Alan Hildrew

Professor Alan Hildrew is a Professor of Ecology at Queen Mary University of London, affiliated with the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. His research focuses on community ecology of rivers and streams, particularly the impacts of environmental changes and acidification on freshwater ecosystems. He has led a 30-year study on a model stream community, exploring food web dynamics, biodiversity, and recovery processes.

He serves as Editor of Freshwater Biology (a role spanning 25 years) and Chairman of the Freshwater Biological Association. His work integrates field studies with collaborative projects on methane oxidation in rivers, salmon reintroduction effects, and population genetics of aquatic insects. He has contributed extensively to UK environmental policy, including roles in the UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network and the Lowland Catchment Research initiative.

Key research areas include freshwater acidification recovery, trophic interactions, and the role of biodiversity in ecosystem stability. His publications span over four decades, addressing topics such as food web structure, nitrogen cycling, and the ecological consequences of human activities.

• Editor of Freshwater Biology since 1990
• Chairman of the Freshwater Biological Association
• Lead researcher in UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network

His advisory work includes supervising Gareth Jenkins and collaborating on multistressor studies in freshwater ecosystems. He emphasizes the integration of species traits into predictive ecological frameworks to address climate change impacts.