PhD Studentship: When does ecosystem engineering create ecological opportunity? How landscape context shapes biodiversity and ecological networks following beaver restoration

Ecosystem engineers such as beavers create new habitats and ecological opportunities, yet biodiversity responses to restoration remain highly variable. This project will investigate how local habitat modification interacts with landscape composition and connectivity to shape biodiversity responses. Specifically, it will test whether beaver-driven habitat heterogeneity increases species diversity and ecological interactions, and how the surrounding landscape determines whether these ecological opportunities are realised. Understanding these relationships is essential for predicting biodiversity responses and informing evidence-based nature recovery.

The Doctoral Researcher will survey plant and pollinator communities across beaver restoration sites spanning gradients of occupation history, habitat complexity and landscape context. Combining ecological field surveys, plant–pollinator network analysis and Earth observation, the project will quantify local habitat heterogeneity, landscape composition and connectivity. Satellite image classification and time-series analysis will characterise habitat structure and environmental change, while statistical and spatial modelling will examine how local and landscape-scale processes interact to shape biodiversity and ecological network structure. Supported by the supervisory team, the Doctoral Researcher will develop independent research questions within this framework, with opportunities to explore functional diversity, ecosystem services or restoration scenarios.

The project provides hands-on training in ecological field methods, community and network ecology, quantitative modelling and scientific writing at Exeter (Dirk Sanders). Through research visits to Cardiff, Lu Zhuo will provide specialist training in Earth observation, GIS, satellite image classification and spatial analysis. The Doctoral Researcher will work with environmental data science researchers, accessing specialist computing facilities and high-resolution satellite imagery. Cornwall Wildlife Trust has confirmed its support as a CASE partner, offering a three-month research placement, practical conservation training and co-supervision. The partnership will enable the Doctoral Researcher to work alongside conservation practitioners and translate ecological findings into restoration planning and management.

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