Gillian Rapson
Institute of Agriculture and Environment
Massey University
New Zealand
Biography
Dr. Gillian Rapson is currently working as a Senior Lecturer in Ecology / Zoology in the Department of Agriculture and Environment, massey University , New Zealand. Dr. Gillian Rapson is currently working as a Senior Lecturer in Ecology / Zoology in the Department of Agriculture and Environment, massey University , New Zealand.
Research Interest
Her 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.
