Biodiversity Topic 2

Ecological processes in the environment

Biodiversity Topic 2 (BD-2) contributes to defining and quantifying the mechanisms that drive biodiversity and its response to environmental change. By developing and meeting four inter-related research objectives, Topic 2 aims to:

  • BD-2.1 Determine how above- and below-ground biodiversity structure ecosystems and their functioning
  • BD-2.2 Quantify the impact of invasive species, pathogens and vectors of disease
  • BD-2.3 Identify indicators and traits of ecosystem status and estimates of resilience 
  • BD-2.4 Estimate the impacts of pressures on biodiversity and ecosystem function

These activities are integrated with relevant Topics in the Biogeochemistry and Water Programmes and the Environmental Information Data Centre.

Topic BD-2 undertakes research which is supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including a range of agencies and governmental bodies, such as Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the National Biodiversity Network and the European Union.

Areas of research

Examples of research projects relevant to BD-2 include:

Collaborative research projects

BD-2 participates in many collaborative projects. Examples include: