Jesper Riis Christiansen

Research
My research here at UBC aims to understand the links between greenhouse gases, biogeochemical processes and the soil microbial community across gradients of hydrology, tree species and soil chemistry. It is my goal to increase the understanding of how environmental changes will affect the dynamics and regulation of the strong greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane in forest soils. My main study site represents a soil hydrology and forest type transition from Hemlock-amabilis fir over Cedar-Hemlock to Coastal Fir. The site is at Beaver Lake near the city of Port McNeill on Vancouver Island.

Background
I have a MSc in soil geography (2006) from University of Copenhagen and obtained my PhD degree (2010) in soil biogeochemistry from University of Copenhagen in 2010. My research during my MSc and PhD focused on measuring and modeling tree species effects on water and N balances in temperate forests as well as studying how changes in soil hydrology and land use affected dynamics of nitrous oxide and methane. After my PhD I worked as a researcher at University of Copenhagen continuing and expanding the studies initiated during my PhD.

Fun
I have two kids and a wife, so my spare time is spent enjoying my family. I like to go on fishing and camping trips.

Supervisor
Sue Grayston and Cindy Prescott

Degree
Post-doctoral fellow

Selected publications

Christiansen, J.R., Gundersen, P., Frederiksen, P., Vesterdal, L. (2012). Influence of hydromorphic soil conditions on greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon stocks in a Danish temperate forest. Forest Ecology and Management, 284, 185-195.

Christiansen, J.R., Vesterdal, L., Gundersen, P. (2012). Nitrous oxide and methane exchange in two small temperate forest catchments—effects of hydrological gradients and implications for global warming potentials of forest soils. Biogeochemistry, 107, 437-454.

Vesterdal, L., Elberling, B., Christiansen, J.R., Schmidt, I.K., Callesen, I. (2012) Soil respiration and rates of soil C turnover differ among six common European tree species. Forest Ecology and Management, 264, 185-196.

Christiansen, J.R., Gundersen, P. (2011) Stand age and tree species affect N2O and CH4 exchange from afforested soils. Biogeosciences, 8, 2535-2546.

Christiansen, J.R., Korhonen, J.F.J., Juszczak, R., Giebels, M., Pihlatie, M. (2011). Assessing the effects of chamber placement, manual sampling and headspace mixing on CH4 fluxes in a laboratory experiment. Plant and Soil, 343, 171-183.

Christiansen, J.R., Vesterdal, L., Callesen, I., Elberling, B., Schmidt, I.K., Gundersen, P. (2010). Role of six European tree species and land-use legacy for nitrogen and water budgets in forests. Global Change Biology, 16, p. 2224 – 2240.