Welcome to the Invasion Ecology Research Group
At the University of Stirling we focus on the impact of invasive alien species on the environment, biodiversity and livelihoods (food and water security), particularly in freshwater environments. However, our project interests are diverse and also include research on plant and soil ecology.
We are always looking to work with new people and discuss potential project opportunities. If you are interested in collaborating and/or joining the group, please contact me.
Opportunities
Upcoming opportunities will be posted here.
Current team members
PhD Students
James Hardwick
Impact of invasive riparian plants on riverbank erosion. Commenced: 2022
Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Chris Hackney, Prof. Clare Fitszimmons, Prof. Nigel Willby.
Funded by: Newcastle University
Partners: University of Stirling, Newcastle University
Email me: J.Hardwick2@newcastle.ac.uk
Lizzie Keen
Impact and management of Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) in ancient woodlands. Commenced: 2021
Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Prof Nigel Willby, Richard Wilson, Prof Aileen Mill.
Funded by: NERC IAPETUS DTP, Woodland Trust
Partners: University of Stirling, Newcastle University, Forest Research, Woodland Trust
Email Lizzie: e.keen3@newcastle.ac.uk
Ruth Wright
Understanding public awareness, attitudes and perceptions of invasive non-native species and their management. Commenced: 2023
Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Prof Aileen Mill, Dr Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, Dr Ana Novoa Perez
Funded by: NERC IAPETUS DTP
Partners: University of Stirling, Newcastle University, Coventry University, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
Email Ruth: r.k.wright@stir.ac.uk
Clinton Nkolokosa
Using L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar to map schistosomiasis vector snail habitat: a new method of mapping schistosomiasis risk in flood prone areas. Commenced: 2024
Supervisors: Dr Armando Marino, Dr Zarah Pattison, Professor Russell Stothard
Funded by: Commonwealth Scholarship
Partners: University of Stirling, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Email Clinton: clinton.nkolokosa@stir.ac.uk
Jennifer McFarlane
Reconciling evidence with management to mitigate impacts from hunting pressure in tropical forests. Commenced: 2024
Supervisors: Dr Louise Mair, Dr Zarah Pattison, Professor Marion Pfeifer
Funded by: NERC IAPETUS DTP
Partners: Newcastle University, University of Stirling, San Diego Zoo Global-Peru
Email Jennifer: J.McFarlane@newcastle.ac.uk
Sheena Davis
Restoration of riparian habitats on sugarcane plantations for bird diversity, bird – regulated ecosystem services and climate change mitigation and adaptation in rural tropical landscapes, Tanzania. Commenced: 2023
Supervisors: Dr Marion Pfeifer, Prof Philip Stephens, Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Roy Sanderson
Funded by: NERC IAPETUS DTP, IUCN
Partners: Newcastle University, Durham University, University of Stirling, IUCN, Sokoine University of Agriculture
Email Sheena: S.M.Davis2@newcastle.ac.uk
Juma Ayoub Tegeje
Drivers, impacts and management of Prosopis juliflora Tanzania. Commenced: 2022
Supervisors: Dr Charles Kilawe, Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Msafiri Mkonda
Funded by: Sokoine University of Agriculture Scholarship
Partners: Sokoine University of Agriculture Tanzania, University of Stirling
Email Juma: juma.tegeje@sua.ac.tz
Patrick Cook
From farmland to wildland: an ecological journey. Commenced: 2021
Supervisors: Prof Nigel Willby, Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Alan Law
Funded by: NERC IAPETUS DTP
Partners: University of Stirling
Email Patrick: patrick.cook@stir.ac.uk
Rain (Xiang) Yinan
Impacts of Impatiens glandulifera on soil microbial communities. Commenced: 2024
Supervisors: Prof. Wayne Dawson, Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Sean Meaden, Dr Sharon Zytynska
Funded by: Joint University of Liverpool – China Scholarship Council Award
Partners: University of Liverpool, University of Stirling, University of York
Email Rain: Y.Xiang21@liverpool.ac.uk
Previous team members (Alumni)
Postdocs
Dr Laura Braunholtz
2022 – 2023 Project: Identifying knowledge gaps within current risk assessment policies used by researchers when conducting work in the field. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Tina Sikka, Prof Peter Hopkins, Dr Louise Mair. Funded by: NERC
Dr Briony Carlin
2022 – 2023 Project: Assessing the risks faced by researchers from marginalised groups when working in the field. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Tina Sikka, Prof Peter Hopkins, Dr Louise Mair. Funded by: NERC
Dr Hannah Hamilton
2019 – 2020 Project: Identifying global hotspots and drivers of aquatic and terrestrial invasive alien plant species. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Lynsey Bunnefeld and Prof. Nigel Willby (University of Stirling), Prof. Wayne Dawson (Liverpool University) Funded by: Carnegie Trust
PhD students
Ava Waine
2020 – 2025 Project: The risks to water security from invasive by non-native species via raw water transfer.
Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Prof. Peter Robertson, Stuart Pudney, Dr Martin Crapper. Partners: Newcastle University, University of Stirling, Northumbria University, Northumbria Water. UK. Funded by: NERC ONEPlanet DTP, Northumbria Water
Emily Hickinbotham
2019 – 2024 Project: The risk of significant phenological changes causing mismatching between species (moths and plants) as a result of climate change.
Supervisors: Prof Stephen Rushton, Dr Zarah Pattison. Partners: Newcastle University, University of Stirling, Butterfly Conservation Trust, UK. Funded by: RB Cooke Scholarship
Research Assistants
2023 Eve Handley
Project: What lies beneath: how does an invasive plant change the soil fungal community? Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Wayne Dawson (Durham University). Funded by: NERC IAPETUS Research Experience Placement scheme
2022- 23 Caitlin Frampton
Project: Assessing decomposition rates of native versus invasive plant species in an ancient woodland. Supervisors: Lizzie Keen, Dr Zarah Pattison. Funded by: Newcastle University, Woodland Trust
2022 Megan Vine
Project: Identifying species spread though raw water transfer schemes using eDNA. Supervisors: Ava Waine, Dr Zarah Pattison Funded by: Newcastle University, Northumbrian Water
2022 Hasab Osman
Project: Impact of alien plants on recreational fisheries. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Josie South (Leeds University) and the Angling Trust. Funded by: NERC ONEPlanet
2021-22 Caitlin Frampton
Project: Digitising River Habitat Survey data collected from the North East of England. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison. Funded by: Newcastle University
2021 Courtney Glenwright
Project: Identifying global hotspots of invasive alien plant species. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison and Prof. Nigel Willby (University of Stirling). Funded by: Newcastle University
MSc Research Projects
2024
*William Brown: Rhododendron ponticum’s distribution and pathways of spread in a temperate rainforest zone. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Ana Novoa and Dominic Hall (Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park) *Research Prize for Top Performing Dissertation in Faculty of Natural Sciences
Jasper Houtman: The Impact of Impatiens glandulifera on woodland invertebrates. Dr Zarah Pattison, Lizzie Keen
2022
Caitlin Frampton: Litter decomposition in ancient woodlands: invasive versus native plant species. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Lizzie Keen
2021
Kate Bunt: Impact of Impatiens glandulifera on ancient woodland flora. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Richard Wilson (Woodland Trust)
Sarah Jarrett: Native macrophyte community changes with invasion across lakes globally. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Prof. Nigel Willby, Dr Janne Alahuhta (University of Oulu).
Jack Morris: Invasion of Acaena novae-zelandiae ( Piri piri burr) on Holy Island, Lindesfarne. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Aileen Mill, Andrew Craiggs (Natural England)
2020
Shannon Goldberg: Assessing effectiveness of varied management strategies for Acaena novae-zelandiae ( Piri piri burr) on Holy Island, Lindesfarne. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Andrew Craiggs (Natural England)
Courtney Glenwright: Which native freshwater species are threatened by invasive alien species in UK? Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Prof. Pete Robertson
*Lucy Duke: Opportunities towards achieving post 2020 biodiversity targets: examining the potential of invasive species threat reduction. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Dr Louise Mair *Winner of Best Dissertation Prize
Kirsty Witts: Identifying key themes in the management of invasive alien species using Topic Modelling. Supervisors: Dr Zarah Pattison, Prof. Peter Robertson
*Emily Stephenson: Identifying key themes in Invasion Ecology using Topic Modelling. Supervisors: Prof. Peter Robertson, Dr Zarah Pattison *Published dissertation
BSc Research Projects
2024
Abbie Cato: How invasive plant root structure modulates riverbank erosion
Jessica Anderson: The Impact of Impatiens glandulifera on woodland invertebrates
2023
Anne Marie Hamfeldt: Efficacy of biological control under varying climate scenarios
Samantha Coyle: Economic cost of invasive alien species on fisheries
2022
Lizzy Harbridge: Impact of Impatiens glandulifera on ancient woodland soil
Aaron Blanchard: How riparian invasive plants alter riverbank morphology
Evie Skinner: Perceptions of anglers towards invasive alien plant species
Christian Lee: Cost of alien species to fisheries
2021
*Megan Vine: Economic cost of invasive alien species to fisheries *Winner of W.H. Young Prize for Best Biological Dissertation
Lottie Wadsley: Drivers of macrophyte diversity in lakes
Declan Swales: The impact of Impatiens glandulifera on ancient woodland flora
Magnus Clements: Success and failures of mangrove restoration techniques
2020
Yasmine Airton: Economic cost of invasive alien species to food security
Beth Williams: Identifying key themes in Aquatic Invasion Ecology using Topic Modelling
Ryan Johnson: Literature review of impact and management of invasive macrophytes
2018
Cameron Wynne: Impacts of restored Impatiens glandulifera sites on terrestrial invertebrates.
2017
David Eastwood: Determinants of invasion success along riparian zones by Impatiens glandulifera.
Lucy Crawford: Impact of sediment deposition on riparian plant communities.
Cheye Pollard: Quantifying the success of freshwater invaders in the UK and Germany.
Rachel Clarke: Attributing bird movement to spatial variation of E.coli in lochs.
2016
Catherine Daw: Fine sediment and grazing impacts on riparian plant communities.
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