Stillingsbeskrivelse

I am fascinated by the study of long-term vegetation dynamics and the driving forces behind them. Through my research, I have explored past human influences and the impact of natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions, sea level fluctuations and climate change. Originally from the UK, I completed my Master's degree at Stockholm University in Sweden before completing my PhD at Southampton University back in the UK. My research has primarily involved the use of subfossil pollen grains to investigate the complexities of vegetation change on millennial time windows in Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and various South Pacific islands. My focus has now shifted towards exploring the potential of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) to improve our understanding of past ecosystems. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to use sedaDNA to identify palaeoecological changes at a finer taxonomic resolution than is possible with pollen analysis. In addition, sedaDNA offers a more comprehensive approach to ecosystem reconstruction by including species that may not leave fossilized remains. SedaDNA presents an exciting new method in paleoecology, and I look forward to contributing to its progress. In my forthcoming work, in collaboration with Inger Greve Alsos, Dorothee Ehrich and Nigel Yoccoz, I will focus on better understanding how sensitive sedaDNA methods are to detecting plants in the environment and identifying any potential methodological biases.