A large bird wit black feathers and green eyes

Ecology and Conservation

Group Leader
Jos Barlow

Professor Jos Barlow

Professor of Conservation Science

African Studies Group, Ecology and Conservation, Improving global stewardship, Latin America Research Cluster, Understanding a changing planet

+44 (0)1524 510548

Members

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Publications

Projects

Research visiting academic grant -University of Granada (Spain)
01/04/2016 → 30/06/2016
Other

Linking trophic dynamics and infochemical foodwebs: disentangling the mechanisms underlining above- and belowground multitrophic interactions (TRINFOWEB)
01/01/2016 → 31/12/2019
Other

Santander mobility award-Lancaster University
01/01/2016 → 31/12/2016
Other

Tri-trophic interactions in an arid environment: I am I eating what I want or what I can?
01/01/2016 → 31/12/2019
Other

NERC - Watershed determinants of terrestrial resource use by aquatic organisms across the world's freshwater hotspots
01/09/2014 → …
Research

Ecosystem carbon and nutrient dynamics under global change
01/04/2014 → …
Research

Predicting urban food insecurity under climate change in Brazilian Amazonia
01/01/2014 → 31/12/2017
Research

Santander mobility award-Lancaster University
01/01/2014 → 31/12/2014
Other

NERC studentship for Lucy Magoolagan
01/10/2013 → 31/03/2017
Research

Priming of Indirect Defence in Plants
17/06/2013 → 16/03/2014
Research

Algal Interactions with Freshwater Mussels in the River Ehen
22/03/2013 → 31/03/2020
Research

Ecological cost of herbivory: disruption of mutualism interactions between plants and pollinators due to herbivores.
15/02/2013 → 15/02/2016
Other

Integrating Nutritional Immunology
03/02/2013 → 02/02/2016
Other

Identifying Cost-Effective Reforestation Approaches for Biodiversity Conservation and Carbon Sequest
01/01/2013 → 31/12/2013
Research

Presentation of the Survey Project Results
17/09/2012 → 30/09/2012
Research

Ecological Continuity Trust: Establishing a Consortium Application
05/09/2012 → 31/12/2013
Research

CASE: Understanding pesticide photdegraduation and persistance in protected crop environments
01/10/2011 → …
Research

NERC - Manipulating the chemosynthetic and photosynthetic support of river food webs
01/01/2011 → 15/07/2015
Research

Percy Sladen - Kenyan freshwater decapods: invasive - native interactions
01/10/2010 → 30/09/2014
Other

NERC - NE/H525911/1
01/09/2009 → 31/08/2011
Research

The role of antagonist and mutualist interactions in regulating trophic food webs in arid ecosystems
01/01/2009 → 31/12/2012
Other

Link Project: Perennial field margins with combined ecological and ag
01/12/2008 → 30/11/2013
Research

Understanding the ways in which climate change could threaten northerly distributed species
01/01/2008 → 31/12/2009
Other

NERC - Open CASE Organotin trophic transfer in freshwater food webs
01/10/2007 → 30/09/2010
Research

Understanding potential effects of climate change on dung beetle communities in subtropical rainforest
01/01/2007 → 31/12/2007
Other

The role of dung beetle assemblages in dung removal and decomposition, secondary seed dispersal, and seed germination along a biogeographical and climatological gradient
01/01/1900 → …
Research

Research Activity

Ecology and conservation at Lancaster Environment Centre use ecological, behavioural and molecular techniques to understand how ecosystems function, how they respond to global change, and how they can be managed to enhance biodiversity and its associated services.

The ecology and conservation of hyper-diverse tropics

Our work in the hyper-diverse tropics focuses on both forests and coral reefs, where we examine how human activities are influencing species conservation, ecosystem functioning and the livelihoods of local people. Within reefs, this research examines how bleaching events influence fish assemblages, ecosystem stability, and ecosystem recovery. Within tropical forests, we are examining how fires and logging influence species of conservation concern and forest resilience.

Insect biodiversity and global change

We are investigating how environmental change affects insect biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services such as pollination and pest control. We undertake observational studies on how individual species and whole communities are responding to climate change and habitat degradation and use field manipulations and lab experiments to unravel the mechanisms underlying their responses.

Ecology of host-parasite interactions

We are studying the ecological and evolutionary interactions between parasites and their animal hosts. This includes fundamental studies of how the immune system evolves and phenotypically responds to challenges by parasites, as well as the development and use of biological pesticides to improve food security. Study systems include insects, birds and mammals and their bacterial, viral and nematode parasites in the UK and Africa, especially African armyworms and their viruses.

Behavioural ecology

We examine breeding and behavioural ecology using birds as a readily observable group of species which can provide data at the level of the individual. These studies allow us to understand life-history constraints of species in the face of climate change, and explore fundamental questions such as parent-offspring conflict, song development and sibling competition.

Carbon and nutrient cycling

We examine carbon cycling across many terrestrial systems, including tropical and temperate forests, grasslands and moorlands. The research examines how climate, soil, microbes and biogeochemistry interact to affect nutrient cycling, developing an understanding of how ecosystems function and quantifying their likely feedbacks with climate change.

Research Highlights

Fish swimming around a coral reef in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Classic energy theory fails to explain coral distribution across depth

Coral species richness at different depths is unrelated to energy availability, according to a new study analysing diversity across an Australasian reef.
Coral reef

Research finds coral bleaching also influenced by location and other stressors

A study in Nature Climate Change has analyzed many factors that led to widespread coral bleaching in Indo-Pacific during 2016 El Niño.
Smiling Eleanor Tinsley in graduation gown and mortarboard hat in one of the Lancaster Environment Centre garden areas

Finding a vocation down-under

A prize-winning student, who was the first in the family to go to university, has been accepted to do a PhD in animal behaviour on the other side of the world.
A coral reef

Coral bleaching causes a permanent change in fish life

Repeat coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures has resulted in lasting changes to fish communities, according to a new long-term study in the Seychelles.
A coral reef in Sudan.

Rapid change in coral reefs prompts global calls for a rethink

Coral reef experts from around the world are calling for an urgent re-evaluation of our climate goals in the light of increasing evidence of unprecedented speed of change to these fragile ecosystems.
A spear fisher with his catch in Kenya.

Breaking bread with rivals leads to more fish on coral reefs

Cooperation is key to most successful endeavours. And new research by an international team of sciencitsts including Lancaster University has found that , when fishermen and women cooperate with their fiercest competitors, this can improve fish stocks on coral reefs.
Trees and a field in the countryside

Trees for bees

Planting more hedgerows and trees could hold the key to helping UK bees thrive once again, a new study argues.
Parrotfish species, which is fished in Seychelles and increased in abundance after coral bleaching. (Tane Sinclair-Taylor)

Thriving reef fisheries continue to provide food despite coral bleaching

Reef fisheries can continue to provide food and income despite corals being lost to climate change, according to new research conducted in the Seychelles.
Dr Sally Keith

Fish give up the fight after coral bleaching

Researchers found that when water temperatures heat up for corals, fish ‘tempers’ cool down, providing the first clear evidence of coral bleaching serving as a trigger for rapid change in reef fish behaviour. 

More News

Further Highlights

  • A coral collaboration
    A long term collaboration between a Lancaster professor and an Australian conservationist has produced a unique insight into the ecology and management of coral reefs
  • Coral bleaching
    The window for saving the world’s coral reefs from global warming is rapidly closing, according to a novel study in the prestigious journal Science
  • Going back to university
    A prizewinning student gave up a successful teaching career to become a student, just as her son was starting school
  • World's most influential researchers
    Two Lancaster Environment Centre researchers have been listed in the 2017 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list of scientists who have had a significant global impact
  • Small is biodiverse in the Amazon
    Amazonian streams found teeming with fish species are lacking protection
  • Life on the Edge
    Breaking up the rainforest into small, isolated patches is forcing more species to live at the forest edge, putting those that are dependent on the forest core at risk
  • Selective logging threatens biodiversity
    A new study finds that even low levels of logging in the Amazon rainforest may lead to great losses in biodiversity
  • Bees feast on fast food
    Honey bees love the invasive plant Himalayan balsam and eat it like ‘fast food’ but, like humans, they thrive better on a varied diet
  • The ‘Hollywood effect’
    Scientists should work with filmmakers to highlight conservation issues and help wildlife
  • Why development fails in the Amazon
    Only local Amazonians can bring truly sustainable development to their forest as protected areas, species and people come under increasing threat
  • Armyworm biopesticide moves closer
    Researchers win funding to push forward the production of a cheap, effective and locally-produced biopesticide to combat one of Africa’s major crop pests.
  • Cities threaten rainforest wildlife
    Urban food demand in the Amazon could be hitting wildlife up to 1,000 km away from the city, according to new research.
  • Studying butterflies in the field
    A double prizewinning graduate shows how changing habitat management could help reverse the decline of some of the UK’s signature butterflies.
  • How early environment affects the quality of a dipper’s song
    Successful PhD student Dr Lucy Magoolagan explains why her research, on the song of Britain’s only aquatic songbird, captured the imagination of the producers of the BBC Springwatch programme.
  • Remote Amazonian cities more vulnerable to climate change
    Amazonians living in remote cities are more vulnerable to flooding and droughts than more accessible centres, researchers at Lancaster University have discovered.
  • Poor diet may contribute to the decline in British bees
    The changing British landscape could be contributing to the decline in our bee populations, according to Lancaster University research.
  • Human threat to grassland ecosystems
    A manmade pollutant is having a significant impact on our global environment according to a new study published in ‘Ecology’ this month (June 2015).