Soil microbial community dynamics and biogeochemical cycles under global change: effects of climate and vegetation change in alpine ecosystems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Abstract
Scientists are becoming increasingly aware that that highly diverse microbial communities in soil play major roles in driving the biogeochemical cycles on which the functioning of Earth depends. It is also becoming clear that this belowground microbial diversity is highly sensitive to land use and climate change, but the consequences of this for biogeochemical cycling are poorly understood. This is what this proposal is about: understanding how both land use and climate change work together to influence soil microbial communities and their functioning, and to experimentally test the consequences of this for major biogeochemical cycles. Uniquely, we do this in high mountain ecosystems, which cover a large part of the Earth's land surface and provide a host of services for mankind, including the storage of vast amounts of carbon, nutrients and water. Moreover, mountains are under considerable threat from climate and land use change, but the consequences of this for biogeochemical cycles is largely unknown. Climate change, for example, has been taking place in the mountains at almost double the rate of the northern hemisphere average. Also, there is considerable concern that land use change, especially the collapse of traditional farming, will have major impacts on how mountain ecosystems function. Given all this, coupled with new knowledge nutrient cycles of mountain ecosystems rely on tight coupling between soil microbial and plant communities, it is all the more surprising that the consequences of global change for soil microbial diversity and the functioning of mountain ecosystems remains largely unexplored.
One of the most noticeable impacts of climate change in mountain areas is less snow, especially in spring. This reduction in snow is happening at an alarming rate, and there is concern that it will accelerate in future years, potentially reducing snow cover by around 50% at the end of this century. On top of climate change, the way that mountains are farmed is also changing, with traditional grazing practices being abandoned in many mountains areas of the world. A consequence of this, which is compounded by climate change, is the encroachment of dwarf shrubs into the alpine zone. New research shows that both of these changes, namely reductions in snow cover and the encroachment of dwarf shrubs, can have dramatic affects on the way that mountain ecosystems function. But the concern is that when they happen together, the impacts are magnified. This proposal tackles this issue head on, testing how shrub encroachment and reduced snow cover simultaneously affect the diversity and activity of soil microbial communities and the consequences for biogeochemical cycles in these understudied ecosystems. We will tackle the following so far unexplored questions. Do reductions in snow cover disrupt the growth and activity of soil microbial communities across the year, both in summer and winter, and does this alter the cycling of carbon and nutrients, and supply of nutrients to plants? Do these changes in soil microbial communities have legacy effects in the future, reducing their ability to deal with other affects of climate change, such as summer drought, which is also increasing in alpine areas? Finally, does the encroachment of shrubs dampen, or amplify, the effects of reduced snow cover on ecosystem processes by altering microclimate and promoting the growth of more resilient fungi in soil? By testing these questions, we will not only yield novel, transformative understanding of the structure, function, and dynamics of microbial communities, and how this links to biogeochemical cycling, but we will do so in situ in the context of ongoing and rapid environment change in an understudied and vulnerable natural ecosystem. Our studies will also provide policy makers and land managers with guidance on how best to manage mountain ecosystems to maintain their integrity in the face of rapid climate and land use change.
One of the most noticeable impacts of climate change in mountain areas is less snow, especially in spring. This reduction in snow is happening at an alarming rate, and there is concern that it will accelerate in future years, potentially reducing snow cover by around 50% at the end of this century. On top of climate change, the way that mountains are farmed is also changing, with traditional grazing practices being abandoned in many mountains areas of the world. A consequence of this, which is compounded by climate change, is the encroachment of dwarf shrubs into the alpine zone. New research shows that both of these changes, namely reductions in snow cover and the encroachment of dwarf shrubs, can have dramatic affects on the way that mountain ecosystems function. But the concern is that when they happen together, the impacts are magnified. This proposal tackles this issue head on, testing how shrub encroachment and reduced snow cover simultaneously affect the diversity and activity of soil microbial communities and the consequences for biogeochemical cycles in these understudied ecosystems. We will tackle the following so far unexplored questions. Do reductions in snow cover disrupt the growth and activity of soil microbial communities across the year, both in summer and winter, and does this alter the cycling of carbon and nutrients, and supply of nutrients to plants? Do these changes in soil microbial communities have legacy effects in the future, reducing their ability to deal with other affects of climate change, such as summer drought, which is also increasing in alpine areas? Finally, does the encroachment of shrubs dampen, or amplify, the effects of reduced snow cover on ecosystem processes by altering microclimate and promoting the growth of more resilient fungi in soil? By testing these questions, we will not only yield novel, transformative understanding of the structure, function, and dynamics of microbial communities, and how this links to biogeochemical cycling, but we will do so in situ in the context of ongoing and rapid environment change in an understudied and vulnerable natural ecosystem. Our studies will also provide policy makers and land managers with guidance on how best to manage mountain ecosystems to maintain their integrity in the face of rapid climate and land use change.
Planned Impact
(a) Who will benefit from our research?
The main beneficiaries of our research will be the academic community, via the generation of new fundamental knowledge on the likely impacts of reduced snow cover and shrub encroachment on the functioning of fragile alpine ecosystems. Our research, however, will also be of direct relevance to land managers and policy makers with interests in ecosystem service management in alpine regions under on going climate change, such as regional national park authorities in mountain regions and government environmental and conservation agencies, such as the environmental office of the Provincial Government of Tyrol, and farmers and landowners with interests in the management of alpine areas. Our project will also benefit the general public with interests in mountain ecosystems and threats to their biodiversity, including the many tourists who visit this region of Austria in both winter and summer.
(b) How will these benefits be realised?
Dissemination of research findings to international audience: This will be achieved through the publication of research findings in leading international journals, and via presentations by PDRA's and PI's at conferences and workshops. Given the novel and timely nature of our proposed research, and our track record of publishing high profile papers, we envisage that this proposal will yield several high impact publications. The PDRA will be encouraged to present at international conferences and workshops, and to be actively involved in research networks, such as the BES Plants, Soils, and Ecosystems Special Interest Group and the to disseminate research findings.
To engage with and promote knowledge transfer to stakeholders: We will directly engage with stakeholders, including policymakers, land managers, farmers and landowners and the local and regional tourist office, through two workshops. The first will be a one day meeting to be held at the start of the project in Autumn 2016 at the Alpine Research Centre, with the aim of informing of stakeholders of our research goals and engaging with them to develop the most effective mechanisms for translation of our findings into policy and land use decisions. The second workshop will be held in the final year of the project, in Autumn 2018, and will involve a series of presentations and discussions based our findings, and a field excursion to observe impacts of reduced snow cover and shrub encroachment in the field, and to identify mitigation strategies. Key outputs will be a policy brief on future research priorities for integrating research knowledge on climate change impacts on mountain ecosystems into police, and a short film on threats of climate and vegetation in mountain ecosystems and potential solutions or mitigation strategies.
To raise public awareness of our research: the PI has a strong track record of being actively involved in outreach activities, promoting public awareness of our science through local and national media interviews, and by presenting our results at science communication events. The PI and PDRA will engage in similar activities for this project, including involvement in specific educational events at the Alpine Research Centre, Obergurgl (e.g. Summer School on Alpine Field Ecology and public engagement meetings (e.g. Alpine Research Centre / University of Innsbruck "Open Science Days" and "Night of Science", and established events at The University of Manchester's, such as the Faculty of Life Sciences Community Open Day and Science Star and Discover Days for year 8 and 9 pupils, and year 12 pupils respectively.
Transferable skills training: An important outcome of this project will be the delivery of a highly trained PDRA and technician with training in multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of plant-soil-microbial interactions using the most sophisticated techniques. The PDRA will undertake public engagement training via NERC.
The main beneficiaries of our research will be the academic community, via the generation of new fundamental knowledge on the likely impacts of reduced snow cover and shrub encroachment on the functioning of fragile alpine ecosystems. Our research, however, will also be of direct relevance to land managers and policy makers with interests in ecosystem service management in alpine regions under on going climate change, such as regional national park authorities in mountain regions and government environmental and conservation agencies, such as the environmental office of the Provincial Government of Tyrol, and farmers and landowners with interests in the management of alpine areas. Our project will also benefit the general public with interests in mountain ecosystems and threats to their biodiversity, including the many tourists who visit this region of Austria in both winter and summer.
(b) How will these benefits be realised?
Dissemination of research findings to international audience: This will be achieved through the publication of research findings in leading international journals, and via presentations by PDRA's and PI's at conferences and workshops. Given the novel and timely nature of our proposed research, and our track record of publishing high profile papers, we envisage that this proposal will yield several high impact publications. The PDRA will be encouraged to present at international conferences and workshops, and to be actively involved in research networks, such as the BES Plants, Soils, and Ecosystems Special Interest Group and the to disseminate research findings.
To engage with and promote knowledge transfer to stakeholders: We will directly engage with stakeholders, including policymakers, land managers, farmers and landowners and the local and regional tourist office, through two workshops. The first will be a one day meeting to be held at the start of the project in Autumn 2016 at the Alpine Research Centre, with the aim of informing of stakeholders of our research goals and engaging with them to develop the most effective mechanisms for translation of our findings into policy and land use decisions. The second workshop will be held in the final year of the project, in Autumn 2018, and will involve a series of presentations and discussions based our findings, and a field excursion to observe impacts of reduced snow cover and shrub encroachment in the field, and to identify mitigation strategies. Key outputs will be a policy brief on future research priorities for integrating research knowledge on climate change impacts on mountain ecosystems into police, and a short film on threats of climate and vegetation in mountain ecosystems and potential solutions or mitigation strategies.
To raise public awareness of our research: the PI has a strong track record of being actively involved in outreach activities, promoting public awareness of our science through local and national media interviews, and by presenting our results at science communication events. The PI and PDRA will engage in similar activities for this project, including involvement in specific educational events at the Alpine Research Centre, Obergurgl (e.g. Summer School on Alpine Field Ecology and public engagement meetings (e.g. Alpine Research Centre / University of Innsbruck "Open Science Days" and "Night of Science", and established events at The University of Manchester's, such as the Faculty of Life Sciences Community Open Day and Science Star and Discover Days for year 8 and 9 pupils, and year 12 pupils respectively.
Transferable skills training: An important outcome of this project will be the delivery of a highly trained PDRA and technician with training in multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of plant-soil-microbial interactions using the most sophisticated techniques. The PDRA will undertake public engagement training via NERC.
Organisations
Publications
Broadbent AAD
(2022)
Shrub expansion modulates belowground impacts of changing snow conditions in alpine grasslands.
in Ecology letters
Broadbent AAD
(2024)
Climate change disrupts the seasonal coupling of plant and soil microbial nutrient cycling in an alpine ecosystem.
in Global change biology
Cordero I
(2019)
High throughput method for measuring urease activity in soil.
in Soil biology & biochemistry
Broadbent AAD
(2021)
Climate change alters temporal dynamics of alpine soil microbial functioning and biogeochemical cycling via earlier snowmelt.
in The ISME journal
Description | This project aims to investigate the response of alpine grassland soils to climate change, specifically testing how the structure and function of soil microbial communities is altered by reduced snow cover and whether this response is moderated by the presence of shrubs. To achieve this, we set up various field experiments in the Austrian Alps in partnership with Innsbruck University and Helmholtz Zentrum, Munich. These field experiments range from local to regional scales, and use snow and vegetation manipulations to determine how changes in snow cover and vegetation affect soil microbial communities and their functioning. Our project has generated a number of key findings and publications as detailed below. Key finding 1. Snowmelt timing and soil microbial communities. We used a field experiment located at Hohe Mut (2650 m.a.s.l.), Obergurgl in the Austrian Alps to test how differences in snow cover, via snow addition and snow removal, affected soil microbial communities and their functioning in alpine grassland. We found that spring snowmelt triggers an abrupt transition in the composition of soil microbial communities of alpine grassland that is closely linked to shifts in soil microbial functioning and biogeochemical pools and fluxes. Further, by experimentally manipulating snow cover we show that this abrupt seasonal transition in wide- ranging microbial and biogeochemical soil properties is advanced by earlier snowmelt. Preceding winter conditions did not change the processes that take place during snowmelt. Our findings emphasise the importance of seasonal dynamics for soil microbial communities and the biogeochemical cycles that they regulate. Moreover, our findings suggest that earlier spring snowmelt due to climate change will have far reaching consequences for microbial communities and nutrient cycling in these globally widespread alpine ecosystems. This work was published in The ISME Journal (Broadbent et al. 2021). Key finding 2. Snow cover change and shrub expansion effects on soil microbial community composition, functioning and soil biogeochemistry. We established two complementary field experiments, including a landscape-scale experiment spanning three geographically distinct alpine valleys in Austria, and a snow manipulation experiment at one site. We found that shrub expansion modulated the impacts of snow cover change on belowground ecosystem functioning in both our experiments. Shrub expansion also had a stronger influence on soil microbial community composition and functioning than changes in snow cover. Moreover, shrub-associated shifts in microbial communities were closely linked to changes in soil biogeochemistry. Our study reveals the microbial mechanisms by which shifting vegetation patterns and winter climate change influence biogeochemical cycling and C and N retention in mountain ecosystems. This study has been published in the top ecological journal Ecology Letter (Broadbent et al. 2022) Key finding 3. Climate change impacts on diurnal cycles of microbial community composition and functioning. This study involved sampling throughout a 24 hour period in winter and summer in order to discover whether microbial communities show diurnal cycles in composition and functioning in alpine grasslands. We measured the metagenomes and metatranscriptomes of the soil microbial community during a diurnal cycle on snow removal and control plots in winter and summer. Data analyses is currently underway and a paper is in preparation. |
Exploitation Route | Our research outputs will be of interest to a range of academic groups, including soil scientists with interests on controls on nutrient and carbon cycling, and climate change scientists interested in the impacts of multiple global change drivers of ecosystem processes and greenhouse gas emissions. Our research will also be of interest to alpine ecologists concerned with understanding how global change impacts mountain ecosystems, but more generally, we will provide novel insight into functional relationships between microbial community change and ecosystem processes. There is an increasing drive towards understanding functional relationships between microbial diversity and ecosystem processes in the real world, and our research should provide new insights into this issue. Finally, there is growing interest in the potential for multiple global change drivers, including extreme climatic events, to have synergistic effects on ecosystem processes. Our study will be among the first to inform on the potential for such interactions, in our case between reduced snow cover and vegetation change, to amplify or dampen rates of ecosystem change. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment |
URL | https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/climate-change-driven-snowmelt-in-alps-triggers-abrupt-seasonal-change/ |
Description | Our peer-reviewed publication in The ISME Journal attracted much attention online. Our article "is in the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric", which shows it has received much online attention. The article was also highlighted as an Editor's choice article and shortlisted for The ISME Journal 2021 "Best Paper Award". Our second peer-reviewed article, which was published in Ecology Letters has also attracted much online attention. It is in the top 25% of all research outputs scored by Altmetric. We have had interest from members of the public and policy organisations following various talks and workshops. For example. the PDRA on the project, Arthur Broadbent, has also been invited to present multiple talks at local and national scientific interest groups, including a "Pint of Science" event scheduled for May 2023, which will reach a broad audience of the general public. Professor Bardgett also spoke about our research on climate change impacts on soils in the Austrian Alps in a series of BBC World Services "The Underworld: Life in Soil" (series 4, The Death of Soil), which involved being interviewed at a high altitude field site near Innsbruck; this reached the very large audience who listed to the series (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct43cp). Given the project has only very recently been completed, the economic and social impacts will only increase. Moreover, with climate change impacts increasing globally, and reduced snow in alpine regions leading to much media coverage, albeit primarily due to ski resort closures, we expect media coverage and further interest from the public. Especially following the anticipated open-access publication of our further findings in leading scientific journals. |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Environment |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Title | Alpine grassland soil microbial and biogeochemical data from a climate change and shrub expansion experiment in Tyrol, Austria, July 2019 |
Description | Data comprise soil microbial and biogeochemical data collected during a climate and vegetation change experiment conducted across three valleys in Tyrol, in the Austrian Alps. Sites were located near the villages of Obergurgl (lat., long. = 46.844833, 11.023783; mean elevation = 2279m), Soelden (46.978367, 10.972217, mean elevation = 2469m) and Vent (46.863217, 10.896800, mean elevation = 2472m). Soil microbial data include phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses, and bacterial (16S Small subunit ribosomal RNA) and fungal (internal transcribed spacer region 2) high throughput sequences. Soil biogeochemical data include soil extracellular enzyme activities, soil pH, gravimetric moisture content and various C and N pools and fluxes. The experiment was part of the NERC project NE/N009452/1. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Journal article: Broadbent, A. A. D. et al. Shrub expansion modulates belowground impacts of changing snow conditions in alpine grasslands. Ecol. Lett. 25, 52-64 (2022) |
URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/977c422d-8529-432d-85d7-5de3c8dfdc5d |
Title | Alpine grassland soil microbial and biogeochemical data from a snow manipulation experiment in Hohe Mut, Austria, 2017 |
Description | Data comprise soil microbial and biogeochemical data collected during a snow manipulation experiment on the summit of Hohe Mut (2650 m) near Obergurgl, in the Austrian Alps (lat. 46.84862, long. 11.02957). Soil microbial data include phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses, and bacterial (16S Small subunit ribosomal RNA) and fungal (internal transcribed spacer region 2) high throughput sequences. Soil biogeochemical data include soil extracellular enzyme activities, soil pH, gravimetric moisture content and various C and N pools and fluxes. The experiment was part of the NERC project NE/N009452/1. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Journal article: Broadbent, A.A.D., Snell, H.S.K., Michas, A., Pritchard, W.J., Newbold, L., Cordero, I. et al. (2021) Climate change alters temporal dynamics of alpine soil microbial functioning and biogeochemical cycling via earlier snowmelt. ISME Journal, 15, 2264- 2275. |
URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/documents/255320dd-38ae-4a07-93bb-4f90439309f8 |
Title | Data used in Shrub expansion modulates belowground impacts of changing snow conditions in alpine grasslands study |
Description | We established two complementary field experiments. The first experiment used a natural gradient in snowmelt timing combined with a shrub manipulation treatment across three alpine valleys in the Austrian Alps to test how earlier snowmelt and shrub expansion affect soil microbial communities, their functioning, and nutrient pools at the landscape scape. For the second experiment, we implemented at one of the sites a multi-year snow manipulation treatment combined with a shrub manipulation treatment. This allowed us to experimentally test how reduced winter snow cover and shrub expansion individually and interactively affect soil microbial communities, their functioning, and nutrient pools and fluxes, including plant N-uptake immediately after snowmelt. These datasets were generated from these experiments. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Data_used_in_Shrub_expansion_modulates_belowground_impacts_of_... |
Description | Belowground microbial responses to global change in alpine ecosystems, International Mountain Conference, Innsbruck, Sept 2022. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Plenary lecture on belowground microbial responses to global change in alpine ecosystems, International Mountain Conference, Innsbruck, Sept 2022, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.uibk.ac.at/congress/imc2022/index.html.en |
Description | Focus session at the International Mountain Conference in Innsbruck, Austria. Topic: Snow cover change and mountain ecology. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A focus session was organised at the International Mountain Conference in Innsbruck, Austria. Broadbent and Bardgett organised and chaired 12 talks that were given on snow cover change impacts on mountain ecosystems. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | International symposium on Above- and Below-Ground Biodiversity for Sustainable Ecosystems, AgrosScope |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote lecture on soil microbial community responses to climate extremes: resistance, resilience and transitions to alternative states. Symposium on Above- and Below-Ground Biodiversity for Sustainable Ecosystems, AgrosScope, Zurich, Nov 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited lecture University Bern, Ecology Lecture Series, Oct 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at the University of Bern, Switzerland, as part of their Ecology Lecture Series, October 2022. The presentation was mainly to undergraduate and postgraduate students, but also to research and academic staff at the University. The talk generated discussions and potential future collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited seminar at Innsbruck University's department of Ecology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Around 75 people attended over zoom from the University of Innsbruck, ranging from undergraduates to professors. The talk was well received and initiated muany questions and some discussion regarding our research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.uibk.ac.at/ecology/events/2021/bilder-dokumente-2021/guestlecture_abroadbent.pdf |
Description | Invited seminar in the Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil seminar series at the University of Sheffield. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 60 members of the Department of BioSciences at the University of Sheffield attended, ranging from faculty to undergraduate students. The talk sparked interesting questions and led to further discussions with faculty and PGR students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited talk at local scientific interest group Didsbury SciBar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk about my research to the Didsbury Scibar after another Scibar (Knutsford) at which I'd presented recommended me to them. Around 70 members of the general public attended via zoom, they are people broadly interested in science. My talk was well recieved, sparked much discussion, including local conservation managers asking for advice. It also changed peoples opinions regarding invasive vs. native plant range expansions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://didsburyscibar.co.uk/invasive-plant-species/ |
Description | Invited talk, University of Estonia, January 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at the University of Estonia on below ground responses to climate extremes, which generated discussions and potential future collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Keynote lecture, NERC STARS Annual Conference, Windermere |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Keynote talk at STARS annual conference, Windermere, Jan 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Keynote presentation on below ground responses to climate change in mountain ecosystems at International Mountain Congress, Innsbruck 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Findings from our research were presented to an international audience of scientists and stakeholders with interests in different aspects of mountain ecosystems. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.imc2022.info/sessions/belowground-microbial-responses-to-global-change-in-alpine-ecosyst... |
Description | Keynote talk on soil microbial community responses to climate extremes: resistance, resilience and transitions to alternative states, Soil Ecology Lecture Series, China, 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation on soil microbial community responses to climate extremes: resistance, resilience and transitions to alternative states to the Chinese Soil Ecology Lecture Series, which provoked a series of questions and some future collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | PhD Workshop Alpine Biology and Global Change, University of Innsbruck |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Plenary lecture on soil microbial community responses to climate extremes: resistance, resilience and transitions to alternative states, PhD Workshop Alpine Biology and Global Change, University of Innsburck, Jan 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Plenary Lecture British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Belfast, 2019. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Plenary Lecture, The hidden majority: soil biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and global change. Celebrating Global Ecology, British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Belfast, Dec 2019. The talk generated discussions and debate, and helped to raise awareness of the importance of soil biodiversity for ecological processes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Presentation at Annual meeting of the British Ecological Society. December 2021. Presentation title: Shrub expansion modulates belowground impacts of changing snow conditions in alpine grasslands. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 50 researchers of varying career positions, ranging from undergraduate to professor attended. The presentation elicited questions and interest from various participants, which could lead to further collaborations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Presentation at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 50-100 researchers and students attended the talk in which I presented our findings regarding climate change impacts on soil microbial communtities. The talk sparked interesting questions and discussions afterwards with researchers from other research organisations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Presentation at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, Austria |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 70 scientists attended the presentation, ranging from PGR to Professors. The talk elicited interesting questions and led to requests for collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU22/EGU22-8723.html |
Description | Presentation at the International Mountain Conference in Innsbruck, Austria. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 75 scientists attended the talk, which stimulated interesting questions and discussion afterwards |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Round table discussion Chinese Academy of Science, Max Plank Institute Round Table, Shanghai, Nov 2019. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Invited member and international expert with presentation on research challenges related to soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning under global change: resistance and resilience to climate extremes. Chinese Acedemy of Science, Max Plank Institute Round Table, Shanghai, Nov 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Workshop at International Mountain Conference in Innsbruck, Austria |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 51-100 international researchers, students and members of policy organisations attended the workshop to discuss climate change impacts on alpine grasslands. I presented findings from our research that highlighted impacts on soil microbial communities and processes. Key areas for future research were debated and routes to fund such research discussed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |