Professor Andy Smith
Professor of Forest Ecology
Affiliations
Links
- https://uk.linkedin.com/in/andy-smith-33a8081b
LinkedIn profile
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:
- Published
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 Oct 2012, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 53, p. 43-49Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Response of soil microbial community to afforestation with pure and mixed specie
Gunina, A., Smith, A., Godbold, D., Jones, D. & Kuzyakov, Y., 1 Mar 2017, In: Plant and Soil. 412, 1-2, p. 357-368Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Microbial uptake and utlization of low molecular weight organic substrates in soil depend on carbon oxidation state
Gunina, A., Smith, A., Jones, D. & Kuzyakov, Y., Mar 2017, In: Biogeochemistry. 133, 1, p. 89-100Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Horizontal viewsheds of large herbivores as a function of woodland structure
Gresham, A., Healey, J., Eichhorn, M., Barton, O., Smith, A. & Shannon, G., 9 Nov 2023, In: Ecology and Evolution. 13, 11Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Affects Ectomycorrhizal Species Abundance and Increases Sporocarp Production under Field Conditions
Godbold, D. L., Vasutova, M., Wilkinson, A., Edwards-Jonasova, M., Bambrick, M., Smith, A., Pavelka, M. & Cudlin, P., 21 Apr 2015, In: Forests. 6, 4, p. 1256-1273Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Elevated CO2 enrichment induces a differential biomass response in a mixed species temperate forest plantation
Godbold, D. L., Smith, A. R., Lukac, M., Hood, R., Healey, J. R. & Miglietta, F. G., 1 Apr 2013, In: New Phytologist. 198, 1, p. 156-168Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Elevated atmospheric CO2 and humidity delay leaf fall in Betula pendula, but not in Alnus glutinosa or Populus tremula x tremuloides
Godbold, D., Tullus, A., Kupper, P., Sober, J., Ostonen, I., Godbold, J. A., Lukac, M., Ahmed, I. U. & Smith, A. R., 21 May 2014, In: Annals of Forest Science. 71, 8, p. 831-842Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Respiration and carbon use efficiency characteristics of soluble protein-derived carbon by soil microorganisms: A case study at afforested sites
Gao, L., Smith, A., Jones, D. L., Lui, B., Guo, Y., Cui, X. & Hill, P., 1 Jan 2024, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 109255.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
How do tree species with different successional stages affect soil organic nitrogen transformations?
Gao, L., Smith, A., Jones, D. L., Guo, Y., Lui, B., Guo, Z., Chunnan, F., Zheng, J., Cui, X. & Hill, P., 1 Feb 2023, In: Geoderma. 430, 116319Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Global analysis of the relationship between reconstructed solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and gross primary production (GPP)
Gao, H., Liu, S., Lu, W., Smith, A., Valbuena, R., Yan, W., Wang, Z., Xiao, L., Peng, X., Li, Q., Feng, Y., McDonald, M., Pagella, T., Liao, J., Wu, Z. & Zhang, G., 18 Jul 2021, In: Remote Sensing. 13, 14Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review