Dylan Oliver, MSci

About me

I began my PhD in January 2025, funded by and based at at Royal Holloway University of London through the Social Purpose CDT. Before joining, I did an MSci degree in Zoology at the University of Bristol where I studied the effect of soil microclimate on invertebrate communities in a temperate rainforest for my Masters project. My current research interests are in forest ecology and science policy, seeking to understand broadly how environmental and structural factors affect faunal communities within a forest, across multiple taxa.

My PhD project

Wet woodlands are criticially understudied ecosystems in the UK and have the potential to harbour high levels of biodiversity, compared to other forests and wetlands. Not only this, but their uneven aged stands, high tree throw and diverse root structures make for very structurally complex environments, though it is unknown how this affects their biodiversity. My PhD aims to address these research gaps, with my key research questions:

• What are the key environmental and structural factors that affect wet woodland biodiversity in the UK?
• How does UK wet woodland biodiversity compare to other ecosystems (e.g. open wetlands, dry broadleaf woodland) in the literature?

By answering these questions, my aim is to develop updated recommendations for optimal factors that enhance wet woodland biodiversity. This will inform future conservation and management decisions and help predict their future response to climate change.

Contact

My work aims to complement a growing body of research currently being conducted on UK wet woodlands, facilitated by the Wet Woodlands Research Network, which I am a member. I encourage anyone  with similar research interests to reach out and contact me by email for any future collaborations!