I graduated with a BA in Biological Sciences from Oxford University in 2010 and joined WildCRU soon after. My first role was as a PTES (People’s trust for Endangered Species) funded “research intern” studying the cascade effects of deer management on the small mammal community of Wytham woods (Bush et al 2012).

I then joined an expedition to the SAFE project, Borneo (www.safeproject.net) to collect and survey dung beetles amongst the forest fragments and oil palm plantations, to assess the effects of forest fragmentation on biodiversity and ecosystem function. After this I worked as research assistant to Dr. Eleanor Slade and Dr. Phil Riordan on a collaborative project between Earthwatch and WildCRU to “Assess the effects of fragmentation and climate change on woodland animal populations”.

I have just completed a review of the global trade of exotic pets with the aim to identify major trade routes and assess the patterns of current research effort.
In September 2012 I left WildCRU to study for the MSc in Conservation Science at Imperial College London.
My long-term research interests lie in the ecology and sustainable use of African Tropical Forests, and the role of forest dwelling people in human-wildlife conflict and conservation solutions. You can follow me on twitter @er_bush and at www.xxecology.blogspot.com.