SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE UK, INDIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA
My current post-doctoral research involves mapping and modelling the trade-offs between food systems and the environment in the UK, India, and South Africa. I am working with Dr Carole Dalin at the Institute for Sustainable Resources (University College London / UCL) to identify future pathways for food production which are sustainable with respect to biodiversity and water resources. Our work with the wider SHEFS project team aims to identify opportunities to shape food systems that deliver healthy, accessibly, affordable, and sustainable food for future generations, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
My previous post-doctoral research involved mapping and modelling the trade-offs between agricultural development and the environment in three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia. Using freely-available data and spatial-analysis tools, I continue to work with Dr Tim Newbold at the Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research (University College London / UCL) to determine how agricultural expansion is impacting ecosystems. Across the world, food production will need to increase to meet the demands of our growing human population. Our work, with the wider SENTINEL project, should help to identify how best to manage the socio-economic and environmental trade-offs associated with agricultural development, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
USING A TRAIT-BASED APPROACH TO STUDY THE ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY OF DEEP-SEA HYDROTHERMAL-VENT ECOSYSTEMS
For my PhD, I used a trait-based approach to study the ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities. Traditionally, the biodiversity of deep-sea hydrothermal-vent ecosystems has been assessed using taxonomic approaches (e.g. by measuring species richness, evenness, and taxonomic similarity). I used characteristics of species that affect their performance in an ecosystem, as well as their contribution to ecosystem functioning – their functional traits – to investigate whether looking at biodiversity through this trait-based lens could reveal new answers to old ecological questions. As well as comparing the contributions of rare and common species to the functional uniqueness vent communities, I co-led a project working with deep-sea ecologists from across the globe to build a trait database for deep-sea vent fauna (sFDvent). Creating this new dataset enabled me to use a trait-based approach to compare vent communities usually separated into distinct biogeographic provinces based on taxonomy. In my thesis, I demonstrated how a trait-based approach can be used in the conservation and management of vent ecosystems. Deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems are currently pristine – untouched by humans. Nevertheless, they are soon to be impacted by commercial-scale mining, changing their ecology, and creating an urgent demand for conservation and management strategies.
WHAT DO AGRICULTURE, BIODIVERSITY ON LAND, AND DEEP-SEA HYDROTHERMAL-VENT COMMUNITIES HAVE IN COMMON?
Well, there’s me researching them for starters!
These fields of research are geographically isolated, with biodiversity in Africa, the UK, and India contributing to ecosystems functioning with plenty of light, and deep-sea hydrothermal vents found thousands of metres below the sea surface, home to dense populations thriving in complete darkness. However, the ecological questions, statistical tools, and mapping approaches that are applied to study the biodiversity of these different ecosystems are, in many cases, the same. Both types of study system are data limited, both require the careful interpretation of results due to differences in sampling effort and methodology, and both are fascinating systems to study. Furthermore, both need care and attention to maintain their health and functioning under increasing human pressure.
Dr Abbie S. A. Chapman 