CV

Education

Ph.D. in Environmental Science, University of Stirling (2018)

M.Sc. in Conservation Science, Imperial College London (2013)

B.A. in Biological Sciences, University of Oxford (2010)

Employment

Current role:

Scientist, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Good City
The African Phenology Network

Full employment history:

--- - 2020-present: Urban Biodiversity Scientist (0.6 FTE), Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK | - 2019-2020: Postdoctoral Research Assistant (0.5 FTE), UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK | * 2019-2020: Postdoctoral Research Assistant (0.4FTE), University of Stirling, UK * 2010-2012: Academic Researcher, University of Oxford, UK

Publications

Featured publication:

Bush, E.R., Whytock, R.C., Bourgeois, S., Bunnefeld, N., Cardoso, A.W., Dikangadissi, J.T., Dimbonda, P., Dimoto, E., Ndong, J.E., Jeffery, K.J., Lehmann, D., Makaga, L., Momboua, B., Momont, L.R.W., Tutin, C.E.G., White, L.J.T., Whittaker, A. and Abernethy, K, 2020. Long-term collapse in fruit availability threatens Central African forest megafauna. Science, 370(6521), https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abc7791

Full list of publications:

---

Local-scale temperature gradients driven by human disturbance shape the physiological and morphological traits of dung beetle communities in a Bornean oil palm–forest mosaic

Williamson, J., Teh, E., Jucker, T., Brindle, M., Bush, E., Chung, A. Y., Parrett, J., Lewis, O. T., Rossiter, S. J., Slade, E. M. (2022). Local-scale temperature gradients driven by human disturbance shape the physiological and morphological traits of dung beetle communities in a Bornean oil palm–forest mosaic. Functional Ecology, 00, 1– 13. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14062

MASTREE+: Time‐series of plant reproductive effort from six continents

Hacket-Pain, A., Foest, J. J., Pearse, I. S., LaMontagne, J. M., Koenig, W. D., Vacchiano, G., Bogdziewicz, M., Caignard, T., Celebias, P., van Dormolen, J., Fernández-Martínez, M., Moris, J. V., Palaghianu, C., Pesendorfer, M., Satake, A., Schermer, E., Tanentzap, A. J., Thomas, P. A., Vecchio, D., … Bush, E.R., … Ascoli, D. (2022). MASTREE+: Time-series of plant reproductive effort from six continents. Global Change Biology, 28, pp3066–3082

Long-term collapse in fruit availability threatens Central African forest megafauna

Bush, E.R., Whytock, R.C., Bourgeois, S., Bunnefeld, N., Cardoso, A.W., Dikangadissi, J.T., Dimbonda, P., Dimoto, E., Ndong, J.E., Jeffery, K.J., Lehmann, D., Makaga, L., Momboua, B., Momont, L.R.W., Tutin, C.E.G., White, L.J.T., Whittaker, A. and Abernethy, K. 2020. Long-term collapse in fruit availability threatens Central African forest megafauna. Science, 370(6521), pp1219-1222

Rare ground data confirm significant warming and drying in western equatorial Africa

Bush, E.R., Jeffery, K., Bunnefeld, N., Tutin, C., Musgrave, R., Moussavou, G., Mihindou, V., Malhi, Y., Lehmann, D., Ndong, J.E., Makaga, L. and Abernethy, K. 2020. Rare ground data confirm significant warming and drying in western equatorial Africa. PeerJ, 8, p.e8732

The role of forest elephants in shaping tropical forest–savanna coexistence

Cardoso, A.W., Malhi, Y., Oliveras, I., Lehmann, D., Ndong, J.E., Dimoto, E., Bush, E., Jeffery, K., Labriere, N., Lewis, S.L., White, L.T., Bond, W., and Abernethy, K. 2019. The Role of Forest Elephants in Shaping Tropical Forest–Savanna Coexistence. Ecosystems, 23(3), pp.602-616.

Monitoring mega-crown leaf turnover from space

Bush, E.R., Mitchard, E.T., Silva, T.S., Dimoto, E., Dimbonda, P., Makaga, L. and Abernethy, K. (2020) Monitoring Mega-Crown Leaf Turnover from Space. Remote Sens. 12, 429

A manifesto for predictive conservation

Travers, H., Selinske, M., Nuno, A., Serban, A., Mancini, F., Barychka, T., Bush, E., Rasolofoson, R.A., Watson, J.E. and Milner-Gulland, E.J., 2019. A manifesto for predictive conservation. Biological Conservation, 237, pp.12-18.

Towards effective monitoring of tropical phenology: maximizing returns and reducing uncertainty in long‐term studies

Bush, E.R., Bunnefeld, N., Dimoto, E., Dikangadissi, J.T., Jeffery, K., Tutin, C., White, L. and Abernethy, K.A., 2018. Towards effective monitoring of tropical phenology: maximizing returns and reducing uncertainty in long‐term studies. Biotropica, 50(3), pp.455-464.

Current issues in tropical phenology: a synthesis

Abernethy, K., Bush, E.R., Forget, P.M., Mendoza, I. and Morellato, L.P.C., 2018. Current issues in tropical phenology: a synthesis. Biotropica, 50(3), pp.477-482.

Annual cycles are the most common reproductive strategy in African tropical tree communities

Adamescu, G. S., Plumptre, A. J., Abernethy, K. A., Polansky, L., Bush, E. R., Shoo, L. P., ... & Beale, C. M. 2018. Annual cycles are the most common reproductive strategy in African tropical tree communities. Biotropica, 50(3), pp.418-430.

Fourier analysis to detect phenological cycles using long‐term tropical field data and simulations

Bush, E.R., Abernethy, K.A., Jeffery, K., Tutin, C., White, L., Dimoto, E., Dikangadissi, J.T., Jump, A.S. and Bunnefeld, N., 2017. Fourier analysis to detect phenological cycles using long‐term tropical field data and simulations. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 8(5), pp.530-540.

Mosquito net use in an artisanal East African fishery

Bush, E.R., Short, R.E., Milner‐Gulland, E.J., Lennox, K., Samoilys, M. and Hill, N., 2017. Mosquito net use in an artisanal East African fishery. Conservation Letters, 10(4), pp.451-459.

Global trade in exotic pets 2006–2012

Bush, E.R., Baker, S.E. and Macdonald, D.W., 2014. Global trade in exotic pets 2006–2012. Conservation Biology. 28(3), pp.663-676.

Woodland recovery after suppression of deer: cascade effects for small mammals, wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus)

Bush, E.R., Buesching, C.D., Slade, E.M. and Macdonald, D.W., 2012. Woodland recovery after suppression of deer: cascade effects for small mammals, wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus). PLoS One, 7(2), p.e31404.

Reviewer for: Journal of Plant Ecology, Biotropica, Biological Conservation, Ecology and Society and PeerJ

Talks and meetings

Featured talk:

Fruit famine and hungry elephants in Central Africa (2021), Oxford Center for Tropical Forests, Oxford, UK, YouTube

Full list of talks and meetings

---

Flower, Fruit, Elephant, Biosphere: Tracking changes to our planetary systems via the seasonal rhythms of forest communities

June 22, 2022

Invited Speaker at BIFoR Annual Meeting - Transforming our understanding of global forests, Birmingham, UK (online)

Fruit famine and hungry elephants in Central Africa

January 29, 2021

Invited Speaker at Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests Seminar Series, Oxford, UK (online)

The role of plants and green spaces in health and the economy

October 22, 2020

Panel discussion at Edinburgh Plant Science - Early Career Researcher Meeting, Edinburgh, UK

Knowledge is power: Tropical phenology for effective climate adaptation

December 13, 2019

Conference presentation at BES Annual Meeting, Belfast, UK

CO2 drives reduction in leaf turnover in Western Equatorial Africa

April 08, 2019

Conference presentation at Joint BES/gtö Symposium – Unifying Tropical Ecology: Strengthening collaborative science, Edinburgh, UK

Grants and scholarships

Featured grant:

NERC Growing Roots ‘Engaging the public with environmental science’ (2022)

Full list of grants and scholarships

- Growing Roots 'Engaging the public with environmental science' (2022), The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - £9990 to fund 6 month public engagement project (PI). - COP26 International Climate Change Network grant (2021), The Royal Society of Edinburgh - £9920 to fund 6 month networking project for the African Phenology Network (PI). - Research Grant (2019), National Parks Agency Gabon - £31,533 to fund 12-month (0.5 FTE) PDRA at the University of Stirling (Co-I). - Connect+ grant (2018), University of Stirling - £6150 to fund workshop (Co-I). - Collaborative Impact Studentship (2013) joint funded between University of Stirling and National Parks Agency Gabon (ANPN) - £67,200/4 years stipend + £16,000 training and fieldwork costs. - Tropical Agriculture Association Masters Award (2013) - £1000 fieldwork costs (PI). - Imperial College Conservation Science (ICCS) Project Bursary Award (2013) - £500 fieldwork costs (PI). - Conservation Science MSc Bursary (2012) - £4000 living expenses. - Imperial College London Rector’s Scholarship Fund Masters Award (2012) - £5000 living expenses and fees. - Peoples Trust for Endangered Species Graduate Research Internship (2010) - £6000 fieldwork costs (PI). - Hertford College Academic Scholarship, University of Oxford (2009)

Prizes

Shortlisted for the Robert May Prize (2018), Methods in Ecology and Evolution, British Ecological Society
Best PhD Student publication (2016), Winter Symposium, University of Stirling
Best PhD Student presentation (2015), Winter Symposium, University of Stirling

Emma Bush