Ecosystems and Global Change Group
@ecochangegroup.bsky.social
Working on ecology, evolution, biogeochemistry, conservation research worldwide from University of Cambridge 🇬🇧, Trent University 🇨🇦, University of Oldenburg 🇩🇪. Focus on climate change 🔥, water/food 🌊🌾, pathogens 🦠, biodiversity 🌸
Using a natural experiment pairing burned and unburned forests, we found wildfire increased carbon concentrations in headwater streams by nearly 30%.
This carbon was as favourable for microbial degradation as that in unburned streams!🦠 2/n
This carbon was as favourable for microbial degradation as that in unburned streams!🦠 2/n
November 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Using a natural experiment pairing burned and unburned forests, we found wildfire increased carbon concentrations in headwater streams by nearly 30%.
This carbon was as favourable for microbial degradation as that in unburned streams!🦠 2/n
This carbon was as favourable for microbial degradation as that in unburned streams!🦠 2/n
🔥Wildfires are growing in frequency and intensity worldwide. How do they affect the flow of carbon from forests into downstream waters? 🌳🌊 Our new paper @jgrbiogeo.bsky.social with @waterik.bsky.social @ecfreewoman.bsky.social now online to read: dx.doi.org/10.1029/2025... 🧵1/n
November 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
🔥Wildfires are growing in frequency and intensity worldwide. How do they affect the flow of carbon from forests into downstream waters? 🌳🌊 Our new paper @jgrbiogeo.bsky.social with @waterik.bsky.social @ecfreewoman.bsky.social now online to read: dx.doi.org/10.1029/2025... 🧵1/n
Last week we were privileged to showcase our research twice alongside some of Canada’s finest scientists. 🥼 🇨🇦 Grateful to NSERC and the Killam Trusts for their support!
November 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Last week we were privileged to showcase our research twice alongside some of Canada’s finest scientists. 🥼 🇨🇦 Grateful to NSERC and the Killam Trusts for their support!
Using novel analytical chemistry approaches, we identify new markers of terrestrial carbon. We estimate that the terrestrial contribution to the oceanic carbon pool may be several times larger than recognised. 2/3
November 9, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Using novel analytical chemistry approaches, we identify new markers of terrestrial carbon. We estimate that the terrestrial contribution to the oceanic carbon pool may be several times larger than recognised. 2/3
👏 Thrilled to see this paper online @pnas.org. One of the biggest mysteries in marine science is how much terrestrial organic matter is in the oceanic carbon pool. 🤔 We address this question here! Read the paper 👉 www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... 🧵1/3
November 9, 2025 at 12:40 AM
👏 Thrilled to see this paper online @pnas.org. One of the biggest mysteries in marine science is how much terrestrial organic matter is in the oceanic carbon pool. 🤔 We address this question here! Read the paper 👉 www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... 🧵1/3
Great story by about our research with @waterik.bsky.social. Read more 👉 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
September 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Great story by about our research with @waterik.bsky.social. Read more 👉 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
None of this work would have been possible without the leadership of @ecfreewoman.bsky.social, colleagues @waterik.bsky.social @icbm-uol.bsky.social, many field assistants, and funders @gatescambridge.bsky.social @erc.europa.eu 7/7 🙏
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
None of this work would have been possible without the leadership of @ecfreewoman.bsky.social, colleagues @waterik.bsky.social @icbm-uol.bsky.social, many field assistants, and funders @gatescambridge.bsky.social @erc.europa.eu 7/7 🙏
Wood is touted as climate neutral, but is it? 🌳
Our study revises downward carbon storage in wood and suggest we must improve practices to make logging sequester carbon. These effects are likely playing out over millions of hectares of hemiboreal forests globally 🌎 6/n
Our study revises downward carbon storage in wood and suggest we must improve practices to make logging sequester carbon. These effects are likely playing out over millions of hectares of hemiboreal forests globally 🌎 6/n
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Wood is touted as climate neutral, but is it? 🌳
Our study revises downward carbon storage in wood and suggest we must improve practices to make logging sequester carbon. These effects are likely playing out over millions of hectares of hemiboreal forests globally 🌎 6/n
Our study revises downward carbon storage in wood and suggest we must improve practices to make logging sequester carbon. These effects are likely playing out over millions of hectares of hemiboreal forests globally 🌎 6/n
What really matters is the reactivity of this carbon!
We found that carbon was more available for microbes to use by introducing new molecules from fresh plant material and disturbed soils. These changes lasted for >2 years. 5/n
We found that carbon was more available for microbes to use by introducing new molecules from fresh plant material and disturbed soils. These changes lasted for >2 years. 5/n
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
What really matters is the reactivity of this carbon!
We found that carbon was more available for microbes to use by introducing new molecules from fresh plant material and disturbed soils. These changes lasted for >2 years. 5/n
We found that carbon was more available for microbes to use by introducing new molecules from fresh plant material and disturbed soils. These changes lasted for >2 years. 5/n
We tracked four forests in Canada before and after logging for 3 years. We found that about 6% of all carbon in harvested trees would be lost to streams by logging. Although small, this number is large enough to make logging carbon neutral or even a carbon sink. 4/n
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
We tracked four forests in Canada before and after logging for 3 years. We found that about 6% of all carbon in harvested trees would be lost to streams by logging. Although small, this number is large enough to make logging carbon neutral or even a carbon sink. 4/n
Logging can result in as much soil carbon washing into waters as 1/5 of all forest growth! However, we tend to think that logging is a good natural climate solution to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. Once in water, carbon can even be more likely to return to the atmosphere. 3/n
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Logging can result in as much soil carbon washing into waters as 1/5 of all forest growth! However, we tend to think that logging is a good natural climate solution to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. Once in water, carbon can even be more likely to return to the atmosphere. 3/n
We know that soil carbon is not one homogenous thing. 🧪 It consists of thousands of different molecules, each with different function (see www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...). As it rains, this carbon is washed from soils into waterways. 2/n
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
We know that soil carbon is not one homogenous thing. 🧪 It consists of thousands of different molecules, each with different function (see www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...). As it rains, this carbon is washed from soils into waterways. 2/n
We are so excited our newest paper led by @ecfreewoman.bsky.social @camplantsci.bsky.social is now out @pnas.org 🤩
Read it here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🌲 We followed a forest as it was logged to understand what happens to soil carbon at a molecular-scale. Here's what we learned. 1/n
Read it here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🌲 We followed a forest as it was logged to understand what happens to soil carbon at a molecular-scale. Here's what we learned. 1/n
August 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
We are so excited our newest paper led by @ecfreewoman.bsky.social @camplantsci.bsky.social is now out @pnas.org 🤩
Read it here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🌲 We followed a forest as it was logged to understand what happens to soil carbon at a molecular-scale. Here's what we learned. 1/n
Read it here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
🌲 We followed a forest as it was logged to understand what happens to soil carbon at a molecular-scale. Here's what we learned. 1/n
A year of seasonal 🇨🇦 field sampling ending! We’re studying soils that feed lakes and sediments that accumulate on lake bottoms. These rich carbon stores keep greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, so understanding them better will improve our ability to predict and mitigate climate change. ☀️
August 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
A year of seasonal 🇨🇦 field sampling ending! We’re studying soils that feed lakes and sediments that accumulate on lake bottoms. These rich carbon stores keep greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, so understanding them better will improve our ability to predict and mitigate climate change. ☀️
Headwaters provide key habitat for fish like the beautiful brook trout. The work we are leading will help inform forest management plans to protect headwaters and their many benefits in a changing climate. 🌲 🐟
August 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Headwaters provide key habitat for fish like the beautiful brook trout. The work we are leading will help inform forest management plans to protect headwaters and their many benefits in a changing climate. 🌲 🐟
Celeste has spent the last few weeks in the forests of NW Ontario as part of her PhD research with help from Antonin visiting as an intern from @insa-lyon.fr. Working with @waterik.bsky.social and others, she has been studying headwaters - where streams begin! 🌊
August 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Celeste has spent the last few weeks in the forests of NW Ontario as part of her PhD research with help from Antonin visiting as an intern from @insa-lyon.fr. Working with @waterik.bsky.social and others, she has been studying headwaters - where streams begin! 🌊
Jackson from Trent Biology got to join Jeremy @cam.ac.uk on the trip of a lifetime! One of many unique experiences we offer our Trent undergrads. Our work will help understand how land restoration and climate change impact water 🌊 from mountains 🏔️ of the northern UK 🇬🇧.
August 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Jackson from Trent Biology got to join Jeremy @cam.ac.uk on the trip of a lifetime! One of many unique experiences we offer our Trent undergrads. Our work will help understand how land restoration and climate change impact water 🌊 from mountains 🏔️ of the northern UK 🇬🇧.
Thank you to the Algonquins of Barriere Lake (Mitchikanibikok Inik) for hosting us to learn about some of the challenges they face in protecting water quality and fish habitat. We will be working together over the next 3 years to deliver community-led solutions.
July 31, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Thank you to the Algonquins of Barriere Lake (Mitchikanibikok Inik) for hosting us to learn about some of the challenges they face in protecting water quality and fish habitat. We will be working together over the next 3 years to deliver community-led solutions.
Back in the field to complete our Spring sampling campaign 🌸 This year we are studying the contributions of soils to the lakes they surround. How does carbon flow from land into water? What happens to soil carbon when it meets water? Important questions for climate change mitigation.
May 13, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Back in the field to complete our Spring sampling campaign 🌸 This year we are studying the contributions of soils to the lakes they surround. How does carbon flow from land into water? What happens to soil carbon when it meets water? Important questions for climate change mitigation.
Check out the difference logging makes in these forests. The photo on the right shows a large intact forest plot. How many species found in these intact forests are missing from the large disturbed plot in the left photo? More answers soon! 3/3
April 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Check out the difference logging makes in these forests. The photo on the right shows a large intact forest plot. How many species found in these intact forests are missing from the large disturbed plot in the left photo? More answers soon! 3/3
Our contribution comes from new plots we established in the summer of 2019 north of Temagami, Ontario. These boreal forests are home to amazing species like this pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule). 2/3
April 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Our contribution comes from new plots we established in the summer of 2019 north of Temagami, Ontario. These boreal forests are home to amazing species like this pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule). 2/3
Excited 😀 that our contribution to the amazing #DarkDivNet led by @macroecologyut.bsky.social is now published @nature.com. The main discovery is that many species that we should find in nature are effectively missing because of human impacts. Read the paper for free: rdcu.be/eg3eA 🧵 1/3
April 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Excited 😀 that our contribution to the amazing #DarkDivNet led by @macroecologyut.bsky.social is now published @nature.com. The main discovery is that many species that we should find in nature are effectively missing because of human impacts. Read the paper for free: rdcu.be/eg3eA 🧵 1/3
Thank you @eawag.bsky.social @ecfreewoman.bsky.social for the invite to talk about our work. What an inspiring turnout and environment! Plenty of potential for synergy between our mass spec facilities @trentuniversity.bsky.social.
March 21, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Thank you @eawag.bsky.social @ecfreewoman.bsky.social for the invite to talk about our work. What an inspiring turnout and environment! Plenty of potential for synergy between our mass spec facilities @trentuniversity.bsky.social.
Lots of learning, old and new friends, and excellent discussion about complex organic mixtures this week @icbm-uol.bsky.social @hanse-ias.bsky.social including an outstanding talk by @ecfreewoman.bsky.social. Future of the field looks bright! 🤩
March 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Lots of learning, old and new friends, and excellent discussion about complex organic mixtures this week @icbm-uol.bsky.social @hanse-ias.bsky.social including an outstanding talk by @ecfreewoman.bsky.social. Future of the field looks bright! 🤩
What happens when 300+ scientists analyse the same data? Not the same answer! Lessons about staying open to alternate explanations, don't rush to judge, and potential for more than one "truth" in nature? 🤔 Grateful to contribute to this amazing initiative. Read it for free: doi.org/10.1186/s129...
February 12, 2025 at 11:56 PM
What happens when 300+ scientists analyse the same data? Not the same answer! Lessons about staying open to alternate explanations, don't rush to judge, and potential for more than one "truth" in nature? 🤔 Grateful to contribute to this amazing initiative. Read it for free: doi.org/10.1186/s129...