Associate Professor Janice Lord, Our People, Department of Botany, University of Otago, New Zealand

Ecology and conservation, plants and fungi

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Email: janice.lord@otago.ac.nz

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Phone: +64 3 479 5131

I am a botanist with interests in the evolution, ecology and conservation of New Zealand’s unique plants, and how they interact with pollinators, seed dispersers and microbial mutualisms.

My research is motivated by a desire to provide plant-based knowledge that will contribute to species conservation, improved ecosystem services and climate change mitigation. I am currently focused on plant, seed and fungal biology in relation to large-scale native reforestation, in the context of both ecological restoration and carbon sequestration. Current work also includes ecology and regeneration of rare plants, plant structural complexity and invertebrate diversity, limits of beech forest expansion, and effects of weed control methods on native plants and fungi.

I am also interested in traditional use of plants by Māori, particularly how mātauranga and botanical knowledge intersect with respect to plants used in textiles. I was responsible for the design of the 100% native 'greenroof' on the University of Otago’s Greenstar-rated William James Building, and for Flora Finder, the smartphone application developed to help identify New Zealand's most common native trees, shrubs and weeds.

Research interests

Plant evolutionary ecology, reproduction and pollination biology; rare plant conservation; mycorrhizal fungi in ecological restoration; carbon sequestration by native plants; culturally important New Zealand plants.

Janice is Principal Investigator for the 1 Billion Trees project Ngā Kākano Whakahau in collaboration with Matt Larcombe and David Orlovich:

Listen to Janice explaining the significance of Mast Seeding for the 2019 Wild Dunedin podcast:
Wild Dunedin podcast (oar website)

Janice was recently invited to talk about the value of native trees for carbon sequestration in the Otago Climate Change Network seminar series, 24 September 2019:
Otago Climate Change Network (YouTube)

Janice is also a collaborator in the Alpine Ecology Research Group with a particular interest in alpine pollination mutualisms and impacts of climate change in alpine regions.
Alpine Ecology Research Group

Her research interests extend to other cold habitats such as the Subantartic islands. In a 2016 podcast from BBC’s Planet Earth II, Islands Episode, she explains her interest in subantarctic megaherbs:
Subantartic megaherbs (BBC website)

Teaching involvement

Paper code	Paper title
BIOL 123	Plants: How They Shape the World
BTNY 202	Plant and Fungal Diversity (course co-ordinator)
BTNY 301	Plant Ecology
BTNY 302	Plant Interactions
BTNY 465	Plants and Environment
BTNY 467	New Zealand Plant Ecology & Evolution
GENE 222	Genes, Chromosomes and Populations

Other departmental responsibilities

Curator
Otago Regional Herbarium
Disabilities Staff Liaison
Visit Disability Information and Support for further information
Kaiāwhina / Maori support
Visit Māori support network for Sciences for further information

Research Theme involvement

Janice is a Research Affiliate of CSAFE (Centre for Sustainability), and a member of the Otago Climate Change Network, OCCnet. She is also involved with the Catchments Otago theme and teaches into the Genetics programme.

Ask A Scientist

Janice has been a regular contributor to the Otago Daily Times' Ask a Scientist column.

Visit the Ask a Scientist page to view the questions and Janice's responses.

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Publications

van Galen, L. G., Orlovich, D. A., Lord, J. M., Nilsen, A. R., Dutoit, L., & Larcombe, M. J. (2023). Correlated evolution in an ectomycorrhizal host-symbiont system. New Phytologist. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/nph.18802

van Galen, L. G., Orlovich, D. A., Lord, J. M., Bohorquez, J., Nilsen, A. R., Summerfield, T. C., & Larcombe, M. J. (2023). Zeta diversity differentiates factors driving community assembly of rare and common ectomycorrhizal fungi. Molecular Ecology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/mec.16860

van Galen, L. G., Lord, J. M., Orlovich, D. A., & Larcombe, M. J. (2023). The effect of stratification and shade on germination of Nothofagus cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Oerst seeds [Short communication]. New Zealand Journal of Botany. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2022.2156355

Hartley, K. H., Beattie, J., & Lord, J. M. (2022). Shepherds to the subantarctic: The history and legacy of pasture plant introductions on Campbell Island/Motu Ihupuku, 1895–1931. International Review of Environmental History, 8(2), 103-125.

van Galen, L. G., Lord, J. M., Orlovich, D. A., Jowett, T., & Larcombe, M. J. (2022). Barriers to seedling establishment in grasslands: Implications for Nothofagus forest restoration and migration. Journal of Applied Ecology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.14331

Lord, J. M. (2020). Nature of alpine ecosystems in temperate mountains of New Zealand. In S. A. Elias (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the World's Biomes (Vol.1). (pp. 335-348). Elseveir. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.11891-3

Chapter in Book - Research

Lord, J. M., & Norton, D. A. (2007). Scale and the spatial concept of fragmentation. In J. C. J. M. van den Bergh, K. Button & P. Nijkamp (Eds.), Environmental planning. (pp. 532-537). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.

Chapter in Book - Research

Lord, J. M., Markey, A. S., & Marshall, J. (2001). Have frugivores influenced the evolution of fruit traits in New Zealand? In D. Levey, W. R. Silva & M. Galetti (Eds.), Seed dispersal and frugivory: Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. (pp. 55-68). Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: CABI Publishing.

Chapter in Book - Research

Westoby, M., Leishman, M., & Lord, J. (1997). Comparative ecology of seed size and dispersal. In J. Silvertown, M. Franco & J. L. Harper (Eds.), Plant life history: Ecology, phylogeny and evolution. (pp. 143-162). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Buxton, M. N., Anderson, B. J., & Lord, J. M. (2022). Moths can transfer pollen between flowers under experimental conditions. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 46(1), 3457. doi: 10.20417/nzjecol.46.7

Journal - Research Article

Lord, J. M., Schloots, C.-L., & Steel, J. B. (2022). Flammability trajectories following destocking and forestation: A case study in the New Zealand high country. Restoration Ecology, e13696. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/rec.13696

Journal - Research Article

Rubin, D., Sansom, C. E., Lucas, N. T., McAdam, C. J., Simpson, J., Lord, J. M., & Perry, N. B. (2022). O-acylated flavones in the alpine daisy Celmisia viscosa: Intraspecific variation. Journal of Natural Products. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00207

Journal - Research Article

Rubin, D., Sansom, C. E., Richards, D. J., Lucas, N. T., Garden, A. L., Saldivia Pérez, P. R., Lord, J. M., & Perry, N. B. (2022). Halimane diterpenes in the alpine daisy Celmisia viscosa: Absolute configuration, 2,6-dideoxyhexopyran-3-ulosides, conformational flexibility, and intraspecific variation. Journal of Natural Products. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00206

Journal - Research Article

Saldivia, P., Wagstaff, S. J., Breitwieser, I., Orlovich, D. A., & Lord, J. M. (2022). A generic taxonomic synopsis of the Pleurophyllum clade (Asteraceae: Astereae: Celmisiinae) with the recognition of the New Zealand rndemic new henus Macrolearia. Systematic Biology, 47(2), 607-634. doi: 10.1600/036364422X16512564801722

Journal - Research Article

Bohórquez, J., Nilsen, A. R., Larcombe, M. J., Orlovich, D. A., & Lord, J. M. (2021). Spore viability and germination of some ectomycorrhizal fungi from New Zealand and implications for forest restoration. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 59(2), 250-266. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2020.1862877

Journal - Research Article

van Galen, L. G., Lord, J. M., Orlovich, D. A., & Larcombe, M. J. (2021). Restoration of southern hemisphere beech (Nothofagaceae) forests: A meta-analysis. Restoration Ecology, 29(3), e13333. doi: 10.1111/rec.13333

Journal - Research Article

Iwasaki, J. M., Barratt, B. I. P., Jandt, J. M., Jowett, T. W. D., Lord, J. M., Mercer, A. R., & Dickinson, K. J. M. (2020). Honey bees do not displace foraging bumble bees on nectar-rich artificial flowers. Apidologie, 51, 137-146. doi: 10.1007/s13592-019-00690-z

Journal - Research Article

Ludwig, L. R., Kantvilas, G., Nilsen, A. R., Orlovich, D. A., Ohmura, Y., Summerfield, T. C., … Lord, J. M. (2020). A molecular-genetic reassessment of the circumscription of the lichen genus Icmadophila. Lichenologist, 52(3), 213-220. doi: 10.1017/S0024282920000122

Journal - Research Article

Saldivia, P., Wood, K. R., Orlovich, D. A., & Lord, J. M. (2020). Pacifigeron indivisus (Asteraceae: Astereae), a new species endemic to Rapa, Austral Islands, and a new delimitation of the Celmisia group. Phytotaxa, 442(4), 239-266. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.442.4.1

Journal - Research Article

Buxton, M. N., Anderson, B. J., Hoare, R. J. B., & Lord, J. M. (2019). Are moths the missing pollinators in subantarctic New Zealand? Polar Research, 38, 3545. doi: 10.33265/polar.v38.3545

Journal - Research Article

Hilton, M., Konlechner, T., McLachlan, K., Lim, D., & Lord, J. (2019). Long-lived seed banks of Ammophila arenaria prolong dune restoration programs. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 23, 461-471. doi: 10.1007/s11852-018-0675-0

Journal - Research Article

Saldivia, P., Vargas, O. M., Orlovich, D. A., & Lord, J. M. (2019). Nomenclatural priority of the genus Linochilus over Piofontia (Asteraceae: Astereae). Phytotaxa, 424(3), 158-166. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.424.3.3

Journal - Research Article

Bräuning, S., Catanach, A., Lord, J. M., Bicknell, R., & Macknight, R. C. (2018). Comparative transcriptome analysis of the wild-type model apomict Hieracium praealtum and its loss of parthenogenesis (lop) mutant. BMC Plant Biology, 18, 206. doi: 10.1186/s12870-018-1423-1

Journal - Research Article

Clarke, A. G., Lord, J. M., Hua, X., & Ohlemüller, R. (2018). Does current climate explain plant disjunctions? A test using the New Zealand alpine flora. Journal of Biogeography, 45(7), 1490-1499. doi: 10.1111/jbi.13222

Journal - Research Article

Iwasaki, J. M., Dickinson, K. J. M., Barratt, B. I. P., Mercer, A. R., Jowett, T. W. D., & Lord, J. M. (2018). Floral usage partitioning and competition between social (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris) and solitary bees in New Zealand: Niche partitioning via floral preferences? Austral Ecology, 43, 937-948. doi: 10.1111/aec.12643

Journal - Research Article

Lord, J. M., Mark, A. F., Humar-Maegli, T., Halloy, S. R. P., Bannister, P., Knight, A., & Dickinson, K. J. M. (2018). Slow community responses but rapid species responses 14 years after alpine turf transplantation among snow cover zones, south–central New Zealand. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution & Systematics, 30, 51-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ppees.2017.07.004

Journal - Research Article

Miller, C. M., Barratt, B. I. P., Dickinson, K. J. M., & Lord, J. M. (2018). Are introduced plants a threat to native pollinator services in montane–alpine environments? Alpine Botany, 128(2), 179-189. doi: 10.1007/s00035-018-0206-5

Journal - Research Article

Moore, A., Johnson, M., Gbolagun, J., Miller, A., Rombouts, A., van der Ven, L., Lord, J., … Hall, G. B. (2018). Integrating agroecology and sustainable tourism: Applying geodesign to farm management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(9), 1543-1561. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2018.1484751

Journal - Research Article

Eidesen, P. B., Little, L., Müller, E., Dickinson, K. J. M., & Lord, J. M. (2017). Plant–pollinator interactions affect colonization efficiency: Abundance of blue-purple flowers is correlated with species richness of bumblebees in the Arctic. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 121(1), 150-162. doi: 10.1093/biolinnean/blw006

Journal - Research Article

Ludwig, L., Summerfield, T. C., Lord, J. M., & Singh, G. (2017). Characterization of the mating-type locus (MAT) reveals a heterothallic mating system in Knightiella splachnirima. Lichenologist, 49(4), 373-385. doi: 10.1017/S0024282917000214

Journal - Research Article

Paterson, R. A., Lowe, B. J., Smith, C. A., Lord, J. M., & Ngarimu-Cameron, R. (2017). Polarized light microscopy: An old technique casts new light on Māori textile plants. Archaeometry, 59(5), 965-979. doi: 10.1111/arcm.12281

Journal - Research Article

Richardson, A. T. B., Lord, J. M., & Perry, N. B. (2017). Phenylanthraquinones and flavone-C-glucosides from the disjunct Bulbinella in New Zealand. Phytochemistry, 134, 64-70. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.11.014

Journal - Research Article

Wehi, P. M., & Lord, J. M. (2017). Importance of including cultural practices in ecological restoration. Conservation Biology, 31(5), 1109-1118. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12915

Journal - Research Article

Buxton, M., Kleier, C., & Lord, J. (2016). Variation in reproductive investment and floret gender ratios in two gynodioecious mat daisies (Raoulia, Asteraceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany, 54(1), 74-86. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2015.1133662

Journal - Research Article

Khosa, J. S., Lee, R., Bräuning, S., Lord, J., Pither-Joyce, M., McCallum, J., & Macknight, R. C. (2016). Doubled haploid 'CUDH2107' as a reference for bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) research: Development of a transcriptome catalogue and identification of transcripts associated with male fertility. PLoS ONE, 11(11), e0166568. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166568

Journal - Research Article

Little, L., Bronken Eidesen, P., Müller, E., Dickinson, K. J. M., & Lord, J. M. (2016). Leaf and floral heating in cold climates: Do sub-Antarctic megaherbs resemble tropical alpine giants? Polar Research, 35, 26030. doi: 10.3402/polar.v35.26030

Journal - Research Article

Menzies, I. J., Youard, L. W., Lord, J. M., Carpenter, K. L., van Klink, J. W., Perry, N. B., … Gould, K. S. (2016). Leaf colour polymorphisms: A balance between plant defence and photosynthesis. Journal of Ecology, 104(1), 104-113. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.12494

Journal - Research Article

Moore, A., Johnson, M., Lord, J., Coutts, S., Pagan, M., Gbolagun, J., & Hall, G. B. (2016). Applying spatial analysis to the agroecology-led management of an indigenous farm in New Zealand. Ecological Informatics, 31, 49-58. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2015.11.009

Journal - Research Article

Pearce, S., & Lord, J. (2016). Surface: Selective observation of data in a subantarctic landscape. Junctures, 16, 58-61.

Journal - Research Article

Wassenaar, M., & Lord, J. (2016). Glistens with nectar. Junctures, 16, 52-57.

Journal - Research Article

Iwasaki, J. M., Barratt, B. I. P., Lord, J. M., Mercer, A. R., & Dickinson, K. J. M. (2015). The New Zealand experience of varroa invasion highlights research opportunities for Australia. AMBIO, 44(7), 694-704. doi: 10.1007/s13280-015-0679-z

Journal - Research Article

Konlechner, T. M., Hilton, M. J., & Lord, J. M. (2015). Plant community response following the removal of the invasive Lupinus arboreus in a coastal dune system. Restoration Ecology, 23(5), 607-614. doi: 10.1111/rec.12234

Journal - Research Article

Lord, J. M. (2015). Patterns in floral traits and plant breeding systems on Southern Ocean Islands. AoB Plants, 7, plv095. doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plv095

Journal - Research Article

Mark, A. F., Korsten, A. C., Urrutia Guevara, D., Dickinson, K. J. M., Humar-Maegli, T., Michel, P., … Lord, J. M., … Nielsen, J. A. (2015). Ecological responses to 52 years of experimental snow manipulation in high-alpine cushionfield, Old Man Range, south-central New Zealand. Arctic, Antarctic & Alpine Research, 47(4), 751-772. doi: 10.1657/AAAR0014-098

Journal - Research Article

McGimpsey, V. J., & Lord, J. M. (2015). In a world of white, flower colour matters: A white–purple transition signals lack of reward in an alpine Euphrasia. Austral Ecology, 40(6), 701-708. doi: 10.1111/aec.12238

Journal - Research Article

Bischoff, M., Campbell, D. R., Lord, J. M., & Robertson, A. W. (2013). The relative importance of solitary bees and syrphid flies as pollinators of two outcrossing plant species in the New Zealand alpine. Austral Ecology, 38(2), 169-176. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2012.02389.x

Journal - Research Article

Bischoff, M., Lord, J. M., Robertson, A. W., & Dyer, A. G. (2013). Hymenopteran pollinators as agents of selection on flower colour in the New Zealand mountains: Salient chromatic signals enhance flower discrimination. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 51(3), 181-193. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2013.806933

Journal - Research Article

Lord, J. M., Huggins, L., Little, L. M., & Tomlinson, V. R. (2013). Floral biology and flower visitors on subantarctic Campbell Island. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 51(3), 168-180. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2013.801867

Journal - Research Article

Lord, J. M., Knight, A., Bannister, J. M., Ludwig, L. R., Malcolm, W. M., & Orlovich, D. A. (2013). Rediscovery of pycnidia in Thamnolia vermicularis: Implications for chemotype occurrence and distribution. Lichenologist, 45(3), 397-411. doi: 10.1017/S0024282913000017

Journal - Research Article

Venn, S. E., Morgan, J. W., & Lord, J. M. (2013). Foliar freezing resistance of Australian alpine plants over the growing season. Austral Ecology, 38(2), 152-161. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2012.02387.x

Journal - Research Article

Campbell, D. R., Bischoff, M., Lord, J. M., & Robertson, A. W. (2012). Where have all the blue flowers gone: Pollinator responses and selection on flower colour in New Zealand Wahlenbergia albomarginata. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 35(2), 352-364. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02430.x

Journal - Research Article

More publications...

Dr Janice Lord, Associate Professor

Ecology and conservation, plants and fungi

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Email: janice.lord@otago.ac.nz

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Phone: +64 3 479 5131

Research interests

Teaching involvement

Other departmental responsibilities

Research Theme involvement

Ask A Scientist

Publications