Prof. Helen Roy's blog

Chile has incredible appeal for ecologists. The Andes extend alongside the eastern edge of Chile and essentially render it isolated from the rest of South America. Not surprisingly the landscapes of this long and narrow country are extremely diverse and the biodiversity even more so. The species list for Chile includes around 31,000 species and about 37% of these are endemic. Justifiably Chile is considered a global biodiversity hotspot.

Ladybirds have led me on all kinds of adventures. I have met so many interesting people through our shared interest in these delightful creatures and the way in which people have joined in the UK Ladybird Survey has been simply inspiring.

Tom August, Michael Pocock and Helen Roy from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology were among the participants at a symposium in Nairobi, Kenya last month which brought together conservation scientists to share their experiences of citizen science initiatives in East Africa. Helen reports back:

More details of a new opportunity to help scientists who are researching the effects of the harlequin ladybird on other species

Professor Helen Roy writes about the research and citizen science contribution played by participants in the Big Bumblebee Discovery

Bumblebees are much loved insects but they also play an important ecological role – pollination. There has been concern in recent years that some species of bumblebee, alongside other pollinating insects (including other types of bee and hoverflies), are in decline.

Dr Helen Roy of CEH is among the scientists behind the UK Ladybird Survey which, thanks to the help of the public, has monitored the rapid spread of the non-native harlequin ladybird in the UK from its first confirmed appearance in 2004. Coinciding with a new paper in Ecological Entomology, Helen looks back at ten years of harlequin ladybird recording.

Professor Helen Roy reports on a recent workshop held at our headquarters site in Wallingford, UK

On 18–19 March 2015, 38 experts from 13 European countries with expertise ranging from conservation biology and invasion ecology to wildlife epidemiology and disease management, convened at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (Wallingford, UK) for a horizon scanning workshop. The overarching aim was to advance understanding of alien pathogens threatening wildlife within natural and semi-natural systems.

Dr Helen Roy, an ecological entomologist at CEH, was recently invited to become a member of the Entomological Club. She writes more about the honour: