My research focuses on animal responses to environmental change, with a particular emphasis on how behaviour and movement shape zoonotic spillover risk. I am the Scientific Lead of the Horizon Europe project RESTOREID, which investigates how ecosystem degradation and restoration alter infectious disease dynamics, and how nature-based solutions can be leveraged to reduce disease risk.

My work combines movement ecology, behavioural ecology, and disease ecology, developing new tools to uncover the mechanisms linking animal behaviour to pathogen transmission. I use and design biologgers and proximity sensors to test theoretical predictions of spillover risk, including an edge-AI–enabled biologger for monitoring horse movement.

A major strand of my research is acoustic ecology. I have developed passive acoustic monitoring systems using edge AI to analyse soundscapes in real time, with extensive work on bat acoustics, linking social behaviour and movement to vocal activity. I currently lead a multi-partner project mapping bat social soundscapes to behaviour in North Wales.

Beyond Europe, I contribute to applied surveillance, including the development of an Early Warning System for Vector Borne Diseases in Colombia, which uses mosquito blood-meal analysis to identify host communities and track biodiversity change relevant to disease emergence.

I teach the following courses:

- Telling Data Driven Stories in Conservation: How to plan, carry out, analyse and report an effective scientific study (MSc)

- Organismal Diversity - Chiropteran diversity (BSc)

- Parasites and Pathogens (BSc)

Student projects with me can cover the following:

  • Bat ecology
  • Animal movement and behaviour
  • Acoustic ecology
  • Functional diversity under different ecological conditions
  • Parasitology

Supervision: 

PhD

Cato Vangenechten (co-supervised with Joachim Marien, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium and Sophie Gryseels, University of Antwerp, Belgium)

Project title: Restoring nature’s health: Investigating the effects of 

ecosystem restoration on zoonotic disease risk

Baraka Edson Mwamandula (co-supervised with Joachim Marien, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Alfan Riga and Apia Massawe, Sokoine University of Agriculture). 

Project title: Unravelling Zoonotic Pathogen Transmission Among Small Mammals And Their Ectoparasites in Degraded and Restored Habitats

Owen Storer (co-supervised with Alex Georgiev and Amy Ellison, Bangor University)

Project title: Parasites in Zanzibar Red Colobus: Linking Human Disturbance to Infection Patterns

MRes / MSc

Lauren Webster (co-supervised with Amy Ellison)

Project Title: Dietary Preference and Gut Microbiota Composition of Frugivorous Phyllostomids Within Fragmented Landscapes of the Ecuadorian Chocó

2026

2025

  • CyhoeddwydAcoustic Sampling Protocol
    Abed, L., Vangenechten, C., Sluydts, V. & Kirkpatrick, L., 11 Rhag 2025, protocols.io.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad arall › Cyfraniad Arall
  • E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuAdaptive ecosystem restoration to mitigate zoonotic risks
    Ecke, F., Semenza, J. C., Buzan, E., Costa, F., Giorgi, E., Guo, J., Kirkpatrick, L., Knauf, S., Meheretu, Y., Singh, N., Sjödin, H., Timperley, M., Treskova, M., Ulrich, R. G., Zeppelini, C. G. & Rocklöv, J., 7 Hyd 2025, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 9, 11, t. 1979-1988 10 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydDensity-dependent network structuring within and across wild animal systems
    Albery, G. F., Becker, D. J., Firth, J. A., De Moor, D., Ravindran, S., Silk, M., Sweeny, A. R., Vander Wal, E., Webber, Q., Allen, B., Babayan, S. A., Barve, S., Begon, M., Birtles, R. J., Block, T. A., Block, B. A., Bradley, J. E., Budischak, S., Buesching, C. & Burthe, S. J. & 90 eraill, Carlisle, A. B., Caselle, J. E., Cattuto, C., Chaine, A. S., Chapple, T. K., Cheney, B. J., Clutton-Brock, T., Collier, M., Curnick, D. J., Delahay, R. J., Farine, D. R., Fenton, A., Ferretti, F., Feyrer, L., Fielding, H., Foroughirad, V., Frere, C., Gardner, M. G., Geffen, E., Godfrey, S. S., Graham, A. L., Hammond, P. S., Henrich, M., Heurich, M., Hopwood, P., Ilany, A., Jackson, J. A., Jackson, N., Jacoby, D. M. P., Jacoby, A.-M., Ježek, M., Kirkpatrick, L., Klamm, A., Klarevas-Irby, J. A., Knowles, S., Koren, L., Krzyszczyk, E., Kusch, J. M., Lambin, X., Lane, J. E., Leirs, H., Leu, S. T., Lyon, B. E., Macdonald, D. W., Madsen, A. E., Mann, J., Manser, M., Mariën, J., Massawe, A., McDonald, R. A., Morelle, K., Mourier, J., Newman, C., Nussear, K., Nyaguthii, B., Ogino, M., Ozella, L., Packer, C., Papastamatiou, Y. P., Paterson, S., Payne, E., Pedersen, A. B., Pemberton, J. M., Pinter-Wollman, N., Planes, S., Raulo, A., Rodríguez-Muñoz, R., Rudd, L., Sabuni, C., Sah, P., Schallert, R. J., Sheldon, B. C., Shizuka, D., Sih, A., Sinn, D. L., Sluydts, V., Spiegel, O., Telfer, S., Thomason, C. A., Tickler, D. M., Tregenza, T., VanderWaal, K., Walmsley, S., Walters, E. L., Wanelik, K. M., Whitehead, H., Wielgus, E., Wilson-Aggarwal, J., Wohlfeil, C. & Bansal, S., 4 Medi 2025, Yn: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 9, 11, t. 2002-2013 12 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydFly Sampling Protocol
    Gogarten, J., Lagostina, L., Sluydts, V., Vangenechten, C. & Kirkpatrick, L., 11 Rhag 2025, protocols.io.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad arall › Cyfraniad Arall
  • E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuMicroparasite prevalence in Southern giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei) in Morogoro, Tanzania.
    Vangenechten, C., Mariën,, J., Vandecasteele,, H., Van Houtte, N., Gryseels,, S., Leirs,, H., Mwamundela, B. E., Sabuni,, C. & Kirkpatrick, L., 1 Rhag 2025, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Mammalia. 90, t. 39-49 11 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydPartitioning Social and Spatial Drivers of Infection Risk
    Kirkpatrick, L., Mariën, J., Sabuni, C., Mwamundela, B. & Leirs, H., 2 Tach 2025, Yn: Ecology and Evolution. 15, 11, e72367.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • CyhoeddwydRestoring Ecosystems to Stop the Threat of Re - Emerging Infectious Disease (RESTOREID): D6.6 – Policy Brief 1
    Kirkpatrick, L. & Jagadesh, S., 23 Rhag 2025
    Allbwn ymchwil: Llyfr/Adroddiad › Adoddiad Arall
  • CyhoeddwydThe use of miniaturised Bluetooth Low Energy proximity loggers to study contacts among small rodents in agricultural settings
    Huels, F., Van den Broeke, B., Sluydts, V., Kirkpatrick, L., Hererra Olivares, I., Ennen, H., Vermeiren, D., Leirs, H. & Jacob, J., 3 Ion 2025, Yn: PLoS ONE. 20, 1, t. e0312553
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
  • Yn ParatoiValidating the Nordic Thingy:53 as an Accessible Tool for Equine Behavioural Analysis using Edge AI
    Eynde, R. V., Olivares, I. H. & Kirkpatrick, L., 10 Rhag 2025, (Yn Paratoi) BioRxiv.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Papur gweithio › Rhagargraffiad

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2018

2017

2015

  • CyhoeddwydGlobal effects of land use on local terrestrial biodiversity
    Newbold, T., Hudson, L. N., Hill, S. L., Contu, S., Lysenko, I., Senior, R. A., Börger, L., Bennett, D. J., Choimes, A., Collen, B. & Kirkpatrick, L., 1 Ebr 2015, Yn: Nature. 520, 7545, t. 45-50 6 t.
    Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2014

2026

  • European Commission (Sefydliad allanol)

    Expert Working Group - integrating One Health into the Life Sciences Strategy

    24 Meh 2026 →

    Gweithgaredd: Aelodaeth o bwyllgor (Aelod)
  • World Biodiversity Forum

    14 Meh 2026 – 19 Meh 2026

    Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd Academaidd (Siaradwr)
  • World Biodiversity Forum

    Ecosystem Change and Disease Spillover: Risks and Opportunities for Planetary Health

    I organised a session (across two time slots) focused on the relationship between biodiversity, ecosystem change and pathogen dynamics - can we improve planetary health and reduce spillover risk through ecosystem improvement?

    Bending the curve of biodiversity loss, and addressing the interconnected planetary crises that negatively impact planetary health and social justice requires the development of actionable solutions based on the best available knowledge, jointly across sectors and generations. It also requires addressing the root causes of these crises, current social and cultural pattern and practices, by co-developing biodiversity-positive futures, and creating structures and practices that are just and equitable. The World Biodiversity Forum is a space that brings together researchers, policy makers and practitioners across a range of disciplines to address these crises.

    14 Meh 2026 – 20 Meh 2026

    Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd Academaidd (Trefnydd)
  • NERC Turing AI pioneer interdisciplinary fellowships

    Reviewer for the NERC Turing AI fellowships

    11 Maw 2026

    Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu academaidd allanol - Aelodaeth o banel neu bwyllgor adolygu cymheiriaid (Adolygydd)

2025

2024

  • Restoration in the Anthropocene: Time for a One Health Perspective?

    Invited speaker at a session at the conference

    19 Tach 2024

    Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr)
  • Restoration in the Anthropocene - Time for a One Health Perspective?

    Invited speaker - Integrating a One Health thinking into restoration practices

    18 Tach 2024 – 22 Tach 2024

    Gweithgaredd: Sgwrs wadd (Siaradwr gwadd)
  • Restoration in the Anthropocene – time for a One Health Perspective?

    Webinar for the World Resources Institute on the relationship between ecosystem change, restoration and pathogen risk. Webinar to all Africa staff of WRI that involved a 30 minute presentation followed by 30 minute discussion panel

    19 Medi 2024

    Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd a gwaith maes - Darlith/trafodaeth/seminar gyhoeddus (Cyflwynydd)
  • UNRAVELING ZOONOTIC PATHOGEN TRANSMISSION AMONG SMALL MAMMALS AND THEIR ECTOPARASITES IN DEGRADED AND RESTORED HABITATS

    - Co-supervised between Sokoine University of Agriculture, Bangor University and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp.

    - PhD studentship within WP3 of the HorizonEU funded RESTOREID project

    1 Awst 2024 – 31 Rhag 2027

    Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu academaidd allanol - Ymchwilio a Dysgu mewn Sefydliad Allanol (Trefnydd)
  • Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior

    Invited visitor to Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour (MPI - AB), delivered seminar: Restoring biodiversity – the key to preventing the next pandemic?

    9 Gorff 2024 – 10 Gorff 2024

    Gweithgaredd: Ymweld â sefydliad academaidd allanol (Ymchwilydd Gwadd)
  • BioDivRestore Knowledge Hub (Sefydliad allanol)

    The UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the ambitious goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework highlight the urgent need for action. We must halt the degradation of ecosystems, restore those that have suffered, and conserve the ones still intact. In alignment with this global effort, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 aims to contribute to the continuous, long-term recovery of biodiverse and resilient nature across Europe.

    To address these critical challenges, BiodivERsA (now Biodiversa+) and Water JPI (now Water4all) jointly launched the “BiodivRestore” ERANET COFUND in 2020 to support research on ecosystem restoration. Building on its success and the funding 22 research projects, BiodivRestore partners established a pan-European Knowledge Hub on Nature Restoration.

    This hub is a network of researchers and stakeholders, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. Its goal? To empower countries in developing and implementing national restoration plans, ultimately achieving the targets set by the EU and UN initiatives.

    29 Mai 2024 →

    Gweithgaredd: Aelodaeth o rwydwaith (Aelod)
  • Restoring nature’s health: Investigating the effects of ecosystem restoration on zoonotic disease ris

    - PhD studentship co-supervised by the Institute for Tropical Medicine (Antwerp, Belgium), the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and Bangor University

    - PhD studentship funded under WP3 of the HorizonEU funded project, RESTOREID

    1 Ion 2024 – 31 Rhag 2027

    Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu academaidd allanol - Ymchwilio a Dysgu mewn Sefydliad Allanol (Cyfrannwr)

2023

RESTOREID (Restoring Ecosystems to Stop the Threat of (Re-)Emerging Infectious Disease) is a Horizon Europe research initiative (2024–2027) funded to explore how ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and disease dynamics intersect. It seeks to understand when, where and through what mechanisms ecological restoration can help prevent or mitigate zoonotic spillover, the transmission of pathogens from wildlife to people, and how restoration may also influence broader ecosystem and human health.

The project recognises that while landscape degradation increases spillover risk, it is not yet clear which restoration actions, scales or contexts effectively reduce that risk, or how restoration changes species interactions, human–environment contact, biodiversity patterns, and pathogen transmission. RESTOREID integrates ecological, social, and health perspectives to fill this knowledge gap.

RESTOREID combines innovative monitoring and modelling methods, including biodiversity diagnostics, acoustic and eDNA assessments, participatory scenario mapping, and social science engagement, to test hypotheses about ecological and behavioural mechanisms affecting disease outcomes. It also develops tools to support policy-relevant decision-making and community engagement, such as interactive games and knowledge platforms, helping translate scientific insight into practical strategies for healthier landscapes and safer coexistence of people and wildlife.

Early Warning System for Vector Borne Diseases in Colombia is  a SNIS funded project investigating how knowledge on biodiversity can be leveraged to provide insights into, and early warnings about vector borne pathogen hazard. Vector-borne diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and Zika cause over 700,000 deaths annually, a toll worsened by climate change, biodiversity loss, and land-use change. In tropical regions, limited public health capacity means outbreaks are often detected too late.This project is developing an early warning system that combines invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) from mosquito blood meals with climate, land-use, and community vulnerability data to predict outbreak risk. In Tolima, Colombia, researchers will detect pathogens and host species from mosquitoes collected across different landscapes, integrating results into spatial models to identify high-risk areas.Co-developed with Colombia’s national surveillance system and in collaboration with the WHO, the approach will produce open-access tools, training materials, and policy guidance to support adoption in other vulnerable regions.The project unites experts from Bangor University (UK), Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), the Secretaría de Salud de Tolima, the Civil Society Nature Reserve “Charco Azul”, the Colombian Primatological Association, and other partners.