Hilary Erenler

(Full-time PhD, Finnis Scott studentship)

Project Title:
Factors affecting pollinator diversity in the gardens of large English country houses

Tel: +44 (0)1604 893 378
email:hilary.erenler@northampton.ac.uk

Project Overview

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. The importance of global biodiversity (at both species and community levels) to human well-being is exemplified by the role of bees, flies and butterflies which perform the essential ecosystem service of pollination. These insects are responsible for pollinating both agricultural crops and wild plants and in 2005 the total economic value of pollination worldwide was estimated at €153 billion¹.There is growing evidence that pollinator numbers are significantly declining. This is due to a combination of factors including: intensive agricultural practices, loss of suitable nesting and foraging sites and climate change.

This research project aims to further our understanding of the complex pollinator interactions that occur in the gardens of large English country houses.

The funding for this project has been awarded by The Finnis Scott Foundation, a Northamptonshire based charitable trust supporting research in the area of horticulture and plant sciences. The Foundation commemorates the lives of Sir David Scott, K.C.M.G., O.B.E., (1887-1986) and his wife, Valerie Finnis V.M.H. (1924-2006).

This project is a collaboration between the LBRG and Prof. Jon Stobart (Division of History, School of Social Sciences).

¹Gallai, N., Salles, J-M., Settele, J. And Vaissiere, B.E. (2009) Economic valuation of the vulnerability of world agriculture confronted with pollinator decline. Ecological Economic 68(3):810-821

Research Interests

I am interested in all aspects of community level ecology. My research to date has focused on vegetation and seed banks in lowland and upland ancient woodlands, the phenology of ancient woodland sedges (Cyperaceae), the life history of the basal micro-moth Micropterix calthella L. and the composition of dry-forest plant communities in Central America.

I am the Membership Secretary and Treasurer for BWARS (Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society)

Publications

Gillman, M., Erenler, H. and Tellez Jimenez, E. (2012) Butterfly diversity and distribution in Masaya Volcano National Park, Nicaragua. Revista Nicaraguense de Entomologia , Vol 72 Sup. 1 pp. 1 - 28

Erenler, H.E., Ashton, P.A., Gillman, M.P. and Ollerton, J. (2010) Factors determining species richness of soil seed banks in lowland ancient woodlands. Biodiversity and Conservation 19: 1631-1648

Erenler, H.E. and Gillman, M.P. (2010) Synchronization of adult activity of the archaic moth, Micropterix calthella L. (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae), with anthesis of sedges (Carex spp. Cyperaceae) in an ancient wood. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 4(2):117-128

Erenler, H. (2010) Orange tip butterfly, Anthocharis cardamines L., Master of disguise. Journal of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society 44 (1): 30 - 33

Gillman, M.P. and Erenler, H.E. (2009). The genetic diversity and cultural importance of cassava and its contribution to tropical forest sustainability. Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 6(3):189-200

Gillman, M.P. and Erenler, H.E. (2008). The galactic cycle of extinction. International Journal of Astrobiology, 7(1):17-26

Conference papers

Perspectives on Landscapes, Nottingham Trent University, 13th September 2011

Reports

Erenler, H.E. (2009) Ancient woodland seed banks; persistence and re-charge potential (Fieldwork and report for The Woodland Trust)

Gillman, M., Erenler, H. and Tellez Jimenez, E. (2012) Conservation priorities for Masaya National Park, Nicaragua, based on butterfly diversity and distribution / Prioridades para la conservación del Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya, Nicaragua, en base a la diversidad y distribución de mariposas (Report in English and Spanish for Masaya National Park, Nicaragua)

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