(she/her)
My interests in ecology are broad, reflected by my past research experiences. While studying biology and geography as a joint honour’s degree at St Andrews, I spent time researching the evolutionary ecology of an uncommon form of seed dispersal (ballochory). In 2024, I moved to Durham to complete a more fieldwork focused MRes which involved the design and trial of novel camera trap devices for monitoring small mammals. Parallel to this, I spent time investigating effective methods for integrating citizen science and AI in camera trap image processing workflows. Currently, I’m fascinated by the gap between the UK’s ambitious environmental policy and our ability to deliver on its end goals.
Meeting commitments to biodiversity conservation: developing a framework for predicting and monitoring the potential contributions of nature markets
Durham University with Professor Phillip Stephens
PhD aim:
To translate nature market activity to quantifiable effects on key metrics (species abundance and red list index) to track progress toward biodiversity targets mandated by UK legislation.
PhD objectives:
- Review literature to determine the likely impacts and associated uncertainty of units of nature market implementation on EIP target indices;
- Use a combination of expert interviews and quantitative public surveys to identify attitudes towards nature markets and identify socio-economic and socio-demographic factors influencing these attitudes;
- Combine information from 1 and 2 in quantitative modelling approaches to predict impacts of plausible scenarios of nature market uptake on EIP target indices;
- Use the outcomes of 3 to propose a framework for monitoring progress towards the EIP targets, with a specific focus on identifying points at which novel interventions will be required.
Contact details:
email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Charlotte Sharpe
Publications:
- Camera trapping for small mammals: the case of a non-native shrew https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-026-02052-4
- Increasing citizen scientist accuracy with artificial intelligence on UK camera-trap data https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.70012
- Can predation pressure help explain the curious evolution of ballistic seed dispersal? https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71081
Conference presentations:
- Searching for the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) In the North East of England, British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2024.