The Group has a long tradition of high quality research in behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation biology and has always emphasised a programme of strongly applied projects with immediate management relevance. Fieldwork is currently underway in Madeira, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia as well as sites around the UK including the Outer Hebrides. A large number of PhD students and research assistants are currently engaged in research based in the UK and abroad.
Projects fall within the research fronts detailed earlier.
PhD students attend the Graduate School Training Programme and we hold regular research seminars including external speakers. In 1986 The Behavioural and Environmental Biology Research Group at Manchester Metropolitan University began the first MSc in Behavioural Ecology in the UK, and in 1991 developed a sister MSc in Conservation Biology. Since their inception both these courses have emphasised the applications of behavioural ecology, and the contribution of behavioural ecology to conservation. These courses provide full training in theoretical, experimental and field techniques. All students undertake a substantial research project.