I am a terrestrial biogeographer/ecologist working in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at Bournemouth University. Over the past 13 years I have worked on several terrestrial ecological survey projects, mainly in the UK but also overseas, for various organisations. In general, my interests could be summed up as 'where species are found and why'.

As a Principal Academic I am involved in the communication, teaching and assessment of climate change and its impacts, ecology and sustainability at all levels. I also lead BU’s first year Geography field course, and teach on our international field course.

My main research expertise is in the environmental factors that affect the spatial distributions of species, how these are changing in response to climatic change, and how the existence of microclimates affect our predictions of the future. I can often be found in the field; during my PhD I studied the relative importance of microclimate and land use to Ground Beetles (Carabidae) using sites in the Dark Peak, near Snowdonia in Wales and the Trossachs in Scotland. I recently convened an international network of scientists working in the field of microclimate ecology, and am continuing my own research in this area.

I have a passion for Knowledge Exchange and maintain a network of collaborators from a wide range of environmental organisations, and like to involve students at all levels throughout my research. I am Head of Research for the Department, responsible for our submission to UoA 14, and Chair of the British Ecological Society's Climate Change Ecology Special Interest Group.

I currently co-supervise five PhD students, and have co-supervised seven PhD students who have successfully passed their viva examinations across topics within archaeology, palaeoecology, animal behaviour, plant/invertebrate community ecology and ecosystem services, and would be interested in hearing from potential students with interests aligned to my research.

Research

I am currently working on the likely impacts of climate change on species, and how variation in microclimates might help species cope with and/or take advantage of climate change. I co-supervise five PhD students, one studying invasive fishes under climate change, another on the impact of removing barriers on fish movements, one studying how primates and other mammals are affected by the changes in microclimate associated with forest fragmentation, one studying the impact of climate change on the phenology of Salmon, and finally a student studying the factors affecting Osprey migration, and the success of an Osprey reintroduction project

Publications

Grants

Outreach & engagement

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