Dr. Steve Carver
Dr. Oliver Philips
1st November 1998 - 30th September 2002
Natural Environment Reseach Council Studentship
It is generally considered that areas of highest biodiversity are of the greatest conservation interest or value. However it is also recognised that there are regions of value that retain their naturalness and primitiveness. These so-called wilderness areas offer unique recreational and scientific opportunities, regardless of their biodiversity. This research will evaluate the relationships that exist between biodiversity and wilderness based on the use of quantifiable measures and indicators.
Preliminary analyses suggest that a negative correlation exists between biodiversity and wilderness at the global scale. It is intended to investigate the extent of this relationship using the climatic and geographic factors of precipitation, altitude, latitude and area in the first instance. To what extent however is this inverse relationship, true at the global scale, applicable at the regional or local levels? It is intended to investigate these relationships using three forest case study areas in South Eastern Alaska (temperate rain forest), South Eastern Peru (tropical rain forest) and the Scottish Highlands (temperate deciduous forest).
A number of different methods are needed to carry out this research, including the use of geographic information systems and spatial statistical analysis.