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Dr Stephanie Evers

School of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Science

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-Reader in Aquatic Ecology and Biogeochemistry, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University,
-Honorary Associate Professor in Environmental Science, School of Geographical and Environmental Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus,

Overview:

My research focuses on wetlands ecology and biogeochemistry. Primarily I am interested in the impact of conversion of tropical peat swamp forests to agriculture and the impact to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, alteration to soil physicochemistry and ecological functioning of these unique tropical ecosystems with conversion as well as in relation to rehabilitation activities.

I am founder and Principal Investigator (PI) of an international multi-disciplinary research consortium called TROCARI (Tropical Catchment Research Initiative) whose focus is on research related to tropical peat ecosystem function, degradation impacts to ecology, GHG emissions and climate change, ecosystem services and socio-political implications. The consortium is bound by a MoU but more recently has been extended into a larger international network of academic, government, NGO and industry partners. Though this, I have 5 current PhD students and one completed.

Background to tropical peatlands:

Tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia are a globally important ecosystem for carbon storage, biodiversity provision and hydrological regulation. The region comprises approximately 24.8 MHa and stores 68.5Gt of carbon (C). However, tropical peat swamp forests (PSFs) are under increasing threat from agricultural conversion, deforestation, drainage and fires. Alteration of the soil environment via drainage and the resulting peat oxidation alters the microbial community composition, abundance, and activity levels. This increases rates of organic matter decomposition and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Consequently, drained peats revert from C stores to sources, with soil CO2 emissions and fluvial emissions (from drainage ditches) of carbon being many millions of tonnes per year. On top of that fire emissions driven by drained and dried peatlands, are equivalent to 2.3–8.2% of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning. With the increasing recognition of the fundamental unsustainability of drainage-based agricultural conversion on peatlands, research undertaken by the research group TROCARI, considers the extent to these losses, implications to ecosystem services and effective methods for rehabilitation/wiser use of peatlands into the future.

Degrees

2007, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, PhD

Academic appointments

Reader in Aquatic Ecology and Biogeochemistry, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2016 - present
Honorary Associate Professor in Environemtal Science, School of Geogrphical and Environmental Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 2016 - present

Postgraduate training

Associate Fellow: PGCHE, Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, ? - present

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