Laurence Alexander

PhD topic title: A biodiverse future for woodlands in the presence of deer

PhD supervisor(s): Piran White, Colin Beale, Diana Bowler, Michael Pocock

Biography and research

My research is focussing on the impact of deer on the condition and structure of woodland, and the effects this has on biodiversity. I will be using integrated Species Distribution Models (iSDMs) and data from a variety of sources, including citizen science monitoring schemes, to investigate associations between deer density and changes in woodland condition and biodiversity. I was first drawn to this topic by reading the work of Frans Vera on the impact of large herbivores on woodlands and learning about how his ‘wood-pasture hypothesis’ has been influential for various rewilding projects across Europe.

I completed a MSc in Conservation Ecology at Oxford Brookes in 2024, and before that I was a professional chef for a number of years.

Funder

Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment (ACCE) NERC DTP