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

Pictures of butterflies and scientists doing field work

Provide shady spots to protect butterflies from climate change, say scientists

Researchers have discovered significant variations in the ability of different UK butterfly species to maintain a suitable body temperature.

A diverse group of students laughing together in a teaching laboratory setting with microscopes, wearing white lab coats, blue lab gloves

Lancaster biosciences in the UK top ten

Lancaster University is ranked sixth in the UK for studying Biosciences in the 2021 Guardian University league table.

A picture of a researcher by a huge tree

Tropical forests can handle the heat, up to a point

Tropical forests face an uncertain future under climate change, but new research published in Science suggests they can continue to store large amounts of carbon in a warmer world, if countries limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Researcher Rachel Gunn looks at the camera through her scuba mask under water while collecting data over a coral reef in a turquoise blue sea

Blog: ‘Wild and Live’: Virtual outreach during lockdown

PhD researcher Rachel Gunn, talks about her experience taking part in a YouTube livestream, discussing her research into Butterfly Fish with BBC presenter, Patrick Ayree.

Even biodiverse coral reefs still vulnerable to climate change and invasive species

A new study reveals clear evidence highlighting the importance of fish biodiversity to the health of spectacular tropical coral reef ecosystems.

Poor Amazonians go hungry despite living in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth

Poorer rural Amazonians are going hungry despite living in one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet – a new study reveals.

Encouraging better soil carbon management

A former Lancaster University PhD student has won the first Rachel Carson Prize for an early career researcher, awarded by the journal of the British Ecological Society

Composite image in three sections. Left: a butterfly sits on a leaf, with its wings folded up to show its brown, cream and white natural markings and the two green markings made by a researcher to identify the individual. Right: a butterfly with orange and brown chequerboard markings sits on someone

Helping conserve endangered butterflies

Two Lancaster scientists win an award a for “pushing back the frontiers” of our knowledge of butterflies and moths and for inspiring a new generation of lepidopterists.

Prizewinning student Matt Jones smiles to the camera inside Lancaster Environment Centre

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).

Ecology and Conservation

Group Leader

Professor Jos Barlow

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Professor Jos Barlow

Professor Nick Graham

Professor Jonathan Grey

Dr Ian Hartley

Dr Sally Keith

Dr Rosa Menendez Martinez

Dr Stuart Sharp

Dr Andy Wilby

Professor Kenneth Wilson

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