CV

Education

• Ph.D. in Environmental Science, University of Stirling, 2018
  • Thesis: “Tropical Phenology in a Time of Change” supervised by Prof. Nils Bunnefeld and Prof. Katharine Abernethy
• M.Sc. in Conservation Science, Imperial College London, 2013
  • Thesis: “What’s the Catch? Mosquite Net Fishing in Coastal East Africa” supervised by Prof. EJ Milner Gulland and Dr Nick Hill
• B.A. in Biological Sciences, University of Oxford, 2010
  • Thesis: supervised by Mr Timothy Walker (University of Oxford Botanic Garden)

Employment

• 2020 - present: Urban Biodiversity Scientist (0.6 FTE)
  • Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
  • Project: The Good City
  • Supervisor: Dr Chris Ellis
• 2019 - 2020: Postdoctoral Research Assistant (0.4 FTE)
  • UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH)
  • Project: Phenology and ecological genetics in the Kenyan drylands
  • Supervisor: Dr Stephen Cavers
• 2019 - 2020: Postdoctoral Research Assistant (0.5 FTE)
  • University of Stirling
  • Project: Long term trends in Central African Forest Phenology
  • Supervisor: Prof Katharine Abernethy
• 2010 - 2012: Academic Researcher
  • University of Oxford
  • Project: A global review of the exotic pet trade
  • Project: Effects of tropical forest modification and fragmentation on dung beetle biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
  • Project: Woodland recovery after removal of deer: cascade effects for small mammals
  • Supervisors: Prof. David Macdonald and Dr Eleanor Slade

Publications

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. and Lehmann, D., 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. and Makaga, L., 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. and White, L.T., 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.; 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., Chapman, C.A., Shoo, L.P., Fayolle, A., Janmaat, K.R., Robbins, M.M. and Ndangalasi, H.J., 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

Prizes

2018 - Shortlisted for the Robert May Prize, Methods in Ecology and Evolution, British Ecological Society

2016 - Best PhD Student publication, Winter Symposium, University of Stirling

2015 - Best PhD Student presentation, Winter Symposium, University of Stirling

Talks and meetings

Fruit famine and hungry elephants in Central Africa

January 29, 2021

Seminar at Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests, 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

• 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)