Andrea Britton

Plant Ecologist
Ecological Sciences
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Andrea Britton is a senior post-doctoral research scientist in the Ecological Sciences Group and leads the Air Quality Topic for the Scottish Government Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research Programme. Andrea is a plant and soil ecologist with over 20 years’ experience of working on a wide range of applied ecological research topics. Her primary interests lie in the biodiversity and functioning of upland and especially alpine ecosystems, and the changes occurring in these ecosystems as a result of human influences including pollutant (nitrogen and sulphur) deposition and climate change.

Research

The impact of nitrogen deposition on upland and alpine ecosystems has been a long-running theme in Andrea’s research. Nitrogen deposition is one of the leading causes of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in the UK and Andrea’s research quantifies these impacts, develops methods for monitoring them and explores the potential for mitigation or recovery. This area of work is strongly policy relevant and applied and contributes to the evidence base underpinning UK air pollution policy and to the development of critical loads for nitrogen deposition used to set pollution reduction targets across Europe.

Currently, Andrea is leading the Nitrogen Impacts in Natural Ecosystems (NINE) project within the Scottish Government Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research Programme. This project aims to improve understanding of how nitrogen deposition interacts with climate change to impact biodiversity and ecosystem function in Scottish semi-natural habitats, with a particular focus on alpine and forest habitats and below ground biodiversity. The research uses a variety of approaches at different scales, from short-term studies manipulating nitrogen inputs and climate under controlled conditions in the laboratory, to a long-term field-based experiment at Culardoch in the Cairngorm Mountains, and country-wide surveys of above and below ground biodiversity using both traditional and molecular methods.

Andrea also has a keen interest in the exploration of Scottish alpine biodiversity, both above and below ground, and in developing understanding of how biodiversity is influenced by the environment and relates to ecological function. This area of work is supported by traditional taxonomic skills with groups such as bryophytes and lichens which have particular importance in UK alpine habitats and utilises modern molecular methods to uncover alpine soil biodiversity across a wide range of taxa. Recent work at Ben Avon in the Cairngorms has started to reveal the magnitude of soil biodiversity in Scottish alpine habitats and explore how this relates to important soil functions such as carbon and nutrient storage.

Exploration and monitoring of biodiversity in alpine habitats present particular challenges due to the time required to access remote mountain areas. In a recent pilot study in the Cairngorms National Park, Andrea and colleagues worked with plant conservation charity Plantlife to test the potential for citizen science surveys of alpine soil biodiversity using molecular methods. This highly successful pilot demonstrated great scope for engaging with the hill walking public and is currently being expanded to the national scale as the Mountain Heights, Hidden Depths project which forms part of the Scottish Government Research project Scotland’s biodiversity: people, data and monitoring.

 

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

Books / chapters

  • Britton, A.J. (2008) The montane heathland lichen guide., Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen.

Technical / contract reports

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Emmett, B.; Ashmore, M.; Belyazid, S.; Britton, A.; Caporn, S.; Carroll, J.; Davies, O.; Dise, N.; Field, C.; Helliwell, R.C.; Henrys, P.; Hester, A.J.; Hughes, H.; Jones, L.; Kivimaki, S.; Leake, J.; Leith, I.; Maskell, R.; Mills, L.; Mizunuma, T.; Ostle, N.; Phoenix, G.; Pilkington, M.; Pitman, R.; Power, S.; Reynolds, B.; Rowe, E.; Scott, A.; Sheppard, L.; Smart, S.; Sowerby, A.; Tipping, E.; Vanguelova, E.; Vuohelainen, A.; Williams, B.L. (2010) Terrestrial Umbrella – Effects of eutrophication and acidification on terrestrial ecosystems. Annual Report 2010., Annual Contract Report to Defra.
  • Emmett, B.; Ashmore, M.; Belyazid, S.; Britton, A.; Broadmeadow, M.; Caporn, S.; Davies, O.; Dise, N.; Field, C.; Helliwell, R.C.; Hester, A.J.; Hughes, S.; Leake, J.; Leith, I.; Maskell, L.; Mills, R.; Mizunuma, T.; Ostle, N.; Phoenix, G.; Power, S.; Reynolds, B.; Rowe, E.; Scott, A.; Sheppard, L.; Smart, S.; Sowerby, A.; Tipping, E.; Vanguelova, E.; Vuohelainen, A.;Williams, B.P. (2009) Terrestrial Umbrella – Effects of Eutrophication and Acidification on Terrestrial Ecosystems. Annual Report 2009., Annual Contract Report to DEFRA.
  • 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.
  • Emmett, B.; Cooper, J.R.; Ashmore, M.; Belyazid, S.; Britton, A.; Broadmeadow, M.; Caporn, S.; Carroll, J.; Davies, O.; Dise, N.; Field, C.; Helliwell, R.C.; Hester, A.J. Hughes, S.; Leake, J.; Leith, I.; Maskell, L.; Mills, R.; Mizunuma, T.; Ostle, N.; Phoenix, G.; Power, S.; Reynolds, B.; Rowe, E.; Scott, A.; Sheppard, L.; Smart, S.; Sowerby, A.; Tipping, E.; Vanguelova, E.; Vuohelainen, A. (2008) Terrestrial Umbrella – Effects of Eutrophication and Acidification on Terrestrial Ecosystems. Annual Report 2008., Annual Contract Report to DEFRA.
  • Pakeman, R.J.; Beale, C.M.; Britton, A.J.; Brooker, R.W.; Iason, G.R.; Langan, S.J.; Littlewood, N.A; Westaway, S. (2008) Evaluation of UK Biodiversity Action plan revised targets for Scotland., Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Britton, A.J.; Pakeman, R.J. (2008) Vegetation monitoring of Rum natura habitats., Final Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Britton, A.J.; Pakeman, R.J. (2008) Vegetation monitoring of Rum natural habitats: final report., Contract Report to SNH.
  • Emmett, B.A.; Williams, B.L.; Ashmore, M.; Britton, A.J.; Broadmeadow, M.; Bullock, J.; Cape, J.N.; Caporn, S.J.M.; Carroll, J.A.; Cresser, M.S.; Crossley, A.; de Lange, I.; Edmondson, J.; Evans, C.; Fowler, D.; Grant, H.; Green, E.R.; Green, S.; Griffiths, (2007) Terrestrial Umbrella Final Report, 2007., Report to NERC-DEFRA, Project Number C02613, Contract Number CPEA 18, July 2007.
  • Emmett, B.A.; Williams, B.L.; Ashmore, M.; Britton, A.J.; Broadmeadow, M.; Bullock, J.; Cape, J.N.; Caporn, S.J.M.; Carroll, J.A.; Cresser, M.S.; Crossley, A.; de Lange, I.; Edmondson, J.; Evans, C.; Fowler, D.; Grant, H.; Gren, E.R.; Green, S.; Griffiths, (2006) Terrestrial Umbrella Annual Report 2006., Report to NERC-DEFRA, Project No. CO2613, July 2006, Contract No. CPEA 18, July 2006.
  • Emmett, B.A.; Williams, B.L.; Ashmore, M.; Benham, S.; Britton, AJ..; Broadmeadow, M.; Caporn, S.J.M.; Carroll, J.; Cresser, M.; Cresswell, N.; Crossley, A.; Edmondson, J.; Grant, H.; Green, E.; Green, S.; Helliwell, R.C.; Hinton, C.; Hughes, S.; Jones, A.; Jones, M.; Leake, J.; Lee, J.; Leith, I.; Oakley, S.; Ostle, N.; Power, S.; Price, E.A.C.; Ray, N.; Reynolds, B.; Sheppard, L.; Smart, R.; Smart, S.; Sowerby, A.; Vanguelova, E.; Williams, D.; Wildig, J. (2005) Terrestrial Umbrella Annual Report, 2005., Contract Report to DEFRA, Project No. C02613, July 2005.
  • Armitage, H.A.; Pearce, I.S.K.; Britton, A.J. (2005) The impact of grazing and nitrogen deposition on the condition of Racomitrium lanuginosum on the Carneddau Mountains, North Wales., Contract Report to Countryside Council for Wales, Final Report, February 2005, 45pp. Contract No. C00691NEW, FC 73-01-453.
  • Pakeman, R.J.; Britton, A.J.; Palmer, S.; Clutton-Brock, T.; Blankers, M.; Crawley, M. (2004) Habitat restoration project – Rum National Nature Reserve. Project monitoring and site condition monitoring. Final Report, September 2004., Contract Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Britton, A.J.; Pearce, I.S.K.P. (2004) Studies into the condition and conservation of montane heath and summit heath vegetation in Wales., Contract Report to Countryside Council for Wales. Contract no. FC 73-01-453
  • Britton, A.J.; Gordon, I.J.; Pakeman, R.J.; Hester, A.J.; Elston, D.A.; Dennis, P. (2003) Design of research methodology to determine the impacts of grazing on lowland heathland., Contract Report to English Nature.
  • Gordon, I.J.; Britton, A.J.; Crawley, M.; Palmer, S.; Bayfield, N.; Dennis, P.; Clutton-Brock, T.H.; Blankers, M. (2002) Report on habitat restoration project – Rum National Nature Reserve. Project monitoring and site condition 2001-2002., Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Britton, A.J.; Gordon, I.J.; Hester, A.J.; Robertson, E.; McKeen, M.; Common, G.; Palmer, S.C.F.; Marquiss, M. (2000) A grazing plan for Isle of Rum National Nature Reserve., Contract Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.

Conference papers

  • Britton, A.J.; Hester, A.J.; Beale, C.; Hewison, R.L.; Towers, W. (2010) Drivers of biodiversity change in british alpine habitats., Global Change and the World’s Mountains, Perth, Scotland, 26-30 September 2010.
  • Britton, A.J. (2006) Effects of nitrogen addition and management on nutrient uptake and growth of dwarf shrubs in low-alpine heathland., British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Oxford, 5-7 September 2006.
  • Britton, A.J.; Fisher, J.M.; Baillie, G. (2005) The effects of nitrogen deposition on mountain vegetation: the importance of geology., In: Mountains of Northern Europe: Conservation, Management, People and Nature (eds. D.B.A. Thompson, M.F. Price and C.A. Galbraith). The Stationery Office Ltd., Edinburgh. pp121-126.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Jackson-Blake, L.A; Helliwell, R.C.; Britton, A.; Gibbs, S; Coull, M.C. (2010) Can environmental traits be used to understand nitrogen leaching?, Global Change and the World’s Mountains, Perth, Scotland, 26-30 September 2010.
  • Helliwell, R.C.; Britton, A.J.; Gibbs, S.; Fisher, J.M. (2010) The interactive effects of N deposition and land management on nutrient fluxes in a Scottish alpine heathland., Global Change and the World’s Mountains, Perth, Scotland, 26-30 September 2010.
  • Helliwell, R.C.; Britton, A.J.; Evans, C.; Coull, M.C.; Gibb, S.; Fisher, J.M.; Armitage, H. (2009) Modelling soil carbon stocks and nitrogen dynamics in spatially heterogeneous montane environments., British Society of Soil Science Conference Panel.
  • Helliwell, R.C.; Britton, A.J.; Evans, C.; Coull, M.C.; Gibbs, S.; Fisher, J.M.; Armitage, H.; Dawson, L.A. (2009) Modelling soil carbon stocks and nitrogen dynamics in spatially heterogeneous montane environments., In: Predicting the Future for Highly Organic Soils, British Society of Soil Science, Spring Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 5-7 May 2009.
  • Hester, A.J.; Britton, A.J.; Beale, C.M.; Towers, W.; Hewison, R.L. (2008) Biodiversity losses in Scottish alpine vegetation: What are the key drivers?, EURECO-GFOE Conference, Leipzig, Germany, 14-18 September 2008.
  • Papanikolau, N.; Johnson, D.; Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C. (2007) Dynamics of litter decomposition under simulated nitrogen deposition and climate manipulations in a montane heathland., British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, University of Glasgow, 10-12 September 2007.
  • Armitage, H.; Britton, A.J.; Pearce, I.S.K.; Van der Wal, R.; Woodin, S.; Thompson, D. (2007) Assessing the recovery potential of Racomitrium heath., British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, University of Glasgow, 10-12 September 2007.
  • Britton, A.J.; Hester, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C. (2006) Impacts of climate, grazing and pollution on structure and functioning of upland landscapes., In: The Future of Biodiversity in the Uplands (ed. J.M. Milne). Battleby, Perth, 8 December 2006.
  • Papanikolau, N.; Johnson, D.; Britton, A.J.; Helliwell, R.C. (2006) Long term atmospheric nitrogen deposition stimulates enzyme activity in montane heathland., Available from James Hutton Institute at: https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/srp2016-21/wp141-natural-asset-inventory-and-accounts
  • Britton, A.J.; Hester, A.J.; Perez-Barberia, F.J. (2006) The only constant is change: using archive data to explore drivers of change in heathland communities over the last 30 years., National Heathland Conference, 9th, University of Aberdeen, 8-10 August 2006.
  • Britton, A.J.; Fisher, J.M. (2004) The interactive effects of nitrogen deposition, fire and grazing on species composition in montane heathlands., British Ecological Society, Annual Meeting, Lancaster University, 7-9 September 2004.
  • Britton, A.J. (2004) Investigating anthropogenic impacts on montane heathlands I: the interactive effects of nitrogen deposition, fire and grazing on species composition., Terrestrial Environmental Change in the Highlands and Islands: From Mountain Summits to Coasts, Inverness, 26-28 March 2004.
  • Britton, A.J.; Fisher, J.M. (2004) Investigating nitrogen deposition effects on montane heathlands., British Lichen Society AGM.
  • Britton, A.J. (2001) Arctic-alpine Calluna heath as an indicator of human impacts in the montane zone., 44th International Association for Vegetation Science Symposium, Vegetation and Ecosystem Functions, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany, 29 July – 4 August 2001.
  • Britton, A.J.; Marrs, R.H.; Carey, P.D.; Pakeman, R.J. (1999) The influence of climate and management on plant community response to nitrogen pollution., 42nd Annual Symposium of the IAVS, Bilbao, July 26-30 1999.

A Scottish charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered in Scotland No SC374831. Registered office: The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie Dundee DD2 5DA. Charity No SCO41796