Dr Chris Field

Dr Chris Field

Reader in Environmental Ecology

My profile

Biography

Personal website address

Increasing carbon stores | Manchester Metropolitan University (mmu.ac.uk)

Interests and expertise

I research plants, soils and the environment, with two specific areas of interest: (i) responses of plants and ecosystems to nitrogen air pollution; (ii) restoration of peatlands for biodiversity and carbon sequestration.’ I collaborate with NGOs and UK Government Agencies by providing underpinning evidence on the risks to biodiversity from nitrogen deposition, and the development of new practice for peatland restoration and the management of agricultural peatlands. My research has been funded by Natural England, BBSRC, NERC, Innovate UK and EU Interreg with over £1.5 million income. I sit on the steering committee of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership, the Lancashire Peatlands Initiative and previously NW sub-group of the DEFRA Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force.

I lead the Natural England Paludiculture Exploration Fund (PEF) project ‘OPENpeat’, where we are working to engage with the agricultural community around the sustainable use of peatlands that are sustainable for climate change mitigation, biodiversity  and livelihoods. I’m also work-package leader on the Interreg NW Europe funded ‘Care-Peat’ project with responsibility for restoration planning, the establishment of a monitoring program including GHG emissions and the development of a UK ‘Carbon Farm’ with project partners that seeks to inform how alternative land management can mitigate GHG emissions and be economically beneficial for farmers. I am also lead author of the chapter on mires, bogs and fens in the CCE review of critical loads for nutrient nitrogen. 

Get in touch

0161 247 6203
E405 John Dalton Building

Impact

My research has produced high quality articles in peer reviewed journals and many influential government reports. It has also changed government policy and made significant contributions to the mitigation of climate change – this is evidenced through a REF2021 Impact Case Study ‘Conservation and restoration of damaged semi-natural habitats: restoring sensitive plant life and increasing carbon stores’. 

Researchers taking measurements from a peat bog in the Peak District

Protecting and increasing carbon stores

Peat bogs are key to the fight against the climate crisis due to their carbon-storing qualities.

Read more

Projects

Recent Funded Projects

2023-2025 Natural England Paludiculture Exploration Fund (PEF): OPENpeat. Opportunities for Paludiculture and Knowledge Exchange in North West England. PI £330k

2021-2023 EU ERDF Interreg-NW Programme: Capitalisation Initiative - Farmer Engagement. Carbon loss reduction from peatlands: an integrated approach. PI £80K

2022-2023 Natural England Effects of air pollution on water quality: review of evidence. Co-I £2.5k

2019-2023 EU ERDF Interreg-NW Programme: Carbon loss reduction from peatlands: an integrated approach. Project budget €6.2M (€399.5K award value to MMU). PI

2019-2023 Innovate UK Sphagnum Farming UK - First Steps to Commercial Peat-Free Growing Media PI £65K

2020-2023 National Highways Mapping Biodiversity across Highways England Soft Estate PI £270K

2018-2019 Innovate UK/BBSRC Sphagnum Farming UK Pilot project £499K (£220K award value to MMU) Co-I

2017-2020 Monitoring protected sites with Earth Observation: Combining field data with CASI and Sentinel imagery. Collaborative Project with Natural England, Phase 1 £18.5k, Phase 2 £8k. Phase 3 £12k. PI.

2015 Evidence review of the impact of solar farms on birds, bats and general ecology. Collaborative      Project with Natural England. 2015. £3k Co-I.

2015 Developing a regional scale wetland network. Collaborative Project with Natural England. £8k. Co-I.

2015-2016 NERC Policy Fellowship (2015-2016) Impact of atmospheric pollutants on the current and future status of protected habitats. £58k. PI.

Teaching

Undergraduate teaching

I teach on a number of Under-Graduate units including:

1st Year: Ecology; Investigating the Environment; GIS Essentials for Environmental Science and Ecology

2nd Year: Plant and Soil Ecology; Environmental Fieldwork and Research Design; Professional Skills for Biologists  

3rd Year: Environmental Impact Assessment

Postgraduate teaching

I teach on a number of Post-Graduate units including:

Restoration Science; Ecosystem Services; Monitoring Habitat and Species Responses to Environmental Change (Unit Co-ordinator)

Supervision

I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate projects in Biology and Environmental Science, and currently supervise three PhD students and have supervised four PhDs to completion.

Research outputs

  • Reports

    Banin, Lyndsay, , Dise, NB, , Bealey, WJ, , Dragostis, U, , Field, C.D., Jones, L, , Payne, R, , Rowe, E, , Smith, R, , Stevens, C, , Sutton, MA, Review of site-specific impact assessment approaches and tools for the protection of terrestrial habitats from Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) process contributions.. SEPA.

    Devenish, C., Field, C., Keane, R., Caporn, S. Space 2 Eye Lens Phase 2. Spatial tools for applying earth observation in landscape scale condition assessments..

    Devenish, C., Field, C., Keane, R., Caporn, S. Modelling upland condition from field and remote sensed data - Space2Eyelens: state of the Bog..

    Bobbink, R., Loran, C., Tomassen, H., Aazem, K., Aherne, J., Alonso, R., Ashwood, F., Augustin, S., Britton, A., Brwouer, E., Caporn, S., Chuman, T., De Wit, H., De Witte, L., Dirnbock, T., Field, C., Garcia Gomez, H., Geupel, M., Guri Velle, L., Hiltbrunner, E., James, A.C., Jones, L., Karlsson, P.E., Kohli, L., Manninen, S., May, L., Meier, R., Perring, M., Prescher, A.K., Remke, E., Roth, T., Scheuschner, T., Ssymank, A., Stevens, C., Thrane, J.E., Tömmervik, H., Tresch, S., Ukonmaanaho, L., Van Den Berg, L., Vanguelova, E., Wilkins, K., Zappala, S. Review and revision of empirical critical loads of nitrogen for Europe. Umweltbundesamt.

    Dragosits, U., Carnell, E.J., Tomlinson, S.J., Misselbrook, T.H., Rowe, E.C., Mitchell, Z., Thomas, I.N., Dore, A.J., Levy, P., Zwagerman, T., Jones, L., Dore, C., Hampshire, K., Raoult, J., German, R., Pridmore, A., Williamson, T., Marner, B., Hodgins, L., Laxen, D., Wilkins, K., Stevens, C., Zappala, S., Field, C., Caporn, S. (2022) Nitrogen Futures.

    Smart, T., Caporn, S., Devenish, C., Field, C., Johnson, S., Rogers, K., Rowson, J., Thomas, P., Wright, A. (2020) England Peat Strategy: Greater Manchester Peat Pilot Report for Defra. Natural England Report for the England Peat Strategy: Peat Pilot Steering Group.. DEFRA.

    Higginbottom, T., Field, C., Keane, R., Wright, A., Jones, L., Symeonakis, I., Caporn, S. (2018) From Space to Eye Lens: Monitoring protected sites with Earth Observation: Combining field data with CASI and Sentinel imagery. Manchester Metropolitan University.

    Caporn, S.J., Field, C.D., Payne, R, , Dise, NB, , Britton, A, , Emmett, B, , Jones, L, , Phoenix, G, , Power, S, , Sheppard, L., Stevens, C.J. (2016) Assessing the effects of small increments of atmospheric nitrogen deposition (above the critical load) on semi-natural habitats of conservation importance.. Natural England.

    Jones, L, , Hall, J, , Strachan, I, , Field, C.D., Rowe, E, , Stevens, CJ, , Caporn, SJM, , Mitchell, R, , Britton, A, , Smith, R, , Bealey, B, , Masante, D, , Hewison, R, , Hicks, K, (2015) Developing a decision framework to Attribute atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition as a threat to or cause of Unfavourable habitat condition on Protected sites 'AND-UP'.. Report to JNCC.

    Rowe, E., Jones, L., Stevens, C.J., Vieno, M., Dore, A.J., Sutton, M., Mills, G., Evans, C.D., Helliwel, R.C., Britton, A.J., Mitchell, R.J., Caporn, S.J., Dise, N.B., Field, C.D., Emmett, B.A. (2013) Measures to evaluate benefits to UK semi-natural habitats of reductions in nitrogen deposition. Final report on REBEND project.. Report to DEFRA Defra tender reference: AQ0823..

    Hall, J., Field, C.D., Stevens, C., Leith, I., Sheppard, L., Caporn, S.J., Sutton, M. (2012) Air Quality Risk Assessment and SSSI Survey project: To refine the understanding of air quality risk assessments (based on modelling) and site specific responses to atmospheric ammonia pollution.. Report to Natural England itt_183-23875.

    Caporn, S.J., Dise, N.B., Britton, A., Emmett, B., Field, C.D., Jones, L., Phoenix, G., Power, S., Sheppard, L. (2010) Terrestrial Umbrella Work Package 3 Final Report: Indicators of N deposition and its ecological impact.. DEFRA.

  • Journal articles

    Allingham, S.M., Drake, S.J., Ramsey, A., Field, C.D., Nwaishi, F.C., Elliott, D.R. (2024) 'Effects of burning on vegetation, soil physicochemistry and prokaryotic microbial communities in surface and subsurface peat.' Science of the Total Environment, 956

    Keightley, A.T., Field, C.D., Rowson, J.G., Caporn, S.J.M. (2024) 'Comparative Photosynthetic Capacity, Respiration Rates, and Nutrient Content of Micropropagated and Wild-Sourced Sphagnum.' International Journal of Plant Biology, 15(4) pp. 959-978.

    Allingham, S.M., Drake, S.J., Ramsey, A., Field, C.D., Nwaishi, F.C., Elliott, D.R. (2024) 'Changes in nitrogen functional genes and microbial populations in soil profiles of a peatland under different burning regimes.' Applied Soil Ecology, 200

    Keightley, A.T., Field, C.D., Rowson, J.G., Wright, N.A., Caporn, S.J.M. (2023) 'Engineering restoration and gaseous carbon uptake on a degraded bog: the role of Eriophorum angustifolium and micropropagated Sphagnum.' Mires and Peat, 29

    Sellan, G., Majalap, N., Thompson, J., Dise, N.B., Field, C.D., Pappalardo, S.E., Codato, D., Robert, R., Brearley, F.Q. (2023) 'Assessment of wet inorganic nitrogen deposition in an oil palm plantation-forest matrix environment in Borneo.' Atmosphere, 14(2) pp. 297-297.

    Payne, R.J., Campbell, C., Stevens, C.J., Pakeman, R.J., Ross, L.C., Britton, A.J., Mitchell, R.J., Jones, L., Field, C., Caporn, S.J., Carroll, J., Edmondson, J.L., Carnell, E.J., Tomlinson, S., Dore, A., Dragosits, U., Dise, N.B. (2020) 'Disparities between plant community responses to nitrogen deposition and critical loads in UK semi-natural habitats.' Atmospheric Environment, 239

    Payne, R.J., Campbell, C., Britton, A.J., Mitchell, R.J., Pakeman, R.J., Jones, L., Ross, L.C., Stevens, C.J., Field, C., Caporn, S.J.M., Carroll, J., Edmondson, J.L., Carnell, E.J., Tomlinson, S., Dore, A.J., Dise, N., Dragosits, U. (2019) 'What is the most ecologically-meaningful metric of nitrogen deposition?.' Environmental Pollution, 247pp. 319-331.

    Higginbottom, T.P., Field, C.D., Rosenburgh, A.E., Wright, A., Symeonakis, E., Caporn, S.J.M. (2018) 'High-resolution wetness index mapping: A useful tool for regional scale wetland management.' Ecological Informatics, 48pp. 89-96.

    Payne, R.J., Dise, N.B., Field, C.D., Dore, A.J., Caporn, S.J.M., Stevens, C.J. (2017) 'Nitrogen deposition and plant biodiversity: past, present, and future.' Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(8) pp. 431-436.

    Field, C.D., Evans, C.D., Dise, N.B., Hall, J.R., Caporn, S.J.M. (2017) 'Long-term nitrogen deposition increases heathland carbon sequestration.' Science of the Total Environment, 592pp. 426-435.

    Jones, L., Stevens, C., Rowe, E.C., Payne, R., Caporn, S.J.M., Evans, C.D., Field, C., Dale, S. (2017) 'Managing for nitrogen, the lesser of two evils. A response to Maes et al..' Biological Conservation, 212pp. 495-496.

    Rowe, E.C., Jones, L., Dise, N.B., Evans, C.D., Mills, G., Hall, J., Stevens, C.J., Mitchell, R.J., Field, C., Caporn, S., Helliwell, R.C., Britton, A.J., Sutton, M.A., Payne, R.J., Vieno, M., Dore, A.J., Emmett, B.A. (2017) 'Metrics for evaluating the ecological benefits of decreased nitrogen deposition.' Biological Conservation, 212(Part B) pp. 454-463.

    Jones, L., Stevens, C., Rowe, E.C., Payne, R., Caporn, S.J.M., Evans, C.D., Field, C., Dale, S. (2016) 'Can on-site management mitigate nitrogen deposition impacts in non-wooded habitats?.' Biological Conservation, 212(Part B) pp. 464-475.

    Sheppard, L.J., Leith, I.D., Mizunuma, T., Leeson, S., Kivimaki, S., Neil Cape, J., van Dijk, N., Leaver, D., Sutton, M.A., Fowler, D., Van den Berg, L.J.L., Crossley, A., Field, C., Smart, S. (2014) 'Inertia in an ombrotrophic bog ecosystem in response to 9 years' realistic perturbation by wet deposition of nitrogen, separated by form.' Global Change Biology, 20(2) pp. 566-580.

    Payne, R.J., Caporn, S.J.M., Field, C.D., Carroll, J.A., Edmondson, J.L., Britton, A., Dise, N.B. (2014) 'Heather moorland vegetation and air pollution: A comparison and synthesis of three national gradient studies.' Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 225(7)

    Field, C.D., Dise, N.B., Payne, R.J., Britton, A.J., Emmett, B.A., Helliwell, R.C., Hughes, S., Jones, L., Lees, S., Leake, J.R., Leith, I.D., Phoenix, G.K., Power, S.A., Sheppard, L.J., Southon, G.E., Stevens, C.J., Caporn, S.J.M. (2014) 'The Role of Nitrogen Deposition in Widespread Plant Community Change Across Semi-natural Habitats.' Ecosystems, 17(5) pp. 864-877.

    Southon, G.E., Field, C., Caporn, S.J.M., Britton, A.J., Power, S.A. (2013) 'Nitrogen Deposition Reduces Plant Diversity and Alters Ecosystem Functioning: Field-Scale Evidence from a Nationwide Survey of UK Heathlands.' PLoS ONE, 8(4)

    Sheppard, L.J., Leith, I.D., Leeson, S.R., Van Dijk, N., Field, C., Levy, P. (2013) 'Fate of N in a peatland, Whim bog: Immobilisation in the vegetation and peat, leakage into pore water and losses as N2O depend on the form of N.' Biogeosciences, 10(1) pp. 149-160.

    Field, C.D., Sheppard, L.J., Caporn, S.J.M., Dise, N.B. (2013) 'The ability of contrasting ericaceous ecosystems to buffer nitrogen leaching.' MIRES AND PEAT, 11

    Carter, M.S., Larsen, K.S., Emmett, B., Estiarte, M., Field, C., Leith, I.D., Lund, M., Meijide, A., Mills, R.T.E., Niinemets, U., Penuelas, J., Portillo-Estrada, M., Schmidt, I.K., Selsted, M.B., Sheppard, L.J., Sowerby, A., Tietema, A., Beier, C. (2012) 'Synthesizing greenhouse gas fluxes across nine European peatlands and shrublands-responses to climatic and environmental changes.' Biogeosciences, 9(10) pp. 3739-3755.

    Payne, R.J., Thompson, A.M., Standen, V., Field, C.D., Caporn, S.J.M. (2012) 'Impact of simulated nitrogen pollution on heathland microfauna, mesofauna and plants.' European Journal of Soil Biology, 49pp. 73-79.

    Evans, C.D., Goodale, C.L., Caporn, S.J.M., Dise, N.B., Emmett, B.A., Fernandez, I.J., Field, C.D., Findlay, S.E.G., Lovett, G.M., Meesenburg, H., Moldan, F., Sheppard, L.J. (2008) 'Does elevated nitrogen deposition or ecosystem recovery from acidification drive increased dissolved organic carbon loss from upland soil? A review of evidence from field nitrogen addition experiments.' Biogeochemistry, 91(1) pp. 13-35.