Yangchen Lin
y.lin@zoo.cam.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1223 769018
Research Interests
The impact of biodiversity on ecosystem stability is a matter of not only fundamental ecological interest but also high relevance for policy and human development. My research explores how anthropogenic biodiversity flux might trigger sudden transitions in ecosystem structure and function. Rather than to make specific but highly uncertain forecasts, the aim of the stochastic network simulation models I am developing is to uncover and quantify universal drivers of ecological collapse to which we should be especially vigilant. My algorithm synthesizes the ‘statistical mechanics’ approach with agent-based characteristics. Because prevention is the best medicine and because the ecological data void cannot be filled before conservation needs to happen, I argue for the complementarity of the theoretical systems strategy to customary empirical methods.
My research is supervised by Professor William Sutherland and has benefited from grants from the São Paulo Research Foundation, South American Institute for Fundamental Research, Sidney Sussex College and the British Ecological Society.
I also welcome discussions on birds, dragonflies, photography, organs, Austro-German symphonies, aviation, astronomy, typography and mountaineering.
Publications
- Lin, Y. 2009. Home range of Chalcophaps indica Linnaeus 1758 (Aves: Columbidae) in a semi-forested landscape. Malayan Nature Journal 61(2):209–212.
- Lin, Y. 2008. Freedom of expression: wildlife through curved glass. Asian Geographic 58(8):22–25.
- Lin, Y. 2008. Big and beautiful eyes. Nature Watch 16(2):6–9.
- Sodhi, N. S., Astuti, D., Diesmos, A. C., Ericson, P., Fernandopulle, N., Kotagama, S., Kudavidanege, E., Lim, H. C., Lee, B., Lim, S. L. H., Lin, Y., Lohman, D. J., Meckvichai, W., Miranda, H., Moyle, R. G., Ong, P., Pan, K. A., Prawiradilaga, D., Rahman, M. A., Rahmani, A., Sheldon, F. H., Stoeckle, M. Y., Sulandari, S., Wang, L. K. & Winker, K. 2007. Barcoding Indo-Malayan birds. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55(2):397–398.
- Lin, Y. 2006. The straw-headed bulbul’s legendary song. Nature Watch 14(2):8–10.
- Lin, Y. 2005. Singapore’s answer to Notre Dame de Paris. The Organ 334:8–10.
