International honour for leading ecologist at Plymouth University

A specialist on aquatic life has been recognised for his contribution to science after being awarded a prestigious honour by the Zoological Society of London.

Dr David Bilton, Reader in Aquatic Biology at Plymouth University, has received the Marsh Award for Marine and Freshwater Conservation, an accolade presented on an annual basis for contributions to fundamental science and its application to the conservation of marine and/or freshwater ecosystems.

David has been studying water beetles for over 30 years and conducts research across the world, in particular in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He’s had no less than six animals named after him, including the beetles Deronectes biltoni and Hydraena biltoni, and has named many other new ones himself. He said: “I find water beetles intrinsically interesting. They’re fascinating organisms in themselves but they also offer a great deal of insight into more general ecological and evolutionary questions, as well as being excellent indicators of habitat quality and wetland health.”

The focus of much of David’s recent research has been upon understanding why certain species of aquatic beetle are very successful and can be found across a wide geographical area, while most of their close relatives are confined to small areas. Such a pattern of a handful of common species nested within a group of rare ones is found in most kinds of animals and plants – but why this is the case remains poorly understood.

David, of the School of Marine Science and Engineering, the Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, and the University's Marine Institute, said: “We’re drawn to those species that are rare, both from a conservation perspective but also for their intrinsic appeal. But actually, most species are rare in terms of their distribution, so we can turn the thing on its head and say that it’s those species that are really widespread that are the fascinating ones.”

Much of his work in Plymouth revolves around studying aspects such as a beetle’s ability to tolerate temperature change, its ability to fly from place to place, and the impact of man-made factors such as loss of habitat and increases in nutrient levels in the water. This work not only generates understanding of factors that limit range size, but also provides valuable insights into the likely consequences of global climate change, and which species will be most affected.

David co-founded the Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust, a charitable organisation working to promote the conservation of water beetles. And in addition to publishing more than 130 scientific works, he is co-author of a leading new reference work on British and Irish water beetles published earlier this year. He will formally receive the Marsh Award at a ceremony in London in June.