Research interests
Kelvin Peh’s interests range from forest ecology to urban wildlife in respect to diversity and distribution. He is interested in all areas of wildlife-human conflicts and wildlife ecology in human-dominated landscapes, and in the application of his research results to the conservation/management of biological resources.
Tropical Forest Ecology – Kelvin’s work on monodominance in tropical tree-dominated systems - has helped rekindle scientific interest in this fascinating, yet relatively unexplored phenomenon in tropical forests. He has completed editing – as a principal editor – a “Routledge Handbook of Forest Ecology” that was published by Routledge under its “Earthscan” imprint.
Ecosystem Services – Kelvin is best known for his leading role in the development of TESSA (Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessment; http://tessa.tools/). He continues working on this ecosystem service assessment project to develop and test novel tools for rapidly assessing the net impact of site-based conservation on the provision of ecosystem services. This project runs in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, BirdLife International, Tropical Biology Association, Anglia Ruskin University and UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Biodiversity and Conservation – Kelvin has a strong interest in topics such as invasive alien species and environmental governance. Also he proposes to continue developing the theme of diversity-functioning relationship in the tropics. He plans to initiate new projects that involve large spatial data sets, in Southeast Asia and central Africa where issues such as species habitat loss and environmental degradation are becoming very pressing. His future research plans also include initiating a project to investigate the environmental impact of China’s involvement in Africa. The purpose of this project is to analyse not the political or developmental implications of China’s policies, but their ecological and social-economic consequences on Africa.
PhD Supervision
Erik Mata Guel (2019–present): Impacts of climate change on tropical montane forest biodiversity, functioning and services. Funded by CONACTY, Mexico
Timothy Sykes (2019 –present): Investigating cultural contributions from chalk streams and their winterbournes and aquifers. Funded by Environment Agency
Peter Symes (2019-present): Effects of environmental change on tropical montane bats. Funded by NERC INSPIRE DTP
Connor Butler (2018–present): Tropical montane forests: the ecology and conservation of cryptic anurans. Funded by NERC SPITFIRE DTP.
Martin Watts (2018–present): Climate change impacts on agroforestry livelihoods in Tanzania. Funded by ESRC South Coast DTP.
Evie Morris (2017–present): How will greening the desert affect bats and the ecosystem services they provide? Funded by NERC SPITFIRE DTP.
Jennifer Ball (2016–present): Measuring and optimising multiple ecosystem services provided by chalk streams. Funded by Vitacress Conservation Trust and School of Biological Sciences.
Constance Tremlett (Oct 2015–present): Bat pollination services: their importance and vulnerability to environmental change. Funded by NERC SPITFIRE DTP.
Dominic Phillips (2020-present): Effects of fragmentation and environmental change on tropical montane moths. Funded by NERC INSPIRE DTP and School of Biological Sciences
Peh Lab Alumni
Malcolm Soh (2015–2019): Effects of environmental change on tropical montane forest amphibian and birds in Peninsular Malaysia. External student funded by the University of Western Australia
Adham Ashton-Butt (PhD, 2015–2019): Factors influencing biodiversity, functioning and ecosystem services in oil palm landscapes. Funded by NERC SPITFIRE DTP and School of Biological Sciences.
Emma Joslin (PhD, 2014–2018): Perimeter land management for pollination and pest control services in apple orchards. Funded by NERC CASE Studentship and Sainsbury’s.
Fabrizia Ratto (PhD, 2014–2018): Estimating consequences of losing pollination services: an evaluation on pollinator dependency of plants. Funded by Institute for Life Sciences and School of Biological Sciences.
Ana Giovanetti (MRes, 2017–2018): The effects of grazing management and herbivore density on vegetation and soil in the Maasai Mara, Kenya.
Lauren Hale (MRes, 2017–2018): Habitat selection of the Asian elephant in a protected area, China.
Lisa Jones (MRes, 2016–2017): A rapid assessment of cultural ecosystem services provided by chalk streams.
Dominic Wells (MRes, 2016–2017): The impact of land use change on the phenology of tropical montane birds in Peninsular Malaysia.
Tom Wingrave (MRes, 2014–2015): Socio-economic and ecological correlates of African antelope conservation status.
Research group
Environmental Biosciences
Affiliate research groups
Institute for Life Sciences (IfLS), Ecology and Evolution
Research project(s)
Bat pollination services: their importance and vulnerability to environmental changes
This project aims to determine the dependence of Stenocereus queretaroensis on bat pollination; in order to demonstrate their importance and the risk of losing them, both ecologically and socio-economically, in the face of environmental changes.
The project aims to develop methods for assessing the status of cryptic tropical montane anurans and the drivers of their decline, leading to a framework for monitoring these indicator species.
Estimating the net economic consequences of losing pollination services
This project aims at estimating the economic, ecological cultural and social consequences of the decline of pollinators to human well-being.
Rapid assessment of biodiversity and biogeochemical processing across tropical land-use gradients
This project aims to understand how anthropogenic disturbance can alter the interactions between the flora, fauna and abiotic environment that form an ecosystem.
This project aims to understand the trade-offs and links between the provision of ecosystem services and patterns of biodiversity in the chalk streams of Hampshire.
Dr Kelvin PehSchool of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences
Life Sciences Building 85
University of Southampton
Highfield Campus
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
Room Number NNN: 85/4041
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