Jane Memmott, Professor of Ecology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol and the lead investigator of the Urban Pollinators Project, will discuss some of the past, on-going and future work on pollinators undertaken by her research group at the University. This will include projects which look at habitat restoration, the impact of alien plants such as Himalayan balsam on pollinators and the conservation of pollinators on farms and urban habitats.

Her research interests in ecology include pollination ecology, invasion ecology, agro-ecology, biological control, urban ecology and restoration ecology. She works as both a pure and an applied ecologist and is particularly keen on working at the interface between the two disciplines.  Her group uses a wide variety of techniques: from field observation to field experiment, and from theory to molecular approaches.

Professor Memmott said: “A theme that runs through many of my projects is the use of ecological networks as a tool to answer a variety of environmental questions. For example, does restoration ecology restore ecological function, are ecosystem services affected by farming approach and how do aliens integrate into ecological networks?”

The impact of farming, urbanisation and alien plants on biodiversity organised by the Friends of the University’s Botanic Garden will take place on Thursday 17 January 2013 at 7.30 pm in the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences, Room B75, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG.

Admission is £5 for non-members, free to Friends of the Garden (on production of membership card).  No booking is required.

Further information is available from the Botanic Garden, tel 0117 331 4906 or email botanic-gardens@bristol.ac.uk