Dr Andrew Bladon

I completed my PhD (2012-2016) in the Conservation Science Group in Cambridge, studying the impacts of temperature on the behaviour and distribution of two range-restricted endemic birds, the Ethiopian Bush-crow and White-tailed Swallow. Since then, I have worked for the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, leading two projects assessing the effectiveness of Higher Level Stewardship agri-environment schemes in delivering population recovery of threatened farmland bird species (2016-2018). I returned to the Zoology Department in April 2018 as a Research Associate in the Insect Ecology Group, investigating how a community of British butterflies respond to fine-scale changes in temperature. From 2019-2021, I worked in the Conservation Evidence group, where I produced a global synopis of evidence for the effectiveness of butterfly and moth conservation. I now work in the Agroecology Group, where I am working on two projects compiling global information on the threats to insect populations (GLiTRS) and synthesising evidence for interventions which aim to reduce the impact of the food system on biodiversity (Mandala). I am currently a University of Cambridge Borysiewicz Fellow (2022).

I am passionate about using my science to engage people in the wonders of the natural world. I regularly participate in events at the Museum of Zoology, including Zoology Live!, Cambridge Bioblitz, the Cambridge Science Festival and the Discovery talks and Meet the Experts programmes. I am also keen on giving talks outside of Cambridge, for example to local Wildlife Trust groups, natural history groups and the WI. I lead Wildlife Training Workshops for the local Wildlife Trust.

I have been interviewed about my research on both TV (BBC Countryfile and BBC Look East) and radio (BBC Inside Science, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Three Counties, The Naked Scientists).

I regularly write blogs about my research both online (impact of temperature on UK butterflies, impact of temperature on Ethiopian birds, studying butterflies on reserves) and in local wildlife and society magazines, and my research has been featured in University research articles (see below) and films.

University of Cambridge research features

Small-winged and lighter coloured butterflies likely to be at greatest threat from climate change

Tropical butterflies’ wings could help them withstand climate change

These birds will soon go extinct. But their disappearance need not be in vain

Provide shady spots to protect butterflies from climate change

The butterflies are coming

Conference workshops

July 2023 "Conservation of small things – how to incorporate insects (and other invertebrates) into the global biodiversity conservation agenda" at the International Congress for Conservation Biology, Kigali, Rwanda 

July-Nov 2022 "What’s driving insect decline (and what’s not)?” four workshops at Entomological Society of America and Canadian Entomological Society Joint Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada; Ento22, the Royal Entomological Society Annual Conference, Lincoln, UK; the European Congress on Conservation Biology, Prague, Czechia; the International Congress on Entomology, Helsinki, Finland

Conference presentations

Apr 2023 "Butterfly and Moth Conservation: Results from a global synopsis of evidence” talk at Butterfly Conservation International Conference, Wyboston, UK

Dec 2022 "What’s driving insect decline (and what’s not)? A global assessment of experts” talk at the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, UK

Nov 2022 "Butterfly and Moth Conservation: Results from a global synopsis of evidence” talk at Entomological Society of America and Canadian Entomological Society Joint Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada

Sept 2022 "Summarising the evidence for conservation action for butterflies and moths" talk at Ento22, Lincoln, UK

Aug 2022 "Compiling and summarising the evidence for effective conservation action for butterflies and moths" talk at the European Congress on Conservation Biology, Prague, Czechia

July 2022 "Compiling and summarising the evidence for effective conservation action for butterflies and moths" talk at the International Congress on Entomology, Helsinki, Finland

Mar 2021 “How hot is that butterfly? Understanding the impacts of temperature on British butterflies” invited talk at the British Dragonfly Society spring meeting

Oct 2020 “How butterflies keep their cool: linking individual thermoregulatory ability and long-term population trends” talk at University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute conference, Cambridge, UK

Dec 2019 “How butterflies keep their cool: physical and ecological traits influence thermoregulatory ability and population trends” talk at the British Ecological Society annual meeting, Belfast, UK

Feb 2019 “Managing reserves for tomorrow's climate: the impacts of temperature and habitat on butterflies” invited talk at the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Monitoring and Research Conference, Cambourne, UK

Dec 2018 “Managing reserves for tomorrow's climate: the impacts of temperature and habitat on butterflies” talk at the British Ecological Society annual meeting, Birmingham, UK

Nov 2018 “Behavioural thermoregulation, climatic range restriction and conservation of the globally threatened Ethiopian Bush-crow” poster at Zoological Society of London symposium, London, UK

Nov 2018 “Behavioural thermoregulation and climatic range restriction in the globally threatened Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni” talk at the British Ornithologists Union Twitter Conference

Jun 2018 “Butterfly species differ in their ability to buffer body temperature against changes in air temperature – consequences for reserve management” talk and poster at the European Congress on Conservation Biology, Jyväskylä, Finland

Mar 2018 “Selective use of bespoke habitat management areas by target farmland bird species, and concurrent population responses” talk at the Association of Applied Biology Conference, Worcester, UK

Nov 2017 “When do species become extinct, and how should humans intervene?” invited talk at “Extinction: a natural change?” panel discussion, part of the Magdalene College Festival of Change, Cambridge, UK

Sep 2017 “Microclimatic effects on a range-restricted species: a case study of the Ethiopian Bush-crow” invited talk at the “Monitoring, Modelling and Managing Microclimates” workshop, convened by the British Ecological Society Climate Change Ecology Special Interest Group, Bournemouth, UK

Mar 2016 “High temperatures and hot birds: mechanisms of climatic range-restriction in two Ethiopian endemic birds” talk at the Student Conference on Conservation Science, Cambridge, UK

Dec 2015 “High temperatures and hot birds: mechanisms of climatic range-restriction in two Ethiopian endemic birds” invited talk at RSPB Annual Science Meeting, Grantham, UK

May 2015 Awarded “Best poster” at the Cambridge Centre for Climate Science 1st Annual Symposium

Mar 2015 “Investigating the mechanisms of climatic range restriction on southern Ethiopia’s endemic birds” poster the Student Conference on Conservation Science, Cambridge, UK

Media and public engagement

Jun 2023 Interview on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire “The Great Outdoors”

Jun 2022 Online article on The Click

Sept 2021 Interview for BBC Breakfast, News 24 & Look East on Banking on Butterflies project 

Sept 2021 Interview on Mongabay podcast on "What Works in Conservation" 

Apr 2020-May 2021 Fortnightly podcast “Lockdown Science”

May 2021 Interview on The Naked Scientists on Ethiopian birds and climate change

Sept 2020 Interview on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire “The Great Outdoors”

Aug 2020 Interview on The Naked Scientists on gardening for butterflies and climate change

June 2020 Film and interview “Attracting birds to your garden” for Zoology Live Online

July 2019 Interview and butterfly research featured on BBC Countryfile

Feb 2019 Interview on BBC Radio 4 “Inside Science” on Ethiopian Bush-crow research

May 2016 UCCRI Interdisciplinary research podcast on Ethiopian birds 

Agroecology Group

Conservation Science Group

Conservation Evidence

Insect Ecology Group