AgroEcology

(Acting) Head of Department: Dr Angela Karp

Link to Angela Karp's Research Activties: BSBEC-BioMASS

Departmental Secretary: Karen Wright

Our mission is to understand the ecological mechanisms that deliver sustainable crop production. We have expertise in movement and spatial ecology of pests and pollinators, above and below-ground functional biodiversity and weed ecology. The Department specialises in experimental and quantitative ecology and produces high impact research from plot to continental scales. Our science is supported by a unique combination of facilities including the Rothamsted Insect Survey (National Capability), eight 'Classical' experiments as well as a 330 ha research farm, unique Vertical Looking and Harmonic Radars and insect behaviour and field labs. Over 30 staff and students are clustered into five research groups.

› People

› Research Groups

	Insect Migration and Spatial Ecology Using entomological radars, tethered-flight systems and large-scale field sampling programs, our group studies the movement ecology and population dynamics of insects over large scales.
	Pollination Ecology We study the ecology and behaviour of pollinators in the farmed landscape, the influence of agricultural practices on their population dynamics and, mitigation strategies.
	Weed Ecology Our group develops strategies for the sustainable management of weeds that reconcile crop production with biodiversity based on a fundamental understanding of weed ecology.
	Soil Microbial Ecology We work on the contribution of microorganisms to nutrient cycling in soil and in association with plants, using molecular methods including metagenomics and transcriptomics, and exploiting the resources provided by Rothamsted long-term experimental sites.
	Insect Survey (National Capability) The Rothamsted Insect Survey runs the most comprehensive standardised long-term data for aphids and larger moths in the world.

	People

National Capabilities

Rothamsted Research receives
strategic funding from the BBSRC

• BBSRC Institutes

• Babraham Institute
• Institute for Animal Health
• Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
• Institute of Food Research
• John Innes Centre
• Rothamsted Research
• The Genome Analysis Centre
• The Roslin Institute