Staff Profile
Abby Mycroft
Lecturer in Geography
I am an Environmental Scientist, specialising in ecology, and soil and water sciences, focusing on the processes which underpin ecosystem service delivery.
I studied at The University of York for my PhD in peatland science and began teaching at York St John during the finishing stages of the project in 2022. Prior to my PhD, I worked as an Organics Analyst in a commercial laboratory, specialising in GC-MS analysis of soil and waters whilst supervising a small group of technicians. I hold a BSc in Environmental Science with a Certificate in European Studies from the University of Nottingham with a study abroad placement at L’École d'Ingénieurs de Purpan, and a MSc in Hydrogeology from the University of Birmingham.
- School – School of Humanities
- Email – a.mycroft@yorksj.ac.uk
Further information
Teaching
I am co-course lead for the undergraduate Geography programs (BA and BSc) and manage academic activities in the Geoscience laboratory.
I currently teach on modules spanning the discipline of physical geography and quantitative data analysis.
I currently lead the following modules:
First year:
- Earth Systems
Second year:
- Global Ecosystems and Biogeography
Third year:
- Habitat Management
- International Fieldwork
I current co-teach on the following second year modules:
- Quantitative Methods
I also supervise third year Geography dissertations.
Research
My research interests are centred around ecology, hydrology, and soil sciences and links between land management and climate change. I am interested in the underpinning processes governing ecosystem service provisioning such as soil-biota interactions and soil geochemical processes.
My PhD explored peat chemical properties and how these impacted blanket bog ecosystem service provisioning, specifically carbon storage and water quality. The project aimed to fill crucial evidence gaps which limited process level understanding, and the ability of restoration projects and water companies to explain currently observed and predict future changes in carbon-cycling and water quality in relation to habitat status, management and climate. The project (alongside work undertaken as part of a larger catchment scale project Peatland ES-UK) addressed an urgent UK research need regarding long-term and catchment-scale replicated evidence on blanket bog management and climate impacts. A novel-mesocosm approach was used to allow regular monitoring and sampling, which would not have been possible in-field, and combined laboratory water analysis and greenhouse gas flux measurements to make an assessment on best blanket bog management practice. Drinking water treatment efficiencies of peatland waters (in the context of disinfectant by-product formation and dissolved organic carbon removal) was also tested. A dual-wavelength (UV-absorbance) method was used to enable assessment of a waters disinfect by-product formation potential.
Current ongoing research
- Characterisation of peatland organic matter using 13C NMR in collaboration with Dr Coral Mycroft (University of Oxford) - Project lead
- Cricket grounds, climate resilience and biodiversity: A study of perceptions and realities of ecosystem service provisioning in Yorkshire, UK in collaboration with Dr Jude Parks and Dr Lucy Jones - Project lead
- Groundwater sapping process and form at the Hole of Horcum, North York Moors, in collaboration with Dr Pauline Couper and Dr Lucy jones
Publications and conferences
Mycroft, Abby ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0943-6508 (2024) Towards unravelling the peatland carbon cycle 'black box': linking peatland management, habitat status, and climate to water chemistry and quality, and greenhouse gas fluxes. PhD thesis, University of York.
2022, Poster presentation - UK peatland water quality considering vegetation, management and climate, British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Edinburgh.
2021, Presentation, Towards unravelling the 'Black Box' of peatland carbon: Linking peatland habitat condition and management to water chemistry and quality. European Geosciences Union General Assembly.
2020, Presentation, The Peatland Carbon Black Box: Linking peatland habitat condition and management to water quality. British Ecological Society Annual Meeting.
2020, Poster presentation, The carbon black box-linking peatland soil chemistry to water quality. Flow Country Research Conference 6: Understanding dynamics, Thurso, Scotland.
Professional activities
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I am a member of the British Ecological Society and the Peatlands, and Plants, Soils, and Ecosystems special interest groups.
