The Oxford Ecosystems Lab explores the functioning of ecosystems worldwide, with a particular emphasis on tropical ecosystems - the approaches we use span field ecology, earth observations, modelling and social sciences

WHO ARE WE?

We have a diverse and inspiring group of researchers in and affiliated to our research programme. Our students, postdoctoral researchers, senior researchers, project assistants and visitors come from across the world, bringing with them a passion for the ecosystems in which they work.

Meet the Team

WHAT DO WE DO?

The Oxford Ecosystems Programme is led by Professor Yadvinder Malhi and Associate Professor Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez, and has a portfolio of projects which investigate ecosystem function and structure, traits, water and nutrient cycling; vegetation and soil properties; and plant ecophysiology. There are currently two research groups under the Ecosystems Programme, the Ecosystems Lab led by Prof. Malhi and the Functional Biodiversity & Earth Observation Lab led by Associate Prof. Jesús.

Our research aims to understand how contemporary ecosystems function, and how they are affected by global atmospheric change and anthropogenic activity. We carry out intensive field observations of carbon, multi decadal and large scale monitoring and analysis of ecosystem structure, composition and dynamics; interdisciplinary studies of socio-ecological systems at agricultural and forest frontiers; quantitative modelling of ecosystem ecophysiology and biogeochemical cycling; satellite remote sensing at local, regional and global scales, and macro-ecological analysis of plant function and traits.

Our Research