Newcastle University

Introduction

Plant Biology Teaching Fellow

Qualifications

PhD. Plant and Soil Science (1995) - MLURI/Aberdeen University  

MSc. Environmental and Ecological Sciences (1990) - Lancaster University 

BSc. (Hons) Geography and Geology (1989) - CNNA (North London Polytechnic)

Previous Positions 

Senior Research Associate (2006-2011) 

Environmental and Molecular Plant Physiology Group, School of Biology, Newcastle University.

Research Associate (DEFRA-funded 2000-2006)

School of Biology, Newcastle University 

Memberships 

CAPER (Commitee for Air Pollution Effects Research) 

 Effects of Tropospheric Ozone Pollution on Semi-Natural Plant Communities

 My research is centred on how ozone pollution can influence the diversity and community structure of plants of conservation importance both individually and within a community.

Ozone  is a highly reactive allotrope of oxygen.  (Stratospheric ozone is a life-saver: the ozone layer screens out the sun’s harmful ultra-violet rays. At ground-level in the troposphere, it is a troublesome and harmful pollutant.

Ozone is not emitted directly. It is a secondary pollutant formed by a series of chemical reactions, driven by sunlight, from other gases such as nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and hydrocarbons predominantly generated by vehicular and industrial emissions.

 In humans ozone irritates eyes, nose and throat and high levels can aggravate symptoms associated with asthma. In plants, ozone pollution stunts the growth of both cultivated and wild species, with some more affected than others. As a consequence, it causes reduction in crop yields and loss of species diversity in wild plant populations. Losses in crop production associated with ozone amount to £4-5 billion across Europe.

 Background concentrations of ozone are increasing. The Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have stated that the safety limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of 50 parts per billion for the protection of health ‘will continue to be exceeded for the foreseeable future’.

 Potentially damaging concentrations of ozone usually occur during spring and summer, in periods of dry sunny weather with stagnant air. This allows pollutant concentrations to build-up. High levels are not restricted to cities, but are transported long distances to rural and pristine areas. At the sites of formation near urban areas, levels are highest around mid-afternoon and low during the night. However, in rural areas and particularly at high locations, levels can remain high at night, and throughout the year, resulting in a greater average exposure.

 Traditional management regimes for upland meadows involve spring grazing by sheep or cattle, late hay cut in July or August, followed by aftermath grazing and application of farmyard manure. These factors, along with the soil and climatic conditions produce distinctive floristically-rich meadows. However, most of these traditionally species-rich meadows have been altered through the use of chemical fertiliser and early cutting for silage, and as a consequence, have become dominated by Rye-grass (Lolium perenne) with a low number of wild flower species and other grasses present. Protection of the remaining meadows, and the restoration of others is a high DEFRA priority in the Pennine Dales Environmentally Sensitive Area. One management regime adopted to encourage species diversity in these meadows is the introduction of Hay-rattle (Rhinanthus minor), a parasitic plant which feeds off and weakens the dominant grasses, opening up the meadow for invasion by more traditional species.

 Traditional hay meadows have been altered through the use of chemical fertiliser and early cutting for silage, and as a consequence, have become dominated by Rye-grass (Lolium perenne) with a low number of wild flower species and other grasses present. Protection of the remaining meadows, and the restoration of others is a high DEFRA priority in the Pennine Dales Environmentally Sensitive Area. One management regime adopted to encourage species diversity in these meadows is the introduction of Hay-rattle (Rhinanthus minor), a parasitic plant which feeds off and weakens the dominant grasses, opening up the meadow for invasion by more traditional species.

 Peacock, S., Antony-Babu, S., and Barnes, J.D. (2011). Impacts of a present and future ozone pollution climate on the biodiversity and productivity of a species-rich mesotrophic  grassland of conservation value. Atmospheric Environment (submitted)

Wedlich, K., Rintoul, N., Peacock, S., Cape, J.N., Coyle, M., Toet, S., Barnes, J.D., Ashmore, M. (2011). Effects of ozone on species composition in an upland grassland Oecologia – (accepted – OEC 2010-0935).

Toet, S., Ineson, P., Peacock, S., Ashmore, M. (2011). Elevated ozone reduces methane emissions from peatland mesocosms. Global Change Biology 17: 288-296.

Bardgett, R.D., Smith, R.S., Shiel, R.S., Peacock, S., Simkin, J.M., Quirk, H. & Hobbs, P.J. (2006). Parasitic plants indirectly regulate below-ground properties in grassland ecosystems. Nature 439: 969-972.

Smith, R.S., Shiel, R.S., Bardgett, R.D., Millward, D.W., Corkhill, P., Rolph, G., Hobbs, P.J. and Peacock, S. (2003). Soil microbial community, fertility, vegetation and diversity as targets in the restoration management of a meadow grassland. Journal of Applied Ecology 40: 51-64.

Peacock, S., Evans, E.J., Monaghan, J.D. and Rimmer, D.L. (1996). S Uptake and yield responses of crops grown on an S-deficient soil amended with industrial co-product gypsum. In: Recycling of Plant Nutrients from Industrial Processes. E. Schnug and I. Szabolcs (Eds.), CIEC-FAL, Braunschweig, Germany. pp.237- 242.

Anderson, H.A., Peacock, S., Berg, A. and Ferrier, R.C. (1995). Interactions between anthropogenic sulphate and marine salts in the Bs horizons of acidic soils in Scotland. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 85: 1083-1088.

Peacock, S. and Anderson, H.A. (1995). Sulphate dynamics - A laboratory manipulation study. In: Ecosystem Manipulation Experiments. A. Jenkins, R. C. Ferrier and C. Kirby (Eds.), Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium. pp. 150-152.

Peacock, S. and Anderson, H.A. (1993). Sulphate dynamics in the alpine soils of a Scottish catchment at risk from acidification. In: Acid Rain and Its Impact: The Critical Loads Debate. R.W. Battarbee (Ed.), ENSIS Publishing, London, U.K. pp.156-158.

Publications in preparation

Peacock, S., Wani, S.B. and Barnes, J.D. Impacts of future ozone climate on the response of six United Kingdom native spring bulb species (Liliaceae). To be submitted to Atmospheric Environment

BIO1003 - Plant Biology I - Module Leader

BIO2018 - Pollution of Air Water and Soil I - Module Leader

BIO3004 - Plant Biology III - Module Leader 

BIO1010 - Biology in Action - Contributor

BIO2002 - Biodiversity and Conservtion - Contributor 

BIO 2003 - Field ID Skills - Contributor

BIO2004 - Plant Biology II - Contributor

BIO3022 - Residential Field Course (Kielder; Crete) - Contributor

BIO 3032 - Cell Biology II - Contributor

BIO3031 - Pollution of Air Water and Soil II - Contributor

BIO 3194 - Review Project

BIO 3195 - Information Project

BIO 3196 - Research Project 

• Toet S, Ineson P, Peacock S, Ashmore M. Elevated ozone reduces methane emissions from peatland mesocosms. Global Change Biology 2011, 17(1), 288-296.
• Smith RS, Shiel RS, Bardgett RD, Millward D, Peacock S, Corkhill P, Evans P, Quirk H, Hobbs PJ. Long-term change in vegetation and soil microbial communities during the phased restoration of traditional meadow grassland. Journal of Applied Ecology 2008, 45(2), 670–679.
• Bardgett RD, Smith RS, Shiel RS, Peacock S, Simkin JM, Quirk H, Hobbs PJ. Parasitic plants indirectly regulate below-ground properties in grassland ecosystems. Nature 2006, 439(7079), 969-972.
• Smith RS, Shiel RS, Bardgett RD, Millward D, Corkhill P, Rolph G, Hobbs PJ, Peacock S. Soil microbial community, fertility, vegetation and diversity as targets in the restoration management of a meadow grassland. Journal of Applied Ecology 2003, 40(1), 51-64.
• Peacock S, Rimmer DL. The suitability of an iron oxide-rich gypsum by-product as a soil amendment. Journal of Environmental Quality 2000, 29(6), 1969-1975.
• Wedlich KV, Rintoul N, Peacock S, Cape JN, Coyle M, Toet S, Barnes J, Ashmore M. Effects of ozone on species composition in an upland grassland. Oecologia 2012, 168(4), 1137-1146.
• Peacock S, Mitton C, Bate A, Donaldson C. Advances in priority setting and the programme budgeting and marginal analysis (PBMA) framework. In: Garner, J.B., Christiansen, T.C, ed. Social Sciences in Health Care and Medicine. New York, USA: Nova Science Publishers, 2008, pp.117-138.
• Peacock S, Shiel RS, Jones HC, Poskitt J, Garnett JP, Frankland JC. Ecological mechanisms affecting the restoration of diversity in agriculturally improved meadow grassland. Colonisation of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizas in upland meadow grasslands:correlations with management and plant phosphorus status. 2001.