Edmund Basham
I am now starting my PhD working with Brett Scheffers and it is with great satisfaction that I have begun my research in earnest. I seek to understand the patters of diversity derived from arboreality of amphibians and reptiles, two of the most endangered vertebrate groups worldwide. The change in lifestyle and conditions when moving from ground to canopy in tropical forests demands a set of adaptations both physiological and behavioural in the species that reside there, and this alters the way these species disperse and interact with the forest ecosystem. Understanding these components is key for predicting future effects of climate change on arboreal communities. As temperatures rise and rainfall events become more sporadic, we may see a vertical migration of species, potentially causing numerous deleterious effects such as intra and inter specific competition for resources, increased exposure to pathogens and higher predation risks.
For more information see my CV here or contact me on Edmund.basham@gmail.com
Publications:
Basham, E. W., González del Pliego, P., Acosta-Galvis, A. R., Woodcock, P., Medina Uribe, C. A., Haugaasen, T., Gilroy, J. J & Edwards, D. P. (2016). Quantifying carbon and amphibian co-benefits from secondary forest regeneration in the Tropical Andes. Animal Conservation.
González del Pliego, P., Scheffers, B. R., Basham, E. W., Woodcock, P., Wheeler, C., Gilroy, J. J., Medina Uribe, C. A., Haugaasen, T., Freckleton, R. P & Edwards, D. P. (2016) Thermally buffered mirohabitats recovery in tropical secondary forests following land abandonment. Biological Conservation (in press)