Prof Alison Hester

Prof Alison Hester is a senior scientist in the Ecological Sciences Group at the Macaulay.

Research Interests

Her main research interests relate to the impacts of mammalian herbivores on the spatial and temporal dynamics of woody vegetation, in particular heathland, scrub and woodland communities, both in the UK and abroad. Current/recent international research includes projects in Pakistan, South Africa and Scandinavia focusing on grazing/browsing impacts and sustainable resource management. She is also an Honorary Reader at Aberdeen University, contributing to the Ecology lecture courses for Honours and postgraduate students. She supervises Honours, MSc and PhD students from a range of Universities in the UK and abroad.

Alison's highlighted publications

• Current site characteristics: a framework for modelling native woodland potential., Hester, A.J.; Towers, W.; Donnelly, D., (2010) Glenfeschie Estate Habitats Restoration Seminar, Aviemore, 25th June 2010. Invited paper.

• The only constant is change: long term biodiversity trends in the uplands., Hester, A.; Britton, A.J.; Towers, W.; Hewison, R.L.; Beale, C.M., (2009) Towards integrated biodiversity policy: developing a shared understanding of the impacts of environmental and management change on biodiversity in upland ecosystems. Battleby, 24th November 2009.

Alison's most recent publications

• A test of plot relocation methods in a re-visitation study: how important is spatial heterogeneity?, Ross, L.C.; Woodin, S.J.; Hester, A.J.; Thompson, D.B.A; Birks, H.J.B., (In press) Plant Ecology and Diversity.

• Environmental myopia: a diagnosis and a remedy, Silvertown, J.; Tallowin, J.; Stevens, C.; Power, S.; Morgan, V.; Emmett, B.; Hester, A.; Grime, P.; Morecroft, M.; Buxton, R.; Poulton, R.; Jinks, R.; Bardgett, R., (In press) Trends in Ecology and Evolution.

• Experimental evidence for herbivore limitation of the treeline., Speed, J.D.M.; Austrheim, G.; Hester, A.J.; Mysterud; A., (In press) Ecology.

• RERAD Research Programme 3: Delivering Knowledge for Scotland's Biodiversity., Brooker, R.W.; Albon, S.; Hester, A.; Pakeman, R.P., (2010) Presentation to Scottish Biodiversity Committee, 9th March 2010.

• Ecology in the Scottish school curriculum., Lavery, A.; Easton, E.; Goulson, D.; Hester, A.; Higgins, P.; Marrs, R.; Rivington, M.; Thompson, D., (2010) A report to Scottish Qualification Authority.

• Is vegetation composition or soil chemistry the best predictor of the soil microbe community?, Mitchell, R.J.; Hester, A.J.; Campbell, C.D.; Chapman, S.J.; Cameron, C.M.; Hewison, R.L.; Potts, J.M., (2010) Plant and Soil. Published online

• Browsing effects on intra-ring C allocation in oak and birch saplings as revealed by long-term continous 13C labelling., Palacio, S.; Paterson, E.; Sim, A.; Hester, A.; Millard, P., (2010) RIE Meeting (Spanish Network on Stable Isotopes), Toledo, Spain, 10th - 11th June 2010.

• Browsing effects on intra-ring C allocation in oak and birch saplings., Palacio, S.; Paterson, E.; Sim, A.; Hester, A.J.; Millard, P., (2010) Stable Isotopes and Biogeochemical Cycles in Terrestrial Ecosystems -Coupling Plant and Soil Processes Across Spatial and Temporal Scales, Conference at the Centro Stefano Franscini, Monte Verita, Switzerland, 21st-26th March 2010.

• Review of muirburn impacts on soil carbon and biodiversity., Towers, W.; Hester, A.; Pakeman, R.; Artz, R.; Chapman, S.; Littlewood, L.; Legg, C., (2010) Invited presentation to the Scottish LFA Stakeholder Group.

• Carbon dynamics in heather moorland - impact of tree establishment., Dawson, L.; Hester, A.; Ross, J.; Hood, K.; Gwatkin, R.; Potts, J.; Bell, J.; Sommerkorn, M., (2009) In: Predicting the Future for Highly Organic Soils, British Society of Soil Science, Spring Conference, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University, 5th - 7th May 2009.