Dr Alastair Ward

• Terrestrial ecology and behavioural ecology

• Aeroecology

• Resolution of human-wildlife conflicts

• Wildlife disease epidemiology

• Wildlife management planning and delivery

• Estimating natural quantities for applied decision making

• Mammals, particularly deer

• Currently collaborating with the Deer Initiative and Newcastle University's Centre for Wildlife Management on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to develop decision support tools and an adaptive management programme for wild deer management in Great Britain.

• Leading a network to build a partnership with organisations, particularly the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), to create a National Aeroecology Centre. It will have a physical presence on the Humber to act as a base for teaching and research in the behaviour and ecology of birds.

• Work part-time at APHA's National Wildlife Management Centre, managing a programme of wildlife research and operations delivery, primarily for Defra.

• On part-time secondment (2016-18) from APHA to the Deer Initiative, as Operations and Research Director

Booy, O., Mill, A.C., Roy, H.E., Hiley, A., Moore, N., Robertson, P., Ward, A., and Wyn, G. (2017) 'Risk management to prioritise the eradication of new and emerging invasive non-native species', Biological Invasions, 19: 2401-2417

Ward, A. I., Finney, J.K., Beatham, S.E., Delahay, R.J., Robertson, P.A. & Cowan, D.P. (2016) 'Exclusions for resolving urban badger damage problems: outcomes and consequences', PeerJ, 4:e2579; DOI 10.7717/peerj.2579

Ward A.I., Dendy J., & Cowan D.P. (2015) 'Mitigating impacts of roads on wildlife: an agenda for the conservation of priority European protected species in Great Britain', European Journal of Wildlife Research, 61: 199-211

Palmer G., Stephens P.A., Ward A.I. & Willis S.G. (2015) 'Nationwide trophic cascades: changes in avian community structure driven by ungulates', Scientific Reports, 5: 15601

Ward A.I & Smith G.C. (2012) 'Predicting the status of wild deer as hosts of Mycobacterium bovis infection in Britain', European Journal of Wildlife Research, 58: 127-135

Full list

• Wildlife Management

• Concepts in Ecology

• Reviews in Biology

• Field Studies (Mallorca)

• Ecology & Evolution

• Skills for Biology

• Biological Diversity

Alastair welcomes applications for MSc by research and PhD studies in wildlife management and conservation, mammal ecology, aeroecology and wildlife disease ecology. For funded opportunities, follow this link.

Completed PhDs

• Petrovan, S. (2012) The landscape ecology of brown hares and European rabbits in pastures in the north east of England, University of Hull

• Palmer, G. (2014) Deer in Britain: population spread and the implications for biodiversity, Whitehead Trust

• Lush, L. (2015) Functional ecology of the interactions between wild and domestic herbivores, University of Hull

• O’Neill, H. (2016) Deer, biodiversity management and ecotourism in the Hebrides: conflict or mutual benefit?, NERC and Fera

Current PhD supervisions 

• Matos, C., Pond-breeding amphibians and connectivity through tunnels: maintaining Triturus cristatus movements using road mitigation, Natural England and University of Hull

• Logan, T., Ecology and management of deer on Thorne Moors, Self-funded MSc by research

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

• PhD (1997-2001), University of York

• MRes Ecology and Environmental Management (1996-1997), University of York

• BSc (Hons) Zoology (1990-1994), University of Glasgow

• Work part-time at the Animal and Plant Health Agency

• Honorary Associate Lecturer on the Wildlife Management MSc at Newcastle University

• Honorary Scientific Advisor to the British Deer Society

• Member of the IUCN/SSC Deer Specialist Group

• GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership, representative (2017- )

• NERC Industrial CASE Studentship Assessment Panel, member (2016)

• Scientific Advisory Committee, The Mammal Society, member (2016- )

• GB Stakeholder Group on chronic wasting disease, advisor (2016- )

• Defra / APHA National Expert Group on Chronic Wasting Disease, advisor (2016- )

• Food Standards Agency Stakeholder Group on Trichinella in pigs, advisor (2015-2016)

• Defra, National Expert Group on feral pigs, advisor (2013-2016)

• Associate Editor for the European Journal of Wildlife Research (2009-2013)

• Guest Associate Editor for special edition of Wildlife Research (2010)

• IUCN/SSC Deer Specialist Group, member (2007- )

• Defra, Husbandry Working Group, member (2006-2008)

• The Mammal Society, trustee/director, conference secretary (2004-2009)

• Expert Mammal Working Group, UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species and habitats review, advisor, (2005)

• Welsh Assembly’s TB Action Group, advisor (2004)

• Ungulate Research Group, conference organiser (2002)

• Deer Research Working Group, representative (2002- )

• Tracking Mammals Partnership, representative (2001-2009)