I am currently a PhD candidate at the Oxford Center for the Environment, Environmental Change Institute. My project is based in the Peruvian Andes.

The slopes of the eastern Andes harbour the most dynamic and ecollogically diverse ecosystems in South America, with some of the greatest biodiversity on earth and a high proportion of endemic species. Recent studies suggest that tropical montane forests are the least studied and most vulnerable to warming climates. My PhD project aims to provide some insights into to the effects of climate change on tropical montane forests. It will do so by examining the interactions between environmental factors (temperature, rainfall, light) and key tropical montane forest ecosystem functions on a transect ranging from 220m (12.6 deg C) to 3000m (26.4 deg C) situated in the Kosnipata valley and Tambopata, Peru. The information obtained through this study will be used to provide impetus to research and conservation of South American forests, in the face of the impending threats caused by climate change.

Links www.eci.ox.ac.uk/teaching/doctoral/girardincecile.php
www.cecilegirardin.com/UpgradePresentation.ppt
www.cecilegirardin.com/BESPosterMarch2008.ppt

Family photos
jopotts.com


email: cecile.girardin(at)ouce.ox.ac.uk or gmail - cecilegirardin