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Publications: MOORCO – Moorland colonisation

Image showing birch woodland establishing on moorland
Our work aims to predict the likely changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services resulting from an increase in woodland cover
  • Friggens NL, Hester AJ, Mitchell RJ, Parker TC, Subke J-A, Wookey PA (2020) Tree planting in organic soils does not result in net carbon sequestration on decadal timescales Global change biology 26, 5178-5188 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15229
  • Davies, A. 2019 Dung fungi as an indicator of large herbivore dynamics in peatlands. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 271, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2019.104108
  • Mitchell, R.J., Hester, A.J., Campbell, C.D., Chapman, S.J., Cameron, C.M., Hewison, R.L. and Potts, J.M. 2012. Explaining the variation in the soil microbial community: do vegetation composition and soil chemistry explain the same or different parts of the microbial variation? Plant and Soil 351, 355-362
  • Mitchell, R.J., Keith, A.M., Potts, J.M., Ross, J., Reid, E. and Dawson, L.A. 2012. Overstory and understory vegetation interact to alter soil community composition and activity. Plant and Soil 352, 65-84
  • Mitchell, R.J., Hester, A.J., Campbell, C.D., Chapman, S.J., Cameron, C.M., Hewison, R.L. and Potts, J.M. 2010. Is vegetation composition or soil chemistry the best predictor of the soil microbial community? Plant and Soil 333, 417-430.
  • Mitchell, R.J. Campbell, C.D., Chapman, S.J. and Cameron, C.M. 2010. The ecological engineering impact of a single tree species on the soil microbial community. Journal of Ecology 98, 50-61.
  • Keith, A.M., Brooker, R.B., Osler, G.H R., Chapman, S.J., Burslem, D.F.R.P. and van der Wal, R. Strong impacts of below ground tree inputs on soil nematode trophic composition. 2009. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 41, 1060-1065.
  • Dawson, L., Hester, A., Ross, J., Hood, K., Gwatkin, R., Potts, J., Bell, J., and Sommerkorn, M. 2009. Carbon dynamics in heather moorland - impact of tree establishment. In: Predicting the Future for Highly Organic Soils, British Society of Soil Science, Spring Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, 5 - 7 May 2009.
  • Keith, A.M., van der Wal, R., Brooker, R.B., Osler, G.H.R., Chapman, S.J. and Burslem, D.F.R.P. and Elston, D. 2008. Increasing litter species richness reduces variability in a terrestrial decomposer system. Ecology 89(9), 2657-2664.
  • Brooker R.W., Osler G.H.R., Gollisch J. 2008. Association of vegetation and soil mite assemblages with isolated Scots pine trees on a Scottish wet heath. Landscape Ecology 23, 861–871.
  • Nielsen, U.N., Osler, G.H.R., van der Wal, R., Campbell, C.D. and Burslem, D.F.R.P. 2008. Soil pore volume and the abundance of soil mites in two contrasting habitats. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 40, 1538-1541
  • Mitchell, R.J., Campbell ,C.D., Chapman, S.J., Osler, G.H.R., Vanbergen, A.J., Ross, L.C., Cameron, C.M. and Cole, L. 2007. The cascading effects of birch on heather moorland: a test for top-down control of an ecosystem engineer. Journal of Ecology 95, 540-554.
  • Keith, A.M., van der Wal R., Brooker, R.W., Osler, G.H.R., Chapman, S.J. and Burslem, D.F.R.P. 2006. Birch invasion of heather moorland increases nematode diversity and trophic complexity. Soil Biology Biochemistry 38, 3421-3430.
  • Keith, A.M., van der Wal, R., Brooker, R.B., Osler, G.H.R., Chapman, S.J. and Burslem, D.F.R.P. 2006. Birch invasion of heather moorland increases nematode diversity and trophic complexity. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 38(12), 3421-3430
  • Osler, G.H.R., Cole, L. and Keith, A.M. 2006. Changes in oribatid mite community structure associated with the succession from heather (Calluna vulgaris) moorland to birch (Betula pubescens) woodland. Pedobiologia 50, 323-330.
  • Osler, G.H.R., Cole, L. and Keith, A.M. 2006. Effects of birch invasion of heather moorland on mite community structure. Pedobiologia 50(4), 323-330.
  • Osler, G.H.R., Korycinska, A. and Cole, L. 2006. Differences in litter mass change mite assemblage structure on a deciduous forest floor. Ecography, 29, 811-818.
  • Hester, A.J., Miles, J. and Gimingham G.H. 1991. Succession from heather moorland to birch woodland. I. Experimental alteration of specific environmental conditions in the field.  Journal of Ecology 79, 303-315.
  • Hester, A.J., Miles, J. and Gimingham, C.H. 1991. Succession from heather moorland to birch woodland. II. Growth and competition beteen Vaccinium myrtillus, Deschampsia flexuosa and Agrostis capillaris. Journal of Ecology 79, 317-328.
  • Hester, A.J., Gimingham G.H. and Miles, J. 1991. Succession from heather moorland to birch woodland. III. Seed availability, germination and early growth. Journal of Ecology 79, 329-344.
  • Miles, J. 1981. Effects of birch on moorlands.  Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Cambridge
  • Miles, J. and Young, W.F. 1980. The effects on heathland and moorland soils in Scotland and northern England following colonisation by birch. Bull Ecology 11, 233–242.

Recent talks:

Tree planting: impacts on biodiversity and climate change. Ecosystems and Land Use Stakeholder Engagement Group (ELSEG), January 2021 Meeting. Powerpoint presentation.

Contact

MOORCO is a collaborative project across several groups and themes within the James Hutton Institute and with many different staff involved. In the first instance please contact Dr Ruth Mitchell for further details.

Research

Areas of Interest


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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.