I am interested in the effects of land use on biodiversity, with my research focusing on the responses of biodiversity, and the complex ecological processes underlying them, to land management interventions and land use change at different spatial scales, and across taxonomic groups.
Past projects have included long-term studies on the effects of arable field margin management on wildlife, landscape-scale studies of the impacts of agricultural and woodland management on butterflies and moths, and multi-site projects investigating effects of organic farming and set-aside on biodiversity.
In my most recent work I have been using national butterfly recording scheme data and land use data to explore the value of trees and hedgerows for promoting biodiversity in farm landscapes. My research outcomes lead to evidence-based, practical conservation recommendations (e.g. handbook ). In my LCNR project I have been working with Estates Services to help develop a framework for monitoring and delivering nature recovery through data collation and mapping, habitat management and outreach at Oxford University’s Park Farm.
Emily is an ecologist, exploring the biodiversity and ecosystem function outcomes of nature-based solutions projects, with a particular focus on native woodland expansion in the UK. She is collaborating with Trees for Life, Highlands Rewilding, and The Carbon Community to explore above/below-ground biodiversity and ecosystem function responses to different woodland creation methods. Emily often explores trends in biodiversity/ecosystem function responses using data collection across natural gradients and within existing conservation projects, complemented by experimental work to investigate underlying mechanisms in more detail. She also has an interest in integrating effective ecological monitoring into conservation projects, co-developing a tool for selecting metrics to monitor biodiversity and soil health outcomes in nature-based solutions projects, as part of the Agile Initiative sprint “How do we scale up nature-based solutions in the UK?”.
I am an MBiol student working on determining the impacts of volatile organic compounds emitted by the plants in the Oxford Botanic Gardens glasshouses upon physiological markers of stress.
I am particularly interested in measuring the impacts of VOCs upon salivary amylase activity and changes in cortisol concentration.
Multi-disciplinary researcher. Working with the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery and the Long Term Ecology Laborotory Team, Benjamin has backgrounds in both engineering science and clinical medicine. His clinical work complements his academic research into human wellbeing. Benjamin also facilitates community groups to improve wellbeing and active participation in nature, and maintains an organic garden at home.
I work on the nature-positive tools needed to measure biodiversity footprints and plot a path towards worldwide ecological recovery. This involves collaborating with organisations to quantify their environmental and biodiversity impacts and identify how these could be mitigated through institutional change and conservation action.
My research involves the development and application of environmental and climate models to report the impacts (positive or negative) of different land managements and greenhouse gas emission pathways. As part of the Nature-based Solutions Initiative, I am particularly interested in linking carbon removal interventions with improved indicators of biodiversity and ecological functioning.
My DPhil research concerns the application of artificial intelligence to forest management within England’s Public Forest Estate.
I aim to identify the configuration of management decisions that optimises the capacity of woodlands to prevent floods and improve human health and well-being.
