Joseph Tobias

Joseph Tobias is a Professor of Biodiversity & Ecosystems in the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London's Faculty of Natural Sciences, based at the Silwood Park Campus. He is affiliated with the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, the B10K avian genomics initiative, and projects like SENTINEL and Food & Forests in Africa. His research focuses on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem function, and the impacts of global change on ecological systems, using birds as a primary study model.

Tobias holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (1996) and a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Cardiff (1991). His work integrates field experiments, phylogenetic modeling, and spatial mapping to address questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation. Current research emphasizes trait evolution, species interactions, climate change impacts, and sustainable development strategies in tropical ecosystems.

Key research interests include avian functional trait databases (e.g., AVONET), phylogenetic analysis, and policy-driven projects to achieve conservation goals. His lab collaborates internationally, focusing on global biodiversity patterns and ecosystem resilience. Recent studies highlight elevational constraints on avian flight efficiency, drivers of avian genomic evolution, and the ecological consequences of tropical forest degradation.

Notable projects include the B10K initiative for avian genomics and the SENTINEL project addressing sustainable development in Africa. His work bridges basic and applied ecology, emphasizing the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem services under global change scenarios.