Research
Zisis’ research interests comprise:
- Soil-water relationships and soil hydrological pathways’ influence on river flows and chemistry at a catchment scale.
- Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) techniques for predictive spatial modelling of soil properties and functions.
- Spatial decision support systems for environmental modelling.
- Climate change impacts on Natural Capital (habitats, soils, waters), including wildfire danger and risk.
Past research
Zisis has previously worked in the James Hutton Institute as a Macaulay Development Trust (MDT) Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2016-2019) in coupling Digital Soil Mapping with hydropedology by developing and applying DSM techniques for spatial predictive modelling of soil hydrological properties and functions.
Publications
Journals
- Chongo Mzyece, C.; Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Quilliam, R.S.; Jones, I.; Pagaling, E.; Akoumianaki, I.; Newman, C.; Oliver, D.M. (2024) Eliciting expert judgements to underpin our understanding of faecal indicator organism loss from septic tank systems, Science of the Total Environment, 921, Art. 171074
- Yebra, M.; Scortechini, G.; Adeline, K.; Aktepe, N.; Almoustafa, T.; Bar-Massada, A.; Beget, M.E.; Boer, M.; Bradstock, R.; Brown, T.; Castro, F.X.; Chen, R.; Chuvieco, E.; Danson, M.; Değirmenci, C.U.; Delgado-Dávila, R.; Dennison, P.; Di Bella, C.; Domenech, O.; Féret, J.-B.; Forsyth, G.; Gabriel, E.; Gagkas, Z.; Gharbi, F.; Granda, E.; Griebel, A.; He, B.; Jolly, M.; Kotzur, I.; Kraaij, T.; Kristina, A.; Kütküt, P.; Limousin, J.-M.; Martín, M.P.; Monteiro, A.T.; Morais, M.; Moreira, B.; Mouillot, F.; Msweli, S.; Nolan, R.H.; Pellizzaro, G.; Qi, Y.; Quan, X.; Resco de Dios, V.; Roberts, D.; Tavşanoğlu, Ç.; Taylor, A.; Taylor, J.; Tüfekcioğlu, İ.; Venura, A.; Cardenas, N.Y. (2024) Globe-LFMC 2.0, an enhanced and updated dataset for live fuel moisture content research, Scientific Data, 11, Art. 332
- Minasny, B.; Adetsu, D.V.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.; Baggaley, N.; Barthelmes, A.; Beucher, A.; Caron, J.; Conchedda, G.; Connolly, J.; Deragon, R.; Evans, C.; Fadnes, K.; Fiantis, D.; Gagkas, Z.; Gilet, L.; Gimona, A.; Glatzel, S.; Greve, M.H.; Habib, W.; Hergoualc’h, K.; Hermansen, C.; Kidd, D.B.; Koganti, T.; Kopansky, D.; Large, D.J.; Larmola, T.; Lilly, A.; Liu, H.; Marcus, M.; Middleton, M.; Morrison, K.; Peterson, R.J.; Quaife, T.; Rocherfort, L.; Rudiyanto; Toca, L.; Tubiello, F.N.; Lystbaek Weber, P.; Weldon, S.; Widyatmanti, W.; Williamson, J.; Zak, D. (2023) Mapping and monitoring peatland conditions from global to feld scale, Biogeochemistry
- Stutter, M.; Baggaley, N.; Davies, J.; Gagkas, Z.; Basett, VJ.; Laudon, H.; Lilly, A.; Lupon, A.; Musolff, A.; Hagarth, P.; Trojahn, S. (2023) The riparian reactive interface: a climate-sensitive gatekeeper of global nutrient cycles, Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, Art. 1213175
- Minasny, B.; Adetsu, D.V.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.; Baggaley, N.; Barthelmes, A.; Beucher, A.; Caron, J.; Conchedda, G.; Connolly, J.; Deragon, R.; Evans, C.; Fadnes, D.; Gagkas, Z.; Gilet, L.; Gimona, A.; Glatzel, S.; Greve, M.H.; Habib, W.; Hergoulac’h, K.; Hermansen, C.; Kidd, D.B.; Koganti, T.; Kopansky, D.; Large, D.J.; Larmola, T.; Lilly, A.; Liu, H.; Marcus, M.; Middleton, M.; Morrison, K.; Petersen, R.J.; Quaife, T.; Rochefort, L.; Rudiyanto; Toca, L.; Tubiello, F.N.; Weber, P.L.; Weldon, S.; Widyatmanti, W.; Williamson, J.; Zak, D. (2023) Mapping and monitoring peatland conditions from global to field scale, Biogeochemistry
- Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Stutter, M.; Richards, S.; Lilly, A.; Vinten, A.; Coull, M. (2022) A systems approach to modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers using a spatial Bayesian Belief Network helps targeting effective mitigation measures, Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, Art. 976933
- Troldborg, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Vinten, A.; Lilly, A.; Glendell, M. (2022) Probabilistic modelling of the inherent field-level pesticide pollution risk in a small drinking water catchment using spatial Bayesian belief networks, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 26(5), 1261-1293
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N. (2021) Digital soil maps can perform as well as large-scale conventional soil maps for the prediction of catchment baseflows, Geoderma, 400, Article No. 115230
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2019) Downscaling soil hydrological mapping used to predict catchment hydrological response with random forests., Geoderma, 341, 216-235.
Prior to appointment
- Gagkas, Z.; Heal, K.V.; Vieno, M.; Nisbet, T.; Stuart, N. (2011) Assessing the effect of broadleaf woodland expansion on acidic dry deposition and streamwater acidification., Forest Ecology and Management, 262, 1434-1442.
- Gagkas, Z.; Heal, K.; Nisbet, T.; Stuart, N. (2010) Comparison of different critical load approaches for assessing streamwater acid-sensitivity to broadleaf woodland expansion., Science of the Total Environment, 408, 1235-1244.
- Gagkas, Z.; Heal, K.; Stuart, N.; Nisbet, T. (2008) Effects of broadleaf woodland cover on streamwater chemistry and risk assessments of streamwater acidification in acid-sensitive catchments in the UK., Environmental Pollution, 154, 232-240.
Reports
- Thomson, S.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D.; Gagkas, Z.; Moxey, A. (2023) Protection of Peatlands and Wetlands – a potential new GAEC measure for Scotland, Published via Scottish Government website, 21pp
- Gagkas, Z.; Jabloun, M.; Udugbezi, E.; Rivington, M. (2023) Assessment of Natural Capital asset exposure to current and future meteorological drought Deliverables 21d and 23c for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, RESAS D5-2 deliverable
- Aitkenhead, M.; Coull, M.; Fielding, D.; Gagkas, Z.; Jabloun, M.; Lambe, S.; Lozada-Ellison, L.; Macfarlane, F.; McKeen, M.; Sideris, K.; Sozanska-Stanton, G. (2023) Restoration prioritisation in Northern Ireland, A report prepared by James Hutton Institute for Ulster Wildlife and Northern Ireland Environment Agency
- Aitkenhead, M.; Rivington, M.; Coull, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2023) Identification and Assessment of Data Deliverable D14a for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, RESAS project report uploaded to ResearchFish and sent to Peter Phillips and Michael Cairns.
- Stutter, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2023) Data synthesis for developing Riparian Corridor units Deliverable D3B for Project JID22 Achieving MultiPurpose NatureBased Solutions (AiM NBS),
- Gagkas, Z.; Rivington, M.; Glendell, M.; Gimona, A.; Martino, S. (2023) Fire Danger Assessment of Scotish Habitat Types Deliverable 23b for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, Technical report for JHI-D5-2 project.
- Rivington, M.; Jabloun, M.; Gimona, A.; Martino, S.; Aitkenhead, M.; Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2023) Climate Extremes in Scotland. Deliverable D2.1b for the Project D5-2 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, Zenodo, 10.5281/zenodo.7699842.
- Gagkas, Z.; Rivington, M.; Pakeman, R.; Aitkenhead, M.; Gimona, A. (2023) Habitat Data layer for Natural Capital assessments, Deliverable 23a for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital, Report submitted to RESAS.
- Gagkas, Z.; Rivington, M.; Pakeman, R.; Aitkenhead, M.; Gimona, A. (2023) Habitat Data layer for Natural Capital assessments Deliverable 23a for the Project D52 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital , RESAS deliverable.
- Aitkenhead, M.; Pakeman, R.; Gagkas, Z.; Rivington, M. (2022) D12 An overview of issues concerning Climate Change Impacts on Scottish Natural Capital , Literature review submitted to RESAS.
- Aitkenhead, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Pakeman, R.; Nijnik, M.; Gimona, A.; Glendell, M.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; McKeen, M.; Donnelly, D.; Jabloun, M.; Lozada-Ellison, L.; Salt, D.; Sideris, K.; Udugbezi, E. (2022) D52 Deliverable D11 Risk and Opportunities Assessment Framework Scope, Concepts and Structure, Technical report submitted to RESAS.
- Stutter, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2022) Landscape typing based on hillslope and floodplain soil water models to functionally target sixteen riparian management options, Webpage and Zenodo doi
- Gagkas, Z.; Haghi, R.; Robertson, J.; Lilly, A. (2022) Coupling soil spectroscopy and digital soil mapping for modelling soil available water capacity End of project report for MDT,
- Gagkas, Z.; Campbell, G.; Owen, J.; Davies, M. (2022) Provision of Analyses of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Incident Reporting System (IRS) Data in Relation to Wildfire Incidents, SFRS Wildfire Data Analysis.
- Hare, M.; McBride, A.; Addy, S.; Pakeman, R.; Donaldson-Selby, G.; Rivington, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Jabloun, M.; Lilly, A.; Wilkinson, M.; Akoumianaki, I. (2022) Moderating extremes in water availability in Scotland a review of the role of functioning wetlands, CREW report.
- Cloy, J.M.; Lilly, A.; Hargreaves, P.R.; Gagkas, Z.; Dolan, S.; Baggaley, N.J.; Stutter, M.I.; Crooks, B.; Elrick, G.; McKenzie B.M. (2022) A state of knowledge overview of identified pathways of diffuse pollutants to the water environment, CREW Report.
- Gagkas, Z. (2021) Scoping for developing an integrated digital data approach for land use statistics in Scotland, SEFARI Getaway.
- Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Richards, S.; Halliday, S. (2021) Developing a probabilistic risk model to estimate phosphorus, nitrogen and microbial pollution to water from septic tanks., CREW Report, CRW2018_12, 39pp.
- Stewart, G.B.; Glendell, M.; McMorran, R.; Troldborg, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Ovando, P.; Roberts, M.; Maynard, C.; Williams, A.; Clay, G.; Reed, M.S. (2021) Uplandia: making better policy in complex upland systems., Defra and Natural England Report, 68pp.
- Glendell, M.; Troldborg, M.; Vintent, A.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2020) Field level modelling of pesticide pollution risk in Jersey., James Hutton Limited Contract Report to Jersey Water, 45pp.
- Poggio, L.; Gimona, A.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2018) 3D digital soil mapping for Scottish soils using remote sensing., Internal Report for RESAS.
Conference posters
- Glendell, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Niemi, L.; Gibb, S.; Taggart, M.; Arakawa, N.; Anderson, C.; Pfleger, S. (2023) Decision support tool for sustainable prescribing, SAGES ANNUAL SCIENCE MEETING 2023, 16-17 May 2023, King’s College Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen,
- Naha, S.; Macleod, K.; Gagkas, Z.; Glendell, M. (2023) Evaluating the performance of processbased models for drought simulation in Scotland, European Geosciences Union, 23-28 April, 2023, Vienna.
- Rivington, M.; Aitkenhead, M.; Gagkas, Z. (2022) Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital Developing a new risk and opportunities assessment framework, Scotland’s Plant Health Conference 2022, 1 June 2022, Dundee.
- Rivington, M.; Aitkenhead, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Nijnik, M.; Gimona, A.; Martino, S. (2022) Climate Change impacts on Natural Capital Value, 4th Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) Europe Conference, 10-14 October 2022, Heraklion.
- Naha, S.; Macleod, K.; Gagkas, Z.; Glendell, M. (2022) Understanding the vulnerabilities of Scotland’s water resources to drought, British Hydrological Society 14th National Symposium, 12-14 September 2022, Lancaster University
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; McBride, A. (2022) Spatial disaggregation of a legacy soil map to support digital soil and land evaluation assessments in Scotland, 22nd World Congress of Soil Science, 31 July – 5 August, Glasgow
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N. (2022) Risk mapping to quantitatively assess the relative contribution of pathways of phosphorus (P) agricultural diffuse pollution, 22nd World Congress of Soil Science, 31 July – 5 August, Glasgow
- Troldborg, M.; Gagkas, Z.; Vinten, A.; Lilly, A.; Glendell, M. (2022) A spatial Bayesian Belief Network for assessing fieldlevel pesticide pollution risk in a small drinking water catchment , SETAC Copenhagen – SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting, 15-19 May 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Gagkas, Z.; Campbell, G.; Owen, J.; Davies, M. (2021) Analyses of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Incident Reporting System (IRS) data in relation to wildfire incidents, Hutton Annual Research Symposium 2021, 2 December 2021, The James Hutton Institute.
- Glendell, M.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Richards, S.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.; Coull, M.; Schurch, N.; Gimona, A.; Pohle, I.; Troldborg, M.; Stutter, M.I. (2020) A systems approach to modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers using bayesian belief networks., EGU General Assembly 2020 Online, 4-8 May 2020, EGU2020-8229. Abstract.
- Glendell, M.; Vinten, A.J.A.; Richards, S.; Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.; Coull, M.; Schurch, N.; Pohle, I.; Gimona, A.; Troldborg, M.; Stutter, M.I. (2019) Modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers – a decision support tool., SAGES’19 Conference ‘Global Climate Challenges for a Blue Green Economy: Scientific Evidence; its Relevance; Societal Solutions’ John McIntyre Centre, Edinburgh, 27-28 November 2019. Book of Abstracts, p16.
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2019) Application of Digital Soil Mapping to hydropedology to improve soil hydrological models., 42nd TB Macaulay Lecture, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 2 October 2019. (Poster)
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Stutter, M.I.; Baggaley, N. (2019) Development of framework for a RAG risk assessment on phosphorus application to land., The James Hutton ANNUAL Research Symposium 2019, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 7 November 2019. (Poster)
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2019) Deriving a set of simple rules to classify soils for predicting hydrological response., Wageningen Soil Conference 2019, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 27-30 August 2019. (Abstract)
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.J. (2018) Comparison of available water capacity predictions in Scotland from different PTFs implications for modelling., The James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, 29 November 2018. Poster.
- Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N.J.; Campbell, G.A.; Gagkas, Z. (2018) Comparison of digital and traditional soil mapping., The James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, 29 November 2018. (Poster)
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A.; Baggaley, N. (2018) Comparison of available water capacity predictions in Scotland from different PTFs: implications for modelling., British Society of Soil Science Annual Conference, Soils and Sustainable Development Goals, Lancaster University, 4-5 September 2018. (Poster)
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2017) Improving the spatial resolution of soil hydrological classes in Scotland using digital soil mapping techniques., The James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, Bonar Hall, Dundee, 22 November 2017. (Poster)
- Gagkas, Z.; Lilly, A. (2017) Application of digital soil mapping to hydropedology to improve soil hydrological models., 40th TB Macaulay Lecture, Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, 4 October 2017. (Poster)