Dr Gillian Rapson PhD, BA, BSc(Hons)

Contact details

• Location: 125, AgHort A
  Campus: Manawatu

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy - University of Otago (1985)
• Bachelor of Arts - University of Otago (1979)
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) - University of Otago (1979)

Prizes and Awards

• Certificate of Excellence presented "in recognition of a significant contribution to the advancement/promotion of science in the Manawatu through her dedication to conservation activities in the Manawatu region, particularly for her long-standing involvement with Keeble's Bush and for her public promotion of botanical sciences". - Royal Society of New Zealand, Manawatu Branch, (2017)

Research Interests

My research topic is vulnerability of vegetation to both endogenous and anthropogenic disturbances and how these impact on ecosystem sustainability. I investigate how vegetation (esp. New Zealand's) normally functions, and how it responds to novel perturbations (often due to human impacts), compared with changes within its evolutionary "experience", as a measure of vegetation's vulnerability. Focus is on wetlands and short-turf vegetation, e.g. dunes, grasslands, urban areas and alpine vegetation, but I work in a range of vegetation types as the situation permits. I am aiming for the point where generalisation to vulnerability issues will become appropriate.

My approach is to use survey and other field techniques, complemented by lab studies where necessary, and using modern analytical techniques, though I also maintain a large database, compiled from bibliographic sources, which is shared with colleagues. Where possible I incorporate students, both post-grad. and under-grad. into my research, as they bring lots of energy and enthusiasm, as well as novel ideas. I am meticulously accurate in my data collation, and paper preparation, aiming to present uncontrovertible material.

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship, Resource Development and Management, Design – for Commerce, Community and Culture, Health and Well-being, Future Food Systems

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Biological Adaptation (060303): Biological Sciences (060000): Community Ecology (060202): Ecological Physiology (060203): Ecology (060200): Evolutionary Biology (060300): Genetics (060400): Global Change Biology (069902): Other Biological Sciences (069900): Plant Systematics and Taxonomy (060310): Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics (060411): Speciation and Extinction (060311): Terrestrial Ecology (060208)

Keywords

Dunes, especially Manawatu

Wetlands, especially mires

Restoration, especially forests

Grasslands, especially carbon dynamics

Invasions, including in urban areas

Consultancy

• Now to eternity - Horizons Regional Council
  Restoration planting programmes
• For ever - Department of Conservation
  Sand dune dynamics

Languages

• English
  Last used: Now
  Spoken ability: Excellent
  Written ability: Excellent
• French
  Last used: Last year
  Spoken ability: Needs work
  Written ability: Needs work
• German
  Last used: Last year
  Spoken ability: Needs work
  Written ability: Needs work
• Anglo-Saxon
  Last used: Ages ago
  Spoken ability: Needs work
  Written ability: Needs work

Teaching Statement

Teaching - keen on field trips and getting wet, cold and dirty!

Courses Coordinated

• 196.213 Microbial Ecology
• 196.316 New Zealand Plant Ecology
• 196.726 Plant Ecology

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Supervisor of:

• 2015 - Matthew Krna - Doctor of Philosophy
  Productivity, decomposition and carbon sequestration of Chionochloa species across altitudinal gradients in montane tussock grasslands of New Zealand
• 2000 - Kim McBreen - Doctor of Philosophy
  Kamahi Decline in Tongariro National Park.
• 1997 - Vaughan Keesing - Doctor of Philosophy
  Impacts of invasions on community structure: habitat and invertebrate assemblage responses to *Calluna* *vulgaris* L. Hull, in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand.

Other Links

• Jill's home page - Very out of date, but...