معرفی
Dr Richard Yarnell serves as Associate Professor at Nottingham Trent University's School of Animal, Rural & Environmental Sciences, where he leads the Ecology and Conservation Research Group and previously coordinated the REF2021 Unit of Assessment for Geography and Environmental Studies. His teaching portfolio includes undergraduate modules in Wildlife Management and the African Field Course, alongside the Postgraduate module Protected Species Surveying, reflecting his deep engagement with practical conservation education.
Yarnell's research centers on carnivore ecology and conservation, with particular expertise in brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea) and European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) population dynamics. His work bridges urban-rural landscapes, examining human-wildlife conflict, habitat fragmentation, and species-specific conservation challenges across Africa and the UK. Methodologically, he pioneers wildlife monitoring techniques including footprint tunnel validation and GPS tracking for small mammals.
Analysis of his 11 most recent publications (2007-2018) reveals dominant themes in carnivore conservation (hyaenas, vultures, hedgehogs), innovative survey methodologies, and anthropogenic impacts like power line infrastructure and illegal hunting. His research demonstrates strong field application in South Africa, Malawi, and the UK, with increasing focus on urban ecology and human-carnivore coexistence in recent years.
Dr Yarnell has received no scientific awards mentioned in available records.
He currently supervises 8 PhD students investigating:
- Trophic cascades and apex predators in European landscapes
- Hedgehog population estimation using Random Encounter Models
- Barn owl breeding success
- Leopard ecology in Malawi
- Road impacts on hedgehogs
- Livestock guarding dogs in African carnivore systems
- Invasive species effects on Arctic terns
Yarnell leads NTU's Ecology and Conservation Research Group while maintaining active collaborations with University of Brighton, University of Pretoria, People's Trust for Endangered Species, British Hedgehog Preservation Society, and Conservation Research Africa. His external roles include Subject Editor for African Journal of Ecology and membership in the IUCN Hyaena Specialist Group.
