A5043831364- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Marine and fisheries research
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant and animal studies
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Geological formations and processes
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
University College London
2016-2025
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
2019-2023
Pearson (United Kingdom)
2013-2020
University of London
2012
UCL Australia
2006
Loughborough University
1999
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a rapid, non-invasive, cost-efficient biodiversity monitoring tool with enormous potential to inform aquatic conservation and management. Development ongoing, strong commercial interest, new uses are continually being discovered. General applications of eDNA guidelines for best practice in freshwater systems have been established, but habitat-specific assessments lacking. Ponds highly diverse, yet understudied that could benefit from monitoring. However,...
The conservation of threatened species must be underpinned by phylogeographic knowledge. This need is epitomized the freshwater fish Carassius carassius, which in decline across much its European range. Restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) increasingly used for such applications; however, RADseq expensive, and limitations on sample number weighed against benefit large numbers markers. trade-off has previously been examined using simulation studies; empirical comparisons...
Abstract Extensive habitat destruction and pollution have caused dramatic declines in aquatic biodiversity at local to global scales. In rivers, the reintroduction of large woody debris is a common method aimed restoring degraded ecosystems through “rewilding.” However, causal evidence for its effectiveness lacking due dearth replicated before–after control‐impact field experiments. We conducted first experiment rewilding across multiple rivers organisational levels, from individual target...
Abstract Ponds are among the most biodiverse and ecologically important freshwater habitats globally may provide a significant opportunity to mitigate anthropogenic pressures reverse decline of aquatic biodiversity. also contributions society through provision ecosystem services. Despite ecological societal importance ponds, research, policy, conservation have historically focused on larger water bodies, with gaps remaining in our understanding pond ecosystems. In May 2019, researchers...
Dramatic declines in diurnal pollinators have created great scientific interest plant–pollinator relationships and associated pollination services. Existing literature, however, is generally focused on pollinating insect taxa, especially Apidae (Hymenoptera) Syrphidae (Diptera) pollinators, while nocturnal macro-moths that comprise extremely species-rich flower-visiting families been largely neglected. Here, we report agricultural landscapes, can provide unique, highly complex pollen...
Abstract Ponds and “pondscapes” (networks of ponds) are crucial habitats for biodiversity delivering multiple benefits to humans, so-called “Nature’s Contribution People”, such as climate mitigation adaptation change, creation, maintenance habitat biodiversity, water purification, flood cultural (e.g., recreational possibilities). However, ponds not often considered Nature-based Solutions provide all these benefits. In addition, there is insufficient knowledge on how manage restore maximise...
Summary 1. To correctly interpret chironomid faunas for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, it is essential that we improve our understanding of the relative influence ecosystem variables, biotic as well physicochemical, on larvae. address this, analysed surface sediments from 39 shallow lakes (29 Norfolk, U.K., 10 Denmark) head capsules, and 70 taxa (including Chaoborus ) were identified. 2. The selected over large environmental gradients aquatic macrophytes, total phosphorus (TP) fish...
ABSTRACT Debate surrounds the best way to deal with pond terrestrialization so as maximize landscape‐scale biodiversity. One of addressing this issue is re‐set succession via management activities, but merits approach relative non‐intervention and creation are little known. Manor Farm in Norfolk, UK, possesses around 40 ponds, each year three four ponds subject involving tree (de‐shading) and/or sediment removal. To determine consequences for biodiversity, macrophyte invertebrate communities...
Summary Pesticides can have strong deleterious impacts in fresh waters, but understanding how these effects cascade through natural ecosystems, from microbes to apex predators, is limited because research that spans multiple levels of biological organisation rare. We report an accidental insecticide spill altered the structure and functioning a river across ranging genes ecosystems. quantified on assemblages microbes, diatoms, macroinvertebrates fish measured leaf‐litter decomposition rates...
Abstract 1. To be effective, the next generation of conservation practitioners and managers need to critical thinkers with a deep understanding how make evidence‐based decisions value evidence synthesis. 2. If, as educators, we do not these priorities core part what teach, are failing prepare our students an effective contribution practice. 3. help overcome this problem have created open access online teaching materials in multiple languages that stored Applied Ecology Resources. So far, 117...
The extent and causes of crucian carp Carassius carassius decline were assessed during an initial study c. 25 ponds in north Norfolk, eastern England, U.K., which was then replicated (a validation study) on another adjacent area. Of these ponds, 40 are known to have contained C. the 1970s–1980s. In studies, found only 11 yielding declines 76% (five 21 ponds) 68% (six 19 ponds), respectively (72% overall). Non‐native cyprinids, including goldfish auratus common Cyprinus carpio their hybrids...
The widespread loss of wetlands due to agricultural intensification has been highlighted as a major threat aquatic biodiversity. However, all is not lost we reveal that the propagules some species could survive burial under fields in sediments 'ghost ponds' - ponds in-filled during land consolidation. Our experiments showed at least eight macrophyte germinate from seeds and oospores, following 50–150 years dormancy ghost ponds. This represents significant proportion expected diversity for...
Although many wetlands have been lost, the European lowlands still hold a mosaic of aquatic habitats covering rivers, lakes, ponds, ditches, springs, and swamps. To effectively conserve this diverse important resource, both scientific studies management restoration activities need to focus on all watery patches in landscape turn linkages between them. Over recent years, catchment landscape‐based approaches conservation rise. However, perhaps driven by lack legislative drivers, there remains...
Channelization and embankment of rivers has led to major ecological degradation aquatic habitats worldwide. River restoration can be used restore favourable hydrological conditions for target species or processes. However, the effects river on hydraulic processes are complex often difficult determine because long-term monitoring required before after works. Our study is based rarely available, detailed pre-restoration post-restoration data collected from a wet grassland meadow in Norfolk,...
Abstract The crucian carp ( Carassius carassius ) is one of few fish species associated with small ponds in the UK. These populations contain genetic diversity not found Europe and are important to conservation efforts for which has declined across its range Europe. Detection monitoring extant crucial success. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis could be very useful this respect as a rapid, cost‐efficient tool. We developed species‐specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay...
Abstract Freshwaters are among the most globally threatened habitats and their biodiversity is declining at an unparalleled rate. In attempt to slow this decline, multiple approaches have been used conserve, restore or enhance waterbodies. However, evaluating effectiveness time‐consuming expensive. Identifying species assemblages across a range of ecological conditions that can provide surrogate for wider freshwater therefore significant value conservation management planning. For lakes...
Summary Biodiversity is a key measure of environmental quality in lake ecosystems. Lake biodiversity can be assessed using modern survey data, but typically these data only provide ‘snap‐shot’ and most cases it not possible to reconstruct temporal trends biodiversity, so that human impacts detected. Palaeoecological techniques offer an alternative means identifying changes over the period historical records far beyond, there are problems associated with this approach. This because select set...
Summary 1. Shallow lakes are often cited as classic examples of systems that exhibit trophic cascades but, whilst they provide good model with which to test general ecological theory and assess long‐term community change, their food web linkages have rarely been resolved, so changes associated the structure dynamics network a whole still poorly understood. 2. We sought redress this, demonstrate potential benefits integrating palaeolimnological contemporary data, by constructing highly...
ABSTRACT Diet is an essential element for understanding how the Eurasian otter ( Lutra lutra ) re‐colonizing its former range in England following a population decline observed 1950s to 1970s. Otter spraints from River Glaven catchment (north Norfolk, eastern England) were collected seasonally between 2009 and 2010 three habitat types (ponds, ‘retenus’ (small in‐stream reservoirs), stream stretches). Feeding tactics of compared and, using previously published data, with regard seasonal...
Abstract Eutrophication is commonly implicated in the reduction macrophyte species richness shallow lakes. However, extent to which other more nuanced measures of diversity, such as assemblage heterogeneity, are impacted concurrently by eutrophication over space and time joint influences factors (e.g., invasions connectivity) remains relatively poorly documented. Using a combination contemporary paleoecological data, we examine how heterogeneity nutrient enrichment interacts with watercourse...
Agricultural intensification and the associated loss of non-cropped habitats have caused a major decline in UK farmland bird populations since 1970s. As consequence, there is an urgent need to implement effective conservation habitat restoration measures agricultural landscapes. Over last 40–50 years, due cessation traditional management practices, majority ponds become highly terrestrialised, resulting reductions diversity abundance aquatic plant invertebrate assemblages. Recent research...