Research in this theme focuses on understanding species interactions, as well as the responses of individuals, communities and populations to environmental change. We have research strengths the construction and interpretation of ecological networks, and use a range of experimental, molecular- and modeling-based approaches. Topics that are of relevance to major conservation challenges include our work on the long-term decline of insect populations, the impact of invasive species on food networks, and the consequences of trophy hunting on population viability.
We are working to characterize microorganisms in natural and engineered ecosystems, and to understand their roles in biogeochemical cycling. Our researchers work on terrestrial and aquatic systems, including deep-ocean trenches, chalk streams, and artificial mesocosms. Current topics include the unravelling the importance of microbes in bio-methane production, the decomposition of plastic by bacteria, and the contribution of bacteria to the cycling of carbon and nitrogen in the open oceans.
Research Interests
Eyice-Broadbent, Dr Ozge
Henry, Dr Lee
Bacterial symbiosis, Insect ecology and evolution, Evolutionary genetics, Molecular evolution, Adaptation, Microbial ecology
Jones, Dr Iwan
Head of the River Communities Group
Freshwater ecology, Community structure, Food webs, Invertabrates, Algae, Plants
Aquatic ecology, Food webs, Climate change, Ecosystem function, Conservation, Evolutionary ecology
Aquatic, Ecology, Biodiversity, Community structure, Food webs, Conservation, Spatial patterns, Mathematical models
Our research receives financial support from:
Rossberg A, Gaedke U, Kratina P (2019). Dome patterns in pelagic size spectra reveal strong trophic cascades. Nature Communications
Romero G, Gonçalves-Souza T, Kratina P, Marino N, Petry W, Sobral-Souza T, Roslin T (2018). Global predation pressure redistribution under future climate. Nature Climate Change
Knapp A, Knell R, Farke A, Loewen M, Hone D (2018). Patterns of divergence in the morphology of ceratopsian dinosaurs: sympatry is not a driver of ornament evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Parrett J, Knell R (2018). The effect of sexual selection on adaptation and extinction under increasing temperatures. Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Struebig M, Linkie M, Deere N, Martyr D, Millyanawati B, Faulkner S, Le Comber S, Mangunjaya F, Leader-Williams N, McKay J, et al (2018). Addressing human-tiger conflict using socio-ecological information on tolerance and risk. Nature Communications
Hammill E, Hawkins C, Greig H, Kratina P, Shurin J, Atwood T (2018). Landscape heterogeneity strengthens the relationship between β-diversity and ecosystem function. Ecology
Yvon-Durocher G, Hulatt C, Woodward G, Trimmer M (2017). Long-term warming amplifies shifts in the carbon cycle of experimental ponds. Nature Climate Change
Hays G, Mazaris A, Schofield G, Laloë J-O (2017). Population viability at extreme sex-ratio skews produced by temperature-dependent sex determination. Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Hanson C, Marston M, Martiny J (2016). Biogeographic Variation in Host Range Phenotypes and taxonomic composition of marine cyanophage isolates. Frontiers in Microbiology
Guignard M, Nichols R, Knell R, Macdonald A, Romila C-A, Trimmer M, Leitch IJ, Leitch AR (2016). Genome size and ploidy influence angiosperm species’ biomass under nitrogen and phosphorus limitation. New Phytologist
Jones I, Murphy J, Anthony S, Arnold A, Blackburn J, Duerdoth C, Hawczak A, Hughes G, Pretty J, et al (2016). Do agri-environment schemes result in improved water quality? The Journal of Applied Ecology
Clare E, Holderied M (2015). Acoustic shadows help gleaning bats find prey, but may be defeated by prey acoustic camouflage on rough surfaces. eLife
Fung T, Farnsworth K, Reid D, Rossberg A (2015). Impact of biodiversity loss on production in complex marine food webs mitigated by prey-release. Nature Communications
Henry L, Maiden M, Ferrari J, Godfray H (2015). Insect life history and the evolution of bacterial mutualism. Ecology Letters
Eyice Ö, Namura M, Chen Y, Mead A, Samavedam S, Schäfer H (2015). SIP metagenomics identifies uncultivated methylophilaceae as dimethylsulphide degrading bacteria in soil and lake sediment. The ISME Journal