Chris D Thomas

Professor Chris D Thomas FRS is a leading ecologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of York, where he serves as Director of the transdisciplinary Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity. His research focuses on human impacts on biodiversity, balancing ecological losses with novel evolutionary gains, and developing adaptive conservation strategies for climate change.

• Department of Biology, University of York
• York Environmental Sustainability Institute
• Royal Entomological Society President (2018-2020)

Thomas investigates how species respond to climate change through distribution shifts and evolutionary adaptation. His work challenges traditional conservation paradigms by documenting biodiversity gains from non-native species colonization and advocating for dynamic, connected landscapes to facilitate range expansions. Current research projects include Anthropocene evolution synthesis, novel habitat colonization modeling, and invasion impact analysis.

His 15 most recent publications analyze ecological responses to anthropogenic changes, including species translocation frameworks, climate-driven body size reductions, and Holocene land-use impacts. Key methodological approaches involve habitat suitability modeling, long-term biodiversity tracking, and meta-analyses of species distribution trends.

• Scientific Medal (Zoological Society of London, 1998)
• President’s Medal (British Ecological Society, 2001)
• Marsh Awards (2004, 2011)
• Fellow of the Royal Society (2012)
• Honorary Doctorate (University of Helsinki, 2014)

Thomas actively mentors PhD students and leads funded projects like 'Adaptive introgression in the Anthropocene' (NERC 2022-2028) and 'Velocity of evolutionary responses' (NERC 2016-2020). His research on refugial populations informs climate-resilient conservation practices.

As part of the Leverhulme Centre, he collaborates across disciplines to address Anthropocene challenges, emphasizing the need to redefine conservation goals for a rapidly changing world. His work on microclimate associations and steppingstone protected areas demonstrates practical applications for species persistence.