Nicola is the current Trapnell Fellow in African Environments. My current research interests are centred around understanding the dynamics of African grassy ecosystems and how they are changing in the Anthropocene. I’m especially interested in understanding how altered fire and herbivory regimes against a backdrop of changing CO2 concentrations are driving changes. Along this vein I have become particularly interested in the phenomenon of woody encroachment where open ecosystems across the tropics are being invaded by native woody species. It has also driven me to improve our ability to predict future species ranges under global change by improving our mechanistic understanding of range edges in disturbance limited systems. I have ongoing projects in Southern and East Africa.
Related Outputs
Energy flows reveal declining ecosystem functions by animals across Africa
New research reveals that Africa’s wildlife ecosystems are running on less than two-thirds of the power they once had – threatening the vitality of the continent’s landscapes and the livelihoods they support.
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