Plants and animals in a rapidly changing environment
Conservation Biology
Quantifying and conserving biodiversity is now recognized as more important than ever. We are investigating origins of biodiversity, including the analysis of patterns of diversity, and factors that mould those patterns both over evolutionary time and in the present day. Genetic analyses allow us to quantify diversity and help define appropriate units for conservation. Populations fluctuate in size, sometimes declining to extinction. An understanding of how populations are regulated is crucial for their conservation in the long term. Differences between individuals, age and sex structure of populations, and threats from disease and habitat change all affect the persistence of populations. Effective management and conservation, whether in wild or captive populations, requires an understanding of factors which contribute to population decline. Risk assessment, through various modelling approaches, can provide novel insights into population dynamics and valuable information for policy makers.
Cutting-edge research is often a result of productive, interdisciplinary collaboration. The Section of Conservation Biology aims to achieve this through a network of national and international partnerships which encompass University departments, research institutions, government and non-government bodies, zoos and a wide range of conservation groups.
Research topics
Effects of habitat alterations on biodiversity
Genetical effects in small populations
Pollination and reproductive biology of rare plant species
Butterfly-plant interactions
Spatial patterns of plant communities
Neighbourhood analysis
Interdisciplinary
Computational ecology
Botany-Zoology
Theoretical approach – practical implication
