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Dr Sarah Woodin

Senior Lecturer

 

Personal Details

Telephone:

+44 (0)1224 272688

E-mail:

s.woodin@abdn.ac.uk


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Research Interests

My research interests are in the effects of drivers of change on native plant species, vegetation communities and ecosystem process in the British uplands and the Arctic. I am involved in projects investigating ecological impacts of climate change, herbivory, land management practices and atmospheric nitrogen deposition, often in interaction with each other. The processes studied range from the ecophysiology of individual species, through vegetation processes and inter-trophic interactions to ecosystem nutrient and carbon dynamics, and a common theme is the functional importance, and sensitivity, of bryophytes within the ecosystem. Much of my research in Scotland in conservation based, undertaken in collaboration with Scottish Natural Heritage, and seeks to provide a scientific basis for conservation policy and management.

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Current Research

Effects of herbivory and climate change on high Arctic tundra ecosystem processes. 

Ecology and conservation of the rare plant, Melampyrum sylvaticum.

Potential for recovery of degraded montane heath.

50-years of change in Scottish upland vegetation: detecting drivers of past change and predicting future scenarios.

Effects of vegetation type and burning on colour release from upland catchments.

 

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Research Grants

Fifty years of vegetation change in the Scottish Highlands. SNH, 2007-2010 (with Dr A Hester, Prof J Birks)

Potential for recovery of degraded montane heath. SNH, 2006-2009 (with Dr A Britton, Dr I Pearce, Dr R van der Wal)

Do herbivores decrease tundra carbon sink strength by reducing the moss layer? NERC, 2005 (with Dr R van der Wal & Dr M Sommerkorn)

FRagility of Arctic Goose-dominated ecosystems: Impacts of Land management in Europe (FRAGILE). CEC, 2003-2006

Experimental investigation of management requirements for small cow wheat. SNH, 2002-2005 (with Dr W. Seel)

Biological exceedence of the critical load of nutrient nitrogen in the UK. DEFRA & SNH, 2001

Recovery of arctic heath from nitrogen deposition. BES, 2001

Recovery of arctic heath from nitrogen deposition. CEC TMR, 2000.

Terrestrial effects of Acid Pollutants: Impacts of N deposition on critical loads for deep peats. NERC, 1998-2001 (with Prof M Cresser)

Effects of acidic deposition on arctic bryophytes. NERC, 1998.

Effects of acidic deposition on arctic bryophytes. CEC TMR, 1998.

History, current status and genetic distinctiveness of dwarf juniper heath. SNH, 1997-2000.

N use by Salix and Dryas in the high Arctic: impact of atmospheric N deposition. NERC, 1994-1997 (with Prof I Alexander).

Interactions between organisms at community boundaries in the uplands in conditions of environmental change; importance of root competition, including mycorrhizal effects. NERC TIGER, 1993-1998, (with Prof I Alexander & Dr C Mullins).  

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Teaching Responsibilities

Level 5 Plant Ecology (Course Coordinator)

Level 5 Climate Change (Course Coordinator)

Level 2 Conservation Biology (Course Coordinator)

Level 1 Ecology and Environmental Science

Honours Ecology Degree Coordinator and Advisor of Studies

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External Responsibilities

2007-2010: International Study of Arctic Change, Scientific Council member

2004, 2007: NERC Antarctic Funding Initiative Moderating Panel member.

2001-2002: UN ECE International Workshop on Critical Loads of Nitrogen: member of scientific review panel.

1999-2002: National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution, member.

 

 

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PhD Studentship available - Managing upland heath for carbon sequestration

This is an SNH PhD Studentship to be held at the University of Aberdeen and Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, start date Oct 08. All UK and EU students are eligible to apply. Click on the link for all further details.

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Publications

  • Smith, SW., Robertson, AJ., Meharg, AA., Pakeman, RJ., Johnson, D., Woodin, SJ. & Van Der Wal, R. Milling plant and soil material in plastic tubes over-estimates carbon and under-estimates nitrogen concentrations, Article, 2013, Plant and Soil, ISSN/ISBN: 0032-079X
  • Ross, LC., Woodin, SJ., Hester, AJ., Thompson, DBA. & Birks, HJB. Biotic homogenization of upland vegetation, Article, 2012, Journal of Vegetation Science, 23, 4, pp755 - 770, ISSN/ISBN: 1100-9233
  • Anderson, HB., Godfrey, TG., Woodin, SJ. & van der Wal, R. Finding food in a highly seasonal landscape, Article, 2012, Journal of Avian Biology, 43, 5, pp415 - 422, ISSN/ISBN: 0908-8857
  • Armitage, HF., Britton, AJ., van der Wal, R. & Woodin, SJ. Grazing exclusion and phosphorus addition as potential local management options for the restoration of alpine moss-sedge heath, Article, 2012, Biological Conservation, 153, pp17 - 24, ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3207
  • Sjoegersten, S., van der Wal, R. & Woodin, SJ. Impacts of Grazing and Climate Warming on C Pools and Decomposition Rates in Arctic Environments, Article, 2012, Ecosystems, 15, 3, pp349 - 362, ISSN/ISBN: 1432-9840
  • Armitage, HF., Britton, AJ., van der Wal, R., Pearce, ISK., Thompson, DBA. & Woodin, SJ. Nitrogen deposition enhances moss growth, but leads to an overall decline in habitat condition of mountain moss-sedge heath, Article, 2012, Global Change Biology, 18, 1, pp290 - 300, ISSN/ISBN: 1354-1013
  • Armitage, HF., Britton, AJ., Woodin, SJ. & van der Wal, R. Assessing the recovery potential of alpine moss-sedge heath, Article, 2011, Environmental Pollution, 159, 1, pp140 - 147, ISSN/ISBN: 0269-7491
  • Gornall, JL., Woodin, SJ., Jonsdottir, IS. & van der Wal, R. Balancing positive and negative plant interactions, Article, 2011, Oecologia, 166, 3, pp769 - 782, ISSN/ISBN: 0029-8549
  • Sjoegersten, S., van der Wal, R., Loonen, MJJE. & Woodin, SJ. Recovery of ecosystem carbon fluxes and storage from herbivory, Article, 2011, Biogeochemistry, 106, 3, pp357 - 370, ISSN/ISBN: 0168-2563
  • Speed, JDM., Woodin, SJ., Tommervik, H. & van der Wal, R. Extrapolating herbivore-induced carbon loss across an arctic landscape, Article, 2010, Polar Biology, 33, 6, pp789 - 797, ISSN/ISBN: 0722-4060
  • Gornall, JL., Woodin, SJ., Jonsdottir, IS. & Van der Wal, R. Herbivore impacts to the moss layer determine tundra ecosystem response to grazing and warming, Article, 2010, Oecologia, 163, 1 - 277, ISSN/ISBN: 0029-8549
  • Ross, LC., Woodin, SJ., Hester, A., Thompson, DB. & Birks, HJB. How important is plot relocation accuracy when interpreting re-visitation studies of vegetation change?, Article, 2010, Plant Ecology & Diversity, 3, 1, pp1 - 8, ISSN/ISBN: 1755-0874
  • Sjogersten, S., Kuijper, DPJ., van der Wal, R., Loonen, MJJE., Huiskes, AHL. & Woodin, SJ. Nitrogen transfer between herbivores and their forage species, Article, 2010, Polar Biology, 33, 9, pp1195 - 1203, ISSN/ISBN: 0722-4060
  • Speed, JDM., Cooper, EJ., Jonsdottir, IS., van der Wal, R. & Woodin, SJ. Plant community properties predict vegetation resilience to herbivore disturbance in the Arctic, Article, 2010, Journal of Ecology, 98, 5, pp1002 - 1013, ISSN/ISBN: 0022-0477
  • Woodin, SJ., Van Der Wal, R., Sommerkorn, M. & Gornall, JL. Differential allocation of carbon in mosses and grasses governs ecosystem sequestration, Article, 2009, New Phytologist, 184, 4, pp944 - 949, ISSN/ISBN: 0028-646X
  • Speed, J., Van Der Wal, R. & Woodin, SJ. Do nitrogen concentration and forage quality of the moss Racomitrium lanuginosum increase with latitude?, Article, 2009, Research Letters in Ecology, ISSN/ISBN: 1687-6776
  • Gornall, JL., Woodin, SJ., Jonsdottir, IS. & Van der Wal, R. Herbivore impacts to the moss layer determine tundra ecosystem response to grazing and warming, Article, 2009, Oecologia, 161, 4, pp747 - 758, ISSN/ISBN: 0029-8549
  • Hughes, J., Albon, SD., Irvine, J. & Woodin, SJ. Is there a cost of parasites to caribou?, Article, 2009, Parasitology, 136, 2, pp253 - 265, ISSN/ISBN: 0031-1820
  • Hughes, J., Albon, SD., Irvine, J. & Woodin, SJ. Is there a cost of parasites to caribou?, Article, 2009, Parasitology, 136, 2, pp253 - 265, ISSN/ISBN: 1469-8161
  • Speed, JDM., Woodin, SJ., Tommervik, H., Tamstorf, MP. & Van Der Wal, R. Predicting Habitat Utilization and Extent of Ecosystem Disturbance by an Increasing Herbivore Population, Article, 2009, Ecosystems, 12, 3, pp349 - 359, ISSN/ISBN: 1432-9840
  • Sjogersten, S., van der Wal, R. & Woodin, SJ. Habitat type determines herbivory controls over CO2 fluxes in a warmer Arctic, Article, 2008, Ecology, 89, 8, pp2103 - 2116, ISSN/ISBN: 0012-9658
  • Gornall, JL., Jónsdóttir, IS., Woodin, SJ. & Van der Wal, R. Arctic mosses govern below-ground environment and ecosystem processes, Article, 2007, Oecologia, 153, 4, pp931 - 941, ISSN/ISBN: 0029-8549
  • Van Der Wal, R., Sjogersten, S., Woodin, SJ., Cooper, EJ., Jonsdottir, IS., Kuijper, D., Fox, TAD. & Huiskes, AD. Spring feeding by pink-footed geese reduces carbon stocks and sink strength in tundra ecosystems, Article, 2007, Global Change Biology, 13, 2, pp539 - 545, ISSN/ISBN: 1354-1013
  • Littlewood, N., Pakeman, RJ., Dennis, P. & Woodin, SJ. A field assessment of the success of moorland restoration in the rehabilitation of whole plant assemblages., Article, 2006, Applied Vegetation Science, 9, pp295 - 306, ISSN/ISBN: 1402-2001
  • Littlewood, N., Woodin, SJ., Pakeman, RJ. & Dennis, P. Moorland restorations aids the reassembly of associated phytophagus insects., Article, 2006, Biological Conservation, 132, pp395 - 404, ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3207
  • Sjogersten, S., van der Wal, R. & Woodin, SJ. Small scale hydrological variation determines landscape CO2 fluxes in the high Arctic., Article, 2006, Biogeochemistry, 80, 3, pp205 - 216, ISSN/ISBN: 0168-2563
  • Littlewood, N., Pakeman, RJ. & Woodin, SJ. The response of plant and insect assemblages to the loss of Calluna vulgaris from upland vegetation., Article, 2006, Biological Conservation, 128, pp335 - 345, ISSN/ISBN: 0006-3207
  • Dormann, CF., van der Wal, R. & Woodin, SJ. Neighbour identity modifies the effects of elevated temperature on plant performance in the High Arctic, Article, 2004, Global Change Biology, 10, 9, pp1587 - 1598, ISSN/ISBN: 1354-1013
  • Stutter, MI., Alam, MS., Langan, SJ., Woodin, SJ., Smart, RP. & Cresser, MS. The effects of H2SO4 and (NH4)SO4 treatments on the chemistry of soil drainage water and pine seedlings in forest soil microcosms., Article, 2004, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8, 3, pp392 - 408, ISSN/ISBN: 1027-5606
  • Roelofs, J. & Woodin, SJ. Heathlands, scrub and tundra habitats, bogs, Chapter, 2003, In: Empirical Critical Loads for Nitrogen (eds. Acherman,B.;Bobbink,R.) Environmental Documentation 64 (Air), SAEFL, Berne, pp37 - 39
  • van der Wal, R., Pearce, I., Brooker, RW., Scott, D., Welch, D. & Woodin, SJ. Interplay between nitrogen deposition and grazing causes habitat degradation, Article, 2003, Ecology Letters, 6, 2, pp141 - 146, ISSN/ISBN: 1461-023X
  • Pearce, ISK., Woodin, SJ. & van der Wal, R. Physiological and growth responses of the montane bryophyte Racomitrium lanuginosum to atmospheric nitrogen deposition, Article, 2003, New Phytologist, 160, 1, pp145 - 155, ISSN/ISBN: 0028-646X
  • Hwangbo, JK., Seel, WE. & Woodin, SJ. Short-term exposure to elevated atmospheric CO2 benefits the growth of a facultative annual root hemi-parasite, Rhinanthus minor (L.) more than that of its host, Poa pratensis (L.), Article, 2003, Journal of Experimental Botany, 54, pp1951 - 1955, ISSN/ISBN: 0022-0957
  • Dormann, CF. & Woodin, SJ. Climate change in the Arctic: using plant functional types in a meta-analysis of field experiments, Article, 2002, Functional Ecology, 16, pp4 - 17, ISSN/ISBN: 0269-8463
  • Dormann, CF., Albon, SD. & Woodin, SJ. No evidence for adaptation of two Polygonum vivparum morphotypes of different bulbil characteristics to length of growing season: abundance, biomass and germination, Article, 2002, Polar Biology, 25, pp884 - 890, ISSN/ISBN: 0722-4060
  • Gordon, C., Wynn, J. & Woodin, SJ. Impacts of increased nitrogen supply on high Arctic heath: the importance of bryophytes and phosphorus availability, Article, 2001, New Phytologist, 149, 3, pp461 - 471, ISSN/ISBN: 0028-646X

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