Kyle Dexter

Kyle Dexter is a Professor of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Biogeography in the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh, where he has been employed since January 2013. He leads the PLEEBs (PLant Evolutionary Ecologists and Biogeographers) research group and serves as Deputy Director of the E4 Doctoral Training Partnership and Co-Director of the Centre for Adapting to Changing Environments (ACE Centre).

Dr. Dexter earned his PhD in Biology with specialization in Genetics from Duke University (2003-2008) and a B.A. in Biological Sciences from the University of Virginia (1998-2002). His research focuses primarily on tropical dry forests, thickets, and savannas, which cover half the tropics yet remain understudied compared to wet tropical forests.

His work spans two main areas: large-scale biogeographic patterns in dry tropics (leading the global SECO Project with permanent sampling plots) and eco-evolutionary studies of specific plant lineages, particularly Inga (Fabaceae) in Neotropical rainforests and Petalidium (Acanthaceae) in the Namib Desert. His recent publications demonstrate expertise in phylogenetics, ecosystem function, vegetation monitoring, and the socio-ecology of tropical woodlands, with a strong emphasis on addressing anthropogenic environmental change.

His extensive publication record shows a clear focus on tropical plant ecology, biogeography, and evolution, with particular attention to the relationship between phylogenetic patterns and ecological processes. His work often combines field studies with genomic and remote sensing approaches to address fundamental questions about tropical biodiversity.

As an educator, Dexter teaches field ecology and quantitative skills, including a first-year undergraduate field course on Scottish plant and invertebrate identification and statistical modeling using R. He has served as a peer reviewer for numerous prestigious journals including Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and multiple ecology and evolution journals.