Jane started as joint head of Education at CAT in October 2014 before moving into the role as Lead Academic in April 2016. Prior to joining CAT, Jane worked as a lecturer and BSc programme leader in ecology and conservation at Liverpool John Moores University.

She also has substantial experience as a research ecologist at both Liverpool John Moores, and the University of Liverpool, where she completed her PhD. Jane’s research has focused particularly on freshwater and wetland ecology, mainly into the relationships between phytoplankton, diatoms, macrophytes and eutrophication. This includes research for the Natural Environment Research Council, Environment Agency and the European Commission.

Qualifications

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society

2009 Post Graduate Certificate of HE, Distinction, Liverpool John Moores University.

2003 PhD, University of Liverpool

1998 MRes Science of the Environment, Distinction, University of Lancaster

1997 BSc (Hons) Geography, Class 2.1, University of Hull

Research Interests

freshwater and wetland ecology and biodiversity, environmental science

public perception of sustainability issues

pedagogy

Teaching Activities

Whilst primarily in a leadership role at CAT, Jane also teaches lectures and practicals for both on-site and distance-learning students, particularly for the MSc Sustainability and Adaptation courses.
Publications

Peer Reviewed papers

Barker T. and Fisher J. (2019). Ecosystem health as the basis for human health. Chapter 19 in: Selendy J. (editor). Water and Sanitation Related Diseases and the Changing Environment: Challenges, Interventions and Preventive Measures. Wiley-Blackwell and Horizon International, New Haven, CT.

Wilkinson D.M, Creevy A.L and Fisher J, (2017) The little things that run the world: the microbial diversity of a nature reserve. British Wildlife. October 2017: 3-8.

Creevy A L., Fisher J., Puppe D., Wilkinson D.M. (2016) Protist diversity on a nature reserve in N/W England – with particular reference to their role in soil biogenic silica pools. Pedobiologia 59: 51-59

Fisher J. (2014) Perceptions of the natural environment in undergraduate students: influence of degree programme and learning style. Innovations in Practice 9 (1): 13-22

Fisher, J. James, C.S. Moore, V.L and Moss, B. (2013) Dinophyta characterise nitrogen scarcity more strongly than Cyanobacteria in moderately deep lakes. Acta Protozoologica 52: 203–216.

Fisher, J., Deflandre, A., Coste, M., Delmas, F. and Jarvie, H. (2010) Community grouping of European benthic diatoms as indicators of eutrophic status of rivers. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 176(2): 89-100

Fisher, J (2010) Influence of research-informed-teaching and work-experience In Wildlife Conservation students. Innovations in Practise 2(2): 62-72.

Fisher, J., Barker, T., James, C. and Clarke, S. (2009) Water Quality in chronically nutrient-rich lakes: the example of the Shropshire-Cheshire Meres. Freshwater Reviews 2: 79-99.

Fisher, J., Stratford, C.J. and Buckton, S. (2009) Nutrient removal in three wetland blocks of different vegetation type. Ecological Engineering 35: 1387-1394.

Fisher, J. and Stratford, C. (2008) Does reconnection mean restoration for an oxbow lake, Hungary? Journal of River Basin Management 6 (3): 201-211

Fisher, J. and Dunbar, M (2007) Towards a representative periphytic diatom sample. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 11(1):399-407

Acreman, M., Fisher, J., Stratford, C., Mould, D. and Mountford, J.O. (2007) Wetland Restoration: Issues in hydrology and ecology. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 11 (1): 158-169.

Fisher, J., James., C. and Moss B. (2006) What determines the diatom communities of submerged freshwater plants? Implications for the use of community indices in determining ecological quality for the Water Framework Directive. Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 130: 51-72.

James, C., Fisher, J., Russell, V., Collings, S. and Moss, B. (2005) Nitrate availability and hydrophyte species richness in shallow lakes. Freshwater Biology 50: 1049-1063.

Fisher, J. and Acreman, M.C. (2004) Wetland nutrient functioning: a review of the evidence. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 8(4): 673-685.

James, C., Fisher, J. and Moss, B. (2003) Nitrogen-limited lakes: the Shropshire and Cheshire Meres? Archiv fur Hydrobiologie 158(2): 249-266.

Fisher, J. (2003) Nitrogen-limited lakes: occurrence, basis and characteristics. PhD Thesis, The University of Liverpool.

Conference presentations

Creevy A, Wilkinson D, Fisher J, Durr S. Microbial diversity of a nature reserve: Testate amoebae and diatoms at Mere Sands Wood in North West England. 6th International Symposium on Testate Amoebae. Xiamen, China.

Clarke S, Fisher J, James C, Barker T. Square pegs, round holes. Managing lakes that appear to defy conventions about nutrients and ecology. British Ecological Society. University of Glasgow.

Fisher J and Barker T. Do wetlands clean water?. World Wetland Day. SOAS, London.

Fisher J and Barker T. Current knowledge of the relative concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the meres of Cheshire and Shropshire.

Acreman MC, Fisher J, Stratford CJ, Mould DJ, Mountford JO. 2007. Hydrological science and wetland restoration: some case studies from Europe. McCulloch Symposium on a View from the Watershed Revisited held at the General Assembly of the European-Geosciences-Union. Vienna, Austria. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (vol. 11, pp. 158-169). EUROPEAN GEOSCIENCES UNION. link>

Fisher J. Diatom tools for the Water Framework Directive- options and issues. British Phycological Society: Annual Meeting. University of Bristol.

Stratford C and Fisher J. 2006. OxbowSim.

Industry Reports

Barker T and Fisher J. Betley Mere: Lake Restoration.

Barker T and Fisher J. 2013. Zero Carbon Britain and the Freshwater Environment.

Barker T and Fisher J. 2013. Zero Carbon Britain and Wetlands.