The factors that influence tephra layer taphonomy are poorly understood, but vegetation cover is likely to play a role in the preservation of terrestrial tephra deposits. The impact of vegetation on tephra layer preservation is important because: 1) the morphology of tephra layers could record key characteristics of past land surfaces and 2) vegetation-driven variability in tephra thickness could affect attempts to infer eruption and dispersion parameters. We investigated small- (metre-) scale interactions between vegetation and a thin (<10 cm), recent tephra layer. We conducted surveys of vegetation structure and tephra thickness at two locations which received a similar tephra deposit, but had contrasting vegetation cover (moss vs shrub). The tephra layer was thicker and less variable under shrub cover. Vegetation structure and layer thickness were correlated on the moss site but not under shrub cover, where the canopy reduced the influence of understory vegetation on layer morphology. Our results show that vegetation structure can influence tephra layer thickness on both small and medium (site) scales. These findings suggest that some tephra layers may carry a signal of past vegetation cover. They also have implications for the sampling effort required to reliably estimate the parameters of initial deposits.

Decision support systems (DSS) aim to provide evidence in a usable format for decisionmakers, thereby improving the prospects for evidence-informed conservation policy and practice. These systems are usually software-based either in computer or app-form, but may exist in other formats such as on paper. Conservation decision-makers are typically faced with complex socio-environmental landscapes, competing stakeholder interests, and irreducible uncertainty. Consequently, conservation has been the focus for numerous decision support systems, which can help users to face the challenge of making trade-offs. Despite the many systems designed for conservation, there is not an accepted framework for how to develop systems that make an impact in practice. There is much evidence, however, to suggest that many systems are failing to make an impact in practice. This chapter draws on lessons learned from conservation and related disciplines on how to design good decision support systems that are desirable to intended end users. To this end, we suggest a five-stage process for participatory user-centred design -(1) identifying the user, (2) proving system value, (3) assessing available infrastructure and focusing on ease of use, (4) adopting a good marketing plan, and (5) establishing a long-term legacya process which could be used by researchers and funders alike to ensure that systems will be used by their intended audiences. Above all, we need to change our own design behaviour to increase the relevance and usefulness of the systems we are building. Acknowledging the reality that decision support systems will be implemented in complex and potentially data-sparse environments, we also reflect on how decision support systems can help decision-makers to deal with uncertain information. This final element seeks to establish the value both of quantifying uncertainty and communicating it in accessible ways to decision makers.