Ecosystem Dynamics

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Science and Engineering at The University of Edinburgh

School of GeoSciences

Institute of Atmospheric and Environmental Science

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Ecosystem Dynamics

Vegetation and landscapes change in response to disturbance through succession. They are being disturbed continually through changes in the environment and management. Understanding the response of plants and vegetation to both natural and human-induced disturbance is vital in the management and conservation of ecosystems. The Ecosystem Dynamics group in the School of GeoSciences works on a range of systems from intensively managed crops to seminatural vegetation on a range of spatial and temporal scales. The work is led by Dr Graham Russell and Dr Colin Legg along with postgraduate and honours students, often working in collaboration with outside organisations.

The main research topics include:

Fire ecology
Community structure and Dynamics
Land Use and Grazing ecology
Autecology of Plants
Quantitative Ecology and Modelling of Vegetation Dynamics

Examples of MSc and Honours projects in this area.

Some FREE software that might be useful to ecologists.

Fire and Disturbance Ecology

Fire is a very potent force in shaping ecological systems. Accidental vegetation fires frequently occur during dry weather in summer, but most fires in Scotland are deliberate 'muirburn'. Muirburn is the burning of heather (Calluna vulgaris) to improve the habitat for grazing animals such as the red grouse (Lagopus lagopus), sheep or red deer (Cervus elaphus). There are several projects underway based in the School of GeoSciences to look at the characteristics of fire itself, or to try to understand the effects of fire on the ecosystem:

Current projects:

Recent projects:

For more information follow the above links or see the FireBeaters web site or email Colin Legg