Paul Wood
Paul kindled an early interest in aquatic invertebrates as a child exploring rockpools on the north Kent Coast. Following a move to study Geography at Loughborough University in the Midlands, this interest rapidly transferred to the aquatic fauna of freshwater habitats.
His research focuses on the environmental factors influencing the structure and functioning of macroinvertebrate communities over space and time within a range of freshwater habitats from streams and rivers through to ponds and artificial waterbodies (drainage channels, canals, and ditches). He has worked extensively on the short and long-term effects of hydrological regime variability on instream communities and is currently exploring how it influences the processes associated with biological invasions. Paul’s research has always contained strong applied components, resulting in regular collaborations with freshwater biologists, water resource managers and conservation officers across a range of environmental regulators and water companies.
Paul studied at Loughborough University before undertaking a PhD at Birmingham University on the instream effects of drought and low flows on chalk streams. His first academic post was at the University of Huddersfield where he gained experience teaching and undertaking research on a range of freshwater habitats including caves and limestone springs. He subsequently returned to Loughborough University where for over two decades he has taught river ecology, and the conservation and management of freshwater habitats. He is currently Professor of Ecohydrology and Physical Geography at Loughborough University and editor in chief of the journal River Research and Applications.