D.; Black, H.I.J.; Grant, H.; Ineson, P.; and Kerstiens, G. (2005) Rising atmospheric CO2 reduces sequestration of root-derived soil carbon., Science, 309, 1711-1713.
  • Black, H.I.J.; Garnett, J.S.; Ainsworth, G.; Coward, P.A.; Creamer, R.; Ellwood, S.; Horne, J.; Hornung, M.; Kennedy, V.H.; Osborn, D.; Parekh, N.R.; Parrington, J.; Poskitt, J.M.; Potter, E.; Reeves, N.; Rowland, A.P.; Self, P.; Turner, S.; Watkins, J.; Woods, C.; Wright, J. (2001) MASQ: Monitoring and assessing soil quality in Great Britain. Countryside Survey Module 6: Soils and pollution., Environment Agency, R&D Technical Report P5-053/01/TR, 201pp.
  • Weeks, J.M. (ed.); Hopkins, S.P.; Wright, J.F.; Black, H.I.J.; Eversham, B.C.; Roy, D.; Svendsen, C. (1997) A demonstration of the feasibility of SOILPACS., Institute of Terrestrial Ecology Draft Report to Environment Agency, HMIP/CPR2/41/1/247, 180pp.

Books / chapters

  • Smith, P.; Ashmore, M.; Black, H.I.J.; Burgess, P.; Evans, C.; Hails, R.; Potts, S.; Quine, T.; Thomson, A.; Biesmeijer, K.; Breeze, T.; Broadmeadow, M.; Ferrier, R.C.; Freer, J.; Hansom, J.; Haygarth, P.; Hesketh, H.; Hicks, K.; Johnson, A.; Kay, D.; Kunin, W.; Lilly, A.; May, L.; Memmott, J.; Orr, H.; Pickup, R.; Purse, B.; Squire, G. (2011) Regulating services., In: UK National Ecosystem Assessment. Understanding Nature’s Value to Society. Technical Report. Cambridge, UNEP-WCMC, Chapter 14, pp535-596.

Technical / contract reports

  • Black, H.I.J.; Ritz, K.; Harris, J.A.; Cameron, C.; Campbell, C.D.; Chamberlain, P.M.; Creamer, R.; Pawlett, M.; Wood, S. (2011) Scoping biological indicators of soil quality, Phase II., Defra Final Contract Report SP0534.
  • Robinson, D.A.; Allton, K.; Bhogal, A.; Black, H.I.J.; Costigan, P.; Ellis, M.; Emmett, B.A.; Frogbrook, Z.; Gardner, M.; Giles, J.; Glendining, M.; Hallett, S.; Higgins, A.; Hill, C.; Hill, N.; Jones, A.; Jordan, C.; Kingdon, A.; Kirk, G.; Lawley, R.; Skate, J.; Rees, G.; Vanguelova, E.; Towers, W. (2011) Informa Tec Soils., Report to Defra for the InformaTec-Soils Meeting, June 2011.
  • Hart, K.; Baldock, D.; Tucker, G.; Allen, B.; Calatrava, J.; Black, H.I.J.; Newman, S.; Baulcomb, C.; McCracken, D. (2011) Costing the environmental needs relating to rural land management., Final report to EU DG Environment.
  • Ritz, K.; Harris, H.; Pawlett, M.; Cameron, C.; Black, H.I.J. (2011) Climate change impacts on soil biota – development of a resistance and resilience assay., Final Report to Defra CTE0825.
  • Brown, I.; Ridder, B.; Alumbaugh, P.; Barnett, C.; Brooks, A.; Duffy, L.; Webbon, C.; Nash, E.; Townend, I.; Black, H.I.J.; Hough, R.L. (2011) Climate change risk assessment for the biodiversity and ecosystem services sector., Final Report to Defra – UK Climate Change Risk Assessment.
  • Brown, I.; Black, H.I.J. (2011) UK climate change risk assessment: Biodiversity and ecosystem services. Tier 1 sector report., Report to Defra
  • Brown, I.; Ridder, B.; Alumbaugh, P.; Barnett, C.; Brooks, A.; Duffy, L.; Webbon, C.; Nash, E.; Townend, I.; Black, H.I.A.; Hough, R.L. (2011) UK climate change risk assessment: Biodiversity and ecosystem services. Tier 2 sector report., Report to Defra. Deliverable 1.7, EU FP7 REFRESH Project.
  • Erber, C.; Bruneau, P.; Black, H.I.J. (2010) State of Scotland’s soils – soil biodiversity chapter., SEPA.
  • Smith, P.; Ashmore, M.; Black, H.I.J.; Burgess, P.; Evans, C.; Hails, R.; Potts, S.; Quine, T.; Thomson, A. (2010) National Ecosystem Assessment, Chapter 14 regulating services., Defra.
  • Merrington, G.; Barraclough, D.; Bhogal, A.; Black, H.; Smith, P.; Worrall, F. (2010) Defra project SP0567: Assembling UK-wide data on soil carbon (and greenhouse gas fluxes) in the context of land management. Final contract report SID5., Final contract report SID5 to Defra.
  • Glenk, K.; McVittie, A.; Towers, W.; Watson, C.; Black, H.I.J. (2010) Socio-economic data on Scottish soils – collection and development., Report to SEPA.
  • 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.
  • Brown, I.; Towers, W.; Rivington, M.; Black, H.I.J.; Booth, P.; Barrie, D. (2008) The implications of climate change on Land Capability for Agriculture., Report to the Scottish Government.
  • Black, H.I.J.; Booth, P.; Bellamy, P.; Elston, D.A.; Frogbrook, Z.L.; Hudson, G.; Lark, M.; Potts, J.M.; Reynolds, B.; Lilly, A. (2008) Design and operation of a UK Soil Monitoring Network., Environment Agency, Science Report – 060072/SR.
  • Towers, W.; Black, HJ.I.J.; Campbell, C.D.; Hough, R.L. (2007) EU Soil Framework Directive: Macaulay Institute response., Sustainability Science, 18, 2533-2548
  • Emmett, B.; Black, H.I.J.; Bradley, R.I.; Elston, D.A.; Reynolds, B.; Creamer, R.; Frogbrook, Z.L.; Hudson, G.; Jordan, C.; Lilly, A.; Moffat, A.; Potts, J.; Vanguelova, E. (2007) National Soil Monitoring Network: Review and assessment study. Final report., SNIFFER, Project LQ09.
  • Mayr, T.; Black, H.I.J.; Towers, W.; Palmer, R.; Cooke, H.; Freeman, M.; Hornung, M.; Wood, C.; Wright, S.; Lilly, A.; DeGroote, J.; Jones, M. (2006) Novel methods for spatial prediction of soil functions within landscapes (SP0531)., Report to Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Scottish Executive Environmental and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD).

Conference papers

  • Aitkenhead, M.J.; Black, H.I.J. (2011) Exploring potential contributions of soil microbes to Martian terraforming through soil simulation., CAREX Conference on Life in Extreme Environments, Dublin, October 2011.
  • Macleod, C.J.A.; Black, H.I.J.; Brown, K.; Blackstock, K.L.; Dawson, J.J.C.; Holmes, B.; Langan, S.J.; Marshall, K.; Martin-Ortega, J.; Munoz-Rojas, J.; Morris, S.; Prager, K.; Rivington, M.; Waylen, K.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Gordon, I.J. (2011) What is required for greater levels of interdisciplinary science in a research institute?, 6th International Conference on Environmental Future: Interdisciplinary Progress in Environmental Science and Management, Newcastle, UK, 18-22 July 2011.
  • Black, H.I.J.; Cameron, C.M.; Campbell, C.D.; Chamberlain, P.M.; Creamer, R..; Harris, J.A.; Pawlett, M.; Ritz, K.; Singh, B.K. (2009) Are biological indicators of soil quality reliable enough for monitoring?, BSSS/SSSI Soil Quality Conference, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland, 9-11 September 2009.
  • Brown, I.; Towers, W.; Rivington, M.; Black, H.I.J. (2009) Land capability: a strategic planning tool for integrated climate change responses., International Association of Research Universities Climate Change Congress: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions, Copenhagen 10-12 March 2009.
  • Campbell, C.D.; Towers, W.; Hough, R.L.; Black, H.I.J. (2008) Protecting the Nation’s soil – past, present and future., SAC/SEPA Biennial Conference Agriculture and the Environment VII Land Management in a Changing Environment, Edinburgh, 26-27 March 2008.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Black, H.I.J.; Brooker, R.W.; McVittie, A.; Irvine, R.J.; Coull, M.C. (2011) Ecosystem Services in the Scottish Government’s Environmental Change Research Programme, British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2011, University of Sheffield, 12-14 September 2011.
  • Mayr, T.; Black, H.I.J.; Towers, W.; Palmer, R.; Cooke, H.; Freeman, M.; Hornung, M.; Wood, C.; Wright, S.; Lilly, A.; DeGroote, J.; Jones, M. (2009) What would we like our soils to do and how do we decide?, ProGEO – WG3 Meeting 2009. Geoheritage, Geodiversity and Landscape Management, Drenthe, The Netherlands, 19-23 April 2009. Programme and Abstracts.
  • Black, H.I.J.; Cameron, C.M.; Campbell, C.D.; Chamberlain, P.M.; Creamer, R.E.; Harris, J.A.; Pawlett, M.; Ritz, K.; Robinson, L.; Singh, B.K. (2008) Scoping biological indicators of soil quality for national soil monitoring., Proceedings of the Annual BSSS Conference, Rothamstead, September 2008.
  • Black,H.I.J.; Chamberlain, P.; Cameron, C.; Campbell, C.D.; Creamer, R.; Harris, J.; Pawlett, M.; Ritz, K.; Singh, B.; Thomas, N.; Robinson, L.; Wood, C. (2008) Can we establish useful biological indicators of soil quality for national-scale soil monitoring?, Eurosoil 2008, Conference Proceedings, Vienna, Austria, 25-29 August 2008.
  • Glenk, K.; Black, H.I.J.; Towers, W.; Watson, C. (2008) Ecosystem services or soil functions? A closer look at the interface between natural and social sciences., Eurosoil 2008, Soil-Society-Environment. Session: Society’s Demands for and Perception of Soil Conservation. Conference Proceedings, Vienna, Austria, 25-29 August 2008.
  • Towers, W.; Mayr, T.; Black, H.I.J.; Palmer, R.; Cooke, H.; Freeman, M.; Hornung, M.; Wood, C.; Wright, S.; Lilly, A.; DeGroote, J.; Jones, M. (2008) What would we like our soils to do and how do we decide., Eurosoil 2008, Soil-Society-Environment. Session: Land Management. Conference Proceedings, Vienna, Austria, 25-29 August 2008.
  • Mayr, T.; Black, H.I.J.; Towers, W.; Palmer, R.; Cooke, H.; Freeman, M.; Hornung, M.; Wood, C.; Wright, S.; Lilly, A.; DeGroote, J.; Jones, M. (2007) Development of a soil function evaluation framework., Proceedings of BSSS Conference Soils – Fit for Purpose? Aberystwyth September 2007
  • Dyer, A.; Cooke, D.E.L. (2007) Valuing our soil resource for sustainable ecosystem services., Making Scotland’s Rural Environment More Sustainable, Royal Society of Edinburgh, 25 June 2007.

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