Research
Tropical forests are among Earth’s most vital ecosystems in terms of carbon storage, climate regulation, and biodiversity, but their response to climate change remains deeply uncertain. As temperatures rise, thousands of tropical tree species are expected to be forced to “migrate” to higher elevations to remain within suitable conditions. The success or failure of these migrations will have profound consequences, potentially leading to widespread extinctions and permanent changes in the composition and functioning of forests globally. The ability of trees to migrate upslope and survive will be determined by the existence and stability of an impermeable migration barrier at tropical mountains’ mid-elevations (the cloudbase ecotone). This barrier is poorly understood due to insufficient long-term monitoring of local climate and vegetation, and limited interaction among tropical mountain researchers.
In this project, I will establish a collaborative network to monitor elevation gradients across the global tropics. Within this network, we will increase our understanding of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests and in particular of the cloudbase ecotone.
Tropical montane forests
Tropical forest compositional changes linked to climate change
Bamboo ecology and physiology
Research grants
Long-term drivers of broadleaved woodland change (Lady Park Wood)
ECOLOGICAL CONTINUITY TRUST (UK)
February 2025 - June 2026