Director of Science
Curriculum Vitae:
- 2014: Director of Science, ZSL
- 2010–2014: School Director of Research
- 2010–2014: Deputy Director (Biodiversity), Food Security Centre @ University of Reading
- 2009–2013: NERC Biodiversity Theme Leader (part-time secondment)
- 2005–2014: Professor of Agro-ecology & Director of the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research @University of Reading (CAER – www.reading.ac.uk/caer)
- 2003–2004: Reader in Applied Ecology, University of Reading
- 1997–2003: Lecturer, University of Reading
- 1993–1997: Research Biologist, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- 1989–1993: Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept of Zoology, University of Oxford
Research interests:
My current research interests span a range of individual, population, community and ecosystem approaches to understanding how biodiversity responds to environmental change. This work has included a long-term interest in basic and applied avian ecology, which currently involves using individual-based datasets from endangered birds in Mauritius as ‘model’ systems to explore environmental change impacts from individuals to populations. Recently, we have developed a novel approach for exploring the biodiversity impacts of agricultural change across a range of UK taxa (plants, insects, birds, mammals). We have recently used this to explore the potential impact of agri-environmental management on biodiversity, and extended it to other ecosystems (e.g. European forest birds). Finally, my work is increasingly focusing on the links between biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services, particularly through studies in tropical forest and agro-forestry ecosystems in Africa.
Going forwards, my work will be focused in two broad areas. First, improving our understanding of how biodiversity responds to environmental change by looking in particular at how the evolutionary ecology of individual organisms affects population and community dynamics. Second, improving our understanding of how biodiversity change affects ecosystem services and the values/benefits people derive from these services across a range of ecosystems – urban, agricultural, tropical forests and marine.
Recent publications:
Hardman, C.J., Norris, K., Nevard, T.D., Hughes, B. & Potts, S.G. (2016) Delivery of floral resources and pollination services on farmland under three different wildlife-friendly schemes. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 220, 142–151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.01.015.
Norris, K. (2016) Ecology: The Tropical Deforestation Debt. Current Biology 26(16), R770-R772. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.06.039.
Norris, K., Buckland, S., Green, R., Roy, H. & Stephens, P. (2016) Review of UK biodiversity indicators that provide status and trends for species. Defra, 55pp. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/515118/1/N515118CR.pdf.
Nicoll, M.A.C., Nevoux, M., Jones, C.G., Ratcliffe, N., Ruhomaun, K., Tatayah, V. & Norris, K. (2016) Contrasting effects of tropical cyclones on the annual survival of a pelagic seabird in the Indian Ocean. Global Change Biology 23(2), 550–565. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13324.
Hardman, C.J., Harrison, D.P., Shaw, P.J., Nevard, T.D., Hughes, B., Potts, S.G. & Norris, K. (2015) Supporting local diversity of habitats and species on farmland: a comparison of three wildlife-friendly schemes. Journal of Applied Ecology 53, 171–180. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12557.
Maggs, G., Nicoll, M., Zuël, N., White, P.J.C., Winfield, E., Poongavanan, S., Tatayah, V., Jones, C.G. & Norris, K. (2015) Rattus management is essential for population persistence in a critically endangered passerine: combining small-scale field experiments and population modelling. Biological Conservation 191, 274–281. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.06.039.
Cartwright, S.J., Nicoll, M.A.C., Jones, C.G., Tatayah, V. & Norris, K. (2014) Anthropogenic natal environmental effects on life histories in a wild bird population. Current Biology 24, 536–540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.01.040.
Cartwright, S.J., Nicoll, M.A.C., Jones, C.G., Tatayah, V. & Norris, K. (2014) Agriculture modifies the seasonal decline of breeding success in a tropical wild bird population. Journal of Applied Ecology 51(5) 1387–1395. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12310.
Clark, N.E., Lovell, R., Wheeler, B.W., Higgins, S.L., Depledge, M.H. & Norris, K. (2014) Biodiversity, cultural pathways, and human health: a framework. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 29(4), 198–204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.01.009.
Wade, A.S.I., Barov, B., Burfield, I.J., Gregory, R.D. & Norris, K. (2014) A niche-based framework to assess current monitoring of European forest birds and guide indicator species’ selection. PLoS One 9(5), e97217. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0097217.
White, P. et al. (2014) Predator reduction with habitat management can improve songbird nest success. Journal of Wildlife Management 78, 402–412.
Butler, S.J. & Norris, K. (2013) Functional space and the population dynamics of birds in agro-ecosystems. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 164, 200–208. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.11.001
Dicks, L.V. et al., (2013) What do we need to know to enhance the environmental sustainability of agricultural production? A prioritisation of knowledge needs for the UK food system. Sustainability 5(7), 3095–3115. doi:10.3390/su5073095.
Evans, M.R. et al., (2013) Predictive systems ecology. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 280(1771), 31452–31452.
Nevoux, M., et al. (2013) The short- and long-term fitness consequences of natal dispersal in a wild bird population. Ecology Letters 16(4), 438–445. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12060.
Ofori-Boateng, C., et al. (2013) Differences in the effects of selective logging on amphibian assemblages in three West African forest types. Biotropica 45(1), 94–101. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2012.00887.x
Pickett, S.R.A. et al. (2013) Environmental and parental influences on offspring health and growth in great tits (Parus major). Plos One 8(7). http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069695.
Saether, B.-E., et al. (2013) How life history influences population dynamics in fluctuating environments. American Naturalist 182(6), 743–759. DOI: 10.1086/673497
Sutherland, W.J., et al. (2013) A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2013. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 28(1), 16–22.
Sutherland, W.J., Freckleton, R.P., Godfray, H.C.J., Beissinger, S.R., Benton, T., et al. (2013) Identification of 100 fundamental ecological questions. Journal of Ecology 101(1), 58–67. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12025.
Wade, A.S.I. et al., (2013) Quantifying the detrimental impacts of land-use and management change on European forest bird populations. Plos One 8(5), e64552-e64552. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064552
Butler, S.J. et al., (2012) An objective, niche-based approach to indicator species selection. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 3(2), 317–326. DOI: 10.1111/j.2041-210X.2011.00173.x.
Evans, M.R., Norris, K.J. & Benton, T.G. (2012) Predictive ecology: systems approaches Introduction. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 367(1586), 163–169.
Mace, G.M., Norris, K. & Fitter, A.H. (2012) Biodiversity and ecosystem services: a multilayered relationship. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 27(1), 19–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2011.08.006
Norris, K. (2012) Biodiversity in the context of ecosystem services: the applied need for systems approaches. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 367(1586), 191–199.
Sutherland, W.J. et al., (2012) A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2012. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 27(1), 12–18.
Baker, D.J. et al., (2011) Are the costs of routine vigilance avoided by granivorous foragers? Functional Ecology 25(3), 617–627.
Burgess, M.D. et al., (2011) Multiple environmental gradients affect spatial variation in the productivity of a tropical bird population. Journal of Animal Ecology 80(3), 688–695.
Nevoux, M. et al., (2011) Population regulation of territorial species: both site dependence and interference mechanisms matter. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 278(1715), 2173–2181.
Scholefield, P. et al., (2011) Modelling the European Farmland Bird Indicator in response to forecast land-use change in Europe. Ecological Indicators 11(1), 46–51.
Senapathi, D. et al., (2011) Climate change and the risks associated with delayed breeding in a tropical wild bird population. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 278(1722), 3184–3190.
Baker, D.J. et al., (2010) Vigilance and the functional response of granivorous foragers. Functional Ecology 24(6), 12811290.
Borghesio, L. et al., (2010) Population estimates and habitat use by the Critically Endangered Taita Apalis Apalis fuscigularis in south-eastern Kenya. Bird Conservation International 20(4), 440–455.
Butler, S.J. et al., (2010) Quantifying the impact of land-use change to European farmland bird populations. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 137, 348–357.
Butler, S.J. et al., (2010) Resource availability and the persistence of seed-eating bird populations in agricultural landscapes: a mechanistic modelling approach. Journal of Applied Ecology 47(1), 67–75.
Lopez-Sepulcre, A., Kokko, H. & Norris, K. (2010) Evolutionary conservation advice for despotic populations: habitat heterogeneity favours conflict and reduces productivity in Seychelles magpie robins. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 277(1699), 3477–3482.
Nicoll, M. & Norris, K. (2010) Detecting an impact of predation on bird populations depends on the methods used to assess the predators. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 1(3), 300–310.
Norris, K. et al., (2010) Biodiversity in a forest-agriculture mosaic - the changing face of West African rainforests. Biological Conservation 143(10), 2341–2350.
Norris, K., Asase, A., Collen, B., Gockowksi, J., Mason, J., Phalan, B. & Wade, A. (2010) Biodiversity in a forest-agriculture mosaic: the changing face of West African rainforests. Biological Conservation 143, 2341–2350.
Norris, K., Potts, S.G. & Mortimer, S.R. (2010) Ecosystem Services and Food Production. In Ecosystem Services: 52–69. Harrison, R.M. & Hester, R.E. (Eds). DOI:10.1039/9781849731058-00052.
Senapathi, D. et al., (2010) Evidence for long-term regional changes in precipitation on the East Coast Mountains in Mauritius. International Journal of Climatology 30(8), 1164–1177.
Wade, A.S.I. et al., (2010) Management strategies for maximizing carbon storage and tree species diversity in cocoa-growing landscapes. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 138(3-4), 324–334.
Awa, T., II, Burgess, M.D. & Norris, K. (2009) Investigating the practicality of using radio tracking to determine home range and movements of Picathartidae. Ostrich 80, 145–151.
Awa, T., II, Dzikouk, G. & Norris, K. (2009) Breeding distribution and population decline of globally threatened Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas in Mbam Minkom Mountain Forest, southern Cameroon. Bird Conservation International 19(3), 254–264.
Burgess, M.D. et al., (2009) The use of agricultural, open and forest habitats by juvenile Mauritius kestrels Falco punctatus. Ibis 151(1), 63–76.
Butler, S.J. et al., (2009) A cross-taxonomic index for quantifying the health of farmland biodiversity. Journal of Applied Ecology 46, 1154–1162.
Butler, S.J. et al., (2009) Indirect population dynamic benefits of altered life-history trade-offs in response to egg harvesting. American Naturalist 174(1), 111–121.
Lopez-Sepulcre, A., Norris, K. & Kokko, H. (2009) Reproductive conflict delays the recovery of an endangered social species. Journal of Animal Ecology 78(1), 219–225.
