Evans, Karl, Dr

Dr Karl Evans

School of Biosciences

Senior Lecturer

karl.evans@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0125

B2 210, Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Dr Karl Evans
School of Biosciences
B2 210
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
��«Ӱҵ
S10 2TN

Profile

Senior Lecturer in Conservation Biology, University of ��«Ӱҵ (2015-present)
Lecturer in Conservation Biology, University of ��«Ӱҵ (2011-2014)
Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of ��«Ӱҵ (2009-2011)
Post-doctoral researcher, University of ��«Ӱҵ (2003-2008)
Royal Society Travelling Research Fellow, University of Lincoln, New Zealand (2002)
DPhil, University of Oxford (2001)

Research interests: My research focuses on biodiversity responses to environmental change, and how negative impacts of human activity can be minimised through conservation interventions and policy. This research considers a wide range of environmental change drivers and environments but urbanisation and climate change are two major themes. I am also interested in how biodiversity responds to natural environmental gradients. My research is increasingly multi-disciplinary and often combines large scale approaches with intensive fieldwork at more local scales.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Dyngeland C, Oldekop JA & Evans KL (2020) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Seress G, Sándor K, Evans KL & Liker A (2020) . Journal of Animal Ecology.
Evans KL, Ewen JG, Guillera‐Arroita G, Johnson JA, Penteriani V, Ryan SJ, Sollmann R & Gordon IJ (2020) . Animal Conservation.
Senior VL, Evans LC, Leather SR, Oliver TH & Evans KL (2020) . Global Change Biology.
den Braber B, Evans KL & Oldekop JA (2018) . Conservation Letters, 11(6).
Burgess MD, Smith KW, Evans KL, Leech D, Pearce-Higgins JW, Branston CJ, Briggs K, Clark JR, du Feu CR, Lewthwaite K , Nager RG et al (2018) . Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2(6), 970-975.
Southon GE, Jorgensen A, Dunnett N, Hoyle H & Evans KL (2018) . Landscape and Urban Planning, 172, 1-10.
Lepczyk CA, Aronson MFJ, Evans KL, Goddard MA, Lerman SB & MacIvor JS (2017) . BioScience, 67(9), 799-807.
Aronson MFJ, Lepczyk CA, Evans KL, Goddard MA, Lerman SB, MacIvor JS, Nilon CH & Vargo T (2017) . Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(4), 189-196.
Oldekop JA, Holmes G, Harris WE & Evans KL (2016) . Conservation Biology, 30(1), 133-141.
Oliveira Hagen E, Hagen O, Ibáñez-Álamo JD, Petchey OL & Evans KL () . Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5.

All publications

Journal articles

Thaweepworadej P & Evans KL (2025) . Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 104, 128669-128669.
Lloyd GR, Ossola A, Burley HM & Evans KL (2024) . Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 101, 128532-128532.
Gordon IJ, Sollmann R, Rantanen EM, Johnson JA, Evans KL, Penteriani V & Boersch‐Supan P (2024) . Animal Conservation, 27(2), 139-140.
Thaweepworadej P & Evans KL (2023) . Landscape and Urban Planning, 238, 104812-104812.
Norton BA, Mears M, Warren PH, Siriwardena GM, Plummer KE, Turner T, Hancock S, Grafius DR & Evans KL (2023) . Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 85, 127951-127951.
Cooke R, Mancini F, Boyd RJ, Evans KL, Shaw A, Webb TJ & Isaac NJB (2023) . Biological Conservation, 278, 109884-109884.
Sandbrook C, Fisher M, Cumming GS, Evans KL, Glikman JA, Godley BJ, Jarrad F, Polunin N, Murcia C, Pérez-Ruzafa A & Szabo JK (2023) . Oryx, 57(1), 1-2.
Nada B, Beckerman AP, Evans KL & Ballantyne LA (2023) . Diversity, 15(1).
Guenat S, Purnell P, Davies ZG, Nawrath M, Stringer LC, Babu GR, Balasubramanian M, Ballantyne EEF, Bylappa BK, Chen B , De Jager P et al (2022) . Nature Communications, 13.
Thaweepworadej P & Evans KL (2022) . Animal Conservation.
Thaweepworadej P & Evans KL (2022) . Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 70, 127527-127527.
Douglas JWA & Evans KL (2021) . People and Nature.
Kelly LA, Douglas DJT, Shurmer MP & Evans KL (2021) . Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9.
Jones L, Boeri M, Christie M, Durance I, Evans KL, Fletcher D, Harrison L, Jorgensen A, Masante D, McGinlay J , Paterson DM et al (2021) . People and Nature.
Lin BB, Ossola A, Alberti M, Andersson E, Bai X, Dobbs C, Elmqvist T, Evans KL, Frantzeskaki N, Fuller RA , Gaston KJ et al (2021) . The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(7), e479-e486.
Kelly LA, Douglas DJT, Shurmer MP & Evans KL (2021) . Animal Conservation.
Senior VL, Botham M & Evans KL (2021) . Oikos.
Higgott CG, Evans KL & Hatchwell BJ (2020) . Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8.
Dyngeland C, Oldekop JA & Evans KL (2020) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Seress G, Sándor K, Evans KL & Liker A (2020) . Journal of Animal Ecology.
Evans KL, Ewen JG, Guillera‐Arroita G, Johnson JA, Penteriani V, Ryan SJ, Sollmann R & Gordon IJ (2020) . Animal Conservation.
Kurylo JS, Threlfall CG, Parris KM, Ossola A, Williams NSG & Evans KL (2020) . Ecological Applications.
Senior VL, Evans LC, Leather SR, Oliver TH & Evans KL (2020) . Global Change Biology.
Norton BA, Bending GD, Clark R, Corstanje R, Dunnett N, Evans KL, Grafius DR, Gravestock E, Grice SM, Harris JA , Hilton S et al (2019) . Ecological Applications, 29(6).
Grafius DR, Corstanje R, Warren PH, Evans KL, Norton BA, Siriwardena GM, Pescott OL, Plummer KE, Mears M, Zawadzka J , Richards JP et al (2019) . Landscape and Urban Planning, 189, 382-395.
den Braber B, Evans KL & Oldekop JA (2018) . Conservation Letters, 11(6).
Borah JR, Evans KL & Edwards DP (2018) . Ecological Applications, 28(6), 1581-1593.
Berdeni D, Cotton T, Daniell TJ, Bidartondo M, Cameron D & Evans K (2018) . Frontiers in Microbiology, 9.
Coldwell DF & Evans KL (2018) . Landscape and Urban Planning, 175, 114-122.
Burgess MD, Smith KW, Evans KL, Leech D, Pearce-Higgins JW, Branston CJ, Briggs K, Clark JR, du Feu CR, Lewthwaite K , Nager RG et al (2018) . Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2(6), 970-975.
Seress G, Hammer T, Bókony V, Vincze E, Preiszner B, Pipoly I, Sinkovics C, Evans KL & Liker A (2018) . Ecological Applications, 28(5), 1143-1156.
Southon GE, Jorgensen A, Dunnett N, Hoyle H & Evans KL (2018) . Landscape and Urban Planning, 172, 1-10.
Mills SC, Oliver TH, Bradbury RB, Gregory RD, Brereton T, Kühn E, Kuussaari M, Musche M, Roy DB, Schmucki R , Stefanescu C et al (2017) . Global Ecology and Biogeography, 26(12), 1374-1385.
Lepczyk CA, Aronson MFJ, Evans KL, Goddard MA, Lerman SB & MacIvor JS (2017) . BioScience, 67(9), 799-807.
Hoyle H, Jorgensen A, Warren P, Dunnett N & Evans K (2017) . Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 25, 139-149.
Aronson MFJ, Lepczyk CA, Evans KL, Goddard MA, Lerman SB, MacIvor JS, Nilon CH & Vargo T (2017) . Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(4), 189-196.
O'Sullivan OS, Holt AR, Warren PH & Evans KL (2017) . Journal of Environmental Management, 191, 162-171.
Coldwell DF & Evans KL (2017) . PLOS ONE, 12(3).
Reed MS, Allen K, Attlee A, Dougill AJ, Evans KL, Kenter JO, Hoy J, McNab D, Stead SM, Twyman C , Scott AS et al (2017) . Global Environmental Change, 43, 92-106.
Southon GE, Jorgensen A, Dunnett N, Hoyle H & Evans KL (2017) . Landscape and Urban Planning, 158, 105-118.
Alcock I, White MP, Taylor T, Coldwell DF, Gribble MO, Evans KL, Corner A, Vardoulakis S & Fleming LE (2017) . Global Environmental Change, 42, 136-147.
Norton BA, Evans KL & Warren PH (2016) . Current Landscape Ecology Reports, 1(4), 178-192.
Grafius DR, Corstanje R, Warren PH, Evans KL, Hancock S & Harris JA (2016) . Landscape Ecology, 31(7), 1509-1522.
Oldekop JA, Holmes G, Harris WE & Evans KL (2016) . Conservation Biology, 30(1), 133-141.
Hahs AK & Evans KL (2015) . Functional Ecology, 29(7), 863-867.
Oldekop JA, Chappell MJ, Peixoto FEB, Paglia AP, do Prado Rodrigues MS & Evans KL (2015) . Food Security, 7(4), 779-793.
Bonnington C, Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2015) . Animal Conservation, 18(6), 529-538.
Gullett PR, Hatchwell BJ, Robinson RA & Evans KL (2015) . Journal of Avian Biology, 46(5), 441-451.
Bonnington C, Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2014) . PLoS ONE, 9(10).
Evans KL (2014) . Animal Behaviour, 93, 119-119.
Finch T, Evans KL, Pearce-Higgins JW & Leech DI (2014) . Biodiversity and Conservation.
Gullett P, Evans KL, Robinson RA & Hatchwell BJ (2014) . Oikos, 123(4), 389-400.
Díaz-Porras DF, Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2014) . Ecology and Evolution, 4(8), 1413-1422.
Bonnington C, Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2014) . Ibis, 156(1), 220-226.
Hollingham R, Cameron D, Evans K & Berdeni D (2013) Bristling with potential. Planet Earth(AUTUMN), 20-21.
Gullett P, Hatchwell BJ, Robinson RA & Evans KL (2013) . Ecology and Evolution, 3(7), 1864-1877.
Samaš P, Grim T, Hauber ME, Cassey P, Weidinger K & Evans KL (2013) . Ecography, 36(7), 809-818.
Mueller JC, Partecke J, Hatchwell BJ, Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2013) . Mol Ecol, 22(13), 3629-3637.
Bonnington C, Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2013) . Journal of Applied Ecology, 50(1), 15-24.
Bonnington C, Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2013) . Urban Ecosystems, 1-14.
Hui C, Roura-Pascual N, Brotons L, Robinson RA & Evans KL (2012) . Ecography, 35(11), 1024-1032.
Evans KL, Newton J, Mallord JW & Markman S (2012) . PLoS ONE, 7(4).
MacLeod R, Herzog SK, Maccormick A, Ewing SR, Bryce R & Evans KL (2011) Rapid monitoring of species abundance for biodiversity conservation: Consistency and reliability of the MacKinnon lists technique. Biological Conservation.
Evans KL, Newton J, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, Mcgowan A & Hatchwell BJ (2011) Colonisation of urban environments is associated with reduced migratory behaviour, facilitating divergence from ancestral populations. Oikos.
Booth JE, Gaston KJ, Evans KL & Armsworth PR (2011) . Biological Conservation, 144(11), 2728-2732.
Evans KL, Chamberlain DE, Hatchwell BJ, Gregory RD & Gaston KJ (2011) . Global Change Biology, 17(1), 32-44.
Evans KL, Hatchwell BJ, Parnell M & Gaston KJ (2010) . Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc, 85(3), 643-667.
Simeoni M, Dawson DA, Gentle LK, Coiffait L, Wolff K, Evans KL, Gaston KJ & Hatchwell BJ (2009) . MOL ECOL RESOUR, 9(6), 1520-1526.
Blackburn TM, Cassey P, Evans KL, Gaston KJ & Duncan RP (2009) . J BIOGEOGR, 36(8), 1613-1614.
Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Frantz AC, Simeoni M, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Dawson DA, Walasz K, Partecke J, Burke T & Hatchwell BJ (2009) . Proc Biol Sci, 276(1666), 2403-2410.
Jackson SF, Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2009) . BIODIVERS CONSERV, 18(8), 2143-2151.
Herzog SK, Ewing SR, Evans KL, Maccormick A, Valqui T, Bryce R, Kessler M & MacLeod R (2009) VOCALIZATIONS, DISTRIBUTION, AND ECOLOGY OF THE CLOUD-FOREST SCREECH OWL (MEGASCOPS MARSHALLI). WILSON J ORNITHOL, 121(2), 240-252.
Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Simeoni M & Hatchwell BJ (2009) . OIKOS, 118(5), 774-782.
Fishburn IS, Kareiva P, Gaston KJ, Evans KL & Armsworth PR (2009) . CONSERV LETT, 2(2), 74-81.
Evans KL, Leech DI, Crick HQP, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2009) Latitudinal and seasonal patterns in clutch size of some single-brooded British birds. BIRD STUDY, 56, 75-85.
Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A & Hatchwell BJ (2009) . OIKOS, 118(2), 251-259.
Evans KL, Newson SE & Gaston KJ (2009) . IBIS, 151(1), 19-39.
Newson SE, Evans KL, Noble DG, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2008) . J APPL ECOL, 45(5), 1330-1338.
Blackburn TM, Cassey P, Duncan RP, Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2008) . CONSERV BIOL, 22(2), 492-494.
Sims V, Evans KL, Newson SE, Tratalos JA & Gaston KJ (2008) . DIVERS DISTRIB, 14(2), 387-399.
Evans KL, Newson SE, Storch D, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2008) . J Anim Ecol, 77(2), 395-405.
Evans KL, Lennon JJ & Gaston KJ (2007) Slopes of Avian Species-Area Relationships, Human Population Density, and Environmental Factors. AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY, 2(2).
Evans KL, Wilson JD & Bradbury RB (2007) . AGR ECOSYST ENVIRON, 122(2), 267-273.
Petchey OL, Evans KL, Fishburn IS & Gaston KJ (2007) . J Anim Ecol, 76(5), 977-985.
Tratalos J, Fuller RA, Evans KL, Davies RG, Newson SE, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2007) . GLOBAL CHANGE BIOL, 13(8), 1685-1695.
Evans KL, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2007) . GLOBAL ECOL BIOGEOGR, 16(3), 300-304.
Evans KL, van Rensburg BJ, Gaston KJ & Chown SL (2006) . GLOBAL ECOL BIOGEOGR, 15(6), 625-636.
Evans KL, James NA & Gaston KJ (2006) . GLOBAL ECOL BIOGEOGR, 15(4), 372-385.
Evans KL, Rodrigues ASL, Chown SL & Gaston KJ (2006) . Biol Lett, 2(2), 184-188.
Evans KL, Jackson SF, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2006) . Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 273(1595), 1779-1787.
MACLEOD R, EWING SK, HERZOG SK, BRYCE R, EVANS KL & MACCORMICK A (2005) . Bird Conservation International, 15(4), 361-382.
Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2005) . FUNCT ECOL, 19(6), 899-915.
Shultz S, Bradbury RB, Evans KL, Gregory RD & Blackburn TM (2005) . P ROY SOC B-BIOL SCI, 272(1578), 2305-2311.
Evans KL, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2005) . Proc Biol Sci, 272(1577), 2155-2163.
Evans KL, Duncan RP, Blackburn TM & Crick HQP (2005) . FUNCT ECOL, 19(4), 616-624.
Storch D, Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2005) . ECOL LETT, 8(5), 487-492.
Evans KL, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2005) . J ANIM ECOL, 74(3), 498-507.
Evans KL, Greenwood JJD & Gaston KJ (2005) . Biol Lett, 1(1), 87-90.
Blackburn TM, Cassey P, Duncan RP, Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2005) . SCIENCE, 307(5714), 1412-1412.
Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2005) People, energy and avian species richness. GLOBAL ECOL BIOGEOGR, 14(2), 187-196.
Evans KL, Warren PH & Gaston KJ (2005) . Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc, 80(1), 1-25.
Cassey P, Blackburn TM & Evans KL (2005) Changes in egg size of exotic passerines introduced to New Zealand. Notornis, 52(4), 243-246.
Vincent ACJ, Evans KL & Marsden AD (2005) . Environmental Biology of Fishes, 72(1), 1-12.
Evans KL, Warren PH & Gaston KJ (2005) Does energy availability influence classical patterns of spatial variation in exotic species richness?. GLOBAL ECOL BIOGEOGR, 14(1), 57-65.
Blackburn TM, Cassey P, Duncan RP, Evans KL & Gaston KJ (2004) Avian extinction and mammalian introductions on oceanic islands. SCIENCE, 305(5692), 1955-1958.
Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2004) . Proc Biol Sci, 271(1548), 1649-1655.
Vincent ACJ, Dale Marsden A, Evans KL & Sadler LM (2004) . Behaviour, 141(2), 141-156.
Marsden AD & Evans KL (2004) . Behavioral Ecology, 15(4), 699-700.
Evans KL & Robinson RA (2004) Barn Swallows and agriculture. British Birds, 97(5), 218-230.
Evans KL (2004) The potential for interactions between predation and habitat change to cause population declines of farmland birds. IBIS, 146(1), 1-13.
Evans KL, Bradbury RB & Wilson JD (2003) . Bird Study, 50(1), 8-14.
Evans KL, Wilson JD & Bradbury RB (2003) . Bird Study, 50(2), 178-181.
Evans KL, Waldron S & Bradbury RB (2003) Segregation in the African wintering ranges of English and Swiss Swallow Hirundo rustica populations: a stable isotope study. BIRD STUDY, 50, 294-299.
Evans KL, Tyler C, Blackburn TM & Duncan RP (2003) . EMU, 103(3), 215-220.
Simons D, Bradbury RB & Evans KL () . Conservation Biology.
Walker JR, Evans KL, Jeffreys RM, Pahlevani M & Parr CL () . Urban Ecosystems.
den Braber B, Oldekop JA, Devenish K, Godar J, Nolte C, Schmoeller M & Evans KL () . Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Johnson TF, Beckerman AP, Childs DZ, Webb TJ, Evans KL, Griffiths CA, Capdevila P, Clements CF, Besson M, Gregory RD , Thomas GH et al () . Nature.
Palmer AK, Riley M, Brockett BFT, Evans KL, Jones L & Clement S () . Geography Compass.
Borah JR, Gilroy JJ, Evans KL & Edwards DP () . Diversity and Distributions.
Thaweepworadej P & Evans KL () . Ecological Applications.
Merrall ES & Evans KL () . Journal of Avian Biology.
Oliveira Hagen E, Hagen O, Ibáñez-Álamo JD, Petchey OL & Evans KL () . Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5.

Chapters

Aronson MFJ, Lepczyk CA & Evans KL (2023) , Routledge Handbook of Urban Biodiversity (pp. 85-97). Routledge
Díaz-Porras DF, Gaston KJ & Evans KL (2016) 110 Years of Change In Urban Tree Stocks and Associated Carbon Storage, Urban Forests: Ecosystem Services and Management (pp. 189-210).
Gaston KJ & Evans KL () , Silent Summer (pp. 72-83). Cambridge University Press

Conference proceedings papers

Gaston KJ, Chown SL & Evans KL (2008) . JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Vol. 35(3) (pp 483-500)
Whittingham MJ & Evans KL (2004) The effects of habitat structure on predation risk of birds in agricultural landscapes. IBIS, Vol. 146 (pp 210-220)

Preprints

Johnson TF, Beckerman AP, Childs DZ, Griffiths CA, Capdevila P, Clements CF, Besson M, Gregory RD, Delmas E, Thomas G , Evans K et al (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Research group

Postdoctoral researchers

Dr Georgina Southon - Urban ecosystem services: fragments, functions and flows project. NERC funded through the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Service Sustainability (BESS) research programme.
Dr Briony Norton - Urban ecosystem services: fragments, functions and flows project. NERC funded through the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Service Sustainability (BESS) research programme.
Dr Odhran O'Sulivan - Improving road side verges for biodiversity and ecosystem services (NERC Impact accelerator

PhD students

Despina Berdeni - Balancing food security and biodiversity - are fungi the answer?
Cecilie Dyngeland - Delivering food security through small scale farmers - lessons from Brazil.
Simon Mills - Impacts of extreme climatic events on European bird and butterfly populations.
Joli Borah - Cost-effectively enhancing the carbon and biodiversity value of shifting cultivation under REDD plus.
Nada Badruddin - Environmental determinants of Malaysian firefly assemblage structure.
Caitlin Higgot - Evolutionary ecology of an extended phenotype: nest construction and function in a variable environment.
Vicki Senior - Developing a mechanistic understanding of the ecological impacts of climate change: neglected woodland insects.
Olivia Richardson
Bowy den Braber - Protected areas economic constraint or opportunity?

Teaching activities

My teaching is strongly connected to my environmental change research

At level 2 I am module co-ordinator for APS271 Conservation Principles, which uses a diverse array of case-studies to introduce students to the ecological principles that underpin conservation action. The overall aim is to equip students with the skills required to derive solutions to many of the problems faced by those working in conservation.

At level 3 I teach on APS349 Conservation Issues and Management which provides students opportunities to develop (i) their knowledge of topical issues in conservation, (ii) their ability to identify potential solutions to real-world conservation problems and assess the likely effectiveness of these, (iii) their skills in accessing, interpreting and synthesising the primary scientific literature in the field of conservation, and (iv) their ability to think independently.

I give tutorials to level 1 and level 2 students, and supervise ecology and conservation research projects and dissertations at level 3, level 4 and for our MRes courses.

I have a Certificate in Learning and Teaching (CiLT) qualification (modules 1 & 2)

Professional activities and memberships

Associated editor of Animal Conservation (2012 onwards)
Associate editor of Global Ecology and Biogeography (2010 onwards)
Member of British Ornithologists' Union committee (2013 onwards)