Sofie Sjögersten

Contact

• workRoom C27 Gateway Building
  Sutton Bonington Campus
  Sutton Bonington
  Leicestershire
  LE12 5RD
  UK
• work0115 951 6239
• fax0115 951 6261
• Sofie.Sjogersten@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

Dr Sofie Sjögersten

Professor in Environmental Science

Sofie's research interests' focuses on how environmental change impacts on biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem processes. Particular interests include:

· The impact of climate change and herbivory on carbon cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in the Arctic.

· The role of wetlands in the global carbon cycle.

Biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen.

· Sustainable management of natural and agricultural land.

· Connectivity between plants, microbes, soil and the atmosphere.

Expertise Summary

My research interest to date has been the impact of climate, vegetation and soil processes on the cycling of carbon and nutrients and quantifying trace gas fluxes to the atmosphere in terrestrial ecosystems. A key area of my research focuses on the impact of environmental change on biogeochemical cycling in natural and semi-natural ecosystems. I am particularly interested in quantifying the potential loss of stored organic matter and nutrients from ecosystems, as well as loss of plant productivity.

As an ecosystem scientist I have research experience in many facets of natural ecosystems. My doctoral research focused on tree-line dynamics in combination with warming experiments. I explored the role of the above ground vegetation and climate warming on decomposition, soil organic carbon chemistry, CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes. As a post doctoral researcher I have studied the impact of herbivores, climate warming and hydrology on net ecosystem CO₂ fluxes, soil carbon storage and chemistry in different habitats.

The question of soil carbon storage has become central to the understanding of the feedback mechanisms between ecosystems and the climate system. The scope for research into the sensitivity of the carbon pool to environmental change is vast since much is unknown, both regarding the organic carbon chemistry as well as the function and structure of the below ground microbial community. We are currently carrying out research into the stability of carbon stored in arctic and tropical peatlands, the tundra and agricultural ecosystems.

I have experience in conventional ecological techniques, solid state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and stable isotopes. During my research I have collaborated closely with ecologists, microbiologists, chemists and soil scientists on large international projects. The funding for my research has included the European Union, Uppsala University, Swedish Royal Academy of Science, BBSRC, UK Sapce Agency and the NERC.

Teaching Summary

Teaching contribution

Dissertation in Environmental Science

Climate Change Science

Ecosystem Processes

Arctic Ecology Field Course

BSc and MSc project supervision

Climate Atmosphere and Oceans

Research Summary

Current projects involve:

Carbon biogeochemistry and stability as a control of green house gas fluxes and peat formation in tropical wetlands.

Impacts, controls and monitoring of climate change impacts on Arctic permafrost areas.

Reindeer grazing in relation to sustainable arctic landscape under a changing climate.

Mapping and monitoring of carbon losses following land use change in tropical peatlands.

Monitoring of Sargassum landings in Mexico.

Sustainable and climate resilient food production.

Recent Publications

• TONKS AJ, APLIN P, BERIRO D, COOPER H, EVERS S, VANE CH and SJOGERSTEN S, 2017. Impacts of conversion of tropical peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation on peat organic chemistry, physical properties and carbon stocks Geoderma. 289, 36-45
• SJOGERSTEN, S., CAUL, S., DANIELL, T. J., JURD, A. P. S., O'SULLIVAN, O. S., STAPLETON, C. S. and TITMAN, J. J., 2016. Organic matter chemistry controls greenhouse gas emissions from permafrost peatlands SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY. 98, 42-53
• HOYOS-SANTILLAN, JORGE, CRAIGON, JIM, LOMAX, BARRY H., LOPEZ, OMAR R., TURNER, BENJAMIN L. and SJOGERSTEN, SOFIE, 2016. Root oxygen loss from Raphia taedigera palms mediates greenhouse gas emissions in lowland neotropical peatlands PLANT AND SOIL. 404(1-2), 47-60
• HOYOS-SANTILLAN, J., LOMAX, B. H., LARGE, D., TURNER, B. L., BOOM, A., LOPEZ, O. R. and SJÖGERSTEN, S., 2016. Quality not quantity: Organic matter composition controls of CO2 and CH4 fluxes in neotropical peat profiles Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 103, 86-96

• View all publications

Future Research

To strengthen the spatial and predictive components in my research in order to extrapolate findings from experimental field manipulation to the landscape level.

• TONKS AJ, APLIN P, BERIRO D, COOPER H, EVERS S, VANE CH and SJOGERSTEN S, 2017. Impacts of conversion of tropical peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation on peat organic chemistry, physical properties and carbon stocks Geoderma. 289, 36-45
• SJOGERSTEN, S., CAUL, S., DANIELL, T. J., JURD, A. P. S., O'SULLIVAN, O. S., STAPLETON, C. S. and TITMAN, J. J., 2016. Organic matter chemistry controls greenhouse gas emissions from permafrost peatlands SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY. 98, 42-53
• HOYOS-SANTILLAN, JORGE, CRAIGON, JIM, LOMAX, BARRY H., LOPEZ, OMAR R., TURNER, BENJAMIN L. and SJOGERSTEN, SOFIE, 2016. Root oxygen loss from Raphia taedigera palms mediates greenhouse gas emissions in lowland neotropical peatlands PLANT AND SOIL. 404(1-2), 47-60
• HOYOS-SANTILLAN, J., LOMAX, B. H., LARGE, D., TURNER, B. L., BOOM, A., LOPEZ, O. R. and SJÖGERSTEN, S., 2016. Quality not quantity: Organic matter composition controls of CO2 and CH4 fluxes in neotropical peat profiles Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 103, 86-96
• VAISANEN, MARIA, SJOGERSTERN, SOFIE, LARGE, DAVID, DRAGE, TREVOR and STARK, SARI, 2015. Long-term reindeer grazing limits warming-induced increases in CO2 released by tundra heath soil: potential role of soil C quality ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS. 10(9),
• SOFIE SJÖGERSTEN, COLIN R BLACK, STEPHANIE EVERS, JORGE HOYOS-SANTILLAN, EMMA L WRIGHT and BENJAMIN L TURNER, 2014. Tropical wetlands: A missing link in the global carbon cycle? Global Biogeochemical Cycles. (In Press.)
• VAISANEN M, YLANNE H, KAARLEJARVI E, SJOGERSTEN S, OLOFSSON J, CROUT NMJ and STARK S, 2014. Consequences of warming on tundra carbon balance determined by reindeer grazing history NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE. 4, 384-388
• SJOEGERSTEN, SOFIE, BLACK, COLIN R., EVERS, STEPHANIE, HOYOS-SANTILLAN, JORGE, WRIGHT, EMMA L. and TURNER, BENJAMIN L., 2014. Tropical wetlands: A missing link in the global carbon cycle? GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES. 28(12), 1371-1386
• SJOGERSTEN, S., ATKIN, C., CLARKE, M.L., MOONEY, S.J., WU, B. and WEST, H.M., 2013. Responses to climate change and farming policies by rural communities in northern China: a report on field observation and farmers' perception in dryland north Shaanxi and Ningxia Land Use Policy. 32, 125-133
• MANGALASSERY, S, SJORGERSTEN, S, SPARKES, DL, STURROCK, CJ and MOONEY, SJ, 2013. The effect of soil aggregate size on pore structure and its consequence on emission of greenhouse gases Soil and Tillage Research. 132, 39-46
• WRIGHT, E. L., BLACK, C. R., CHEESMAN, A. W., TURNER, B. L. and SJOEGERSTEN, S., 2013. Impact of Simulated Changes in Water Table Depth on Ex Situ Decomposition of Leaf Litter from a Neotropical Peatland WETLANDS. 33(2), 217-226
• AL-TRABOULSI, M., SJÖGERSTEN, S., COLLS, J.J. and STEVEN, M., 2012. Potential impact of CO₂ leakage from carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems on field bean (Vicia faba) Physiologia Plantarum. 146(3), 261-271
• AL-TRABOULSI, M., SJÖGERSTEN, S., COLLS, J., STEVEN, M., CRAIGON, J. and BLACK, C., 2012. Potential impact of CO₂ leakage from carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems on growth and yield in spring field bean Environmental and Experimental Botany. 80(August), 43-53
• SJÖGERSTEN, S., VAN DER WAL, R. and WOODIN, S.J., 2012. Impacts of grazing and climate warming on C pools and decomposition rates in Arctic environments Ecosystems. 15(3), 349-362
• SMITH D, TOWNSEND T, CHOY A, HARDY I and SJOGERSTEN S, 2012. Short-term soil carbon sink potential of oil palm plantations Global Change Biology-Bioenergy.
• SJOGERSTEN S, LLURBA R, RIBAS A, YANEZ SERRANO AM and SEBASTIA MT, 2012. Temperature and moisture controls of C fluxes in subalpine grasslands under differing grazing regimes Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research.
• AL-TRABOULSI M, SJÖGERSTEN S, COLLS JJ, STEVEN M and BLACK CR, 2012. Potential impact of CO2 leakage from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) systems on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Plant and Soil. 365, 267-281
• KAARLEJARVI, ELINA, BAXTER, ROBERT, HOFGAARD, ANNIKA, HYTTEBORN, HAKAN, KHITUN, OLGA, MOLAU, ULF, SJOEGERSTEN, SOFIE, WOOKEY, PHILIP and OLOFSSON, JOHAN, 2012. Effects of Warming on Shrub Abundance and Chemistry Drive Ecosystem-Level Changes in a Forest-Tundra Ecotone ECOSYSTEMS. 15(8), 1219-1233
• SMITH, DANIEL R., TOWNSEND, TOBY J., CHOY, AMANDA W. K., HARDY, IAN C. W. and SJOEGERSTEN, SOFIE, 2012. Short-term soil carbon sink potential of oil palm plantations GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY. 4(5), 588-596
• WRIGHT, E., BLACK, C.R., CHEESEMAN, A.W., DRAGE, T., LARGE, D., TURNER, B.L. and SJÖGERSTEN, S., 2011. Contribution of subsurface peat to CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes in a neotropical peatland Global Change Biology. 17(9), 2867-2881
• SJOGERSTEN, S, VAN DER WAL, R, LOONEN, MJJE and WOODIN, SJ, 2011. Recovery Of Ecosystem Carbon Fluxes And Storage From Herbivory Biogeochemistry. 106(3), 357-370
• SJOGERSTEN, S., CHEESMAN, A.W., LOPEZ, O. and TURNER, B.L., 2011. Biogeochemical processes along a nutrient gradient in a tropical ombrotrophic peatland Biogeochemistry. 104(1-3), 147-163
• SJOGERSTEN, S, KUIJPER, DPJ, VAN DER WAL, R, LOONEN, MJJE, HUISKES, AHL and WOODIN, SJ, 2010. Nitrogen Transfer Between Herbivores And Their Forage Species Polar Biology. 33(9), 1195-1203
• PIERCE, S and SJOGERSTEN, S, 2009. Effects Of Below Ground Co2 Emissions On Plant And Microbial Communities Plant And Soil. 325(1-2), 197-205
• SJOGERSTEN, S and WOOKEY, PA, 2009. The Impact Of Climate Change On Ecosystem Carbon Dynamics At The Scandinavian Mountain Birch Forest-Tundra Heath Ecotone Ambio. 38(1), 2-10
• SJOGERSTEN, S., VAN DER WAL, R. and WOODIN, S.J., 2008. Habitat type determines herbivory controls over CO₂ fluxes in a warmer Arctic Ecology. 89(8), 2103-2116
• VAN DER WAL, R., SJOGERSTEN, S., WOODIN, S.J., COOPER, E.J., JONSDOTTIR, I.S., KUIJPER, D., FOX, T.A. and HUISKES, A.D., 2007. Spring feeding by pink-footed geese reduces carbon stocks and sink strength in tundra ecosystems Global Change Biology. 13(2), 539-545
• SJOGERSTEN, S, MELANDER, E and WOOKEY, PA, 2007. Depth Distribution Of Net Methanotrophic Activity At A Mountain Birch Forest-Tundra Heath Ecotone, Northern Sweden Arctic Antarctic And Alpine Research. 39(3), 477-480
• SJÖGERSTEN, S., VAN DER WAL, R. and WOODIN, S.J., 2006. Small-scale hydrological variation determines landscape CO2 fluxes in the high Arctic Biogeochemistry. 80(3), 205-216
• SJOGERSTEN, S. and WOOKEY, P. A., 2005. The Role of Soil Organic Matter Quality and Physical Environment for Nitrogen Mineralization at the Forest-Tundra Ecotone in Fennoscandia ARCTIC ANTARCTIC AND ALPINE RESEARCH. VOL 37(NUMB 1), 118-126
• SJOGERSTEN, S. and WOOKEY, P. A., 2004. Decomposition of mountain birch leaf litter at the forest-tundra ecotone in the Fennoscandian mountains in relation to climate and soil conditions PLANT AND SOIL. VOL 262(NUMBER 1/2), 215-227
• TURNER, B. L., BAXTER, R., MAHIEU, N., SJOGERSTEN, S. and WHITTON, B. A., 2004. Phosphorus compounds in subarctic Fennoscandian soils at the mountain birch (Betula pubescens)-tundra ecotone SOIL BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY. VOL 36(NUMBER 5), 815-823
• SJÖGERSTEN, S., TURNER, B.L, MAHIEU, N, CONDRON, L.M and WOOKEY, P.A., 2003. Soil organic matter biochemistry and potential susceptibility to climatic change across the forest-tundra ecotone in the Fennoscandian mountains Global Change Biology. 9(5), 759-772
• SJÖGERSTEN, S. and WOOKEY, P.A., 2002. Climatic and resource quality controls on soil respiration across a forest-tundra ecotone in Swedish Lapland Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 34(11), 1633-1646
• SJÖGERSTEN S and WOOKEY P.A., 2002. Spatio-temporal variability and environmental controls of methane fluxes at the forest-tundra ecotone in the Fennoscandian mountains Global Change Biology. 8(9), 885-894
• TONKS A and EVERS S, Impacts of conversion of tropical peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation on peat organic chemistry, physical properties and carbon stocks Geoderma.