Welcome to the Conservation Ecology Research Group! We are a group of researchers based at Durham University, in Durham, United Kingdom. Our work ranges from the evolutionary ecology of individual behaviour to global biogeographic patterns, usually with an applied focus. 
​RECENT NEWS 
  • A belated welcome to Elie Ancrenaz, who is conducting his MSc by research in Glen Lyon, looking at interactions between humans, domestic stock and red deer.
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  • Congratulations to both Lucy and Harriet on being awarded their MSc by research. Lucy investigated population viability analyses for the world’s birds under future climate change scenarios, and Harriet's thesis evaluated the species that motivate ecotourism.
 
  • A new paper by Wayne on 'Global hotspots and correlates of alien species richness across taxonomic groups' is now available online
 
  • Welcome to Tom Mason, who has started a new post-doc position in the group. Tom will initially be investigating the role of past human activities in restricting the distributions of European birds, with the goal of developing a more complete understanding of their conservation status. 
 
  • Our live nest box camera feed is back, and this year there promises to be twice the fun. We have nest boxes with cameras outside of both the Department of Biosciences and the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences. Watch the boxes live here or visit the blog for progress updates. 

  • Welcome to two visitors to the Conservation Ecology Group! Dr Francesco Ferretti joins us from the University of Siena (Italy) on an Institute of Advanced Study Senior Fellowship. He will be working with Phil for 6 weeks, looking at factors affecting the diet breadth of large carnivores. Keshab Gogoi joins us from the Wildlife Institute of India on a Cambridge Conservation Internship. Keshab will spend a month working with Phil, and discussing his research on Asiatic lions.
 
  • A new paper by Steve and David on 'Neglected issues in using weather and climate information in ecology and biogeography' is now available early online.
 
  • The Biodiversity Indicator Partnership (BIP) has updated and released its new indicator set for the Convention on Biodiversity "COP 13", showing linkage of indicators to the Aichi Targets. Information on the climatic impact indicator (which is based on work jointly undertaken by members of our group and international collaborators) is here.
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  • Congratulations to Hagen O'Neill for receiving his PhD for his thesis on the ecology and behaviour of red deer on the Isle of Ulva.
 
  • Final reports from the UK and England Biodiversity Indicators Quality Assurance Science Panel, of which Phil was a member, are now available here. The reports include an assessment of the methods and data underlying UK Biodiversity Indicators, and recommendations for improvement.
 
  • Lots of opportunities to join our group - from postgrad up to faculty level. See the links here.
 
  • New paper by Nicolás on the differential preference of agricultural landscapes by taruka and feral donkeys in high Andean deserts during the dry season is now out.
See additional group news here or follow us on Twitter @CEGDurham