Contact

Name

Prof. Roxane Andersen

Position

Senior Research Fellow

E-Mail Address

roxane.andersen@uhi.ac.uk

Phone Number

+44 (0)1847 889 572

Job Description

I am a UHI’s Professor of Peatland Science and a Senior Research Fellow at the ERI, where I lead our “Carbon, Water & Climate” research theme. My role is to develop applied research in the North of Scotland while maintaining an international portfolio of projects relevant to the ERI’s strategic priorities. For CWC, these are:

1. Peatland in a changing world

2. Organic matter from source to sink

3. Sustainable land use

A key element of my research portfolio for 2020-2025 will be the delivery of a “Leverhulme Leadership Award” programme of research on peatland resilience.

Career

2016-Present: Senior Research Fellow, Environmental Research Institute

2012-2016: Research Fellow, Environmental Research Institute UHI

2009-2012: Post Doctoral Research Fellow Jointly between James Hutton Institute (Scotland) and University of Waterloo (Canada)

2005 – 2009: PhD Plant Sciences – University Laval, Quebec, Canada
2003 – 2005: MSc Plant Sciences – University Laval, Quebec, Canada
2000 – 2003: Bsc Biochemistry – University Laval, Quebec, Canada

Publications

 

 

Braidwood, D.W., Taggart, M.A., Smith, M., Morgan, G., Andersen, R. (2020) Small-scale field trials identify optimal restoration options on exclosed nuclear sites. Ecological Engineeering 156, 105976.

 

Gaffney, P.P.J, Hancock, M.H., Taggart, M.A., Andersen, R., (2020) Restoration of afforested peatland: immediate effects on aquatic carbon loss. Science of the Total Environment 140594.

 

Bienida, A., Daté, V., Andersen, R. Nwaishi, F., Price, JS., Mahmood, S.Md, Strack, M. (2020) Methane emissions from fens in Alberta’s boreal region: reference data for functional evaluation of restoration outcomes. Wetlands Ecol Manage. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-020-09715-2

Creevy, A., Payne, RJ, Andersen, R., Rowson, G. (2020) Annual gaseous carbon budgets of forest-to-bog restoration sites are strongly determined by vegetation composition. Science of the Total Environment 705, 135863 DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135863

 

Alshammari, L., Sowter, A., Boyd, D., Marshall, C, Momeni, R., Andersen, R., Gilbert, P, Marsh, S., Large, DJ (2020) Use of Surface Motion Characteristics Determined by InSAR to Assess Peatland Condition, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. DOI 10.1029/2018JG004953

 

Pravia, A., Andersen, R., Artz, RRE, Pakeman, R., Littlewood, NA. (2019) Restoration trajectory of carabid functional traits in a formerly afforested blanket bog. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungariae, 65 (Supplement), 33–56-33–56

 

Sterk, HP, Detrey, I, Marshall, C., Cowie, N., Payne, RJ, McIlveny, J., Andersen, R., (2019). Capturing gas fluxes on your phone: an iOS- and Android-based Data Logging Setup for EGM-4 Environmental Gas Monitoring Systems.

 

Hermans, R., Zahn, N., Andersen, R., Teh, Y.A., Cowie N. & Subke, J.-A. (2019) An incubation study of GHG flux responses to a changing water table linked to biochemical parameters across a peatland restoration chronosequence. Mires and Peat, 23(08), 1–18.
Hambley, G., Andersen, R., Levy, P., Saunders, M., Cowie, N.R., Teh, Y.A., Hill, T.C. (2019) Net ecosystem exchange from two formerly afforested peatlands undergoing restoration in the Flow Country of northern Scotland. Mires and Peat, 23 (05), 1-14.

 

Sloan, T.J., Payne, R.J., Anderson, A.R., Gilbert, P., Mauquoy, D., Newton, A.J. & Andersen, R. (2019) Ground surface subsidence in an afforested peatland fifty years after drainage and planting. Mires and Peat, 23(06), 1–12.

 

Konings, W., Boyd, K.G. & Andersen, R. (2019) Comparison of plant traits of sedges, shrubs and Sphagnum mosses between sites undergoing forest-to-bog restoration and near-natural open blanket bog: a pilot study. Mires and Peat, 23(07), 1–10.

 

Andersen, R., Taylor, R., Cowie, N.R., Svobodova, D. and Youngson, A., 2018. Assessing the effects of forest-to-bog restoration in the hyporheic zone at known Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) spawning sites. Mires & Peat, 23, 1-11

 

Andersen, R., Cowie, N., Payne, R.J. and Subke, J.A., 2018. The Flow Country peatlands of Scotland. Mires and Peat. 23, 1-2

Ratcliffe, J., Payne, R.J., Sloan, T., Smith, B., Waldron, S., Mauquoy, D., Newton, A., Anderson, A.R., Henderson, A. and Andersen, R., 2018. Holocene carbon accumulation in the peatlands of northern Scotland. Mires and Peat. 23

 

Sloan, T., Payne, R.J., Anderson, A.R., Bain, C., Chapman, S., Cowie, N., Gilbert, P., Lindsay, R., Mauquoy, D., Newton, A. and Andersen, R., 2018. Peatland afforestation in the UK and consequences for carbon storage. Mires and Peat. 23

 

Alshammari, L., Large, D., Boyd, D., Sowter, A., Anderson, R., Andersen, R. and Marsh, S., 2018. Long-term peatland condition assessment via surface motion monitoring using the ISBAS DInSAR technique over the Flow Country, Scotland. Remote Sensing, 10(7), p.1103.

 

Date, V., Nwaishi, FC., Price, JS., Andersen, R., (2018) Short-term exposure to Oil Sand Process-affected water does not reduce microbial potential activity in three contrasting peatland types. Wetlands doi 10.1007/s1315-0181026-5

 

Gaffney, P., Hancock, MH., Taggart, MA., Andersen, R., (2018) Measuring restoration progress using pore- and surface-water chemistry across a chronosequence of formerly afforested blanket bogs. Journal of Environmental Management. 219:239-251

 

Braidwood, D., Smith, M., Taggart, M., Andersen, R., (2018) Translocations, conservation and climate change: the use of restoration sites as protorefuges and protorefugia. Restoration Ecology 26:20-28

 

Holden, J., Moody, C., Turner, T-E, McKenzie, R., Baird, AJ., Billett, MF. ,Chpaman, PJ., Dinsmore, KJ., Grayson, RP., Andersen, R., Gee, C., Dooling, G. (2018) Water-level dynamics in natural and artificial pools in blanket peatlands. Hydrological processes 32:550-561

 

Hancock, MH, Klein, D, Andersen, R, Cowie, NR (2018) Vegetation response to restoration management of a blanket bog damaged by drainage and afforestation. Applied Vegetation Science 21: 167-178

 

Ratcliffe, J., Andersen, R., Newton, A., Campbell, D., Mauquoy, D. & Payne, R.J (2018) Contemporary carbon fluxes do not reflect the long-term carbon balance for an Atlantic blanket bog. The Holocene, 0959683617715689

 

Creevy, A.L, Andersen, R., Rowson, J.G, Payne, RJ., (2018) Testate amoebae as functionally significant bioindicators in forest-to-bog restoration. Ecological Indicators 84:274-282

 

Ratcliffe, JL., Creevy, A., Andersen, R., […] & Payne, RJ. (2017) Ecological and environmental transition across the forested-to-bog ecotone in a west Siberian peatland. Science of the Total Environment 607, 816-828

 

Woodhouse, EL., Ratcliffe, JL., ANdersen, R., Suggit, A, Maclean, L & Payne, RJ. (2017) A modest addendum to the English Sediment Core Meta-Database. Open Quarternary, 3:2 1-4

 

Rochefort, L., Andersen, R. (2017) Global Peatland Restoration after 30 years: where are we in this mossy world? Restoration Ecology, 25 269-270

 

Andersen, R., Farrell, C, Graf, MD., Muller, F., Calvar, E., Frankard, P., Caporn, S., Anderson, P. (2017) An overview of the progress and challenges of peatland restoration in Western Europe. Restoration Ecology 25: 271-282.

 

Wijedasa, L.S., […] and Andersen, R. (2016), Denial of long-term issues with agriculture on tropical peatlands will have devastating consequences. Global Change Biology. doi:10.1111/gcb.13516

 

Rochefort, L. and Andersen, R. (2016), Global Peatland Restoration after 30 years: where are we in this mossy world? Restoration Ecology. doi:10.1111/rec.12417

 

Andersen, R, Farrell, C, Graf, M, Muller, F, Calvar, E, Frankard, P, Caporn, S, Anderson, P (2016) An overview of the progress and challenges of peatland restoration in Western Europe. Restoration Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/rec.12415

 

Nwaishi, F, Petrone, RM, Macrae, ML, Price, JS, Strack, M, Andersen, R (2016). Preliminary assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from a constructed fen on post-mining landscape in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada. Ecological Engineering 95: 119-128.

 

Payne, RJ, Creevy, A, Malysheva, E, Ratcliffe, J, Andersen, R, Tsyganov, AN, Rowson, JG, Marcisz, K, Zielińska, M, Lamentowicz, M, Lapshina, ED, Mazei, Y (2016) Tree encroachment may lead to functionally-significant changes in peatland testate amoeba communities. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 98, 18-21.

 

Bourgeois, B, Vanasse, A, González, E, Andersen, R, Poulin, M (2016) Threshold dynamics in plant succession after tree planting in agricultural riparian zones 53:1704-1713.

 

Nwaishi, F, Petrone, RM, Macrae, ML, Price, JS, Strack, M, Slawson, R, & Andersen, R (2016). Above and below-ground nutrient cycling: criteria for assessing the biogeochemical functioning of a constructed fen. Applied Soil Ecology 98, 177-194.

 

Nwaishi, F, Petrone, RM, Price, JS, Andersen, R (2015) Towards developing a functional-based approach for constructed peatlands evaluation in the Alberta Oil Sands Region, Canada. Wetllands 34, 211-225.

 

Artz, RRE.; Donnelly, D, Andersen, R, Mitchell, R, Chapman, SJ, Smith, J, Smith, P, Cummins, R, Balana, B, Cuthbert, A, (2014) Managing and restoring blanket bog to benefit biodiversity and carbon balance – a scoping study. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report. 562

 

Andersen, R, Wells, C, Macrae, M, Price, J, (2013) Nutrient mineralisation and microbial functional diversity in a restored bog approach natural conditions 10 years post restoration. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 64:37-47.

 

Andersen, R, Chapman, SJ, Artz, RRE. (2013) Microbial diversity in natural and disturbed peatlands: a review. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 57, 979-994

 

Poulin, M., Andersen, R., Rochefort, L., 2012. A new approach for tracking vegetation change after restoration: A case study with peatlands. Restoration Ecology, doi: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2012.00889.x

 

Rezanezhad F., Andersen, R., Pouliot, R., Price J.S., Rochefort, L., Graf, M.D., 2012 How Fen Vegetation Structure Affects the Transport of Oil Sands Process-affected Waters and Microbial Functional Diversity: A Greenhouse Mesocosm Study. Wetlands. 32: 557-570

 

Andersen, R. Importance of microbes in peatland dynamics, restoration, and reclamation. (2012) In Vitt, DH., Bhatti, J., (eds). Reclamation and Restoration of Boreal Ecosystems, Cambridge University Press.

 

Andersen, R., Poulin, M., Borcard, D., Laiho, R., Laine, J., Vasander, H., Tuittila, E-S. 2011. Environmental control and spatial structures in peatland vegetation. Journal of Vegetation Sciences, 22: 878–890.

 

Hogue-Hugron S., Andersen R, Poulin M., Rochefort L. 2011. Patterns of spontaneous recolonisation of the borrow pits of the region of the national park of the Grands Jardins, Quebec, Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany 89:(7) 451-465.

 

Andersen, R., Rochefort, L., Landry, J. 2011. La chimie des tourbières au Québec : une synthèse de 30 années de données. Le Naturaliste Canadien,135 :5-14.

 

Andersen R., Grasset L., Rochefort L., Thormann MN, Francez A-J. 2010. Changes in microbial community structure and function following Sphagnum peatland restoration. Soil Biology & Biochemistry. 42: 291-301

 

Andersen R., Rochefort L., Poulin M. 2010. Peat, water and plant tissue chemistry monitoring: a seven-year case-study in a restored peatland. Wetlands 30: 159-170.

 

Andersen R., Francez A.J, Rochefort L. 2006. The physicochemical and microbial status of a restored bog in Québec : identification of relevant criteria to monitor success. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 38, 1375-1387.

Profile

I have been involved in peatland research for >15 years, first in Canada, then in Scotland for the last 11 years.

As well as my own research, I coordinate the Flow Country Research Hub, a network of > 60 researchers working in the Flow Country peatlands and I am an active member of the International Peatland Society (IPS), the International Mire and Conservation Group (IMCG) and the British Ecological Society (BES).

 

My research focuses on evaluating above- and belowground communities and biogeochemical processes in disturbed, natural and restored systems, with a focus on northern peatlands. Most of my projects are multi-disciplinary in nature, and involve industrial or multi-stakeholder partnerships. Current and recently completed projects include :

– A new understanding of blanket bog resilience: from molecules to landscapes. (Leverhulme Leadership Award, 2020-2025)

– Developing a statistical methodology for the assessment and management of peatlands (2020-2022). NERC Landscape Decision Programme

– How does land management influence fire resilience in blanket bogs? (2019-2020) NERC Urgency Grant

– InSAR as a tool to evaluate peatland sensitivity to global change (2017-2020) NERC Soil Security Programme (https://www.soilsecurity.org/insar-as-a-tool/)

– Quantifying carbon accumulation and loss in afforested peatlands (2016-2020). Leverhulme Large Grant