Biology undergraduate student Teanne Kigonya was recently invited to present her research at Europe’s largest conference dedicated to ecology.
Biology undergraduate student Teanne Kigonya was recently invited to present her honours project research at the prestigious British Ecological Society (BES) Annual Meeting.
The BES Annual Meeting is Europe’s largest conference dedicated to ecology. The conference brings together ecologists from around the world to share their research, discuss new ideas, and network with peers. The programme includes plenaries, thematic sessions, workshops, and social events, providing a comprehensive platform for learning and collaboration.
Teanne’s research focused on the changes in biodiversity of a heathland site that experienced a wildfire event two years ago. She showcased her final-year dissertation research through a poster presentation, highlighting the progress of succession since natural regeneration was allowed over the past two years. The data also included findings from a previous student who conducted the same plant survey last year, providing a comprehensive view of the ecological changes.
Teanne said: “Fire regimes as a part of heathland management are key to their success as heathlands are semi-natural ecosystems that continue to exist due to human activity as well as natural factors.
“Without human intervention, these environments naturally transition to woodland ecosystems. There has been an 85% decrease in heathland over the past 150 years due to urbanisation, poor management, and other factors. As a conscious effort must be made to prevent further loss, lots of research has been put into management and maintaining diversity. Heathland is home to a range of protected and endangered species like ground-nesting birds, reptiles, and invertebrates that depend on this management to prevent further decline. Heathland ecosystems themselves are protected and are regarded as a priority habitat.”
Teanne’s research contributes valuable insights into the management and conservation of heathlands, emphasising the importance of maintaining these ecosystems for future generations.