Ecology research within the School has a broad focus on understanding the impact of natural and anthropogenic processes on the abundance, dynamics and distribution of individuals, populations and species.
Our research extends from genes to landscapes with an emphasis on long-term, large-scale field studies of birds and mammals to provide a real-world understanding of how ecological and evolutionary processes affect natural populations, and time-series data to identify population responses to environmental change. This approach is supported by strong theoretical research and novel statistical, modelling and laboratory-based tools.
We ensure recursive interaction and collaboration with a broad range of end-user, stake-holder and policy-making groups such that our research excellence translates into management and conservation policy and has real impact and influence.
Life history variation
An individual's 'life-history' comprises its schedule of key events such as birth, maturation, reproduction and death. A challenge for ecologists is to determine why life histories vary among individuals, populations and species, and to develop population management strategies that take account of such variation in life histories. Long-term monitoring programmes are integral to describing the pattern and magnitude of life history variation in wild populations.
We work with a large range of data from such long-term projects, both in the UK and abroad. These datasets have been used to quantify both genetic and environmental influences on life histories in a wide range of species, and the resulting knowledge has been applied to a range of management issues, including fisheries management policy and assessing the impacts of environmental change on wild bird populations.
Prerequisites
If English is not your first language you must also show evidence of attaining standards in English.
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