Extreme climate events are those defined by great magnitude over short temporal scales that may cause profound ecosystem responses. They include intense precipitation and extreme temperatures, and consequent floods, heat waves and droughts. Extremes are of particular interest because research has tended to focus on steady change scenarios, yet ecosystem responses are often disproportionately greater under extreme events. Globally, extreme climate events are expected to become more frequent and increase in intensity and duration. Wetlands may mediate climate change impacts through their multiple ecosystem services, but the mechanisms for any resilience are not well known. This project, led by Professor Chris Joyce, will identify wetland responses and adaptations to extreme climate events in order to develop knowledge for future wetlands. It focuses upon wet grasslands as particularly valuable and potentially sensitive wetland types.
The project will run from 2012 to 2018.
The project aims to address three key questions:
The project integrates field-based studies on globally important wetlands in Sussex, England, with mesocosm experiments at the Centre for Aquatic Environment’s Wetland Ecology Research Facility. In the field, studies at Amberley Wildbrooks in West Sussex are examining the effects of extreme hydrological change on floodplain grassland indicator plant species. Water level monitoring is helping understand baseline hydrological characteristics in contrasting wetland types representing future ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ scenarios. Mesocosm experiments are investigating the role of plant competition in facilitating survival to extreme flood events. The field and mesocosm research are both using a plant trait approach to examine physiological and phenological effects of extreme events.
Research team
Chris Joyce
Sarah Brotherton
Maureen Berg
Graeme Awcock
Outputs
Brotherton, SJ and Joyce, CB (2014) Extreme climate events and wet grasslands: plant traits for ecological resilience. Hydrobiologia. DOI 10.1007/s10750-014-2129-5
Berg, M., Joyce, C.B. and Burnside, N. (2012) Differential responses of abandoned wet grassland plant communities to reinstated cutting management. Hydrobiologia, 692, 83-97
Partners
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Natural England
Sussex Wildlife Trust