A new PhD student Ella Scott has joined the University of Aberdeen and the James Hutton Institute.
Pleased to introduce herself to the ECT community, Ella Scott (MRes) has come to the Scottish Highlands to undertake her PhD at the University of Aberdeen and the James Hutton Institute.
Focusing on Glen Finglas and supported by a supervisory team (including the Woodland Trust and Queens University Belfast), Ella will be looking at the relative importance of mechanisms which influence natural tree regeneration. This will include untangling the role of grazing, site characteristics, plant communities, seed sources, soil communities and how these factors interact to facilitate tree establishment in grazed highlands.
The aim of this project is to establish advice for site managers to support both ecological restoration and sustainable grazing regimes, while understanding the urgent importance of increasing woodland cover as well as supporting and upholding cultural practices within the area. Glen Finglas is a long-term ecological experiment which has been running for 20+ years and has provided insight into the impacts of grazing on grassland communities, trophic cascades and more. She is grateful to be a part of this site’s legacy and look forward to learning more.
