Duncan Ray, BSc

 

Project Leader, Ecology Division

Email: duncan.ray@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: +44 (0)131 445 2176
Tel direct: +44 (0)131 445 6980
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 5124

Address:
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY
UK

Prior to working for Forest Research, Duncan studied Geographical Science at Portsmouth University, followed by three years at Stirling University researching rainfall interception in the Ochils. He joined Forest Research in 1982 to research the effects of ground preparation on soil water regimes. He worked on the development of Ecological Site Classification and produced the Ecological Site Classification (ESC) Decision Support System in 2001.

Current role

Project Leader, Ecology Division

Managing the overall decision support systems (DSS) programme. This has a cross-cutting role in providing forest managers with research knowledge and findings from other Forest Research programmes in the form of user friendly computer-based systems.

Current programmes

Adapting Scotland's forests to a future climate
How will climate change affect forests and forestry in Scotland?

Decision support systems for biodiversity:

• Ecological Site Classification (ESC)
  Managing the development of ESC-GIS and ESC-DSS version 2 (web application)
• Habitats and Rare, Priority and Protected Species (HaRPPS)
  Developing a HaRPPS decision support system (web application) to provide forest and woodland managers with information related to the effects of forestry operations on species and habitats.

Soil-landscape modelling
Developing and testing models to predict soil quality in areas without detailed soil maps.

Habitat networks
Managing research on the implementation of Forest Habitat Networks in Scotland.

Climate change impacts
Investigating the impact of predicted climate change scenarios on the ecological suitability of trees species using computer models.

Research areas

See above.

Publications

Ray, D., Clare, J., & Purdy, K. (in press). Applying an Ecological Site Classification to woodland design at the landscape scale. In Proceedings of the Restoration of Wooded Landscapes, Heriot-Watt University, Forestry Commission Technical Paper, Edinburgh.

Ray, D., C. Quine, et al. (in press). “Implementing decision support systems in British Forestry: experiences of two PC-based systems supporting sustainable forest management.” Computers and Electronics in Agriculture.

Ray, D. (2003). Predicting National Vegetation Classification (NVC) woodland suitability using the Ecological Site Classification (ESC) Decision Support System (DSS), Chapter in a JNCC Proceedings of the National Vegetation Classification woodlands section, 10th Anniversary Meeting of the NVC Woodlands Publication at Peterborough, April 2001

Ray, D. (2003). Predicting National Vegetation Classification (NVC) woodland suitability using the Ecological Site Classification (ESC) decision support system (DSS). National Vegetation Classification - Ten years' experience using the woodland section. E. Goldberg, JNCC Report 335, Peterborough.

Ray, D and Broome, A. (2003). Ecological Site Classification: supporting decisions from the stand to the landscape scale ^(PDF-870K). Forest Research Annual Report 2001-2002.

Jones, A. T., H. Gray, et al. (2002). “Strategic application of modelling forest potential: calculating local targets for native woodland Habitat Action Plans in Scotland.” Scottish Forestry 56(2): 81-89.

Ray, D. Pyatt D.G. and Broadmeadow, M. (2002). Modelling the future climatic suitability of plantation forest tree species.  In: Climate Change: Impacts on UK Forests.  Bulletin 125, Forestry Commission , Edinburgh.

Quine, C., J. Humphrey, et al. (2002). “An approach to predicting the potential forest composition and disturbance regime for a highly modified landscape: a pilot study of Strathdon in the Scottish Highlands.” Silva Fennica 36(1): 233-247.

Clare, J. & Ray, D. (2001). A Spatial Model of Ecological Site Classification for forest management in Britain. Proceedings of the 4th AGILE Conference on Geographic Information Science in Brno, April 19-21 edited by Prof Milan Konecny, 2001.

Pyatt, D.G., Ray, D., & Fletcher, J. (2001). An Ecological Site Classification for Forestry in Great Britain :Bulletin 124 Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Ray, D. (2001). Class structure lives on in woods. Forestry & British Timber 30(5), pp 27-29.

Ray, D. (2001). Ecological Site Classification Decision Support System V1.7 Forestry Commission - Edinburgh.

Ray, D. (2001). Ecological Site Classification Decision Support System (ESC-DSS) ICF News 3, p 4

Anderson, A.R., Ray, D. and Pyatt, D.G. (2000). Physical and hydrological impacts of blanket bog afforestation at Bad a' Cheo, Caithness: the first five years. Forestry 73, (5).

Ray, D. & Nicoll B.C. (1998).  The effect of  soil water-table depth on root-plate development and stability of Sitka spruce, Forestry, 71, 169-182.

Ray, D, Reynolds, K., Slade, J. & Hodge, S.J. (1998). A spatial solution to Ecological Site Classification for British forestry using Ecosystem Management Decision Support.  Procceedings of 3rd International GeoComputation Conference, University of Bristol, September 1998.

Miller, J.D., Anderson, H.A., Ray, D. & Anderson, A.R. (1996). Impact of some initial forestry practices on the drainage waters from blanket  peatlands. Forestry, 69, 193-204.

Moore, R., Anderson, A.R., Ray, D., Walker, C., Pyatt, D.G., Evans, H.F., Carter, C.I., Straw, N.A., Wainhouse, D. and Winter, T.G. (1996). Below ground biodiversity - a literature review for the British Isles, particularly Scotland.  (Poster), In: Taylor, A.G. Gordon, J.E and Usher, M.B/, (eds) Soils, sustainability and the natural heritage. HMSO, London.

Nicoll, B.C. and Ray, D. (1996). Adaptive growth of tree root systems in  response to wind action and site conditions, Tree Physiology 16, p891-898.

Ray, D. and Morgan, J. (1996).  Better establishment and stability from ditch mounding on peaty gleys?  Forestry and British Timber,  25,  p38-40.

Ray, D., Suarez, J. and Pyatt, D.G. (1996). Development of an Ecological  Site Classification System Decision Support System for British Forestry. Proceedings: 1st International Conference on
 GeoComputation, Leeds University, September 1996.

Moore, R., Anderson, A.R., Ray, D., Walker, C., Pyatt, D.G., Evans, H.F., Carter, C.I., Straw, N.A., Wainhouse, D. and Winter, T.G. (1995). Soil biodiversity - a literature review.  Scottish Natural Heritage, Review 17.

Ray, D. (1994).  The Forests and Water Guidelines and riparian management.  In: I. Glimerveen and A Ritchie, eds.  What is the value of river woodlands?  Proceedings of a discussion meeting Melrose April 1993.  Institute of Chartered Foresters and British Ecological Society.

Ray, D. and Nicoll, B.C. (1994).  Effects of soil water on root development and stability of Sitka spruce. Journal of Experimental Botany (supplement), 46 p 47.

Ray, D. and Schweizer, S. (1994).  A study of the oxygen regime of deep peat under plantations of Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine.  Soil Use and Management, 10, p129-136.

Ray, D. (1993).  Clay soils . Report on Forest Research 1992,  Forestry Commission , HMSO, Edinburgh.

Ray, D. (1993).  Forests and Water Guidelines Update.  Forestry and British Timber 22(11), p21-24.

Ray, D., White, I.M.S and Pyatt, D.G. (1992). The effect of ditches, slope and peat thickness on the water regime of a forested gley soil.  Soil Use and Management, 8(2), p105-111.

Ray, D. (1992).  Clay soils.  Report on Forest Research 1991,  Forestry Commission , HMSO, Edinburgh.

Nelson, D.G and Ray, D. (1990).  Establishment of Sitka spruce in relation to mound size, plant handling and soil temperature.  Research Information Note 167,  Forestry Commission, Farnham.

Ray, D. and Anderson, A.R. (1990).  Soil temperature regimes of mounds on gley soils.  Research Information Note 168,  Forestry Commission, Farnham.

Tabbush, P.M. and Ray, D. (1989).  Effects of rough handling and microsite on the establishment of Sitka spruce on clearfelled site in upland Britain.  Forestry Supplement 62,p289-296.

Ray, D., Pyatt, D.G. and White, I.M.S. (1987).  The effect of the frequency of sampling on the observed concentration of oxygen in an afforested peat soil.  Journal of Soil Science, 38 p 115-122.