Research interests:

Dr. Noble's main interest is developing models of the changes in ecosystems which are affected by disturbances such as fire, grazing or climate change. He has worked in arid ecosystems, temperate and tropical forests, savannas and woodlands. The models are designed to produce results relevant to landscape management, ecologically sustainable development and to assessing the impacts of global climate change.

Dr. Noble's emphasis is on qualitative and quantitative descriptions of ecosystem functioning which can be tested by experimental manipulations of field populations and supported by laboratory studies where appropriate. He has used analyses of long-term data bases, field studies of population dynamics and computer simulation techniques to develop predictive models of vegetation change. In recent years he has become interested in rigorously testing the ecological assumptions that are incorporated in policy development for sustainably managing our biotic resources.

Other affiliations/interests:

Professor of Global Change Research and Group Leader Ecosystem Dynamics Group