Environmental Ecology Research Group

In the Environmental Ecology Research Group our research focuses on chemical ecology and environmental ecophysiology, with emphasis on combining the two disciplines. Recent research into chemical ecology has centred on understanding the effects of air pollutants and other abiotic factors on multitrophic and plant-plant interactions. A particular niche of our research is in exploring the multifaceted effects that ozone pollution can have on volatile mediated interactions. We include both forest and horticultural systems in our research and investigate strategies for applying knowledge of chemical ecology in vegetable production. Our work on environmental ecophysiology addresses the effects of atmospheric pollutants and climate change-related abiotic factors, such as elevated temperature and drought, on plant physiology and performance. Understanding the effects of combinations of biotic and abiotic stressors on plant responses is a key area of our research. We focus on measurement of volatile organic compounds, photosynthesis and gas exchange parameters, and investigate forest and peatland systems, both in situ, on specialised field platforms and in the laboratory.

The ultimate goal of our research is to understand how ecosystems respond and adapt to environmental change and how biogenic feedback systems between ecosystems and climate function.