Overview
The group comprises an interdisciplinary team of ecologists and biogeographers from the Biology Division of the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and School of the Environment and Technology. Research expertise is within wetland ecology and management; GIS and landscape ecology; herpetology, plant population ecology; conservation biology, molecular ecology, human-wildlife conflict, tri-trophic interactions and entomology, and mammal behaviour, ecology and conservation.
Research focuses on ecological management of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, with particular emphasis on community level responses to management and the application of GIS to biogeographical research. The group has strong links with other academic institutes, governmental and non-governmental organizations, locally and nationally in the UK, and abroad (e.g. EA, NE, SWT, WWT, SDNPA). Group members are also prominent within academic, advisory, and policy bodies, such as the Royal Geographical Society and The Mammal Society and act on advisory panels and within journal editorial roles.
Current and recent projects
See a full list of the group's current and recent research projects, or they are listed by theme below.
Themes
Wetland ecology
- The effects of sea level rise on the ecology of coastal wetlands, Estonia.
- Relationship between micro-topography and vegetation in Estonian coastal wetlands: implications for climate change.
- Relationships between sediment characteristics and invertebrate communities in coastal wetlands.
Chalk Grasslands ecology
- Species-area and SLOSS relationships in chalk grassland fragments
- Assembly rules and chalk heath plant communities. A biogeographical approach
- Bioturbation by ants in chalk grassland systems: Above and below surface interactions and the role of management
- The role of Vesicular Mycorrhizal Fungi in calcareous grassland communities on the South Downs
Landscape ecology
- The determination of Ghyll Woodland types in the Weald
- The impacts of landscape fragmentation, connectivity and habitat quality on hazel dormouse population viability
- Post release dispersal and establishment rates of water voles to determine the impact of landscape structure and habitat on re-establishment
Molecular ecology
- Population ecology and conservation genetics of the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in a fragmented lowland heath landscape
- The impacts of landscape fragmentation, connectivity and habitat quality on hazel dormouse population viability
- Impacts of re-introductions on water vole genetics
- Molecular ecology of brown hyaenas
Carnivore ecology, conflict and conservation
- Comparative ecology of brown hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) inside and outside National Parks in South Africa
- The impacts of persecution on the population ecology of the Black Backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) in South African farmland ecosystems
- Spatial ecology and occupancy of stoats and weasels
Conservation biology
- Conservation based autecological studies of endemic Mascarene Island
- Monitoring and mitigating the impact of the global trade in live reptiles and amphibians
Plant-insect interactions and invertebrate ecology
- Pollination Ecology: pollen quality and bumble bee conservation
- Orchid Conservation: Burnt Orchids and Pollination
- Oak Herbivory: BSO Trials in Kent
- Dung Beetle Ecology in South Africa
Academic Members
- Dr Maureen Berg
- Dr Niall Burnside (School of the Environment and Technology)
- Dr Chris Joyce (School of the Environment and Technology)
- Dr Andrew Overall
- Dr Angelo Pernetta
- Dr Anja Rott
- Dr Dawn Scott
- Dr Roger Smith (School of the Environment and Technology)
BERG Postgraduate students
Present students
- PhD: Roy Holm (Sussex chalk grasslands) from 2004
- PhD: James Phillips (Estonian wetland bird communities) from 2005
- PhD: Aline da Silva Cerqueira Holt (Habitat assessment of coastal transitional waters) from 2007
- PhD: Michael Dilley (Ants and chalk grasslands) from 2008
- PhD: Ray Ward (Climate change and Estonian coastal wetlands) from 2008
- PhD: David Oakley (Spatial ecology of stoats and weasels). From 2010 in collaboration with University of Solent
- PhD: Louisa Richmond-Coggan. (Comparative habitat use and ranging behaviour of brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea) inside and outside protected areas in South Africa).2008-2011. In collaboration with Nottingham Trent University.
- PhD: Robert James: The impacts of persecution on the population ecology of the Black Backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas) in South African farmland ecosystems. 2010- 2013
- PhD: Andrew Flint (The effects of fragmentation and isolation of wildlife in Ghyll woodlands). 2004-2010.
Recent PhD students
- PhD: Maureen Berg (The effects of abandonment and reinstated management on Estonian coastal wet grasslands) 2004-9
- PhD: Glenn Langler (The possible effects of leachate contamination on the macroinvertebrate fauna of groundwater habitats) 1999-2004.
- MPhil: Fran Southgate (The influence of water quality on water shrew (Neomys fodiens) distribution in Sussex) 2003-2005.
- PhD: Michelle Thorn (Carnivore ecology inside and outside protected areas in South Africa) 2006-2009.
- PhD: Richard Yarnell (The effects of fire on small vertebrate and vegetation communities of a bushveld area, South Africa) 2002-2005.
