Joss Sibbering Initial Dissertation Presentation

1: Context

• Wet woodlands research
• Conservation and restoration

• Multiple successional pathways
• Ecological tipping points
• Novel Ecosystems
• Rewilding

Papers

• Initial interest caught by the paper: The forgotten forests: Incorporating temperate peat-forming wet woodlands as nature-based solutions into policy and practice

Forgotten Forests

“…there have been no rigorous wet woodland biodiversity studies across the range of taxonomic groups and wet woodland types in the UK. Thus, there are key knowledge gaps on the unique assemblages of wet woodlands, the environmental tolerances of wet woodland species, the role of microhabitats and microclimate on biodiversity now and under climate change, the importance of connectivity, and how the (eco)hydrological conditions at macro- and micro-scale influence biodiversity, above-ground productivity and carbon sequestration.”

(Milner et al, 2024)

Gaps in Research

1. Assemblages of wet woodlands
2. Environmental tolerances of wet woodlands
3. Roles of microhabitats and microclimate on biodiversity now and under climate change
4. The importance of connectivity
5. How ecohydrological conditions at macro and micro scale influence biodiversity, above-ground productivity and carbon sequestration.

2: Scientific Question

“How does the species’ composition of wet woodland compare to that of associated dry forest and non-forested wetland?”

“How will species assemblages of wet woodlands be affected by climate change?”

3: Hypotheses

Wet woodland shows a higher biodiversity than either dry forest or non-forested wetland.

A higher biodiversity is present in wet woodland than in dry forest or non-forested wetlands due to a higher diversity of ecological niches present.

Climate change bringing a warmer climate to the UK would bring more novel ecosystems or invasive species to wet woodlands due to species range changes.

4: Predictions

The species present in wet woodlands consist of a combination of both that of wetland and forest as well as additional species specialising in riparian-specific niches. However, some niches may be lost due to the inundation.

Climate change may bring warmer, wetter weather to the UK, leading to higher rates of inundation and more productive freshwater ecosystems under higher temperatures. This may increase the amount of wet woodland in the UK.

5: Project Structure

• Literature search
• Record search criteria and key points
• Write systematic review
• Finalise research question
• Contact organisations that could assist with research
• Collect data
• Data wrangling
• Write research paper