The vegetation of species-rich grassland is highly responsive to soil-water regime. This statement has been demonstrated on the floodplains of England, the fixed dunes of Scotland and the fynbos of the South-African Cape. The data collected in these environments were used to show the role that niche-segregation plays in underpinning coexistence within species-rich plant communities. That issue had been one of the most hotly contested areas of ecological research during the late 20th century.
There is now an opportunity to build on that earlier work to explore whether our understanding of niche segregation can be harnessed to predict the response of vegetation to alterations in hydrological regimes that are likely to result from global change. A large data set has been gathered in floodplain meadows over the past 20 years and from the Machair of the Hebrides in the past three years. Such data should allow theories about the resilience of species-rich vegetation to a predicted change to be tested. The results may then inform current nature-conservation management of wetland sites. Will plant communities prove resilient? Can we plan for future environments?
To find out more about this opportunity and apply, visit
2026-OU07 The role of the hydrological niche in predicting vegetation response to climate change – CENTA
