Biodiversity for woodland resilience: the long-term functional ecology of tree diversity

The project

The benefits of biodiversity for forest resilience and delivery of many ecosystem services underpin “nature-based solutions”. However, there are major gaps in knowledge of the ecological mechanisms, leading to serious over-generalisation and weak evidence base for policy and management. Resilience of European woodlands is threatened by climate-change-linked escalation of catastrophic tree pathogens and pests. We recently found striking results that (i) diversity of neighbouring trees (lower proportion of conspecifics) can increase ash susceptibility to dieback disease, which challenges ecological theory; (ii) trajectory of tree-species composition in unmanaged semi-natural ancient woodland is rapidly diverging from site-environment predictions, through differential species’ performance mediated by invasive-species and disturbance impacts. To advance fundamental scientific knowledge and the evidence-base for management of resilient woodland ecosystems, this project will address four research questions:

1. What is the relative effect on tree recruitment, growth and survival of species identity, functional traits or relative size/distance/crown-position of neighbouring trees?

2. How do these tree-neighbourhood effects interact with site environment and disturbance regime/pathogens/browsing?

3. How are these diversity effects influenced by the spatial scale of tree species mixing?

4. What is the relative importance of (i) small- and (ii) larger-scale ecological interactions and (iii) landscape-scale mixed-species portfolio, for a resilient woodland resource delivering both biodiversity conservation and climate-change mitigation?

To address these questions, we have an unprecedented opportunity to use two long-term-ecological-research, National-Nature-Reserve woodland sites: Lady Park Wood, Monmouthshire (longest-monitored (since 1945) and most-accurately tree-mapped set of woodland permanent sample plots (PSP)); Coed Dolgarrog, Conwy (PSPs stratified across woodland types, scheduled for 20-year re-enumeration in 2025). The research will combine standard PSP re-measurement with high-tech, including terrestrial laser scanning/rangefinder; leaf-level gas-exchange; digital-image analysis of mammal herbivory; modelling of tree-neighbourhood, disturbance and invasive-species impacts. Multidisciplinary scenario development and analysis will be used to draw-out evidence for resilience management and policy.

Additional Information

The project can be undertaken on either a full time or part time (minimum of 0.5FTE) basis.

A Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) can be applied for. This is support, to cover the study-related costs incurred due to a disability such as a mental health problem, long term illness or other disability. The type of support and amount provided, depends on individual needs, not household income.

Where applicable, funding to cover leave of absence due to ill health is available as is funding to cover maternity/paternity/caring leave.

Eligibility

Applicants are only permitted to apply for one Envision project.

Envision DTP complies with UKRI and NERC guidelines, however this studentship is only open to a home student. To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• Have settled status, or
• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirement) or,
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

If you do not meet the above criteria, you will be classed as an international student. International students are not eligible to apply for this Envision funded studentship.

Entry requirements

Enthusiastic and academically-able graduates from a wide range of environmental, biological and geographical degree subjects are eligible for this project. If in doubt get in touch for a chat.

Candidates shall be good honours graduates in appropriate subject areas, of a recognised University or comparable University, or persons holding equivalent qualifications who show evidence of exceptional ability, or who have demonstrated their ability in graduate studies.  

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Our graduates come from a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities and Envision strives to ensure that no applicant/student shall experience prejudice at admissions or during their studies, related to their sexuality, disability or any other protected characteristic.

Please note that any applicant who completed an Envision Research Experience Placement (REP) within the past year will be guaranteed an interview for the Envision project that they apply to. 

How to apply

Further information about Envision can be found here and you can apply here.

This final Envision project will commence in October 2025. The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Wednesday 12th March 2025.