Geography

Professor Lina Mercado

Professor Lina Mercado

Professor in Ecosystems and Environmental Change

 L.Mercado@exeter.ac.uk

 5074

 Laver Building 801a

 

Laver Building, University of Exeter, North Park Road, Exeter, EX4 4QE, UK

Overview

Biography

I work at the University of Exeter since June 2011 and since 2012 hold a 30% subcontract with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) in Wallingford, UK where I previously had a permanent job as a land surface modeller from 2004 till 2011. I have a close collaboration with the multidisciplinary team of JULES modellers at CEH. CEH holds expertise on hydrological modelling, land atmosphere interactions and ecological processes.

I did my PhD on modelling canopy photosynthesis in the Amazon Rainforest at the Max Planck Insitute of Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany (2000-2004, supervised by Jon Lloyd and Han Dolman) and obtained my PhD degree from the Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I did an MSc in Environmental Sciences at Lund University, Sweden (1998-1999, supervised by Sharon Cowling and Harald Sverdrup) with a dissertation on modelling the effects of deforestation on carbon and water dynamics within the Colombian Amazon rainforest. My undegraduate degree is in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellin, Colombia, my home country.

See my webpage with more information on my research

Qualifications

PhD Modelling Canopy photosynthesis in the Amazon Basin, Free University of Amsterdam

Msc Environmental Sciences, University of Lund, Sweden

Bsc in Chemical Engineering, National University of Colombia, Medellín

Research group links

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Research

Research interests

I am a plant ecophysiologist & vegetation/biogeochemical modeller. I use observations and computer models to understand how plants respond to climate and in turn how cilmate is affected by vegetation. A current focus of my research is the response of plants to climate change, especially their response to increases in temperature.

Main areas of research include:

Carbon and H20 cycles, photosynthesis, transpiration, radiation interception, nutrient constraints on plant productivity, N and P cycles, plant responses to temperature both globally but also regionally. Current regional work has focus on Amazon, temperate  and boreal ecosystems.

A primary aim of my work is to improve representation of plant physiological processes within earth system models (ESMs) in order to improve predictions of present and future land surface -climate interactions and climate. I have been working with the JULES land surface model of the UK ESM for the past ten years for which I am vegetation theme leader.

Fieldwork

I use data  -collected by others but also by me- to improve process understanding and representation within models and for model evaluation. As part of various field & modelling projects, I have been involved in the design and execution of field campaigns in the tropics (Amazon: Peru, Ecuador - as part of the RAINFOR consortium; Brazil-  as part of the AFEX project ), semi arid (Mali-  as part of the AMMA project) and temperate regions (BIFOR -FACE Birmingham, as part of the elevated CO2 experiment http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/bifor/face/index.aspx, Wytham woods in Oxfordshire, Bangor - as part of the Surf to Turf project;  and Wetzstein forest in Germany). This includes gas exchange measurements (photosynthesis & respiration) in the tropics (Manaus), and in the temperate forest (various sites in the UK), leaf and wood sampling for leaf mass per area, nutrient analysis, wood density in Amazon forest in Peru and Ecuador, soil respiration in girdled and non-girdled forest in Wetzstein, Thuringia-Germany, and stomatal conductance, soil moisture and surface temperature in semi arid ecosystems in West Africa (Hombori, Mali).

Advertising of current PhD and MSc by Research projects 

PhD NERC Studentships for UK students

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/fundingsearch/awarddetails/?id=3686

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/fundingsearch/awarddetails/?id=3703

MSc by Research projects 

http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/research/mbyres/topics/vegetation/#a0

http://geography.exeter.ac.uk/research/mbyres/

Research projects

CSSP BRAZIL-Vegetation, nutrient modelling (£125k Newton Fund, CSSP Brazi, PI 2023-2024). We are applying the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) with C,N and P cycles to the Amazon region to investigate spatial patterns in Amazon forest carbon dynamics and under ambient and elevated CO2.

Trop-Heat -Sensitivity of tropical forest to heat stress : (£800k NERC UK - PI, 2023-2026). This project will investiage the mechanisms of heat stress physiology in tropical forests and possible links to plant growth responses to warming which will inform how we understand and predict composition changes along elevation and climate gradients. We will use our experimental set up in the Colombian Andes and from our project parters in the Albertine Rift in Rwanda.

Analysing the Amazon Fertilisation Experiment and AmazonFACE : (£100k Newton Fund, CSSP Brazi, PI 2019-2020). We are developing a P-cycle model within the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) to investigate Amazon forest carbon dynamics under ambient and elevated CO2.

Quintus : Quinquennial (half-decadal) carbon and nutrient dynamics in temperate forests: Implications for carbon sequestration in a high carbon dioxide world (£1M NERC UK CoI, 2019-2024). QUINTUS will undertake an extensive programme of nutrient cycling measurements using the first whole-ecosystem, free-air carbon enrichment experiment ever in a mature temperate forest at the BIFOR experimental facility in Birmigham. We will determine whether mature trees in temperate forest can increase rates of nutrient uptake and/or use the nutrients they acquire more efficiently to produce more biomass under elevated CO2.

Analysis to inform South America’s carbon budget (Newton Fund CSSP Brazil, Co-I, £250 April 2019-March 2020).The aim of this project is to quantify the individual C flux terms (ELUC, EFIRE, SLAND) and their combination (the net land C sink, NBP), from pre-industrial to present-day, and quantify related uncertainties using a combination of land surface models, satellite observations, in country data, and CO and CO2 inversions.

BioResilience: Biodiversity resilience and ecosystem services in post-conflict socio- ecological systems in Colombia (£1.1M NERC UK CoI, 2018-2021).This project will examine the long-term resilience of Colombian forest ecosystems to environmental and climatic changes and improve understanding of the future implications of forest degradation for Colombian society.

South American Montane Forests in a Warming World. Pump priming for network of montane forest across South America. Funded by FAPESP-NERC IOF  (£50k, CoI, 2018-2019).

MONTANE-ACCLIM -Can tropical Montane forest Acclimate to high temperatures? (£800k NERC UK - PI, 2017-2022). We have planted 1200 native tropical montane forest trees in the Colombian Andes to study thermal acclimation of key gas exchange processes and growth. Visit project web page for more details 

TROP OZ -Ozone impacts on tropical vegetation: implications for forest productivity (£800k NERC UK CoI, 2018-2021)

AMAZON FACE  Model intercomparisson project, participation with JULES-CN.

AFEX -Effects of soil fertility on the carbon cycle of tropical forests: A novel soil fertility manipulation experiment in Amazonia (£600k NERC-UK -CoI, 2014-2019).  In this project we will use observations from this nutrient fertilization experiment to understand and model nutrient constraints on Amazon forest productivity. https://amazonfertilisationexperiment.wordpress.com/about/

SAMBBA - South American Biomass Burning Analysis (£5.58 M Consortium grant NERC UK funded - CoI, 2012-2017); our contribution to this project is the quantification of the role of air pollution including aerosols and near-surface ozone on carbon exchange in the Amazon forest. http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=NE%2FJ010073%2F1

Surf 2 Turf - The Multi-Scale Response of Water Quality, Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration to Coupled Macronutrient Cycling from Source to Sea funded under the Coupled Macronutrient Cycles, (£3.3 M Consortium grant NERC UK funded, work with CEH Wallingford, CoI, 2012-2016). Our role is to use observations to improve modelling of C and H2O cycling in UK ecosystems. http://www.turf2surf.org/progress-and-outputs/river-level-data-conwy-catchment/

ECLAIRE -Effects of climate change and air pollution impacts and response strategies for European Ecosystems (€10 M Consortium grant EU funded, work with CEH Wallingford, CoI, 2011-2013). In this project we use  leaf and plant data to improve the representation of O3 damage in the JULES land surface model aiming to quantify effects of trophospheric O3 on H20 and C cycling in European ecosytems. http://www.eclaire-fp7.eu

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Publications

Journal articles

Mercado LM, Medlyn BE, Huntingford C, Oliver R, Clark D, Sitch S, Zelazowski P, Kattge J, Harper A, Cox PM, et al (In Press). Large sensitivity in land carbon storage due to geographical and temporal variation in the thermal response of photosynthetic capacity. New Phytologist
Lugli LF, Andersen KM, Aragao LEOC, Cordeiro AL, Cunha HFV, Fuchslueger L, Meir P, Mercado LM, Oblitas E, Quesada CA, et al (In Press). Multiple phosphorus acquisition strategies adopted by fine roots in low-fertility soils in Central Amazonia. Plant and Soil
Bruhn D, Povlsen P, Gardner A, Mercado LM (2024). Instantaneous <scp>Q<sub>10</sub></scp> of night‐time leaf respiratory <scp>CO<sub>2</sub></scp> efflux – measurement and analytical protocol considerations. New Phytologist Abstract.
Jones S, Mercado LM, Bruhn D, Raoult N, Cox PM (2024). Night-time decline in plant respiration is consistent with substrate depletion. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1). Abstract.
Rosan TM, Sitch S, O’Sullivan M, Basso LS, Wilson C, Silva C, Gloor E, Fawcett D, Heinrich V, Souza JG, et al (2024). Synthesis of the land carbon fluxes of the Amazon region between 2010 and 2020. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1). Abstract.
Cox AJF, González-Caro S, Meir P, Hartley IP, Restrepo Z, Villegas JC, Sanchez A, Mercado LM (2024). Variable thermal plasticity of leaf functional traits in Andean tropical montane forests. Plant Cell Environ, 47(3), 731-750. Abstract.  Author URL.
Cox AJF, Hartley IP, Meir P, Sitch S, Dusenge ME, Restrepo Z, González-Caro S, Villegas JC, Uddling J, Mercado LM, et al (2023). Acclimation of photosynthetic capacity and foliar respiration in Andean tree species to temperature change. New Phytol, 238(6), 2329-2344. Abstract.  Author URL.
Farha MN, Daniells J, Cernusak LA, Ritmejerytė E, Wangchuk P, Sitch S, Mercado LM, Hayes F, Brown F, Cheesman AW, et al (2023). Examining ozone susceptibility in the genus Musa (bananas). Functional Plant Biology, 50(12), 1073-1085. Abstract.
Ma Y, Yue X, Sitch S, Unger N, Uddling J, Mercado L, Gong C, Feng Z, Yang H, Zhou H, et al (2023). Implementation of trait-based ozone plant sensitivity in the Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere model v1.0 to assess global vegetation damage. GMD
Nagy L, Eller CB, Mercado LM, Cuesta FX, Llambí LD, Buscardo E, Aragão LEOC, García-Núñez C, Oliveira RS, Barbosa M, et al (2023). South American mountain ecosystems and global change – a case study for integrating theory and field observations for land surface modelling and ecosystem management. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 16(1-2), 1-27.
Bartholomew DC, Banin LF, Bittencourt PRL, Suis MAF, Mercado LM, Nilus R, Burslem DFRP, Rowland L (2022). Differential nutrient limitation and tree height control leaf physiology, supporting niche partitioning in tropical dipterocarp forests. Functional Ecology, 36(8), 2084-2103.
Cunha HFV, Andersen KM, Lugli LF, Santana FD, Aleixo IF, Moraes AM, Garcia S, Di Ponzio R, Mendoza EO, Brum B, et al (2022). Direct evidence for phosphorus limitation on Amazon forest productivity. Nature, 608(7923), 558-562. Abstract.  Author URL.
Rosan TM, Sitch S, Mercado LM, Heinrich V, Friedlingstein P, Aragão LEOC (2022). Fragmentation-Driven Divergent Trends in Burned Area in Amazonia and Cerrado. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 5
Oliver RJ, Mercado LM, Clark DB, Huntingford C, Taylor CM, Vidale PL, McGuire PC, Todt M, Folwell S, Shamsudheen Semeena V, et al (2022). Improved representation of plant physiology in the. JULES-vn5.6 land surface model: photosynthesis. stomatal conductance and thermal acclimation. Geoscientific Model Development, 15(14), 5567-5592. Abstract.
Bruhn D, Newman F, Hancock M, Povlsen P, Slot M, Sitch S, Drake J, Weedon GP, Clark DB, Pagter M, et al (2022). Nocturnal plant respiration is under strong non-temperature control. Nat Commun, 13(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Sarangi C, Tripathi S, Krishnan M, Morrison R, Evans J, Mercado LM (2022). Observations of aerosol–vapor pressure deficit–evaporative fraction coupling over India. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 22(5), 3615-3629. Abstract.
Wu C, Sitch S, Huntingford C, Mercado LM, Venevsky S, Lasslop G, Archibald S, Staver AC (2022). Reduced global fire activity due to human demography slows global warming by enhanced land carbon uptake. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 119(20). Abstract.  Author URL.
Wong CYS, Mercado LM, Arain MA, Ensminger I (2022). Remotely sensed carotenoid dynamics improve modelling photosynthetic phenology in conifer and deciduous forests. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 321 Abstract.
Nakhavali MA, Mercado LM, Hartley IP, Sitch S, Cunha FV, di Ponzio R, Lugli LF, Quesada CA, Andersen KM, Chadburn SE, et al (2022). Representation of the phosphorus cycle in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (vn5.5_JULES-CNP). Geoscientific Model Development, 15(13), 5241-5269. Abstract.
Brown F, Folberth GA, Sitch S, Bauer S, Bauters M, Boeckx P, Cheesman AW, Deushi M, Dos Santos I, Galy-Lacaux C, et al (2022). The ozone-climate penalty over South America and Africa by 2100. ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, 22(18), 12331-12352.  Author URL.
Rosan TM, Klein Goldewijk K, Ganzenmüller R, O’Sullivan M, Pongratz J, Mercado LM, Aragao LEOC, Heinrich V, Von Randow C, Wiltshire A, et al (2021). A multi-data assessment of land use and land cover emissions from Brazil during 2000–2019. Environmental Research Letters, 16(7), 074004-074004. Abstract.
O’Sullivan M, Zhang Y, Bellouin N, Harris I, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Ciais P, Friedlingstein P (2021). Aerosol–light interactions reduce the carbon budget imbalance. Environmental Research Letters, 16(12), 124072-124072. Abstract.
Rosan TM, Goldewijk KK, Ganzenmüller R, O'Sullivan M, Pongratz J, Mercado LM, Aragao LEOC, Heinrich V, Von Randow C, Wiltshire A, et al (2021). Assessment of land use and land cover datasets for Brazil and impact on C emissions. Abstract.
Wu C, Venevsky S, Sitch S, Mercado LM, Huntingford C, Staver AC (2021). Historical and future global burned area with changing climate and human demography. One Earth, 4(4), 517-530. Abstract.
Sarangi C, Chakraborty T, Tripathi S, Krishnan M, Morrison R, Evans J, Mercado L (2021). Observations of Aerosol-Vapor Pressure Deficit-Evaporative Fraction coupling over India. Abstract.
Lugli LF, Rosa JS, Andersen KM, Di Ponzio R, Almeida RV, Pires M, Cordeiro AL, Cunha HFV, Martins NP, Assis RL, et al (2021). Rapid responses of root traits and productivity to phosphorus and cation additions in a tropical lowland forest in Amazonia. New Phytol, 230(1), 116-128. Abstract.  Author URL.
Wong CYS, Mercado LM, Arain MA, Ensminger I (2021). Remotely sensed carotenoid dynamics predict photosynthetic phenology in conifer and deciduous forests. Abstract.
Nakhavali MA, Mercado L, Hartley IP, Sitch S, Cunha FV, Ponzio RD, Lugli LF, Quesada CA, Andersen KM, Chadburn SE, et al (2021). Representation of phosphorus cycle in Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (vn5.5_JULES-CNP). Geoscientific Model Development Discussions Abstract.
Sarangi C, Chakraborty T, Tripathi S, Krishnan M, Morrison R, Evans J, Mercado L (2021). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Observations of Aerosol-Vapor Pressure Deficit-Evaporative Fraction coupling over India&amp;quot;.
Restrepo-Coupe N, Albert LP, Longo M, Baker I, Levine NM, Mercado LM, da Araujo AC, Christoffersen BO, Costa MH, Fitzjarrald DR, et al (2021). Understanding water and energy fluxes in the Amazonia: Lessons from an observation-model intercomparison. Glob Chang Biol, 27(9), 1802-1819. Abstract.  Author URL.
Ocampo Montoya E, Nottingham AT, Villegas Palacio JC, Mercado LM, Restrepo Z, Meir P (2021). Warming effects on soil CO2 efflux in the tropical Andes: Insights from an experimental thermosequence with dominant tree species. Abstract.
Bartholomew DC, Bittencourt PRL, da Costa ACL, Banin LF, de Britto Costa P, Coughlin SI, Domingues TF, Ferreira LV, Giles A, Mencuccini M, et al (2020). Small tropical forest trees have a greater capacity to adjust carbon metabolism to long-term drought than large canopy trees. Plant Cell Environ, 43(10), 2380-2393. Abstract.  Author URL.
Kumarathunge DP, Medlyn BE, Drake JE, Tjoelker MG, Aspinwall MJ, Battaglia M, Cano FJ, Carter KR, Cavaleri MA, Cernusak LA, et al (2019). Acclimation and adaptation components of the temperature dependence of plant photosynthesis at the global scale. New Phytologist, 222(2), 768-784. Abstract.
Fleischer K, Rammig A, De Kauwe MG, Walker AP, Domingues TF, Fuchslueger L, Garcia S, Goll DS, Grandis A, Jiang M, et al (2019). Amazon forest response to CO<inf>2</inf> fertilization dependent on plant phosphorus acquisition. Nature Geoscience, 12(9), 736-741. Abstract.
Yang H, Huntingford C, Wiltshire A, Sitch S, Mercado L (2019). Compensatory climate effects link trends in global runoff to rising atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 14(12).  Author URL.
Williams KE, Harper AB, Huntingford C, Mercado LM, Mathison CT, Falloon PD, Cox PM, Kim J (2019). How can the First ISLSCP Field Experiment contribute to present-day efforts to evaluate water stress in JULESv5.0?. Geoscientific Model Development, 12(7), 3207-3240. Abstract.
Rap A, Scott CE, Reddington CL, Mercado L, Ellis RJ, Garraway S, Evans MJ, Beerling DJ, MacKenzie AR, Hewitt CN, et al (2019). Reply to: Complexities between plants and the atmosphere. Nature Geoscience, 12(9), 695-695.
Malavelle FF, Haywood JM, Mercado LM, Folberth GA, Bellouin N, Sitch S, Artaxo P (2019). Studying the impact of biomass burning aerosol radiative and climate effects on the Amazon rainforest productivity with an Earth system model. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 19(2), 1301-1326. Abstract.
Harrison ME, Ottay JB, D’Arcy LJ, Cheyne SM, Anggodo, Belcher C, Cole L, Dohong A, Ermiasi Y, Feldpausch T, et al (2019). Tropical forest and peatland conservation in Indonesia: Challenges and directions. People and Nature, 2(1), 4-28. Abstract.
Zelazowski P, Huntingford C, Mercado LM, Schaller N (2018). Climate pattern-scaling set for an ensemble of 22 GCMs - adding uncertainty to the IMOGEN version 2.0 impact system. GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 11(2), 541-560.  Author URL.
Rap A, Scott CE, Reddington CL, Mercado L, Ellis RJ, Garraway S, Evans MJ, Beerling DJ, MacKenzie AR, Hewitt CN, et al (2018). Enhanced global primary production by biogenic aerosol via diffuse radiation fertilization. Nature Geoscience, 11(9), 640-644. Abstract.
Oliver RJ, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Simpson D, Medlyn BE, Lin Y-S, Folberth GA (2018). Large but decreasing effect of ozone on the European carbon sink. BIOGEOSCIENCES, 15(13), 4245-4269.  Author URL.
Williams KE, Harper AB, Huntingford C, Mercado LM, Mathison CT, Falloon PD, Cox PM, Kim J (2018). Revisiting the First ISLSCP Field Experiment to evaluate water stress in JULESv5.0. Abstract.
Malavelle FF, Haywood JM, Mercado LM, Folberth GA, Bellouin N, Sitch S, Artaxo P (2018). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Studying the impact of biomass burning aerosol radiative and climate effects on the Amazon rainforest productivity with an Earth System Model&amp;quot;.
Harper AB, Wiltshire AJ, Cox PM, Friedlingstein P, Jones CD, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Williams K, Duran-Rojas C (2018). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Vegetation distribution and terrestrial carbon cycle in. a carbon-cycle configuration of JULES4.6 with new plant functional types&amp;quot;.
Huntingford C, Oliver RJ, Mercado LM, Sitch S (2018). Technical Note: a simple theoretical model framework to describe plant stomatal sluggishness in response to elevated ozone concentrations. Abstract.
Huntingford C, Oliver RJ, Mercado LM, Sitch S (2018). Technical note: a simple theoretical model framework to describe plant stomatal "sluggishness" in response to elevated ozone concentrations. Biogeosciences, 15(17), 5415-5422. Abstract.
Salazar A, Sanchez A, Villegas JC, Salazar JF, Ruiz Carrascal D, Sitch S, Restrepo JD, Poveda G, Feeley KJ, Mercado LM, et al (2018). The ecology of peace: preparing Colombia for new political and planetary climates. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 16(9), 525-531. Abstract.
Harper AB, Wiltshire AJ, Cox PM, Friedlingstein P, Jones CD, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Williams K, Duran-Rojas C (2018). Vegetation distribution and terrestrial carbon cycle in. a carbon-cycle configuration of JULES4.6 with new plant functional types. Abstract.
Harper AB, Wiltshire AJ, Cox PM, Friedlingstein P, Jones CD, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Williams K, Duran-Rojas C (2018). Vegetation distribution and terrestrial carbon cycle in a carbon cycle configuration of JULES4.6 with new plant functional types. Geoscientific Model Development, 11(7), 2857-2873. Abstract.
Rogers A, Medlyn BE, Dukes JS, Bonan G, von Caemmerer S, Dietze MC, Kattge J, Leakey ADB, Mercado LM, Niinemets Ü, et al (2017). A roadmap for improving the representation of photosynthesis in Earth system models. New Phytol, 213(1), 22-42. Abstract.  Author URL.
Huntingford C, Atkin OK, Martinez-de la Torre A, Mercado LM, Heskel MA, Harper AB, Bloomfield KJ, O'Sullivan OS, Reich PB, Wythers KR, et al (2017). Implications of improved representations of plant respiration in a changing climate. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 8  Author URL.
Oliver RJ, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Simpson D, Medlyn BE, Lin Y-S, Folberth GA (2017). Large but decreasing effect of ozone on the European carbon sink. Abstract.
Smart SM, Glanville HC, Blanes MDC, Mercado LM, Emmett BA, Jones DL, Cosby BJ, Marrs RH, Butler A, Marshall MR, et al (2017). Leaf dry matter content is better at predicting above‐ground net primary production than specific leaf area. Functional Ecology, 31(6), 1336-1344. Abstract.
Moreira DS, Longo KM, Freitas SR, Yamasoe MA, Mercado LM, Rosário NE, Gloor E, Viana RSM, Miller JB, Gatti LV, et al (2017). Modeling the radiative effects of biomass burning aerosols on carbon fluxes in the Amazon region. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 17(23), 14785-14810. Abstract.
Moreira DS, Longo KM, Freitas SR, Yamasoe MA, Mercado LM, Rosário NE, Gloor E, Viana RSM, Miller JB, Gatti LV, et al (2017). Modelling the radiative effects of smoke aerosols on carbon fluxes in Amazon. Abstract.
Oliver RJ, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Simpson D, Medlyn BE, Lin Y-S, Folberth GA (2017). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Large but decreasing effect of ozone on the European carbon sink&amp;quot;.
Zelazowski P, Huntingford C, Mercado LM, Schaller N (2016). Climate pattern scaling set for an ensemble of 22 GCMs – adding uncertainty to the IMOGEN impacts system. Abstract.
Huntingford C, Mercado LM (2016). High chance that current atmospheric greenhouse concentrations commit to warmings greater than 1.5°C over land. Scientific Reports, 6 Abstract.
Harper A, Cox P, Friedlingstein P, Wiltshire A, Jones C, Sitch S, Mercado LM, Groenendijk M, Robertson E, Kattge J, et al (2016). Improved representation of plant functional types and. physiology in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator. (JULES v4.2) using plant trait information. Abstract.
Harper AB, Cox PM, Friedlingstein P, Wiltshire AJ, Jones CD, Sitch S, Mercado LM, Groenendijk M, Robertson E, Kattge J, et al (2016). Improved representation of plant functional types and physiology in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES v4.2) using plant trait information. Geoscientific Model Development, 9(7), 2415-2440. Abstract.
Zelazowski P, Huntingford C, Mercado LM, Schaller N (2016). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Climate pattern scaling set for an ensemble of 22 GCMs – adding uncertainty to the IMOGEN impacts system&amp;quot;.
Harper A, Cox P, Friedlingstein P, Wiltshire A, Jones C, Sitch S, Mercado LM, Groenendijk M, Robertson E, Kattge J, et al (2016). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Improved representation of plant functional types and. physiology in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator. (JULES v4.2) using plant trait information&amp;quot;.
Huntingford C, Smith DM, Davies WJ, Falk R, Sitch S, Mercado LM (2015). Combining the [ABA] and net photosynthesis-based model equations of stomatal conductance. Ecological Modelling, 300, 81-88. Abstract.
Baig S, Medlyn BE, Mercado LM, Zaehle S (2015). Does the growth response of woody plants to elevated CO<inf>2</inf> increase with temperature? a model-oriented meta-analysis. Global Change Biology, 21(12), 4303-4319. Abstract.
Rap A, Spracklen DV, Mercado L, Reddington CL, Haywood JM, Ellis RJ, Phillips OL, Artaxo P, Bonal D, Restrepo Coupe N, et al (2015). Fires increase Amazon forest productivity through increases in diffuse radiation. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(11), 4654-4662. Abstract.
Atkin OK, Bloomfield KJ, Reich PB, Tjoelker MG, Asner GP, Bonal D, Bönisch G, Bradford MG, Cernusak LA, Cosio EG, et al (2015). Global variability in leaf respiration in relation to climate, plant functional types and leaf traits. New Phytologist, 206(2), 614-636. Abstract.
Fyllas NM, Gloor E, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Quesada CA, Domingues TF, Galbraith DR, Torre-Lezama A, Vilanova E, Ramírez-Angulo H, et al (2014). Analysing Amazonian forest productivity using a new individual and trait-based model (TFS v.1). Geoscientific Model Development, 7(4), 1251-1269. Abstract.
Fyllas NM, Gloor E, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Quesada CA, Domingues TF, Galbraith DR, Torre-Lezama A, Vilanova E, Ramírez-Angulo H, et al (2014). Analysing Amazonian forest productivity using a new individual and trait-based model (TFS v.1). Abstract.
Fyllas NM, Gloor E, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Quesada CA, Domingues TF, Galbraith DR, Torre-Lezama A, Vilanova E, Ramírez-Angulo H, et al (2014). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Analysing Amazonian forest productivity using a new individual and trait-based model (TFS v.1)&amp;quot;.
Moreira DS, Freitas SR, Bonatti JP, Mercado LM, É. Rosário NM, Longo KM, Miller JB, Gloor M, Gatti LV (2013). Coupling between the JULES land-surface scheme and the CCATT-BRAMS atmospheric chemistry model (JULES-CCATT-BRAMS1.0): Applications to numerical weather forecasting and the CO2 budget in South America. Geoscientific Model Development, 6(4), 1243-1259. Abstract.
Moreira DS, Freitas SR, Bonatti JP, Mercado LM, Rosário NMÉ, Longo KM, Miller JB, Gloor M, Gatti LV (2013). Coupling between the JULES land-surface scheme and the CCATT-BRAMS atmospheric chemistry model (JULES-CCATT-BRAMS1.0): applications to numerical weather forecasting and the CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; budget in South America. Abstract.
Huntingford C, Mercado L (2013). EARTH SCIENCE the timing of climate change. NATURE, 502(7470), 174-174.  Author URL.
Huntingford C, Zelazowski P, Galbraith D, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Fisher R, Lomas M, Walker AP, Jones CD, Booth BBB, et al (2013). Simulated resilience of tropical rainforests to CO<inf>2</inf> -induced climate change. Nature Geoscience, 6(4), 268-273. Abstract.
Moreira DS, Freitas SR, Bonatti JP, Mercado LM, Rosário NMÉ, Longo KM, Miller JB, Gloor M, Gatti LV (2013). Supplementary material to &amp;quot;Coupling between the JULES land-surface scheme and the CCATT-BRAMS atmospheric chemistry model (JULES-CCATT-BRAMS1.0): applications to numerical weather forecasting and the CO&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; budget in South America&amp;quot;.
Arneth A, Mercado L, Kattge J, Booth BBB (2012). Future challenges of representing land-processes in studies on land-atmosphere interactions. Biogeosciences, 9(9), 3587-3599. Abstract.
Marthews TR, Malhi Y, Girardin CAJ, Silva Espejo JE, Aragão LEOC, Metcalfe DB, Rapp JM, Mercado LM, Fisher RA, Galbraith DR, et al (2012). Simulating forest productivity along a neotropical elevational transect: Temperature variation and carbon use efficiency. Global Change Biology, 18(9), 2882-2898. Abstract.
Mercado LM, Lloyd J, Dolman AJ, Sitch S, Patiño S (2011). Erratum: Modelling basin-wide variations in Amazon forest productivity &amp;ndash; Part 1: Model calibration, evaluation and upscaling functions for canopy photosynthesis" published in Biogeosciences, 6, 1247&amp;ndash;1272, 2009 (Biogeosciences). Biogeosciences, 8(3), 653-656.
Huntingford C, Cox PM, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Bellouin N, Boucher O, Gedney N (2011). Highly contrasting effects of different climate forcing agents on terrestrial ecosystem services. Philos Trans a Math Phys Eng Sci, 369(1943), 2026-2037. Abstract.  Author URL.
Best MJ, Pryor M, Clark DB, Rooney GG, Essery RLH, Menard CB, Edwards JM, Hendry MA, Porson A, Gedney N, et al (2011). The Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES), model description - Part 1: Energy and water fluxes. GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 4(3), 677-699.  Author URL.
Clark DB, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Jones CD, Gedney N, Best MJ, Pryor M, Rooney GG, Essery RLH, Blyth E, et al (2011). The Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES), model description - Part 2: Carbon fluxes and vegetation dynamics. GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 4(3), 701-722.  Author URL.
Mercado LM, Patiño S, Domingues TF, Fyllas NM, Weedon GP, Sitch S, Quesada CA, Phillips OL, Aragão LEOC, Malhi Y, et al (2011). Variations in Amazon forest productivity correlated with foliar nutrients and modelled rates of photosynthetic carbon supply. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 366(1582), 3316-3329. Abstract.  Author URL.
Huntingford C, Booth BBB, Sitch S, Gedney N, Lowe JA, Liddicoat SK, Mercado LM, Best MJ, Weedon GP, Fisher RA, et al (2010). IMOGEN: an intermediate complexity model to evaluate terrestrial impacts of a changing climate. GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 3(2), 679-687.  Author URL.
Lloyd J, Patiño S, Paiva RQ, Nardoto GB, Quesada CA, Santos AJB, Baker TR, Brand WA, Hilke I, Gielmann H, et al (2010). Optimisation of photosynthetic carbon gain and within-canopy gradients of associated foliar traits for Amazon forest trees. Biogeosciences, 7, 1833-1859.
Fyllas NM, Patino S, Baker TR, Bielefeld Nardoto G, Martinelli LA, Quesada CA, Paiva R, Schwarz M, Horna V, Mercado LM, et al (2009). Basin-wide variations in foliar properties of Amazonian forest: Phylogeny, soils and climate. Biogeosciences, 6(11), 2677-2708. Abstract.
Patino S, Lloyd J, Paiva R, Baker TR, Quesada CA, Mercado LM, Schmerler J, Schwarz M, Santos AJB, Aguilar A, et al (2009). Branch xylem density variations across the Amazon Basin. Biogeosciences, 6(4), 545-568. Abstract.
Mercado LM, Bellouin N, Sitch S, Boucher O, Huntingford C, Wild M, Cox PM (2009). Impact of changes in diffuse radiation on the global land carbon sink. Nature, 458(7241), 1014-1017. Abstract.  Author URL.
Mercado LM, Lloyd J, Dolman AJ, Sitch S, Patiño S (2009). Modelling basin-wide variations in Amazon forest productivity - Part 1: Model calibration, evaluation and upscaling functions for canopy photosynthesis. Biogeosciences, 6(7), 1247-1272. Abstract.
Huntingford C, Fisher RA, Mercado L, Booth BBB, Sitch S, Harris PP, Cox PM, Jones CD, Betts RA, Malhi Y, et al (2008). "Towards quantifying uncertainty in predictions of Amazon """"dieback""""". Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. B.  Author URL.
Mercado LM, Huntingford C, Gash JHC, Cox PM, Jogireddy V (2007). Improving the representation of radiation interception and photosynthesis for climate model applications. Tellus B, 59(3).
Mercado LM, Huntingford C, Gash JHC, Cox PM, Jogireddy V (2007). Improving the representation of radiation interception and photosynthesis for climate model applications. TELLUS SERIES B-CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL METEOROLOGY, 59(3), 553-565.  Author URL.
Alton P, Mercado L, North P (2006). A sensitivity analysis of the land-surface scheme JULES conducted for three forest biomes: Biophysical parameters, model processes, and meteorological driving data. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 21(1). Abstract.
Mercado L, Lloyd J, Carswell F, Malhi Y, Meir P, Nobre AD (2006). Modelling Amazonian forest eddy covariance data: a comparison of big leaf versus sun/shade models for the C-14 tower at Manaus I. Canopy photosynthesis. Acta Amazonica, 36(1), 69-82. Abstract.
Malhi Y, Baker TR, Phillips OL, Almeida S, Alvarez E, Arroyo L, Chave J, Czimczik CI, Di Fiore A, Higuchi N, et al (2004). The above-ground coarse wood productivity of 104 Neotropical forest plots. Global Change Biology, 10(5), 563-591. Abstract.

Conferences

Rowland LM, Meir P, Mencuccini M, Binks OJ, da Costa ACL, Oliveria RS, Mercado L, Vasconcelos SS, de Oliveria AAR, Christoffersen BO, et al (2016). Does inter-specific variation prevent division of tropical trees into drought sensitive and resistant groups?. Association of tropical Biology and Conservation. 19th - 23rd Jun 2016. Abstract.
Rowland LM, da Costa ACL, Oliveira RS, Binks OJ, Mercado L, Vasconcelos SS, de Oliveira AAR, Salmon Y, Ferreira LV, Sitch S, et al (2016). Is sap flow a good indicator of drought-induced mortality risk in tropical rainforest. Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation. 19th - 23rd Jun 2016. Abstract.

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Teaching

I teach in the following physical geography modules:

Second year 

GEO2334 -    Research Design in Physical Geography 

Third year

GEO3321/2 - Physical Geography BSc Dissertation

Modules

2023/24

Information not currently available


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Supervision / Group

Postdoctoral researchers

  • Anna Gardner Data Analysis of Montane-Acclim project
  • Sebastian Gonzalez-Caro PDRA -Modelling photosynthesis of Andean tree species part of Montane-Acclim https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=KMcpuJYAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sebastian-Gonzalez-Caro
  • Andre Nakhavali Developing a P cycle for JULES
  • Becky Oliver is a Land surface modeller at CEH Wallingford. Work includes using observations to improve physiological processes in JULES. Current focus of her work is on improving temperature responses of gas exchange on different ecosystems.

Postgraduate researchers

  • Scott Barningham PhD student -A Multi-Satellite Approach to Track the Seasonal and Long-Term Variability in Photosynthetic Metabolism within theBrazilian Amazon
  • Zorayda Restrepo Based at University of Antioquia, Colombia. Project : Montane-Acclim 'Thermal acclimation of growth of dominant Andean Species'.

Research Technicians

  • Jefferson Goncalves De Souza 2023-2024 Jefferson is a Software Engineer working with JULES f unded by CSSP-Brazil and Quintus do do Amazon wide simulations incorporating the JULES-CNP model and simulations for the Quintus project at the Bifor site at the elevated CO2 facility in Birmingham

Alumni

  • Kelly Andersen PDRA-Advice with Iain Hartley under AFEX project
  • Alice Barratt 2014 MRes Dissertation title : 'A biome wide investigation into the response of photosynthesis and its subcomponents to temperature'
  • Andrew Cox PhD 2023 -NERC GW4 funded. Project : Montane-Acclim: 'Thermal acclimation of photosynthesis of dominant Andean Species'.
  • Andrew Cox 2023 PhD. NERC GW4. Project : Montane-Acclim: 'Thermal acclimation of photosynthesis of dominant Andean Species'.
  • Laynara Figueiredo Lugli 2018. Co-Supervision with Iain Hartley as lead supervisorPhD Thesis : Dynamics and biological interactions of phosphorus cycling in central Amazonian forests
  • Tilly Hancock 2022 MSc by research 'How Does PFT Diversity Affect the Resilience of Forest Function to Disturbance in the Amazon Basin'
  • Felix Ike 2016 PhD Co-supervision with Luiz Aragao PhD thesis ' Evaluation of the impact of climate and human induced changes on the Nigerian forest using remote sensing'
  • Chris Jones 2017 Phd Co-Supervision with Stephen Sitch Phd thesis 'Quantitative Carbon cycle modelling to inform Climate Mitigation Policy'
  • Felix Leung 2018 Performing simulations with JULES CN for the Manaus K34 flux site for Amazon Face model intercomparison
  • Florent Malavelle PDRA. Co-supervision with Jim Haywood under SAMBBA projectImpact of biomass burning on Amazon productivity https://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/acp-2018-924/
  • Eric Mirindi Dusenge 2021 -2022 PDRA in Montane-Acclim in charge of project photosynthesis campaign
  • Andre Nakhavali PDRA 2019 -2023 Projects : Modelling P cycle in Jules as part of AFEX, CSSP-BRAZIL, QUINTUS
  • Freya Newman 2018 Undergraduate Student -Internship and dissertation project on Temperature independent nocturnal variabilityof foliar respiration
  • Freya Newman 2020 MSc by research ' Quantifying the non-temperature dependency of night time leaf respiration'
  • Thais Michele Rosan 2023 PhD. Co-supervision with Stephen Sitch and Pierre Friedlingstein. A comparative study of the contemporary carbon cycle and underlying processes in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes
  • Chao Wu 2019 PhD Co- supervision and Stephen Sitch as lead supervisor in Exeter. Partnership with University of Tsinghua, China with Sergey Venevsky.

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Office Hours:

Online office hours

Week 9  Wed 1430-1530  & Thu 1300-1400

Please contact me to book a 10 min slot in my office or virtually  using my personal zoom link

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