Tom Ashton

Providing scientific and technical support for the Soil Sustainability Research Team, through laboratory-based morphological identification of key soil invertebrate groups (e.g., earthworms, springtails, and mites) using taxonomic keys and microscopy, as well as data management using spreadsheets and the production of summary reports. Tom also contributes to fieldwork and soil sampling activities on a range of soil research projects, and supports the laboratory manager with running the Soil Ecology Lab, including the maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment and curation of soil invertebrate specimen collections.

Tom graduated with a BSc in Animal Behaviour from the University of Exeter. He was awarded an MbyRes in Entomology by the University of Reading, studying the effects of deadwood type on saproxylic beetle communities. Tom joined FR in 2023.

Affiliations

Member of the Royal Entomological Society

BSc, MbyRes

thomas.ashton@forestresearch.gov.uk

Research Assistant - Soil Ecology

Physical environmental sciences

Forest Research

Northern Research Station

Roslin

Midlothian

EH25 9SY