Professor Andy Smith

Athro

Contact info

Location: Room 205, Environment Centre Wales, School of Environmental & Natural Sciences, Bangor University

Email: a.r.smith@bangor.ac.uk

Phone:+44 (0)1248 382297

Web: LinkedIn, ResearchGate, GoogleScholar, ResearcherID, PlumX

I research and teach forest ecology, biogeochemistry and plant-soil interactions with emphasis on species diversity and ecosystem function in undisturbed and managed ecosystems. I'm particlarly interested in belowground processes and the study of root biology, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and biogeochemical cycling; subjects that I have researched in a variety of climate change manipulation experiments that include elevated CO2 and climatic extremes (via altered precipitation and temperature regimes) in forest and upland ecosystems. I previously held the positions of Climate Change Impact Scientist at NERCs Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (2011-2013), and postdoctoral researcher at Bangor University (2010-2011). In my early career at the Medical Research Council, Cambridge and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge I focused on the development of novel molecular and bioinformatics techniques for the nematode (Caenorhabiditis elegans) and human genome sequencing projects.

I co-direct, with Prof Lui Shuguang, research activities at the Bangor University-Central South University of Forestry and Technology Joint Research Centre in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. I'm the PI of the forest diversity experiment (BangorDiverse) based at the Henfaes Research Centre, Abergwyngregyn that investigates the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function. BangorDiverse is part of the largest network (TreeDivNet) of biodviersity experiments worldwide, and was established in 2004 with 92 plots of alder (Alnus glutinosa L.), birch (Betula pendula Roth.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), and oak (Quercus robur L.) planted in monoculture, and two and three species mixtures using a fully replicated (n=4) design. I also manage and conducted research on silvopastoral agroforestry at the Henfaes Research Centre that focuses on the role agroforestry has in sustainably delivering food security whilst maintaining ecological complexity and the provision of ecosystem services (public goods). I lead the nutrient manipulation work package of the large (£3.7M) NERC project (QUINTUS) an investigation of N & P stoichiometry in temperate forests exposed to ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2 at the BIFoR FACE facility. I am a Co-I on the UKRI Treescapes project Understanding Memory of UK Treescapes for Better Resilience and Adaptation (MEMBRA) that is investigating abiotic and biotic stress induced epigenetic changes in trees and whether these changes are passed on to future generations. And I am PI of the Tree Production Innovation Fund project Development of Regenerative Tree Nursery Practice (2023-2025) that is investigating the use of municipal green waste as sustainable source of organic matter for compost use in horticulture. I was the PI of the Sêr Cymru NRN-LCEE research cluster Multi-Land that researched the evidence-base around Enhancement of Agricultural Productivity and Ecosystem Service Resilience in Multifunctional Landscapes. 

Research Areas:

  1. Cyhoeddwyd

    How effective are biochemical methods in controlling Phytophthora species infection of temperate trees? A systematic review.

    Walton, A. & Smith, A., Gorff 2022, Yn: Arboricultural Journal. 44, 3, t. 140-162

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  2. Cyhoeddwyd

    How the worm was won - the C-elegans genome sequencing project

    C. elegans sequencing consortium & Smith, A., Chwef 1999, Yn: Trends in Genetics. 15, 2, t. 51-58

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygl adolyguadolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  3. Cyhoeddwyd

    Increased frequency of drought reduces species richness of enchytraeid communities in both wet and dry heathland soils

    Holmstrup, M., Sorensen, J. G., Maraldo, K., Schmidt, I. K., Mason, S., Tietema, A., Smith, A. R., Emmett, B., Schmelz, R. M., Bataillon, T., Beier, C. & Ehlers, B. K., 1 Hyd 2012, Yn: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 53, t. 43-49

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  4. Cyhoeddwyd

    Increased sensitivity to climate change in disturbed ecosystems

    Kroel-Dulay, G., Ransijn, J., Schmidt, I. K., Beier, C., De Angelis, P., de Dato, G., Dukes, J. S., Emmett, B., Estiarte, M., Garadnai, J., Kongstad, J., Kovacs-Lang, E., Larsen, K. L., Liberati, D., Ogaya, R., Riis-Nielsen, T., Smith, A., Sowerby, A., Tietma, A. & Penuelas, J., 24 Maw 2015, Yn: Nature Communications. 6, 6682

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  5. Cyhoeddwyd

    Influence of landscape features on urban land surface temperature: scale and neighborhood effects

    Shi, Y., Liu, S., Yan, W., Zhao, S., Ning, Y., Peng, X., Chen, W., Chen, L., Hu, X., Fu, B., Kennedy, R., Lv, Y., Liao, J., Peng, C., Rosa, I., Roy, D., Shen, S., Smith, A., Wang, C., Wang, Z., Xiao, L., Yang, L., Yuan, W., Yi, M., Zhang, H., Zhao, M., Zhu, Y. & Xiao, J., 1 Meh 2021, Yn: Science of the Total Environment. 771, 145381.

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  6. Cyhoeddwyd

    Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome

    International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium & Smith, A., 15 Chwef 2001, Yn: Nature. 409, 6822, t. 860-921

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygl adolyguadolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  7. Cyhoeddwyd

    Inland Water Bodies in China: New Features Discovered in the Long-term Satellite Data

    Feng, S., Liu, S., Huang, Z., Jing, L., Zhao, M., Peng, X., Yan, W., Wu, Y., Lv, Y., Smith, A., McDonald, M., Patil, S., Sarkissian, A., Shi, Z., Xia, J. & Ogbodo, U. S., 17 Rhag 2019, Yn: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. 116, 51, t. 25491-25496

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  8. Cyhoeddwyd

    Inter-annual variability of soil respiration in wet shrublands: do plants modulate its sensitivity to climate?

    Dominguez, M., Smith, A., Reinsch, S. & Emmett, B., Meh 2017, Yn: Ecosystems. 20, 4, t. 796-812

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  9. Cyhoeddwyd

    Investigating the long-term legacy of drought and warming on the soil microbial community across five European shrubland ecosystems

    Rousk, J., Smith, A. R. & Jones, D. L., Rhag 2013, Yn: Global Change Biology. 19, 12, t. 3872-3884

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid

  10. Cyhoeddwyd

    Isotopic methods for non-destructive assessment of carbon dynamics in shrublands under long-term climate change manipulation

    Andresen, L., Dominguez, M., Reinsch, S., Smith, A., Schmidt, I. K., Ambus, P., Beier, C., Boeckx, P., Bol, R. & de Dato, G., Ebr 2018, Yn: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9, 4, t. 866-880

    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolynErthygladolygiad gan gymheiriaid