Dr Nicola Stevens

Trapnell Research Fellow in African Environments

Academic Profile

Nicola is the current Trapnell Fellow in African Environments. My current research interests are centred around understanding the dynamics of African grassy ecosystems and how they are changing in the Anthropocene. I'm especially interested in understanding how altered fire and herbivory regimes against a backdrop of changing CO2 concentrations are driving changes. Along this vein I have become particularly interested in the phenomenon of woody encroachment where open ecosystems across the tropics are being invaded by native woody species. It has also driven me to improve our ability to predict future species ranges under global change by improving our mechanistic understanding of range edges in disturbance limited systems. I have ongoing projects in Southern and East Africa.

Selected Publications

For a full publications list, please see Google Scholar

Howard, J., Milne, L., Stevens, N., Oberlander, K., Botha, M. and Greve, M. (2023) South African Journal of Botany, 158, pp. 326–333.
1489492 - Basal bud banks are the primary determinants of su...
Skhosana, F., Thenga, H., Mateyisi, M., von Maltitz, G., Midgley, G. and Stevens, N. (2023) Ecology and evolution, 13(3), p. e9868.
1334128 - Steal the rain: Interception loses and rainfall pa...
Telford, E., Stevens, N., Midgley, G. and Lehmann, C. (2023) PLANT ECOLOGY, 224(4), pp. 387–402.
1334572 - Nodulation alleviates the stress of lower water av...
Malhi, Y., Lander, T., le Roux, E., Stevens, N., Macias-Fauria, M., Wedding, L., Girardin, C., Kristensen, J., Sandom, C., Evans, T., Svenning, J.-C. and Canney, S. (2022) Current Biology, 32(4), pp. R181 - R196.
1242285 - The role of large wild animals in climate change m...
Malhi, Y., Lander, T., le Roux, E., Stevens, N., Macias-Fauria, M., Wedding, L., Girardin, C., Kristensen, J., Sandom, C., Evans, T., Svenning, J.-C. and Canney, S. (2022) Current biology : CB, 32(4), pp. R181 - R196.
1223254 - The role of large wild animals in climate change m...
Luvuno, L., Biggs, R., Stevens, N. and Esler, K. (2022) Ecology and Society, 27(1).
1194116 - Perceived impacts of woody encroachment on ecosyst...
Stevens, N., Bond, W., Feurdean, A. and Lehmann, C. (2022) ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES, 47, pp. 261–289.
1275720 - Grassy Ecosystems in the Anthropocene
White, J., Stevens, N., Fisher, J., Archibald, S. and Reynolds, C. (2022) PEOPLE AND NATURE, 4(4), pp. 1020–1031.
1229292 - Nature-reliant, low-income households face the hig...
White, J., Stevens, N., Fisher, J., Archibald, S. and Reynolds, C. (2022) PEOPLE AND NATURE, 4(4), pp. 1020–1031.
1265035 - Nature-reliant, low-income households face the hig...
Lima, K., Stevens, N., Wisely, S., Fletcher, R., Monadjeme, A., Austim, J., Mahlabae, T. and McCleery, R. (2021) Rangeland Ecology and Management, 78, pp. 104–111.
1181067 - Landscape heterogeneity and woody encroachment dec...
Dr Nicola Stevens
Environmental Change Institute