1989 1990 .;•• Natural Environment Research Council Foreword 1990 marks the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the Natural Environment Research Council as the main UK organisation responsible for research and training in the environmental sciences. Environmental issues have a greater priority, both nationally and globally, than ever before. These issues must be addressed on the basis of sound scientific knowledge. The Terrestrial and Freshwater Sciences Directorate focuses on both fundamental and applied science in land use and development of natural resources, the maintenance of environmental management and conservation. The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology is part of the Terrestrial and Freshwater Sciences Directorate of NERC. The Directorate's in-house capability also comprises the Institutes of Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology, Virology and Environmental Microbiology, the Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology (Sheffield University), the Water Resource Systems Research Unit (Newcastle University), the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Population Biology (Imperial College London) and the Unit of Behavioural Ecology (Oxford University). The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology is pre-eminent in ecological research, has all the necessary skills to make a major contribution to our priority research objectives in climate change impacts, forest science, land use and remote sensing, population biology, ecotoxicology, water quality, environmental biology and environmental pollution. This Report illustrates the broad range of research activities and the ability of Institute scientists to work individually or as multi-disciplinary teams. P B Tinker Director of Terrestrial and Freshwater Sciences Natural Environment Research Council Cover illustration: Lowland landscape near Leighton Bromswold, Cambridgeshire Report of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology 1989/1990 Natural Environment Research Council Contents Directors' Introduction 1 Science Reports 5 - 70 See separate file Appendices 71 1 Staff at 31 March 1990 71 2 Finance and administration 74 3 Research projects at ITE stations at 31 march 1990 77 4 Publications by ITE staff in 1989-90 84 5 Contract reports 1989-90 92 6 ITE publications 95 Directors' introduction err -1Cz:mat de :eis ma1 researcl..n h.33 been obe visir le sign ol the essebtial .emsoblin .n tne sinsiTeranbt if the citabirabin between NERO and S. sgmbare tne Fesearsh Conasns and .3 sister Coorbs.lc die Agri:ran-ire and Fssd the streroftiet.ind of t":201,1.71.1cEi1 snd tend Research Coancli and tne Ecortomt: and use research in 7he Ferrestnal and Social Research Gobbsil lESRCi NERC Freshwater Sclenics Directsrate (TESL, and ESRC have also collaborated ua and in HE. establishmg a mayor programme on land use at the Univerty of Newcastle The Environment Protection Bill now before Parliament introduces a system of Important developments within TESL: and integrated pollunon control a2ned at ITE dunno 1989 have provided a nacre minimising the impact of certain industnat stable base for productive collaboration discharges •n the environment as a netween the component Inslinnes of whole It also makes new provisions for NERO, and :he Universities The waste disposal nature gcnservanonand foundation its r ecologmal research in TES the control of genetically manipulated has been extended with :he organisms Internationally the concept of establishment of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Population Biology a: •sustainable development . continues to. be discussed and the UK Gsyernment Imperial College, the NERO ESRC Land Use Programme (NELUP) at Newcastle Dr 0 W Heal White Paper on the environment will provide a major focus of attention in the and the Unit of Behavioural Ecology at coming year The European Commission the University of Oxford In each case, has drafted proposals ior a European ITE has been involved in the initial Environmental Agency These legislative planning and is collaborating in the measures and policy developments research development Collaboration with reflect the widespread interest in - and the long-established Unit of Comparative concern for - the environment The Plant Ecology (UCPE) at the University of developments can be effective only if Sheffield reached a new peak they have a strong scientific foundation During 1989. the management structure of In collaboration with other Institutes the Institute was strengthened to within the Natural Environment Research encourage the development of centres of Council (NERC), with Universities, and scientific excellence to improve internal with other organisations, iTEscientists communication and to increase will continue to have a central role m collaboration with other research groups providing this scientific foundation for The two parts of ITE - ITE North and ITE Government and for those concerned South - have functioned as separate cost with implementing the policy decisions centres for the first time whilst, at the same nme maintaining a high degree of 1990 marks the 25th anniversary of the collaboration between the six Research formation of NERO as the primary Stations organisation in Britain responsible for planning and executing research and training in the environmental sciences 8Lotba2on ttojtott ti yes 9nd prior trier, The importance of environmental The remit of ITE has been reviewed, and research has never been greater and !he following oblectives have been there is unprecedented opportunity for confirmed the Institutes and Universities associated with NERC 1 To improve understanding of the factors determining the structure. Uncertainty over the restructuring of the composition and processes of Research Councils has been resolved. terrestrial ecosystems and of individual Dr T M Roberts and the future of ITE within NERO is now plant and animal species 1 2. To develop a sounder scientific basis primarily directed towards other more than compensated for by a for predicting and modelling Institutes, ITE has an important role in continued rise in commissioned income. environmental trends arising from understanding the terrestrial controls on The year 1989-90 was particularly natural and man-made change. water quality and on ecotoxicology: two notable in that commissioned receipts areas in which inter-Institute collaboration amounted to 50% of ITE's total income for 3. To disseminate the results of the has been enhanced during the year. the first time (see Figure). Recent years research to those responsible for the have seen a sharp increase in funding protection, management and wise use Environmental microbiology - the from the Department of Environment and of natural resources. detection and identification of micro- private industry, and this trend is organisms, the measurement of gene expected to continue, together with an Within these broad objectives, the transfer, dispersal and growth rates, and increase in support from the European priorities outlined in the document NERC biochemical interactions between Commission. strategy for Terrestrial and Freshwater organisms in the natural environment are Sciences - the green light (published in all high priorities. This subject is led by Whilst the growth in receipts is welcome, March 1989) provide the focus for ITE the NERC Institutes of Virology and it will be necessary to ensure that research. Seven priority areas are Environmental Microbiology and of commissioned research does not identified, all of which are relevant for Freshwater Ecology (IFE), and is the dominate the science priorities of the the development of ITE's research in the area where ITE's capability is most in Institute. Every effort will be made to current year and for the near future. need of strengthening, despite existing increase the scientific content of all strengths in mycorrhizal ecology. contracts, and to match the research with Climate change impact - the analysis of ITE's science priorities. long-term data sets and the development Atmospheric pollutants - the adjustment of effort to expand research on pathways of experimentation to provide a basis for The decline in numbers of permanent predicting impacts, combined with of nitrogen inputs, effects of ozone, 'greenhouse' gas fluxes, and radionuclide staff continued, but was more than offset quantification of trace gas sources and by an increase in temporary sinks. Analyses of the effects of the mild dynamics. ITE is well placed to develop new research on critical loads of appointments resulting from successful winters of 1988-89 and 1989-90 have competition in NERC Community identified key sensitive parameters, and atmospheric pollutants and on greenhouse gases, including enhanced Programmes and Special Topics, and in have contributed to detailed planning posts supported by commissioned and feasibility studies in this subject area. CO2 levels, building on the expertise and facilities established during a decade of income. However, the reduction in work on acid deposition. permanent staff numbers (about 20% over Forest science - expansion of research five years) has left the Institute with too on the biology of forest trees and forest Whilst corresponding to the interests of few young prime movers and support ecosystems, both at home and overseas. major customers, these priorities have' staff. Addressing the problems caused by The Special Topic on farm forestry has been identified as subjects where high- the unbalanced staff structure will be a provided initial expansion of UK effort, quality basic research is essential. priority for management in the next few and tropical