Rate My Professor Stuart Bearhop

Stuart Bearhop is Professor of Animal Ecology at the University of Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation on the Penryn Campus, within the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and a PhD in Evolutionary and Environmental Biology from the University of Glasgow. Bearhop's career at the University of Exeter began in 2007 as Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, followed by promotion to Associate Professor from 2010 to 2011, and Professor since 2011. He currently holds the position of Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he leads teaching on the MSc Conservation and Biodiversity Fieldcourse in Kenya and the MSc Rewilding Fieldcourse, contributing to advanced training in ecology and conservation.

Bearhop's research interests center on avian ecology, encompassing migration, foraging ecology, human-wildlife conflicts, and the application of stable isotope analysis to investigate trophic niche width, food-web structures, and individual movement patterns in birds and other vertebrates. His highly cited publications include 'Determining trophic niche width: a novel approach using stable isotope analysis' (2004), 'Best practices for use of stable isotope mixing models in food-web studies' (2014), 'Seabird movement reveals the ecological footprint of fishing vessels' (Current Biology, 2014), and 'The importance of fission-fusion social group dynamics in birds' (2014). With over 36,500 citations on Google Scholar, Bearhop's contributions have significantly influenced conservation biology, particularly in understanding ecological impacts of fisheries and habitat use. He delivered the Witherby Memorial Lecture in 2017 and has led NERC-funded projects on seasonal interactions in migratory birds. His work supports global partnerships and addresses biodiversity challenges through empirical research and interdisciplinary collaborations.