Prof. Helen Elizabeth Roy

• Ecology of non-native species
• Effects of environmental change on insect populations
• Community interactions, particularly ladybirds and their natural enemies
• Role of species' attributes in determining distribution patterns
• Science communication and citizen science

My research focuses on the effects of environmental change on insect populations and communities. I am particularly interested in the dynamics of invasive non-native species and their effects on biodiversity and ecosystems.  I am a co-chair for the IPBES Thematic Assessment on Invasive Alien Species and their control. I also chair the COST Action network ALIEN CSI (Citizen Science Investigate) which aims to increase understanding of alien species through citizen science and involves more than 30 countries. I have the pleasure of leading a number of projects for the European Commission on non-native species - particularly in enhancing communication and understanding but also prioritising species for risk assessment.  I lead a project to produce a comprehensive information portal on non-native species in Great Britain which also includes annual reports on status and trends of invasive non-native species and the development of an alert system for people to report sightings of concern (GB Non-Native Species Information Portal). Over the last few years I have had the privilege of working with the UK Overseas Territories to predict and prioritise invasive non-native species.

Citizen science provides opportunities for engaging people actively in science and over the last ten years I have led several major citizen science initiatives involving tens of thousands of people (including UK Ladybird Survey, BBC Breathing Places Parasite Survey and EDF Energy Big Bumblebee Discovery). I have been the volunteer scheme organiser for the UK Ladybird Survey for many years and am using the large-scale and long-term Coccinellidae datasets (distribution and abundance) to understand and predict the effects of the arrival of the non-native harlequin ladybird on other ladybirds.

My research has been selected for the 2009 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, Moscow Science Festival in 2010, BBC Gardeners' World Live in 2011, 2012 and 2013, the Edinburgh Science Festival in 2015, the British Science Festival in 2014 and 2015, New Scientist Live in 2018. I was delighted to give the "12 months in ecology" plenary lecture at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting in 2019.

I am a visiting Professor in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading.

Expertise:

Community ecology, invasion biology, entomology, biological recording, science communication

Career summary:

2019 -               Ecologist (Individual Merit (IMP) Scientist and Group Leader, NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)

2012 - 2019      Ecologist (Band 4) and Group Leader, NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

2009 - 2012      Ecologist (Band 5) and Group Leader, NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

2007 - 2009      Ecologist (Band 6), NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

2007 - 2008      Reader in Ecology, Anglia Ruskin University

2006 - 2007      Director of Research Students, Anglia Ruskin University

2002 - 2006      Senior Lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University

1997 - 2002      Lecturer, Anglia Polytechnic University

1994 - 1997      PhD Student, Institute of Arable Crop Research – Rothamsted and University of Nottingham

Postgraduate supervision:

2021 - Lead supervisor for PhD: Effects of invasive non-native species within ecological networks (Simeon Wilton, Stirling University)

2021 - Lead supervisor for PhD: Interactions amongst drivers of biodiversity change: a question of scale (Tanith Hackney, Imperial College and Natural History Museum)

2020 - Co-supervisor for PhD: The dynamics of insect biodiversity in novel British landscapes (Joshua Sammy, York University)

2020 - Co-supervisor for PhD: Native and invasive ladybirds in a changing UK climate (Rachel Loos-Bennett, University of East Anglia)

2018 - Lead supervisor for part-time Ph.D.: Predicting and prioritising invasive alien species (Jodey Peyton, Sussex University)

2017 - Co-supervisor for PhD: Citizen science and slugs in gardens (Imogen Cavadino, Newcastle University)

2017 - 2021 Co-supervisor for PhD: Harmonia axyridis impacts on rare species (Rachel Farrow, Anglia Ruskin University)

2014 - 2018 Co-supervisor for PhD: eDNA - invasive alien species (Rosie Blackman, Hull University)

2014 - 2018 Co-supervisor for PhD: Functional responses of invasive alien species (Will Fincham, Leeds University)

2014 - 2018 Co-supervisor for PhD: Ladybirds and their parasites (Katie Murray, Stirling University)

2013 - 2019 Co-supervisor for part-time PhD: Invasive Alien Species - impacts and pathways (Olaf Booy, Newcastle University)

2009-2013 Lead supervisor for PhD: Modelling the impacts of Harmonia axyridis on native insects (Richard Comont, Oxford University)

2009 - 2017 Co-supervisor for part-time PhD: Role of climate and habitat in the range expansion of Orthoptera (Björn Beckmann, York University)

2007 - 2011 Co-supervisor for PhD: Fenland restoration and invertebrate assemblages (Blaise Martay, Anglia Ruskin University)

2007 – 2011 Co-supervisor for PhD: Intraguild interactions between Harmonia axyridis and other aphidophages (Patricia Wells, Cambridge University)

2005 - 2010 Lead supervisor for PhD: Impacts of Harmonia axyridis on native ladybirds (Peter Brown, Anglia Ruskin University)

2004 - 2007 Lead supervisor for PhD: Overwintering interactions between Coccinella septempunctata and Beauveria bassiana (Anglia Ruskin University, Emma Ormond)

Books:

Roy, H.E. and Brown, P.M.J. (2019) Field Guide to the Ladybirds of Britain and Ireland. Illustrated by Richard Lewington. Bloomsbury. 

Collins, G. A. and Roy, H.E. (2019) Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland Part 10. Biological Records Centre, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK.

Majerus, M.E.N., Roy, H.E. and Brown, P.M.J. (2016) Ladybirds. Cambridge University Press.

Collins, G. A. and Roy, H.E. (2016) Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland Part 9.  142 pp. Biological Records Centre, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK. ISBN 978-1-906698-59-1

Roy, H.E., Preston, C.D. and Roy, D.B. (2015) Celebrating 50 years of the Biological Records Centre. Special Issue of the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

Booy, O. Wade, M. and Roy, H.E. (2015) Field Guide to Invasive Plants and Animals in Britain. Bloomsbury, London

Roy, H.E., Brown, P.M.J., Comont, R.F., Poland, R.L. and Sloggett, J.J. (2013) Ladybirds (Naturalists’ Handbook 10).  Revised from Majerus and Kearns (1989) Pelagic Publishing, Exeter.

Collins, G. A. and Roy, H.E. (2012) Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland Part 8.  149 pp. Biological Records Centre, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK. ISBN 978-1-906698-29-4

Roy, H.E., De Clercq, P., Handley, L., Poland, R., Sloggett, J. and Wajnberg, E. (2012) Invasive alien arthropod predators and parasitoids: an ecological approach. Book series: Progress in Biological Control.  Springer.

Roy, H.E., Brown, P.M.J., Frost, R. and Poland, R.L. (2011) Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) of Britain and Ireland. 198pp. Biological Records Centre, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK. ISBN 978-1-906698-20-1

Roy, H.E., Vega, F., Chandler, D., Goettel, M.S., Pell, J.K. and Wajnberg, E. (2010) The ecology of fungal entomopathogens.  198pp. Springer. ISBN: 978-90-481-3965-1

Edwards, R. and Roy, H.E. (2009) Provisional atlas of the aculeate Hymenoptera of Britain and Ireland Part 7.  145 pp. Biological Records Centre, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, UK. ISBN 978-1-906698-14-0

Roy, H.E. and Wajnberg, E. (2008) From biological control to invasion: the ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, as a model species. 287. Springer. ISBN: 978-1-4020-6938-3