Sitka spruce colonisation at treeline in Scotland

Summary Description:

This PhD project will investigate treeline sites in Scotland that have been colonised by Sitka spruce from plantation sources, seeking to understand spatial patterns and the influence of landscape scale features on Sitka colonisation, the impacts on biodiversity and treeline development and the long-term implications of treeline colonisation. The project takes a neutral perspective and has the potential to identify both risks and benefits of Sitka at treeline sites. The project team includes diverse members from academia, government agencies, forest industry and private landowners and the outcomes of the work will include academic, policy and management outputs, creating impact by providing evidence and recommendations for forestry practice and biodiversity conservation.