A Wildlife Safari through Dartmoor’s varied Habitats (peppered with a touch of science).
by Prof Charles Tyler
Dartmoor is a hugely important local area for wildlife including for some of our nationally declining breeding bird species. The topography and climate on ‘the moor’ create varied habitats and these, in turn , support a wonderful array of both resident and migratory wildlife species. This talk will take you on photographic safari through some of the moors varied habitats and wonderful wildlife, much of which you may not have seen before, even if you frequent the moor. The narrative will largely draw on observations from Charles’s wanderings on the moor over a period of more than 2 decades, but- given the audience- it will also be peppered with some more learned scientific facts! He will illustrate how his wanderings and observations have led to PhD research projects in Biosciences that have included harnessing citizen science to help support conservation of some of Dartmoor’s ground nesting birds, including his obsession - the Cuckoo!
| An Environment and Sustainability Institute research event | |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 March 2026 |
| Time | 13:00 to 14:00 |
| Place | Environment and Sustainability Institute ESI Trevithick Room |
| Provider | Environment and Sustainability Institute |
| Cost | Free |
| Organizer | Environment and Sustainability Institute |
Event details
Biography
Charles is an internationally leading environmental scientist and ecotoxicologist. His current research portfolio spans ecotoxicology, molecular systems biology, sustainable aquaculture, aquatic animal health, and conservation with a strong emphasis on integrated whole animal physiology. He has been in Biosciences (Exeter) for 25 years with roles that have included as Director of Research, Deputy Head of Biosciences and Academic Lead for a period of 15 years. Currently, he is co-director of the centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, the Great Western Water Security Alliance, and three UK Research Council PhD training programmes. Charles works internationally with various government, industry and NGO stakeholders and has contributed to many government reports, industry and general public awareness documents on a wide range of environmental issues. He has been the UK government’s science lead and chief science advisor for the UK-Japan partnership on endocrine disrupting chemicals and chemicals of emerging concern for the last 20 years. He has published around 400 research papers/reviews/book chapters, and received various international awards for his work. including the Fisheries Society of the British Isles Beverton Medal (2012), the Founders Award from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (2015), and Marsh Award for Marine and Freshwater Conservation (2022, Zoological Society of London). Charles was named among the world’s top 1% most highly cited researchers in 2021 and 2025 (Clarivate) and Harvard’s top 2% in 2022 and 2025 (Harvard). He has supervised 100 PhD students. His greatest passion in life is natural history and he is also an award winning photographer.
Location:
Environment and Sustainability Institute