Department of Geography, Cambridge » Ecosystem processes

This theme focuses on the study of interacting environmental processes in both marine and terrestrial environments. We seek to understand the spatiotemporal variations in ecosystem processes and the drivers of change, both natural and anthropogenic. Projects within this theme are wide ranging in scale including population ecology, community ecology, vegetation and landscape dynamics. We use a range of techniques in our work, including field observations and measurements, dendroecology and dendrochronology, microscopy, eDNA, remote sensing. We work worldwide, especially in mountainous, high-latitude (including the Southern Ocean), sub-arctic and Mediterranean locations.

Research projects

Research projects currently being undertaken on this theme include:

	Restoration of Mediterranean Mosaic Landscapes - the contribution of remote sensing This research investigates the ways in which remote sensing can contribute to habitat restoration in a typical Portuguese mosaic of rare habitats and intensive agriculture and forest ecosystems, the Eastern Guadiana, Alentejo. This is part of a broader project to promote biodiversity conservation, provision of ecosystem services, resilience to climate change and a sustainable socioeconomic development in the region.
	Remote Sensing and the landscape ecology of Mediterranean shrubland ecosystems This project investigates whether it is possible to use a fusion of data from Sentinel-1 (radar) with Sentinel-2 (optical) to map different Mediterranean shrubland communities based on their structure (canopy height, closure, local variability) and surface reflectance (biomass, plant functional type, species-specific response).
	NSFDEB-NERC: Addressing the plant growth C source-sink debate through observations, experiments, and modelling Fossil fuel burning is causing atmospheric concentrations of the greenhouse gas CO₂ to rise, the main driver of man-made climate change. However, the rate of CO₂ rise is much slower than emissions suggest it should be. It appears that the land surface and oceans are together absorbing about 50% of annual CO₂ emissions. Some field studies indicate that a large portion of the land surface uptake is due to increasing tree growth. However, the causes, locations, and future behaviour of this CO₂ uptake remain highly uncertain. In this project, we propose to significantly improve our understanding of this fundamental issue using a unique combination of observations, experiments, and modelling.
	Mediterranean wood pastures for biodiversity – making the lynx This project aims to develop new tools to help conserve biodiversity in the emblematic wood pasture landscapes of southern Portugal. These areas are undergoing major change because of rural depopulation, land abandonment and other pressures. There is serious concern – but little evidence – about what this all means for the rich fauna and flora. As a result, it is difficult take appropriate action to limit any damage to wildlife. Making the Lynx aims to address this, drawing impetus from on-going efforts to save the Critically Endangered Iberian Lynx – a flagship species whose conservation would ensure the survival of a whole host of other wildlife.
	Air pollution and ground disturbance in the Russian Arctic The Polar Landscapes and Remote Sensing Group is engaged in a long-term programme of research into the potential for satellite and airborne remote sensing to study the phenomena of Arctic surface and airborne pollution effects, in collaboration with the Geography Faculty of Moscow State University.