Prof. Jennifer McElwain Delivers Oxford Autumn Lecture
Trees Through Time with Prof. Jennifer McElwain
Last week, Professor Jennifer McElwain delivered her invited public lecture “Trees Through Time” as part of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum Autumn Lecture Series. The event took place at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on Thursday, 20 November, and was attended both in person and online.
If you missed the live lecture, the full recording is now available on YouTube:
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/dpNrLJXBrMw
In the talk, Jennifer explores the deep-time history of Earth’s forests, from the earliest land plants to the rise of complex tree ecosystems, and shows how these evolutionary milestones fundamentally shaped our planet’s climate. She highlights how shifts in plant life altered atmospheric CO₂, influenced global temperatures, and even contributed to major environmental transitions. By looking at ancient ecosystems preserved in the fossil record, Jennifer reveals what they can teach us about today’s rapidly changing climate and the future resilience of modern forests.
Visit from Prof. Isabel Patricia Montañez (UC Davis)
Prof. Isabel Patricia Montañez Visits Trinity and Delivers Lecture on the Evolution of Atmospheric CO₂
This week, PlantClimateLab was delighted to welcome Prof. Isabel Patricia Montañez, the Chancellor’s Leadership Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis.
Prof. Montañez’s research explores the evolution of atmospheric CO₂ through deep time, investigating how global carbon cycling, climate, and ecosystems interacted during major transitions from glaciated to non-glaciated worlds. Her pioneering work on paleo-CO₂ reconstructions provides essential insights into how Earth’s climate system responds to CO₂-driven change, offering vital analogues for our warming future.
During her visit, Prof. Montañez delivered a lecture at Trinity College Dublin titled: “Reconstructing the Evolution of Atmospheric CO₂: Lessons from the Deep Past for Our Climate Future.” In her talk, she discussed the challenges and advances in constraining paleo-CO₂ estimates and outlined a path forward toward building a next-generation CO₂ record for the past 400 million years. She also presented new work reconstructing CO₂–climate–ecosystem feedbacks during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age, when CO₂ levels fluctuated within ranges comparable to both the last ice age and projections for this century. The event concluded with a wine and cheese reception (6–8 pm, Main Foyer, Museum Building), offering an opportunity for informal discussion and collaboration.
Earlier in the day, Catarina and Will from our group joined Prof. Montañez for lunch and a discussion on ongoing research connections – including her role as Catarina’s co-PI for her PhD project. Later, she took time to meet and chat with other members of the team, showing genuine interest in their work and offering insightful, thoughtful feedback – exactly the kind of generous exchange that defines great scientific collaboration.
It was a great pleasure to host Prof. Montañez and to exchange ideas on the future of paleo-CO₂ research and its implications for understanding Earth’s changing climate.
Christos Presents PlantClimateLab at Trinity’s Climate Gateway Launch
PlantClimateLab at Trinity College Dublin’s Climate Gateway Launch
Recently, Dr Christos Chondrogiannis had the chance to represent PlantClimateLab at the launch of the new Climate Gateway at Trinity College Dublin.
The event, held on 4 November 2025, brought together researchers, policy-makers, industry leaders, and community partners to mark the opening of this new initiative aimed at building momentum for a more resilient, climate-ready future.
Christos presented our posters highlighting the lab’s work on plant-based climate solutions, ecosystem modelling, and nature-inspired adaptation strategies, like plant-enhanced weathering as a part of the Terraform project. He also had the opportunity to connect with colleagues from across Trinity and beyond who are working on climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability research.
The Climate Gateway aims to connect Trinity expertise with wider society – linking policy, business, education, and communities to co-create actionable climate solutions. Our participation reflects PlantClimateLab’s ongoing commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to tackling the climate challenge.
We’re excited to continue contributing to the Climate Gateway network and exploring new ways our research can support Ireland’s transition to a sustainable, nature-positive future.
Professor McElwain Featured on the Blindboy Podcast
Jennifer McElwain Joins Blindboy for a Conversation on the Evolution of Life on Earth
Professor Jennifer McElwain recently joined Blindboy for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of plants, mass extinction events, and how life on Earth has literally terraformed our planet over deep time – shaping the atmosphere, climate, and environments we depend on today.
The discussion beautifully echoes the themes at the heart of our Terraform Project, where we explore how plants have driven planetary change throughout Earth’s history and what that can teach us about future climate resilience and life beyond Earth.
True to Blindboy’s unique and creative interview style, the conversation is anything but conventional — curious, humorous, and thought-provoking, bringing complex plant science to life in a way that’s accessible and engaging. Professor McElwain’s reflections highlight how studying ancient ecosystems not only deepens our understanding of the past but also offers powerful insights into how living systems shape planetary environments.
It’s not every day you hear palaeobotany, climate science, and philosophical musings on humanity’s place in the universe all in one podcast episode.
Listen and read (transcript available):
How Ancient Vegetation Shaped Water Availability
How evolving plants transformed Earth’s water cycle during its last ice age.
A new paper by Will Matthaeus, Jenny McElwain, and colleagues, published in Global Ecology & Biogeography, examines how vegetation change influenced water balance during the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age. Using the paleo-ecosystem model Paleo-BGC v2.0, driven by CESM climate simulations for approximately 300 million years ago, the study examines how plant functional traits influenced hydrology under ancient icehouse conditions.
By comparing wet-adapted and dry-adapted plant types based on fossil trait data, the research shows that the shift toward drought-tolerant vegetation reduced runoff by up to 36%. This indicates that vegetation change alone had a major effect on water availability, independent of atmospheric CO₂ levels.
The findings highlight how plant evolution shaped Earth’s water cycle, reinforcing the spread of drought-tolerant species while limiting water-dependent lineages. The work forms part of the ERC-funded TERRAFORM project, led by Professor Jenny McElwain, which investigates how plants have transformed Earth system processes through geological time.
Read the paper here: Global Ecology & Biogeography
Greenland fossils uncover ancient climate crisis
Fossil plants reveal ecosystem change at the end-Triassic.
We are delighted to announce a new publication from our group:
“Census collection of two fossil plant localities in Jameson Land, East Greenland supports regional ecological turnover and diversity loss at the end-Triassic mass extinction.”
This research provides new insight into how ancient plant communities in East Greenland were affected during one of Earth’s most dramatic biodiversity crises – the end-Triassic mass extinction (~201 million years ago). By conducting detailed fossil census collections, our team was able to reconstruct changes in plant diversity and community structure across this critical interval. The results highlight significant ecological turnover and diversity loss, reflecting how global environmental stress reshaped ecosystems at the time. The study also demonstrates how fossil plant records can be used to track the ecological consequences of past climate crises, knowledge that is increasingly relevant as we seek to understand biodiversity responses to rapid environmental change today.
This paper marks an exciting milestone for Antonietta Knetge, PhD student in the Plant Climate Lab, who led the work as her first first-author publication. Congratulations, Antonietta!
We also acknowledge the excellent contributions of Catarina Barbosa and William Matthaeus through the ERC-funded Terraform project, as well as the leadership of Professor Jennifer McElwain. Our thanks go to all our collaborators who helped bring this study to fruition.
The paper is open access and available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031018225005516
Plant-Climate Interaction Lab Research Symposium 2025
Plant-Climate Interaction Lab Symposium
In July, the Plant-Climate Interaction Lab hosted a highly successful Research Symposium, where lab members presented their current research, shared insights, and discussed future directions. The event offered a platform for both students and faculty to engage in fruitful discussions and celebrate the diversity of research in the lab.
Jennifer McElwain kicked off the symposium with an overview of the lab’s main goals and past and current research. Her talk set the stage for the day and was especially informative for the internship students attending.
Dr Miriam Slodownik presented updates on her work with the Witness Tree Project, discussing recent fieldwork and future directions. Miriam also shared exciting news about her upcoming role as an MSCA Fellow and the new position to be advertised for the Witness Tree project.
Charlotte Salter-Townshend shared her research on air pollution mitigation and tree diversity, delving into the question of which species in the Witness Tree Project are most effective at capturing particulate matter. She also discussed the methods she uses, including SEM image analysis and various plant measurement techniques.
Ellen Colligan, a student intern, presented her summer research focusing on pollution trends in Dublin City. She highlighted the data she collected on stomatal conductance, particulate matter, and water use efficiency, offering valuable insights for future climate policy.
Ciaran Farrell, a 3rd Year Botany Undergraduate, alongside Ríona McDonnell, reflected on their experience with the Cathcart Schuler Internship in Conservation Horticulture at the TCD Botanic Gardens. Their work involved garden maintenance, public engagement, and participation in various projects, including the Witness Tree Project.
Dr Ailbhe Brazel presented her work on molecular mechanisms in plants, detailing her contributions to the Witness Tree Project and her ongoing research on epigenetic mechanisms of hypoxia in plants. Ailbhe also shared updates on collaborative work with Dr Kamila Kwasniewska on plant evolution markers.
Muhammad Siddiq introduced his PlantChem Project, which investigates how the rise in atmospheric CO₂ influences the elemental composition of plants. His talk focused on understanding the broader implications of atmospheric changes on plant chemistry.
Antonietta Knetge, though unable to attend in person, shared a video update on her research involving the Greenland fossil collection and her work on plant halotolerance in Cretaceous conifers. The results of her study will soon be published.
Catarina Barbosa presented her research on how counting methods influence the interpretation of plant paleoecological data. She discussed the analytical techniques she used, such as Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling with Bray-Curtis Distance, to differentiate plant material from fossilized specimens.
Dr William Mattheaous provided updates from his recent trip to the US, where he hosted the Cell to Ecosystems Summer Course 2025. He also discussed his presentation at the Life and Planet 2025 conference, focusing on leaf decomposition and weathering potential as part of the Terraform project.
Dr Blanka Kovacs introduced an innovative weathering experiment to be conducted at the National Botanic Gardens, using volcanic ash and tea bags to study environmental processes. Her upcoming research is set to contribute significantly to the Terraform project.
Dr Christos Chondrogiannis and Robin Noble presented their ongoing evolutionary experiment in the TTEC, VAL Lab. They shared preliminary results and discussed the physiological measurements they are using to explore plant evolution under different conditions.
The symposium was a great success, offering a glimpse into the exciting research happening in the lab. Stay tuned for further updates as these projects continue to unfold.
Professor Jennifer McElwain Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
First Irish Botanist Recognized for Groundbreaking Research on Climate Change and Fossil Plants
We are proud to announce that Professor Jennifer McElwain, Principal Investigator at the PlantClimateLab and Chair of Botany in Trinity College Dublin’s School of Natural Sciences, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This prestigious honour recognises her exceptional contributions to environmental science, particularly her pioneering research on fossil plants and their role in understanding past atmospheric changes and climate events.
Prof. McElwain’s groundbreaking work has reshaped our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere over millions of years. Through her research on fossil plants, she has uncovered critical insights into how greenhouse gases – such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and sulphur dioxide – have influenced climate change and biodiversity throughout history. Her research has also focused on investigating the connection between atmospheric changes and plant extinction events, especially during the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction around 200 million years ago.
Reflecting on her election, Prof. McElwain shared,
“I’m deeply honoured to have been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. My professional life has been devoted to using plants – both fossil and living – as ‘sensors’ or ‘proxies’ of past atmospheric gas content to study the evolution of atmospheric composition. This work feels more important than ever, as global climate change continues to impact the world. My team and I have discovered that one of the common denominators of past extinction events is that Earth’s biota faced substantial and rapid global warming, often caused by the release of large volumes of greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane. We are seeing similar conditions unfold today, and it’s crucial that we intensify our efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions and invest in green technologies.”
Prof. McElwain’s election as a Fellow of the Royal Society makes her the first botanist in Ireland to receive this honor since Henry Horatio Dixon in 1930. Her distinguished career has earned her numerous accolades, including the Royal Irish Academy Gold Medal in Environmental Sciences (2022) and the President’s Medal of the Palaeontological Association (2017). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy in 2017 and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 2019.
This recognition underscores Prof. McElwain’s ongoing dedication to advancing scientific knowledge about climate change and highlights the essential role that plants play in shaping both our planet’s past and its future.
Plant-Climate Interaction Lab in Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains Field Day – Peatlands Rock!
This summer, the Plant-Climate Interaction Lab spent a day in the Wicklow Mountains to deepen our understanding of Irish upland ecosystems. Guided by Kamila, our route took us up Tonelagee, one of Wicklow’s highest peaks, with stunning views over the heart-shaped Lough Ouler.
Along the way, we explored the unique ecology of Irish peatlands. Jenny offered fascinating insights into how these boggy landscapes formed over thousands of years and their crucial role in carbon storage and climate resilience. Blanka brought a geological perspective, explaining the processes that shaped the Wicklow Mountains, including their granite composition and glacial history.
We observed all three native types of Irish heather: ling heather (Calluna vulgaris), bell heather (Erica cinerea), and cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix). Bilberries were also plentiful, alongside striking cup lichens with red apothecia (Cladonia species). One of the botanical highlights of the day was spotting the rare marsh clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata), a species of conservation concern in Ireland.
And just when we thought the day couldn’t offer more surprises, we encountered a spectacular emperor moth caterpillar (Saturnia pavonia) with its vivid green body and yellow-ringed eye spots, a beautiful reminder of the biodiversity hidden in these upland habitats.
This field day was not only an opportunity to learn but also a chance to spend time together in nature, sharing knowledge, curiosity, and inspiration.
Launching the Future of Paleoecology
The Inaugural Cells to Ecosystems Summer Training Course
In June 2025, ERC-TERRAFORM Postdoctoral Research Fellow William J. Matthaeus, alongside his NSF-FIXER coinvestigators Jonathan P. Wilson (Haverford College), Wray Jones, Joseph D. White (Baylor University), and Principal Investigator Daniel J. Peppe (Baylor University), successfully organized and taught the inaugural Cells to Ecosystems Paleoecology Summer Training Course at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, United States. The event welcomed ten graduate students from the US, EU, and UK for an intensive ten-day course focused on trait-based paleoecology.
This course, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aimed to provide early-career researchers with the necessary tools to study deep-time ecosystems. It covered methodologies for making inferences about ancient vegetation, starting with cell-scale measurements from fossilized plant materials and advancing to simulations of paleo-ecosystems. Instructors offered primers on paleobotany, biophysics, and computational modeling, ensuring that participants gained both theoretical insights and practical skills.
The overarching goal of the course was to equip the next generation of Earth scientists with a shared understanding of trait-based paleoecology. By fostering a common language, the instructors hope to promote collaboration and enhance translational research between trait-based paleobotany and broader Earth system science.
Building on the success of the inaugural course, the instructors have already begun planning updates for an improved second iteration of the training, set for 2026. The positive reception and valuable feedback from participants are driving the ongoing refinement of this unique educational opportunity in paleoecology.
