Ever so 'Moth'-erly!

Well they always say that life as a research student is always eventful, and in the case of Emma Coulthard this has certainly been the case! Emma joined the countryside team back in 2008 as a part-time lecturer and researcher, and left to write up her PhD thesis a year ago. In thistime she has not only become a qualified teacher and undertaken ecological research that she has presented all round the world, but has also found time to have a daughter!

Her research has focused on studying that most diverse and charismatic group of invertebrates - the moths (or Lepidoptera if you really want to show off!). With guidance from her supervisors - James (from Moulton) and Duncan (from the University) - Emma yesterday negotiated her mock-viva to defend her PhD thesis which is entitled 'Habitat and Landscape-Scale Effects on the Abundance and Diversity of Macro-Moths (Lepidoptera) in Intensive Farmland'.

Emma's work looks at how to optimise biodiversity gain through land management at large spatial scales and has revealed some interesting trends on UK moth species. She is due to submit her thesis in a month and then defend it (academically, not physically!) before the end of the year. 

The countryside and agriculture team would like to wish her the best of luck!

Emma Coulthard, Moulton's moth expert!