"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution [and ecology]."
Theodosius Dobzhansky, 1973 [modified by EEC, 2025]
All organisms share a distant common ancestor. The diverse pathways that life on Earth has taken over the last four billion years have given us the World in which we live today.
Ecology and evolution shape the food that we eat, the medicine that we use and even the air that we breathe. Global environmental change greatly impacts the ecological networks within which species evolve, influencing the survival and genetic diversity of species on which our future depends. Advancing understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes will directly facilitate more effective conservation and management practices to support biodiversity in this changing World.
The Ecology, Evolution and Conservation group includes academic staff and students with over 50 years of post-graduate experience studying wild populations of animals and plants across six continents and 20 countries. Our research focuses on the management of habitats and populations for conservation, understanding the patterns and processes driving biotic diversity on local, regional and global scales, and the responses of organisms to environmental change. We study a range of organisms (including birds and amphibians, and frequently insects) and have connections with the Entomology, Soil and Water and Crop Sciences groups.
We are based in the Simon Leather Entomology Building, a dedicated space for ecological research and biological collections. More broadly, we are part of the Centre for Crop and Environmental Science and access the molecular laboratory, greenhouses and insect rearing facilities. We work alongside national and international collaborators, including NGOs, government bodies, academic institutions and industry partners.
Research contact 01952 81 5113
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Our group focuses on the conservation and protection of valuable ecosystem service providers, the advancement of fundamental theory in ecology and evolution, and the evolution of global biodiversity. We draw upon a broad range of approaches including field surveys of endangered species, molecular ecology, citizen science and statistical modelling of ecological interactions.
Within the wider research context, we are lucky to work alongside analytical chemists, citizen scientists, landscape managers and conservation biologists. Our research also focuses on the relationship between people and nature, particularly in urban landscapes. By assessing the interactions between biodiversity, urban planning and human health and wellbeing, we can contribute to the development of wildlife friendly urban spaces.
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