Research interests

• Dryland forestry
• Climate change impacts on forestry
• Tree water use
• Forest ecophysiology.

Background

Craig Barton joined State Forests of NSW* in 2000 as a research officer investigating methods of improving forest carbon accounting. He studied the relationship between above and belowground biomass in trees under a range of conditions and investigated the potential of ground penetrating radar to determine root biomass. In 2002 he moved into research into dryland forestry and tree water use and leads a small team investigating the potential of trees to mitigate dryland salinity. 

He is currently a research scientist and holds an adjunct research fellowship at the University of Western Sydney where he spends part of his time running the whole tree chambers at the Hawkesbury Forest Experiment. This project funded by the Australian Greenhouse Office aims to improve our understanding of the impacts of climate change on Australia’s forests and woodlands. 

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.

Qualifications

• B.Sc. (Ecological Science Hons 1st) – University of Edinburgh 1988
• PhD Tree Physiology – University of Edinburgh 1997

Current projects

• Hawkesbury Forest Experiment: impacts of climate change on Australian forests 
• Key Sites for hydrology and salinity: investigating trees as mitigation for dryland salinity. 
• Integrating Forestry into salt source catchments. 

Select Publications

Montagu KD, Duttmer K, Barton CVM and Cowie A (2005) Developing general allometric relationships  for regional estimates of carbon sequestration – an example using Eucalyptus pilularis from seven contrasting sites. Forest Ecology and Management 204, 115-129.

Barton CVM and Montagu KD (2004) Detection of tree roots and determination of root diameters by ground penetrating radar under optimal conditions. Tree Physiology 24, 1323-1331.

Zeppel MJB, Murray BR, Barton CVM and Eamus D (2004) Seasonal responses of xylem sap velocity to VPD and solar radiation during drought in a stand of native trees in temperate Australia. Functional Plant Biology 31, 461-470.

Barton CVM (2001) A theoretical analysis of the influence of heterogeneity in chlorophyll distribution on leaf reflectance. Tree Physiology 21, 789-795.

Barton CVM and North PRJ (2001) Remote sensing of canopy light use efficiency using the photochemical reflectance index - model and sensitivity analysis. Remote Sensing of Environment 78, 264-273.

Medlyn BE, Barton CVM, Broadmeadow MSJ, Ceulemans R, De Angelis P, Forstreuter M, Freeman M, Jackson SB, Kellomaki S, Laitat E, Rey A, Roberntz P, Sigurdsson BD, Strassemeyer J, Wang K, Curtis PS and Jarvis PG (2001) Stomatal conductance of forest species after long-term exposure to elevated CO₂ concentration: a synthesis. New Phytologist 149, 247-264.

Barton CVM and Jarvis PG (1999) Growth response of branches of Picea sitchensis to four years exposure to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. New Phytologist 144, 233-243.

Medlyn BE, Badeck FW, de Pury DGG, Barton CVM, Broadmeadow M, Ceulemans R, de Angelis P, Forstreuter, M, Jach  ME, Kellomäki S, Laitat E, Marek M, Philippot S, Rey A, Strassemeyer J, Laitinen K, Liozon R, Portier B, Roberntz P, Wang K and Jarvis PG (1999) Effects of elevated [CO₂] on photosynthesis in European forest species: a meta-analysis of model parameters. Plant Cell and Environment 22, 1475-1495.

Barton CVM, Lee HSJ and Jarvis PG (1993) A branch bag and CO₂ control system for long-term CO₂ enrichment of mature Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.). Plant Cell and Environment 16, 1139-1148.

Professional associations and activities

• Adjunct Research Fellow at University of Western Sydney
• Member of Australian Society of Plant Scientists

Fields of Research

• 070504 Forestry Management and Environment
• 070508 Tree Nutrition and Physiology
• 069902 Global Change Biology

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Forest Ecophysiology
• Climate Change
• Elevated CO₂
• Dryland salinity

Contact details