Dr Ken Norris
Head of Life Sciences Department
Division: LS Department Operations Team
Summary
My current research interests span a range of individual, population, community and ecosystem approaches to understanding how biodiversity responds to environmental change. This work has included a long-term interest in basic and applied avian ecology, which currently involves using individual-based datasets from endangered birds in Mauritius as ‘model’ systems to explore environmental change impacts from individuals to populations. Recently, we have developed a novel approach for exploring the biodiversity impacts of agricultural change across a range of UK taxa (plants, insects, birds, mammals). We have recently used this to explore the potential impact of agri-environmental management on biodiversity, and extended it to other ecosystems (e.g. European forest birds). Finally, my work is increasingly focusing on the links between biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services, particularly through studies in tropical forest and agro-forestry ecosystems in Africa.
Going forwards, my work will be focused in two broad areas. First, improving our understanding of how biodiversity responds to environmental change by looking in particular at how the evolutionary ecology of individual organisms affects population and community dynamics. Second, improving our understanding of how biodiversity change affects ecosystem services and the values/benefits people derive from these services across a range of ecosystems – urban, agricultural, tropical forests and marine.
Employment history
- Head of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, United Kingdom, 2020 - ongoing
- Director of Science, Zoological Society of London, Institute of Zoology, United Kingdom, 2014 - 2020
- Director, University of Reading, Centre for Agri-Environmental Research @University of Reading (CAER), United Kingdom, 2005 - 2014
- Professor of Agro-ecology, University of Reading, United Kingdom, 2005 - 2014
Academic
Publications
Shennan‐Farpón Y, Visconti P, Norris K (2021) Detecting ecological thresholds for biodiversity in tropical forests: Knowledge gaps and future directions. Biotropica, 53 (5) : 1276 - 1289. doi: 10.1111/btp.12999
Nicoll MAC, Jones CG, Groombridge JG, Henshaw S, Ruhomaun K, Tatayah V, Zuel N, Norris K (2021) Contrasting recovery trajectories of four reintroduced populations of the Endangered Mauritius Kestrel ( Falco punctatus ). Ibis, 163 (4) : 1294 - 1309. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12987
Taylor J, Nicoll MAC, Black E, Wainwright CM, Jones CG, Tatayah V, Vidale PL, Norris K (2021) Phenological tracking of a seasonal climate window in a recovering tropical island bird species. Climatic Change, 164 (3-4) : doi: 10.1007/s10584-021-02971-y
Cooper TJG, Norris KJ, Cherry MI (2020) A trait-based risk assessment of South African forest birds indicates vulnerability of hole-nesting species. Biological Conservation, 252 : 108827 - 108827. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108827
Norris K, Terry A, Hansford JP, Turvey ST (2020) Biodiversity Conservation and the Earth System: Mind the Gap. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 35 (10) : 919 - 926. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.06.010
Varah A, Ahodo K, Coutts SR, Hicks HL, Comont D, Crook L, Hull R, Neve P, Childs DZ, Freckleton RP, Norris K (null) The costs of human-induced evolution in an agricultural system. Nature Sustainability, 3 (1) : 63 - 71. doi: 10.1038/s41893-019-0450-8
Maggs G, Norris K, Zuël N, Murrell DJ, Ewen JG, Tatayah V, Jones CG, Nicoll M (2019) Quantifying drivers of supplementary food use by a reintroduced, critically endangered passerine to inform management and habitat restoration. Biological Conservation, 238 : 108240 - 108240. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108240
Morel AC, Adu Sasu M, Adu‐Bredu S, Quaye M, Moore C, Ashley Asare R, Mason J, Hirons M, McDermott CL, Robinson EJZ, Boyd E, Norris K, Malhi Y (2019) Carbon dynamics, net primary productivity and human‐appropriated net primary productivity across a forest–cocoa farm landscape in West Africa. Global Change Biology, 25 (8) : 2661 - 2677. doi: 10.1111/gcb.14661
Hicks HL, Comont D, Coutts SR, Crook L, Hull R, Norris K, Neve P, Childs DZ, Freckleton RP (null) The factors driving evolved herbicide resistance at a national scale. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2 (3) : 529 - 536. doi: 10.1038/s41559-018-0470-1
Nicoll MAC, Nevoux M, Jones CG, Ratcliffe N, Ruhomaun K, Tatayah V, Norris K (2017) Contrasting effects of tropical cyclones on the annual survival of a pelagic seabird in the Indian Ocean. Global Change Biology, 23 (2) : 550 - 565. doi: 10.1111/gcb.13324
Norris K (2016) Ecology: The Tropical Deforestation Debt. Current Biology, 26 (16) : R770 - R772. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.06.039
Hardman CJ, Norris K, Nevard TD, Hughes B, Potts SG (2016) Delivery of floral resources and pollination services on farmland under three different wildlife-friendly schemes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 220 : 142 - 151. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2016.01.015
Hardman CJ, Harrison DPG, Shaw PJ, Nevard TD, Hughes B, Potts SG, Norris K (2016) Supporting local diversity of habitats and species on farmland: a comparison of three wildlife-friendly schemes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53 (1) : 171 - 180. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12557
Maggs G, Nicoll M, Zuël N, White PJC, Winfield E, Poongavanan S, Tatayah V, Jones CG, Norris K (2015) Rattus management is essential for population persistence in a critically endangered passerine: Combining small-scale field experiments and population modelling. Biological Conservation, 191 : 274 - 281. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.06.039
Cartwright SJ, Nicoll MAC, Jones CG, Tatayah V, Norris K (2014) Agriculture modifies the seasonal decline of breeding success in a tropical wild bird population. Journal of Applied Ecology, 51 (5) : 1387 - 1395. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12310
Durant S, Pettorelli N, Blackburn T, Baillie J, Boxshall G, Brooks S, Carbone C, Coulson T, Crees J, Cunningham A, Daniels M, Deinet S, Ewen J, Gaston K, Gregory R, Hayward M, MacDonald D, Mace G, May R, Norris K, Pimm S, Raffaelli D, Redpath S, Sutherland W (2014) UK bill could prompt biodiversity loss. NATURE, 512 (7514) : 253 - 253. doi: 10.1038/512253a
Clark NE, Lovell R, Wheeler BW, Higgins SL, Depledge MH, Norris K (2014) Biodiversity, cultural pathways, and human health: a framework. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 29 (4) : 198 - 204. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2014.01.009
White PJC, Stoate C, Szczur J, Norris K (2014) Predator reduction with habitat management can improve songbird nest success. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 78 (3) : 402 - 412. doi: 10.1002/jwmg.687
Cartwright SJ, Nicoll MAC, Jones CG, Tatayah V, Norris K (2014) Anthropogenic Natal Environmental Effects on Life Histories in a Wild Bird Population. Current Biology, 24 (5) : 536 - 540. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.01.040
Wade ASI, Barov B, Burfield IJ, Gregory RD, Norris K, Vorisek P, Wu T, Butler SJ (null) A Niche-Based Framework to Assess Current Monitoring of European Forest Birds and Guide Indicator Species' Selection. PLoS ONE, 9 (5) : e97217 - e97217. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097217
Sæther B-E, Coulson T, Grøtan V, Engen S, Altwegg R, Armitage KB, Barbraud C, Becker PH, Blumstein DT, Dobson FS, Festa-Bianchet M, Gaillard J-M, Jenkins A, Jones C, Nicoll MAC, Norris K, Oli MK, Ozgul A, Weimerskirch H (2013) How Life History Influences Population Dynamics in Fluctuating Environments. The American Naturalist, 182 (6) : 743 - 759. doi: 10.1086/673497
Evans MR, Bithell M, Cornell SJ, Dall SRX, Díaz S, Emmott S, Ernande B, Grimm V, Hodgson DJ, Lewis SL, Mace GM, Morecroft M, Moustakas A, Murphy E, Newbold T, Norris KJ, Petchey O, Smith M, Travis JMJ, Benton TG (2013) Predictive systems ecology. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 280 (1771) : 20131452 - 20131452. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2013.1452
Dicks L, Bardgett R, Bell J, Benton T, Booth A, Bouwman J, Brown C, Bruce A, Burgess P, Butler S, Crute I, Dixon F, Drummond C, Freckleton R, Gill M, Graham A, Hails R, Hallett J, Hart B, Hillier J, Holland J, Huxley J, Ingram J, King V, MacMillan T, McGonigle D, McQuaid C, Nevard T, Norman S, Norris K, Pazderka C, Poonaji I, Quinn C, Ramsden S, Sinclair D, Siriwardena G, Vickery J, Whitmore A, Wolmer W, Sutherland W (null) What Do We Need to Know to Enhance the Environmental Sustainability of Agricultural Production? A Prioritisation of Knowledge Needs for the UK Food System. Sustainability, 5 (7) : 3095 - 3115. doi: 10.3390/su5073095
Nevoux M, Arlt D, Nicoll M, Jones C, Norris K (2013) The short- and long-term fitness consequences of natal dispersal in a wild bird population. Ecology Letters, 16 (4) : 438 - 445. doi: 10.1111/ele.12060
Butler SJ, Norris K (2013) Functional space and the population dynamics of birds in agro-ecosystems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 164 : 200 - 208. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2012.11.001
Ofori-Boateng C, Oduro W, Hillers A, Norris K, Oppong SK, Adum GB, Rödel M-O (2013) Differences in the Effects of Selective Logging on Amphibian Assemblages in Three West African Forest Types. Biotropica, 45 (1) : 94 - 101. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2012.00887.x
Sutherland WJ, Bardsley S, Clout M, Depledge MH, Dicks LV, Fellman L, Fleishman E, Gibbons DW, Keim B, Lickorish F, Margerison C, Monk KA, Norris K, Peck LS, Prior SV, Scharlemann JPW, Spalding MD, Watkinson AR (2013) A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2013. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 28 (1) : 16 - 22. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2012.10.022
Sutherland WJ, Freckleton RP, Godfray HCJ, Beissinger SR, Benton T, Cameron DD, Carmel Y, Coomes DA, Coulson T, Emmerson MC, Hails RS, Hays GC, Hodgson DJ, Hutchings MJ, Johnson D, Jones JPG, Keeling MJ, Kokko H, Kunin WE, Lambin X, Lewis OT, Malhi Y, Mieszkowska N, Milner-Gulland EJ, Norris K, Phillimore AB, Purves DW, Reid JM, Reuman DC, Thompson K, Travis JMJ, Turnbull LA, Wardle DA, Wiegand T (2013) Identification of 100 fundamental ecological questions. Journal of Ecology, 101 (1) : 58 - 67. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.12025
Wade ASI, Barov B, Burfield IJ, Gregory RD, Norris K, Butler SJ (null) Quantifying the Detrimental Impacts of Land-Use and Management Change on European Forest Bird Populations. PLoS ONE, 8 (5) : e64552 - e64552. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064552
Butler SJ, Freckleton RP, Renwick AR, Norris K (2012) An objective, niche-based approach to indicator species selection. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 3 (2) : 317 - 326. doi: 10.1111/j.2041-210x.2011.00173.x
Evans MR, Norris KJ, Benton TG (2012) Predictive ecology: systems approaches. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 367 (1586) : 163 - 169. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0191
Norris K (2012) Biodiversity in the context of ecosystem services: the applied need for systems approaches. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 367 (1586) : 191 - 199. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0176
Mace GM, Norris K, Fitter AH (2012) Biodiversity and ecosystem services: a multilayered relationship. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 27 (1) : 19 - 26. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2011.08.006
Sutherland WJ, Aveling R, Bennun L, Chapman E, Clout M, Côté IM, Depledge MH, Dicks LV, Dobson AP, Fellman L, Fleishman E, Gibbons DW, Keim B, Lickorish F, Lindenmayer DB, Monk KA, Norris K, Peck LS, Prior SV, Scharlemann JPW, Spalding M, Watkinson AR (2012) A horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2012. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 27 (1) : 12 - 18. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2011.10.011
Senapathi D, Nicoll MAC, Teplitsky C, Jones CG, Norris K (2011) Climate change and the risks associated with delayed breeding in a tropical wild bird population. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 278 (1722) : 3184 - 3190. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2011.0212
Nevoux M, Gimenez O, Arlt D, Nicoll M, Jones C, Norris K (2011) Population regulation of territorial species: both site dependence and interference mechanisms matter. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 278 (1715) : 2173 - 2181. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2352
Baker DJ, Stillman RA, Smart SL, Bullock JM, Norris KJ (2011) Are the costs of routine vigilance avoided by granivorous foragers?. Functional Ecology, 25 (3) : 617 - 627. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01829.x
Burgess MD, Nicoll MAC, Jones CG, Norris K (2011) Multiple environmental gradients affect spatial variation in the productivity of a tropical bird population. Journal of Animal Ecology, 80 (3) : 688 - 695. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01816.x
Scholefield P, Firbank L, Butler S, Norris K, Jones LM, Petit S (2011) Modelling the European Farmland Bird Indicator in response to forecast land-use change in Europe. Ecological Indicators, 11 (1) : 46 - 51. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2009.09.008
Baker DJ, Stillman RA, Smith BM, Bullock JM, Norris KJ (2010) Vigilance and the functional response of granivorous foragers. Functional Ecology, 24 (6) : 1281 - 1290. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2010.01735.x
BORGHESIO L, SAMBA D, GITHIRU M, BENNUN L, NORRIS KEN (2010) Population estimates and habitat use by the Critically Endangered Taita Apalis Apalis fuscigularis in south-eastern Kenya. Bird Conservation International, 20 (4) : 440 - 455. doi: 10.1017/s0959270910000298
Norris K, Asase A, Collen B, Gockowksi J, Mason J, Phalan B, Wade A (2010) Biodiversity in a forest-agriculture mosaic – The changing face of West African rainforests. Biological Conservation, 143 (10) : 2341 - 2350. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.12.032
Nicoll M, Norris K (2010) Detecting an impact of predation on bird populations depends on the methods used to assess the predators. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 1 (3) : 300 - 310. doi: 10.1111/j.2041-210x.2010.00030.x
Wade ASI, Asase A, Hadley P, Mason J, Ofori-Frimpong K, Preece D, Spring N, Norris K (2010) Management strategies for maximizing carbon storage and tree species diversity in cocoa-growing landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 138 (3-4) : 324 - 334. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2010.06.007
Senapathi D, Underwood F, Black E, Nicoll MAC, Norris K (null) Evidence for long-term regional changes in precipitation on the East Coast Mountains in Mauritius. International Journal of Climatology, 30 (8) : 1164 - 1177. doi: 10.1002/joc.1953
Butler SJ, Boccaccio L, Gregory RD, Vorisek P, Norris K (2010) Quantifying the impact of land-use change to European farmland bird populations. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 137 (3-4) : 348 - 357. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2010.03.005
Butler SJ, Mattison EHA, Glithero NJ, Robinson LJ, Atkinson PW, Gillings S, Vickery JA, Norris K (2010) Resource availability and the persistence of seed-eating bird populations in agricultural landscapes : a mechanistic modelling approach. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47 (1) : 67 - 75. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01750.x
Butler SJ, Brooks D, Feber RE, Storkey J, Vickery JA, Norris K (2009) A cross‐taxonomic index for quantifying the health of farmland biodiversity. Journal of Applied Ecology, 46 (6) : 1154 - 1162. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2009.01709.x
Awa T, Burgess MD, Norris K (2009) Investigating the practicality of using radio tracking to determine home range and movements of Picathartidae. Ostrich, 80 (3) : 145 - 151. doi: 10.2989/ostrich.2009.80.3.4.967
AWA T, DZIKOUK G, NORRIS KEN (2009) Breeding distribution and population decline of globally threatened Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas in Mbam Minkom Mountain Forest, southern Cameroon. Bird Conservation International, 19 (03) : 254 - 254. doi: 10.1017/s0959270909008363
Butler SJ, Benton TG, Nicoll MAC, Jones CG, Norris K (2009) Indirect Population Dynamic Benefits of Altered Life‐History Trade‐Offs in Response to Egg Harvesting. The American Naturalist, 174 (1) : 111 - 121. doi: 10.1086/599295
BURGESS MD, BLACK RA, NICOLL MAC, JONES CG, NORRIS KEN (2009) The use of agricultural, open and forest habitats by juvenile Mauritius KestrelsFalco punctatus. Ibis, 151 (1) : 63 - 76. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2008.00888.x
López-Sepulcre A, Norris K, Kokko H (2009) Reproductive conflict delays the recovery of an endangered social species. Journal of Animal Ecology, 78 (1) : 219 - 225. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01475.x
WHITE PJC, STOATE C, SZCZUR J, NORRIS KEN (null) Investigating the effects of predator removal and habitat management on nest success and breeding population size of a farmland passerine: a case study. Ibis 150 : Wiley : 178 - 190. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2008.00858.x
Jones OR, Gaillard J-M, Tuljapurkar S, Alho JS, Armitage KB, Becker PH, Bize P, Brommer J, Charmantier A, Charpentier M, Clutton-Brock T, Dobson FS, Festa-Bianchet M, Gustafsson L, Jensen H, Jones CG, Lillandt B-G, McCleery R, Merilä J, Neuhaus P, Nicoll MAC, Norris K, Oli MK, Pemberton J, Pietiäinen H, Ringsby TH, Roulin A, Saether B-E, Setchell JM, Sheldon BC, Thompson PM, Weimerskirch H, Jean Wickings E, Coulson T (2008) Senescence rates are determined by ranking on the fast-slow life-history continuum. Ecology Letters, 11 (7) : 664 - 673. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01187.x
Smart SL, Stillman RA, Norris KJ (2008) Measuring the functional responses of farmland birds: an example for a declining seed-feeding bunting. Journal of Animal Ecology, 77 (4) : 687 - 695. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01375.x
Stevens DK, Anderson GQA, Grice PV, Norris K, Butcher N (2008) Predators of Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striatanests in southern England as determined by digital nest-cameras. Bird Study, 55 (2) : 179 - 187. doi: 10.1080/00063650809461520
Burgess MD, Nicoll MAC, Jones CG, Norris K (2008) Restricted dispersal reduces the strength of spatial density dependence in a tropical bird population. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 275 (1639) : 1209 - 1216. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2007.1751
Norris K (null) Agriculture and biodiversity conservation: opportunity knocks. Conservation Letters, 1 (1) : 2 - 11. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-263x.2008.00007.x
STEVENS DK, ANDERSON GQA, GRICE PV, NORRIS KEN (null) Breeding success of Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata in southern England - is woodland a good habitat for this species?. Ibis 149 : Wiley : 214 - 223. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2007.00746.x
Mattison EHA, Norris K (2007) Intentions of UK Farmers toward Biofuel Crop Production: Implications for Policy Targets and Land Use Change. Environmental Science & Technology, 41 (16) : 5589 - 5594. doi: 10.1021/es062211v
SENAPATHI D, VOGIATZAKIS IN, JEGANATHAN P, GILL JA, GREEN RE, BOWDEN CGR, RAHMANI AR, PAIN D, NORRIS KEN (null) Use of remote sensing to measure change in the extent of habitat for the critically endangered Jerdon's Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus in India. Ibis, 149 (2) : 328 - 337. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2006.00634.x
Butler SJ, Vickery JA, Norris K (2007) Farmland Biodiversity and the Footprint of Agriculture. Science, 315 (5810) : 381 - 384. doi: 10.1126/science.1136607
Stevens D, Anderson G, Fisher G, Norris K (2006) The breeding ecology of the spotted flycatcher in Britain. JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY 147 (5) : 258 - 258.
NICOLL MAC, JONES CG, NORRIS KEN (2006) The impact of harvesting on a formerly endangered tropical bird: insights from life-history theory. Journal of Applied Ecology, 43 (3) : 567 - 575. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01165.x
MATTISON E, NORRIS K (2005) Bridging the gaps between agricultural policy, land-use and biodiversity. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 20 (11) : 610 - 616. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2005.08.011
Norris K, Harper N (2004) Extinction processes in hot spots of avian biodiversity and the targeting of pre–emptive conservation action. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 271 (1535) : 123 - 130. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2576
Norris K (1999) A trade-off between energy intake and exposure to parasites in oystercatchers feeding on a bivalve mollusc. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 266 (1429) : 1703 - 1709. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1999.0835