Ecosystems and environmental management

The collection and interpretation of geospatial data is central to activities of Geographers, Ecologists, Geologists, and Environmental Scientists, whether on computers or in the field. Our use of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) combine field data collection and geographical methodologies with cutting edge technology and computer-based information systems. These serve to process information we collect, in particular to visualise and analyse spatial and temporal differences in observational data.

Within our research group we focus on environmental and ecological data acquired through many means including GPS, Radar, Lidar, Sonar, Electro-Optical Imaging, Thermal Imaging, Aerial photography, Spectroscopy, Geomagnetism, and essential ground validation measurements. These data are collected and analysed to support research in a variety of fields including, but not restricted to, Archaeology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Geography, Geology, Geomorphology and Land-cover/Land-use change.

The research group comprises a multi-disciplinary team of scientists with expertise in active and passive remote sensing, physics, engineering, ecology, GIS, and the use of Small Unmanned Aircraft. Our activities revolve around the central themes of data acquisition and interpretation to overcome real world problems and deliver solutions.

Examples of our work include seabed habitat mapping using multibeam acoustic data and GIS, historical landscape modelling, forest radar backscatter modelling, lidar/radar fusion to determine vertical forest canopy structure, leaf area index estimation, remote monitoring of gully erosion, channel patterns, dynamics and hydraulic connectivity of the world’s largest rivers, characterisation of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model (SRTM DEM) slope dependence, and impacts of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission.

Our research is aimed at understanding the influence of humans on ecosystems and biodiversity, within landscapes, communities, species and populations. The theme consists of experts in a variety of ecosystems, including freshwater, coastal, marine and terrestrial, and taxonomic groups, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and plants. Our researchers are assessing species and community diversity and distributions, and genetic diversity within species, to determine conservation status and extinction risk. We investigate the effects of habitat changes on vegetation, such as chalk grasslands and wetlands in England and Europe, and species, such as orchids and water voles, to develop sustainable management and restoration.

Our research also aims to advance the science behind water quality guidelines and monitoring by understanding the effects of particulate matter on freshwater ecosystems such as rivers. We are also assessing the drivers of human-carnivore conflict in the UK with our studies on foxes and badgers, and also with carnivores in South Africa, to help resolve problems and raise public understanding of the species and issues involved. We are evaluating the impact of invasive plants and birds in native communities in aquatic and urban environments. Other emerging issues investigated include the threat of chytrid infections on rare amphibians and the impacts of climate change on internationally important floodplain and coastal wetlands (e.g. salt marshes, mangroves) in England, Estonia, and Brazil. Research into pollutants is showing the biological disruption caused by oestrogen in marine environments while our behavioural research has elucidated the impacts of transgenic fruit on chemical signals and behaviour in insects.

Zoonoses concern the ability of pathogens to cross the species barrier and lead to episodes of human infectious disease. It is estimated that up to 75 per cent of all emerging and re-emerging human infectious diseases have an animal origin, and that 60 per cent of all human infectious diseases have a link to animal populations. Incidents of zoonotic disease often receive notable media attention, and can generate a significant amount of public disquiet. Notable examples include swine/ avian influenza, and E. coli O157 food poisoning. This research group follows a one-health research strategy, designed to consider infectious disease from a multidisciplinary perspective. This group brings together ecologists, microbiologists, geneticists and healthcare scientists, focussing on incidents of zoonotic disease in the UK.

The group focuses on five key research initiatives.

• Investigating the clonal turnover of zoonotic agents within animal populations, defined both spatially and temporally.
• Investigating the antibiotic resistance and bacteriophage susceptibility of pathogens within animal and environmental habitats.
• Scrutinising how the population structure and behaviour of animals affects the distribution of disease determinants.
• Phylogenetic analysis of diseases on a broad geographic scale using GIS, and comparing this with host animal movement patterns.
• Development of disease traceability technology platforms, combining knowledge of GIS, mammal ecology and molecular microbiology.

The group has access to state-of-the-art molecular/genetic technologies, including antibiotic resistance analysis and host animal phylogenetic profiling. By using these technology platforms, we are in a unique position to develop a coherent, over-arching strategy to investigate animal movements and interactions, and incidents of infectious disease. Members of the group have extensive links with industry and academic organisations. For example, the Deer Society (UK) as well as internationally recognised research leaders with whom we currently collaborate (Eliava Institute, Republic of Georgia; Haccetteppe and Bilkent Universities, Republic of Turkey).