Ecohydrologist Prof David Gowing will speak on “Plant species diversity: the role of soil moisture”. He will discuss the conundrum of how up to 40 species can all sustain themselves in a single metre square of grassland, referencing research in English meadows from the past 20 years. The temporal variability of our weather may be an important factor in maintaining the species-richness of our grasslands.

David Gowing studied Botany as a first degree and gained a PhD in plant-water relations. He has worked on the link between vegetation composition and soil water for twenty-five years, at Lancaster, Cranfield and now the Open University. He is currently the Professor of Botany at the Open University, where he contributes to the Environmental Science programme, teaching undergraduates how to appreciate and record vegetation in the field a particular motivation.

This meeting is held jointly with BBOWT and admission is £2/head.