Dr Emma Coulthard

Why do I teach?

I enjoy engaging the next generation of ecologists and biologists in both practical and theoretical aspects of ecology and conservation, to inspire them and help them achieve their personal goals.

How I’ll teach you

I teach on a range of courses via laboratory sessions, traditional lectures, seminars, online sessions and PC workshops. 

Academic and professional qualifications

BSc, PgCE, PhD

Previous employment

Moulton Agricultural College

University of Northampton

Why study Ecology, conservation, biological recording?

Ecology is one of the widest and most varied fields of science. It overlaps with zoology, animal behaviour, environmental science, genetics, microbiology and molecular biology. As such, the study of ecology is never boring. You can be surveying mammal behaviour in the field one day and looking at microbes in the lab the next.

Undergraduate courses

I teaching on courses across biology and enironmental science within the Department at a range of levels from foundation through to postgraduate.

Postgraduate teaching

I am the programme leader for the MSc in Biological Recording and Ecological Monitoring, and the PGCert in Biologial Recording, in collaboration with the Field Studies Council. As part of this role, as well as coordinating the course, I run the unit 'Research Methods and Design', which helps students get to grips with designing research projects, collecting data, and analysing it in R and R Studio.

Postgraduate supervision (completed/in progress)

I have supported numerous masters projects, including several which have resulted in publications in peer reviewed journals.

I currently supervise two PhD students.

Research expertise

My previous work has focused on the factors affecting moth diversity across UK farmlands, as well as studying UK pollination systems. Currently I am working on a number of projects including:

• A number of projects relating to the trade and exploitation of wild animals across the globe
• Landscape and climatic factors affecting the patterns of species richness and abundance of moths in the UK
• Landscape factors affecting roost selection in bats
• Myotis bat behaviour including roost selection, foraging and habitat use
• Meta-analysis of pollinator diversity and plant-pollinator networks across the UK 
• Knowledge-Transfer Partnership focused on the ecosystem services provided by green walls in urban areas
• Work with my current PhD student on the reintroduction of the Manchester Argus butterfly across the Manchester Mosslands

Academic collaborations

I am currently a member of MMU's Conservation, Environment, Evolution and Behaviour research group, as well as the Plants, Soils and Ecosystems group.

As well as working with a number of staff across the Department of Natural Sciences, I work with collaborators at Liverpool John Moores University, Rothamsted Research Institute and other UK research institutions.

Publications

• Journal articles

  N. D'Cruze, S. Khan, G. Carder, D. Megson, E. Coulthard, et al. J. Norrey, G. Groves. (2019). A Global Review of Animal-Visitor Interactions in Modern Zoos and Aquariums and Their Implications for Wild Animal Welfare. Animals. 9(6),

  E. Coulthard, J. Norrey, C. Shortall, WE. Harris (2019). Ecological traits predict population changes in moths. Biological Conservation. 233, pp.213-219.

  J. Ollerton, E. Coulthard (2009). Paleontology. Evolution of animal pollination. Science. 326(5954), pp.808-809.

Expert reviewer for journals and publishers

I have reviewed papers for a number of peer-reviewed journals including Biological Conservation, and a number of MDPI publications.

Grants

Several small grants from World Animal Protection and other UK charities.