Dr Christopher Ellis

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, U.K.
tel: +44 (0)131 248-2993
e-mail: c.ellis(at)rbge.org.uk

Research Interests
Publications
Academic Career

CV

Research Interests:

> My research seeks to integrate ecological processes across spatial-temporal scales. This bridges between the control of species biogeography by larger-scale drivers - landscape-scale habitat structure, pollution and climate (including climate change) - and the species/community response to internal habitat dynamics.

> Integrating across these different scales, results are used in the development of conservation strategy, to protect against and redress impacts ranging from local habitat loss to global climate change.

> My research is quantitative, and focusses on 'cryptogams' (lichens and bryophytes), especially cryptogamic epiphytes. Cryptogams are diverse, and span an array of life-history strategies; they are often diminutive and strongly nested within a larger-scale habitat matrix - in this sense they are highly representative of the majority of Earth's biodiversity.

Current themes

Biogeography and global change - summary
Epiphyte ecology - summary
Historical biogeography - summary

Palaeoecological research

Holocene climate change and development of High Arctic wetland (1999-2001) - summary
Development and erosion of British blanket mire (1995-1999) - summary

Publications:

Crittenden, P., ELLIS, C.J., Vogt, K. & Boddy, L. (2012) Editorial: fungi and global change. Special Issue, Fungal Ecology, 5: 1-2.

ELLIS, C.J. (2012) Lichen epiphyte diversity: a species, community and trait-based review. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, in press.

ELLIS, C.J. (2011) Predicting the biodiversity response to climate change: challenges and advances. Systematics and Biodiversity, 9: 307-317.

ELLIS, C.J. & Yahr, R. (2011) An interdisciplinary review of climate change trends and uncertainties: lichen biodiversity, arctic-alpine ecosystems and habitat loss. In: Hodkinson, T.R., Jones, M.B., Waldren, S. & Parnell, J.A.N. (eds) Climate Change, Ecology and Systematics: 457-489. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

ELLIS, C.J., Yahr, R. & Coppins, B.J. (2011) Archaeobotanical evidence for a massive loss of epiphyte species richness during industrialisation in southern England. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 278: 3482-3489.

Kelly, L.J., Hollingsworth, P.M., Coppins, B.J., ELLIS, C.J., Harrold, P., Tosh, J. & Yahr, R. (2011) DNA barcoding of lichenized fungi demonstrates high identification success in a floristic context. New Phytologist, 191: 288-300.

Lisewski, V. & ELLIS, C.J. (2011) Lichen epiphyte abundance controlled by the nested effect of woodland composition along macroclimatic gradients. Fungal Ecology, 4: 241-249.

Yahr, R., Coppins, B.J. & ELLIS, C.J. (2011) Preserved epiphytes as an archaeological resource in post-medieval vernacular buildings. Journal of Archaeological Science, 38: 1191-1198.

Cody, S, Richardson, J.E., Valenti, R., ELLIS, C.J. & Pennington, T.R. (2010) The great American biotic interchange revisited. Ecography, 33: 1-7.

Crabtree, D. & ELLIS, C.J. (2010) Species interaction and response to wind-speed alter the impact of projected temperature change in a montane ecosystem. Journal of Vegetation Science, 21: 744-760.

ELLIS, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2010) Integrating multiple landscape-scale drivers in the lichen epiphyte response: climatic setting, pollution regime and woodland spatial-temporal structure. Diversity and Distributions, 16: 43-52. See Corrigendum: Diversity & Distributions, 16: 312.

ELLIS, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2010) Partitioning the role of climate, pollution and old-growth woodland in the composition and richness of lichen epiphytes in Scotland. The Lichenologist, 45: 601-614.

ELLIS, C.J. & Ellis, S.C. (2010) Quantifying the role of deterministic assembly and stochastic drift in a natural community of arctic mosses. Oikos, 119: 465-474.

Lewis, J.E.J. & ELLIS, C.J. (2010) Taxon- compared to trait-based analysis of epiphytes, and the role of tree species and tree age in community composition. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 3: 203-210.

Lisewski, V. & ELLIS, C.J. (2010) Epiphyte sensitivity to a cross-scale interaction between habitat quality and macroclimate – an opportunity for range-edge conservation. Biodiversity & Conservation, 19: 3935-3949.

ELLIS, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2009) Quantifying the role of multiple landscape-scale drivers controlling epiphyte composition and richness in a conservation priority habitat (juniper scrub). Biological Conservation, 142: 1291-1301.

ELLIS, C.J., Yahr, R. & Coppins, B.J. (2009) Local extent of old-growth woodland modifies epiphyte response to climate change. Journal of Biogeography, 36: 302-313.

Binder, M.B. & ELLIS, C.J. (2008) Conservation of the rare British lichen Vulpicida pinastri: climate change, habitat loss and strategies for mitigation. The Lichenologist, 40: 63-79.

ELLIS, C.J. (2008) Interactions between hydrology, burning and contrasting plant groups during the millennial-scale development of sub-montane wet heath. Journal of Vegetation Science, 19: 693-704.

ELLIS, C.J., Rochefort, L., Gauthier, G. & Pienitz, R. (2008) Palaeoecological evidence for transitions between contrasting land-forms in a polygon-patterned High Arctic wetland. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research, 40: 624-637.

ELLIS, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2007) 19th Century woodland structure controls stand-scale epiphyte diversity in present-day Scotland. Diversity & Distributions, 13: 84-91.

ELLIS, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2007) Changing climate and historic-woodland structure interact to control species diversity of the 'Lobarion' epiphyte community in Scotland. Journal of Vegetation Science, 18: 725-734.

ELLIS, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2007) Reproductive strategy and the compositional dynamics of crustose lichen communities on aspen (Populus tremula L.) in Scotland. The Lichenologist, 39: 377-391.

ELLIS, C.J., Coppins, B.J., Dawson, T.P. & Seaward, M.R.D. (2007) Response of British lichens to climate change scenarios: trends and uncertainties in the projected impact for contrasting biogeographic groups. Biological Conservation, 140: 217-235.

ELLIS, C.J., Coppins, B.J. & Dawson, T.P. (2007) Predicted response of the lichen epiphyte Lecanora populicola to climate change scenarios in a clean-air region of northern Britain. Biological Conservation, 135: 396-404.

ELLIS, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2006) Contrasting functional traits maintain lichen epiphyte diversity in response to climate and autogenic succession. Journal of Biogeography, 33: 1643-1656.

ELLIS, C.J. & Rochefort, L. (2006) Long-term sensitivity of a High Arctic wetland to Holocene climate change. Journal of Ecology, 94: 441-454.

ELLIS, C.J., Crittenden, P.D. & Scrimgeour, C. & Ashcroft, C.J. (2005) Translocation of ¹⁵N indicates nitrogen recycling in the mat-forming lichen Cladonia portentosa. New Phytologist, 168: 423-434.

ELLIS, C.J. & Rochefort, L. (2004) Century-scale development of High Arctic polygon-patterned tundra wetland, Bylot Island (73 oN). Ecology, 85: 963-978.

ELLIS, C.J., Crittenden, P.D. & Scrimgeour, C. (2004) Soil as a potential source of nitrogen for mat-forming lichens. Canadian Journal of Botany, 82: 145-149.

ELLIS, C.J., Crittenden, P.D. & Scrimgeour, C. & Ashcroft, C.J. (2003) The natural abundance of ¹⁵N in mat-forming lichens. Oecologia, 136: 115-123.

ELLIS, C.J. & Tallis, J.H. (2003) The ecology of Racomitrium lanuginosum in British blanket mire - evidence from the palaeoecological record. Journal of Bryology, 25: 7-15.

ELLIS, C.J. & Tallis, J.H. (2001) Climatic control of peat erosion in a North Wales blanket mire. New Phytologist, 152: 313-324.

ELLIS, C.J. & Tallis, J.H. (2000) Climatic control of blanket mire development at Kentra Moss, north-west Scotland. Journal of Ecology, 88: 869-889.

> Research Notes

Harrold, P., Walkinshaw, S., Coppins, B.J. & ELLIS, C.J. (2010) Species discrimination and the distribution of Placopsis gelida and P. lambii in Great Britain. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 107: 44-50.

Harrold, P., Grundy, K., Coppins, B.J. & ELLIS, C.J. (2009) Distribution of chemotypes of Cetrelia olivetorum in England, Scotland and Wales. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 105: 3-9.

Lisewski, V. & ELLIS, C.J. (2009) Evidence that browsing animals can have a significant effect on epiphytic populations of Sphaerophorus globosus in Scotland. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 104: 6-9.

Yahr, R. & ELLIS, C.J. (2009) Historic lichen communities in Wiltshire. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 105: 10-17.

ELLIS, C.J. & Binder, M.B. (2007) Inferred shift in the British distribution of Vulpicida pinastri using herbarium and mapping data. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 101: 4-10.

ELLIS, C.J. (2004) The lichen ecology of aspen woods - a preliminary analysis. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 94: 23-27.

> Public Understanding of Science

ELLIS, C.J. (2011) Conserving woodland biodiversity in a changing world - lichen epiphytes. In: Iason, G.R. (ed) Woodland biodiversity. A summary of research outputs from the Scottish Government's 'Environment-Land Use and Rural Stewardship' research programme: 6-7. Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen.

Yahr, R. & ELLIS, C.J. (2009) Lichens in the attic. The Building Conservation Directory, 2009: 13-14.

ELLIS, C.J. (2009) Composition and diversity of lichen epiphytes on aspen. In: Parrott, J. & MacKenzie, N. (eds) Aspen in Scotland - biodiversity and management: 7-11. Highland Aspen Group.

ELLIS, C.J. (2008) A role for lichens in botanic gardens? Sibbbaldia, 6: 155-162.

ELLIS, C.J. (2008) The only constant is change: climate as an emerging feature in a lichenologist's worries. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 102: 60-66.

ELLIS, C.J. (2008) Using species records in conservation research. Recorder News (BRISC), 70: 10-11.

ELLIS, C.J. & Gibby, M. (2007) Research on biodiversity and climate change at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. BGJournal, Journal of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, 4 (2): 22-25.

ELLIS, C.J. (2006) Two-in-one: the remarkable lives of lichens. Botanics, 24: 8-9.

Cosgrove, P., Amphlett, A., Emmett, E., Elliott, A., ELLIS, C., Prescott, T & Watson Featherstone, A. (2006) Aspen: Britain’s missing Boreal forest link. British Wildlife, 17: 107-115.

ELLIS, C.J. (2005) The changing tundra - palaeoecology in the High Arctic. Meridian, Fall/Winter 2005: 13-20.

> Policy and Conservation Reports:

ELLIS, C.J. (2011) Lichens. In: Norris, K. (ed.) Biodiversity in the Context of Ecosystem Services - UK National Ecosystem Assessment (Chapter 4): 82-83. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge.

ELLIS, C.J. & Hope, J.C.E. (2011) Lichen Epiphyte Dynamics in Scottish Atlantic Oakwoods: the effect of tree age and historical continuity. SNH Commissioned Report No. 426.

Yahr, R. & ELLIS, C.J. (2010) Taxonomy as a Science for Scotland's Future. Research Briefing, Knowledge Scotland - web-link

Crabtree, D. & ELLIS, C.J. (2009) Monitoring ground-layer lichen communities in the Cairngorms: a base-line study to assess climate change impacts. Unpublished Report - Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Matthews, R., Newton, A., ELLIS, C., Moran, D., Glasbey, C. & Skuce, P. (2008) Integrating climate change research across the main research providers in Scotland. Discussion Paper - RERAD Work Programmes Cross-cutting Themes.

Academic Career:

2006- : Ecologist - Cryptogamic Botany, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, U.K.
2003-2006: Conservation Officer, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, U.K.
2001-2003: Research Fellow, University of Nottingham, U.K.
1999-2001: Post-doctoral Scholarship, Université Laval, Québec.

Graduate & post-graduate supervision:

PhD
Chantel Davies (2011) - Lichen Diversity on Scottish Aspen: A Component of the Extended Phenotype.

MSc
Laura Williams (2011) - Habitat and Dispersal Constraints on the Distribution of Scotland's Oceanic Lichen Epiphytes.
Verena Blasy (2010) - Life on the Deadwood: Patterns of Lichen and Bryophyte Community Structure on Stumps in a Caledonian Pine Forest.
David Braidwood (2010) - Testing the Hypothesis of Climatic Equilibrium: Lichens in Britain and North America.
Sally Eaton (2009) - Population Dynamics of Lobaria pulmonaria in the Atlantic hazelwoods of western Scotland.
Dafydd Crabtree (2008) - Effects of Climate Change on Montane Indicator Lichen Species.
Vivyan Lisewski (2008) - Response of Lichen Species to Environmental Factors Operating at Multiple Spatial Scales.
Jason Lewis (2007) - Functional Rules and Species Traits Related to Epiphyte Community Succession in Mixed Aged Woodlands.
Mark Binder (2006) Ecological Analysis of the 'Near Threatened' Lichen Epiphyte Vulpicida pinastri (Scop.) Gray in the British Isles.

BSc
Emma Goodyer (2009) - Response of Lichens with Contrasting Growth-Form to a Standard Wetting-Drying Cycle.

Current teaching:

MSc
Plant Taxonomy and Biodiversity - Lichenology (University of Edinburgh)

BSc
2nd Year Principles of Ecology - The Ecological Niche (University of Edinburgh)

Ad hoc workshops/excursions in lichenology (e.g. for the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Natural History Society et al.)

Grants & awards:

Over £25,000

2011 - Scottish Government, £536,422: consortium grant (Climate Change Centre of Expertise), 'Climate Change Adaptation – baselines and indicators' (# RBG/856/11)
2011 - Scottish Government, £64,548: consortium grant (Climate Change Centre of Expertise), 'Risk and Uncertainty – biodiversity' (# RBG/857/11)
2010 - Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, £102,352: research grant (Biodiversity Strand), 'Classification and conservation assessment of lichen communities' (# 09-3187)
2009 - Scottish Natural Heritage, £48,000: PhD studentship, 'Quantifying the climate change response of micro-organism (Desmid) diversity in Scotland’s blanket mires' (# SNH-SEPA-09)
2008 - Scottish Natural Heritage, £45,000: research grant, 'Measuring the diversity of lichen epiphytes in an Atlantic oakwood chronosequence' (# ref-25469)
2007 - The Leverhulme Trust, £107,309: research grant, 'Britain's Lost Biodiversity - a unique base-line for environmental recovery' (# F/00 771/B)

Small grants (< £25,000)

2011 - The British Lichen Society, £500: travel grant, International Association of Lichenology VII, Bangkok (# BLS-2011)
2008 - The Sibbald Trust, £950: travel grant for invited international speaker, British Lichen Society Swinscow Lecture (# SIB-2008)
2008 - Cairngorms National Park Authority, £4500: research grant, 'Long-term monitoring of lichen indicators in montane heathland' (# LAG-029)
2005 - The Royal Society, £602: conference grant, 'Conservation ecology of cryptogams', Sweden (# 2005.R3)
2005 - Botanic Garden National Membership Board, £2500: small project grant, 'The ecology and conservation of epiphytes in juniper scrub' (# CF-095)
2002 - The Royal Society, £610: travel grant, International Mycological Congress VII, Oslo (# 27457/022/H4)
2000 - Polar Continental Shelf Project, $CAN 11,200: fieldwork support, 'Holocene climate change and the development of peat-forming High Arctic wetland' (# 647-00)
1998 - NERC, £4800: support for 12 radiocarbon-dates, 'Development and erosion of British blanket mire' (# 739/0498)
1997 - NERC, £2800: support for 8 radiocarbon-dates, 'Development and erosion of British blanket mire' (# 700/0697)

Qualifications:

1999: PhD. Environmental Biology, University of Manchester, U.K.
1995: MSc. Natural Resource Management, University of Leicester, U.K.
1994: BSc. Ecology, University of Leeds, U.K.

Affiliations:

2005- : International Association of Lichenology (Regional Advisor (UK), 2009- )
2005- : Edinburgh Natural History Society (Council Member, 2007-2010)
2003- : British Lichen Society (Secretary, 2010-; Taxonomy Committee, 2009-; Council Member, 2006-2009)
1995- : British Ecological Society