Role
Dr Adam Bates is a Course Leader for BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation in the School of Animal, Rural & Environmental Sciences.
He teaches modules including Introduction to Plant Ecology, Introduction to Research, Applied Habitat Management & Advanced Ecology. He teaches on a variety of other modules including field courses to Spain and Pembrokeshire and Ecological Census Techniques.
Dr Bates is an active researcher in a variety of areas including urban ecology, green roofs, citizen science, riparian and orchard ecology.
NTU are offering over 50 fully-funded PhD studentships for UK, EU & international applicants. Details can be found on the NTU PhD page. Please get in contact with me if you are interested in applying for a position, and have an idea of a research area that you are interested in.
Career overview
Dr Adam Bates has a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from University of Wales – Aberystwyth, an MRes in Science of the Environment from Lancaster University, and a PhD from the University of Birmingham on riparian beetle ecology.
Dr Bates started lecturing at NTU in 2015, and has previously worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham on three projects:
- The UNESCO SWITCH sustainable water project. Investigating the ecology and hydrology of green roofs.
- The Open Air Laboratories citizen science project. Delivering outreach across the West Midlands and researching the urban ecology of bees and moths.
- The Leverhulme Noble Chafer/orchards project. Studying the ecology of the rare Noble Chafer (Gnorimus nobilis) and the social motivations for orchard conservation.
Research areas
Dr Bates has broad research interests centred around the invertebrates and plants of disturbed and human-made habitats. In particular he is interested in:
- the ecology and conservation of beetles and spiders living on exposed riverine sediments (poorly vegetated sand and gravel bars above the water level)
- the ecology of green roofs, particularly those designed to mimic brownfield habitat lost to urban development
- the ecology of sand and gravel quarries
- urban ecology, particularly of bee and moth pollinators
- the ecology of orchards, particularly of orchard invertebrates
- engaging with communities to investigate these research areas using citizen science
- aquatic:terrestrial interactions in estuarine ecosystems.
Opportunities to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil/PhD exist and further information can be obtained from the NTU Graduate School.
Sponsors and collaborators
Publications
Can patterns of urban biodiversity be predicted using simple measures of green infrastructure? Brunbjerg AK, Hale JD, Bates AJ, Fowler RE, Rosenfeld EJ, Sadler JP. 2018. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 32: 143-153
The OPAL Bugs Count Survey: exploring the effects of urbanisation and habitat character using citizen science. Bates AJ, Lakeman Fraser P, Robinson L, Tweddle JC, Sadler JP, West SE, Norman S, Batson M, Davies L. 2015. Urban Ecosystems 18: 1477-1497.
Effects of varying organic matter content on the development of green roof vegetation: A six year experiment. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Greswell RB, Mackay R. 2015. Ecological Engineering 82: 301-310
Effects of recycled aggregate growth substrate on green roof vegetation development: a six year experiment. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Greswell RB, Mackay R. 2015. Landscape and Urban Planning 135: 22-31
Garden and landscape-scale correlates of moths of differing conservation status: significant effects of urbanization and habitat diversity. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Grundy D, Lowe N, Davis G, Baker D, Bridge M, Freestone R, Gardner D, Gibson C, Hemming R, Howarth S, Orridge S, Shaw M, Tams T, Young H. 2014. Plos One 9: e86925
Vegetation development over four years on two green roofs in the UK. Bates AJ, Sadler JP and Mackay R. 2013. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 12: 98-108
Changing bee and hoverfly pollinator assemblages along an urban-rural gradient. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Fairbrass AJ, Falk SJ, Hale JD, Matthews TJ. 2011. Plos One 6, e23459
Assessing the value of the Garden Moth Scheme citizen science dataset: how does light trap type affect catch? Bates AJ, SadlerJP, EverettE, GrundyD, LoweN, DavisG, BakerD, BridgeM, CliftonJ, FreestoneR, GardnerD, GibsonC, HemmingR, HowarthS, OrridgeS, ShawM, TamsT, YoungH. 2013. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 146: 386-397.
Vegetation development over four years on two green roofs in the UK. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Mackay R. 2013. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 12: 98-108 – Elsevier Highly Cited Research award 2016 (top five cited papers)
An initial experimental assessment of the influence of substrate depth on floral assemblage for extensive green roofs. Olly LM, Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Mackay R. 2011. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 10: 311-316.
The role of microhabitat and food availability in determining riparian invertebrate distributions on gravel bars: a habitat manipulation experiment. Henshall SE, Sadler JP, Hannah DM, Bates AJ. 2011. Ecohydrology 4: 512-519.
Building for biodiversity: accommodating people and wildlife in cities. Sadler J, Bates A, Donovan R, Bodnar S. 2011. 286-297 in Niemelä J, Breuste JH, Guntenspergen G, McIntyre NE, Elmqvist T, James P (eds.). Urban Ecology. Patterns, Processes and Applications. Oxford University Press, 392pp.
Bringing cities alive: the importance of urban green spaces for people and biodiversity. Sadler J, Bates A, Hale J, James P. 2010. 230-260 in Gaston KJ (ed.). Urban Ecology. Cambridge University Press, 318pp.
SWITCH in Birmingham, UK: experimental investigation of the ecological and hydrological performance of extensive green roofs. Bates AJ, Mackay R, Greswell RB, Sadler JP. 2009. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology 8: 295-300.
Ecology and conservation of arthropods of exposed riverine sediments. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Henshall SE, Hannah DM. 2009. Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews 2: 77-98.
Microspatial distribution of beetles (Coleoptera) on exposed riverine sediments. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Perry JN, Fowles AP. 2007. European Journal of Entomology 104: 479-487.
Livestock trampling reduces the conservation value of beetle communities on high quality exposed riverine sediments. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Fowles AP. 2007. Biodiversity & Conservation 16: 1491-1509.
The ecohydrology of invertebrates associated with exposed riverine sediments. Sadler JP, Bates AJ. 2007. 37-56 in Wood PJ, Hannah DM, Sadler JP (Eds.) Hydroecology and Ecohydrology: Past, Present and Future. Wiley, 460pp.
Condition-dependent dispersal of a patchily distributed riparian ground beetle in response to disturbance. Bates AJ, Sadler JP, Fowles AP. 2006. Oecologia 150: 50-60
Press expertise
- Invertebrates and plants of disturbed and human-made habitats
- Ecology and conservation of beetles and spiders living on exposed riverine sediments (poorly vegetated sand and gravel bars above the water level)
- Ecology of green roofs, particularly those designed to mimic brownfield habitat lost to urban development
- Urban ecology, particularly of bee and moth pollinators
- Ecology of orchards, particularly of orchard invertebrates