Staff profile

Phil Stephens graduated in Zoology from Bristol, took an MSc. in Conservation Biology at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology and gained his PhD in population ecology from the University of East Anglia (2002).  His principal interests are in how evolved traits shape the fates of individuals and how those fates sum to determine the dynamics of populations.  These interests inform research on evolution, behaviour and conservation more broadly.

• Animal behaviour
• Biodiversity conservation
• Biodiversity monitoring
• Camera trapping
• Citizen science
• Population dynamics of vertebrates
• Population ecology
• Wildlife management

• 2015: Member, Science Panel to Quality Assure the UK and England Biodiversity Indicators: Member of a small, independent expert panel to review the indicators used to assess UK government progress towards national and international biodiversity targets.
• 2015: Member, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal) review panel: Member of panel that met (in Lisbon) to assess and rank >250 grant applications to the major Portuguese science funding body.
• 2014: Senior Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology:
• 2014: Invited author: Population Viability Analysis: Peer reviewed contribution to the Oxford Bibliographies Online initiative.
• 2012: Member, NERC Peer Review College:
• 2007: Associate Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology:
• 2006: Acting Senior Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology:
• 2005: Associate Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology:
• 2000: Associate Editor, Endangered Species Research:

Chapter in book

• MAMMALNET – Citizen Science Data Collection From a One Health Perspective
  
  Stephens, P. (2024). MAMMALNET – Citizen Science Data Collection From a One Health Perspective. In S. Cork & J. Lindenmayer (Eds.), Practical Applications Of The Transdisciplinary Approach (pp. 327-336). CABI. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800629523.0000
• Population Viability Analysis
  
  Stephens, P. (2016). Population Viability Analysis. In D. Gibson (Ed.), Oxford bibliographies. Ecology.. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199830060-0142
• The Amur tiger: a case study of living on the edge
  
  Miquelle, D., Goodrich, J., Smirnov, E., Stephens, P., Zaumyslova, O., Chapron, G., Kerley, L., Murzin, A., Hornocker, M., & Quigley, H. (2010). The Amur tiger: a case study of living on the edge. In D. Macdonald & A. Loveridge (Eds.), The Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids. Oxford University Press.
• Densities of ungulates in Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik, Russian Far East
  
  Stephens, P., Zaumyslova, O., Myslenkov, A., Hayward, G., & Miquelle, D. (2005). Densities of ungulates in Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik, Russian Far East. In D. Miquelle, E. Smirnov, & J. Goodrich (Eds.), The Tigers of Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik: Ecology and Conservation (pp. 97-112). PSP.
• Tigers and Wolves in the Russian Far East: Competitive Exclusion, Functional Redundancy and Conservation Implications
  
  Miquelle, D., Stephens, P., Smirnov, E., Goodrich, J., Zaumyslova, O., & Myslenkov, A. (2005). Tigers and Wolves in the Russian Far East: Competitive Exclusion, Functional Redundancy and Conservation Implications. In J. Ray, J. Berger, K. Redford, & R. Steneck (Eds.), Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity (pp. 179-207). Island Press.
• Temporal dynamics of ungulates in Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik, Russian Far East, 1962 - 2001
  
  Stephens, P., Zaumyslova, O., Myslenkov, A., Miquelle, D., & Hayward, G. (2005). Temporal dynamics of ungulates in Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik, Russian Far East, 1962 - 2001. In D. Miquelle, E. Smirnov, & J. Goodrich (Eds.), The Tigers of Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik: Ecology and Conservation (pp. 113-125). PSP.
• Vertebrate mating systems, Allee effects and conservation
  
  Stephens, P., & Sutherland, W. (2000). Vertebrate mating systems, Allee effects and conservation. In M. Apollonio, M. Festa-Bianchet, & D. Mainardi (Eds.), Vertebrate Mating Systems (pp. 186-213). World Scientific Publishing.

Journal Article

• Increasing citizen scientist accuracy with artificial intelligence on UK camera trap data
  
  Sharpe, C. R., Hill, R. A., Chappell, H. M., Green, S. E., Holden, K., Fergus, P., & Stephens, P. A. (in press). Increasing citizen scientist accuracy with artificial intelligence on UK camera trap data . Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation.
• Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age
  
  Pringle, S., Dallimer, M., Goddard, M. A., Le Goff, L. K., Hart, E., Langdale, S. J., Fisher, J. C., Abad, S.-A., Ancrenaz, M., Angeoletto, F., Auat Cheein, F., Austen, G. E., Bailey, J. J., Baldock, K. C. R., Banin, L. F., Banks-Leite, C., Barau, A. S., Bashyal, R., Bates, A. J., … Davies, Z. G. (2025). Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age. Nature Ecology and Evolution. Advance online publication.
• Expanding protected area coverage for migratory birds could improve long-term population trends
  
  Border, J. A., Pearce-Higgins, J. W., Hewson, C. M., Howard, C., Stephens, P. A., Willis, S. G., Fuller, R. A., Hanson, J. O., Sierdsema, H., Foppen, R. P. B., Brotons, L., Gargallo, G., Fink, D., & Baillie, S. R. (2025). Expanding protected area coverage for migratory birds could improve long-term population trends. Nature Communications, 16(1), Article 1813. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57019-x
• Restoring riparian habitats for benefits to biodiversity and human livelihoods: a systematic map protocol for riparian restoration approaches in the tropics
  
  Davis, S., Grainger, M., Pfeifer, M., Pattison, Z., Stephens, P., & Sanderson, R. (2025). Restoring riparian habitats for benefits to biodiversity and human livelihoods: a systematic map protocol for riparian restoration approaches in the tropics. Environmental Evidence, 14(1), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-025-00355-8
• Restoring riparian habitats for benefits to biodiversity and human livelihoods: a systematic map protocol for riparian restoration approaches in the tropics
  
  Davis, S., Grainger, M., Pfeifer, M., Pattison, Z., Stephens, P., & Sanderson, R. (2025). Restoring riparian habitats for benefits to biodiversity and human livelihoods: a systematic map protocol for riparian restoration approaches in the tropics. Environmental Evidence, 14, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-025-00355-8
• Looking beyond Popper: how philosophy can be relevant to ecology
  
  Heger, T., Elliot‐Graves, A., Kaiser, M. I., Morrow, K. H., Bausman, W., Dietl, G. P., Dormann, C. F., Gibson, D. J., Griesemer, J., Itescu, Y., Jax, K., Latimer, A. M., Liu, C., Starrfelt, J., Stephens, P. A., & Jeschke, J. M. (2024). Looking beyond Popper: how philosophy can be relevant to ecology. Oikos. Advance online publication, Article e10994. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.10994
• An assessment of seasonal bait uptake by individual grey squirrels to develop a delivery system for oral contraceptives
  
  Beatham, S. E., Stephens, P. A., Goodwin, D., Coats, J., Rochester, I., Thomas, E., Rochester, A., & Massei, G. (2024). An assessment of seasonal bait uptake by individual grey squirrels to develop a delivery system for oral contraceptives. Pest Management Science, 80(11), 5597-5607. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8379
• Continent-wide differences in diet breadth of large terrestrial carnivores: the effect of large prey and competitors
  
  Stephens, P. (2024). Continent-wide differences in diet breadth of large terrestrial carnivores: the effect of large prey and competitors. Mammal Review, 54(3), 288-298. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12343
• Leopard density and determinants of space use in a farming landscape in South Africa
  
  McKaughan, J., Stephens, P., Lucas, C., Guichard-Kruger, N., Guichard-Kruger, F., & Hill, R. (2024). Leopard density and determinants of space use in a farming landscape in South Africa. Scientific Reports, 14(1), Article 10562. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61013-6
• Spatial variation in spring arrival patterns of Afro‐Palaearctic bird migration across Europe
  
  Border, J. A., Boersch‐Supan, P. H., Pearce‐Higgins, J. W., Hewson, C. M., Howard, C., Stephens, P. A., Willis, S. G., Houston, A. I., Gargallo, G., & Baillie, S. R. (2024). Spatial variation in spring arrival patterns of Afro‐Palaearctic bird migration across Europe. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 33(7), Article e13850. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13850
• Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape
  
  Burton, A. C., Beirne, C., Gaynor, K. M., Sun, C., Granados, A., Allen, M. L., Alston, J. M., Alvarenga, G. C., Calderón, S. Álvarez, Amir, Z., Anhalt-Depies, C., Appel, C., Stephanny, Balme, G., Bar-Massada, A., Barcelos, D., Barr, E., Barthelmess, E. L., Baruzzi, C., … Kays, R. (2024). Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 8(5), 924–935. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02363-2
• Host movement dominates the predicted effects of climate change on parasite transmission between wild and domestic mountain ungulates
  
  Dickinson, E. R., McFarland, C., Toïgo, C., Scantlebury, D. M., Stephens, P. A., Marks, N. J., & Morgan, E. R. (2024). Host movement dominates the predicted effects of climate change on parasite transmission between wild and domestic mountain ungulates. Royal Society Open Science, 11(1), Article 230469. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230469
• Efficient data collection for camera trap‐based density estimation: A preliminary assessment
  
  Ternyik, B., McKaughan, J. E., Hill, R. A., & Stephens, P. A. (2024). Efficient data collection for camera trap‐based density estimation: A preliminary assessment. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 5(1), Article e12300. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12300
• MAMMALNET – Citizen Science Data Collection from a One Health Perspective
  
  Smith, G., Roy, D., Stephens, P., Casaer, J., Jansen, P., & Blanco-Aguiar, J. A. (2023). MAMMALNET – Citizen Science Data Collection from a One Health Perspective. One Health Cases, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1079/onehealthcases.2023.0021
• Feral American mink (Neogale vison) continues to expand its European range: time to harmonize population monitoring and coordinate control
  
  Vada, R., Illanas, S., Acevedo, P., Adriaens, T., Apollonio, M., Belova, O., Blanco-Aguiar, J., Csányi, S., Body, G., G.Fernández-De-Mera, I., Ferroglio, E., A.Jansen, P., M.Jeschke, J., Keuling, O., Palazón, S., Plis, K., Podgórski, T., Rickowski, F., Scandura, M., … Vicente, J. (2023). Feral American mink (Neogale vison) continues to expand its European range: time to harmonize population monitoring and coordinate control. Mammal Review, 53(3), 158-176. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12315
• Remote monitoring of short-term body mass variation in savanna ungulates
  
  Fuentes-Allende, N., Stephens, P., MacTavish, L., MacTavish, D., & Willis, S. (2023). Remote monitoring of short-term body mass variation in savanna ungulates. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 9(5), 707-723. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.338
• Removing Human Bottlenecks in Bird Classification Using Camera Trap Images and Deep Learning
  
  Chalmers, C., Fergus, P., Wich, S., Longmore, S., Walsh, N., Stephens, P., Sutherland, C., Matthews, N., Mudde, J., & Nuseibeh, A. (2023). Removing Human Bottlenecks in Bird Classification Using Camera Trap Images and Deep Learning. Remote Sensing, 15(10), Article 2638. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15102638
• Factors affecting bait uptake by the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and the future delivery of oral contraceptives
  
  Beatham, S., Coats, J., Stephens, P., & Massei, G. (2023). Factors affecting bait uptake by the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and the future delivery of oral contraceptives. Wildlife Research, 51. https://doi.org/10.1071/wr22159
• Estimating mesocarnivore abundance on commercial farmland using distance sampling with camera traps
  
  McKaughan, J., Stephens, P., & Hill, R. (2023). Estimating mesocarnivore abundance on commercial farmland using distance sampling with camera traps. Ecological Solutions and Evidence., 4(2), Article e12229. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12229
• Camera trapping with photos and videos: implications for ecology and citizen science
  
  Green, S. E., Stephens, P. A., Whittingham, M. J., & Hill, R. A. (2023). Camera trapping with photos and videos: implications for ecology and citizen science. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 9(2), 268-283. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.309
• Multi-lingual literature searches are needed to unveil global knowledge
  
  Zenni, R., Barlow, J., Pettorelli, N., Stephens, P., Rader, R., Siqueira, T., Gordon, R., Pinfield, T., & Nuñez, M. (2023). Multi-lingual literature searches are needed to unveil global knowledge. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60(3), 380-383. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14370
• Model Selection in Occupancy Models: Inference versus Prediction
  
  Stewart, P. S., Stephens, P. A., Hill, R. A., Whittingham, M. J., & Dawson, W. (2023). Model Selection in Occupancy Models: Inference versus Prediction. Ecology, 104(3), Article e3942. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3942
• Drivers of the changing abundance of European birds at two spatial scales
  
  Gregory, R., Eaton, M. A., Burfield, I., Grice, P. V., Howard, C., Klvaňová A., Stephens, P., Willis, S., Woodward, I. D., & Burns, F. (2023). Drivers of the changing abundance of European birds at two spatial scales. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 378(1881), Article 20220198. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2022.0198
• Explaining and predicting animal migration under global change
  
  Howard, C., Mason, T. H. E., Baillie, S. R., Border, J., Hewson, C. M., Houston, A. I., Pearce‐Higgins, J. W., Bauer, S., Willis, S. G., & Stephens, P. A. (2023). Explaining and predicting animal migration under global change. Diversity and Distributions, 30(2), Article e13797. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13797
• A camera trap method for estimating target densities of grey squirrels to inform wildlife management applications
  
  Beatham, S., Stephens, P., Coats, J., Phillips, J., & Massei, G. (2023). A camera trap method for estimating target densities of grey squirrels to inform wildlife management applications. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, Article 1096321. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1096321
• Large-scale mammal monitoring: the potential of a citizen science camera-trapping project in the United Kingdom
  
  Hsing, P.-Y., Hill, R., Smith, G., Bradley, S., Green, S., Kent, V., Mason, S., Rees, J., Whittingham, M., Cokill, J., scientists, M. citizen, & Stephens, P. (2022). Large-scale mammal monitoring: the potential of a citizen science camera-trapping project in the United Kingdom. Ecological Solutions and Evidence., 3(4), Article e12180. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12180
• Camera trap distance sampling for terrestrial mammal population monitoring: lessons learnt from a UK case study
  
  Mason, S., Hill, R., Whittingham, M., Cokill, J., Smith, G., & Stephens, P. (2022). Camera trap distance sampling for terrestrial mammal population monitoring: lessons learnt from a UK case study. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 8(5), 717-730. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.272
• Red deer behavioural response to hiking activity: a study using camera traps
  
  Marion, S., Demšar, U., Davies, A., Stephens, P., Irvine, R., & Long, J. (2022). Red deer behavioural response to hiking activity: a study using camera traps. Journal of Zoology, 317(4), 249-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12976
• Spatial and temporal variation in interspecific interaction: impact of a recreational landscape
  
  Marion, S., Demšar, U., Davies, A., Stephens, P., Irvine, R., & Long, J. (2022). Spatial and temporal variation in interspecific interaction: impact of a recreational landscape. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 68(3), Article 36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-022-01584-9
• The Importance of Direct and Indirect Trophic Interactions in Determining the Presence of a Locally Rare Day-Flying Moth
  
  O’Neill, H., Twiss, S., Stephens, P., Mason, T., Ryrholm, N., & Burman, J. (2022). The Importance of Direct and Indirect Trophic Interactions in Determining the Presence of a Locally Rare Day-Flying Moth. Oecologia, 198(2), 531-542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-021-05100-9
• Where nothing stands still: quantifying nomadism in Australian arid-zone birds
  
  Gibson, M. R., Runge, C. A., Stephens, P. A., Fuller, R. A., & Willis, S. G. (2022). Where nothing stands still: quantifying nomadism in Australian arid-zone birds. Landscape Ecology, 37(1), 191-208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-021-01343-2
• Using indices of species’ potential range to inform conservation status
  
  Mason, T. H., Stephens, P. A., Gilbert, G., Green, R. E., Wilson, J. D., Jennings, K., Allen, J. R., Huntley, B., Howard, C., & Willis, S. G. (2021). Using indices of species’ potential range to inform conservation status. Ecological Indicators, 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107343
• Behaviour, temperature and terrain slope impact estimates of energy expenditure using oxygen and dynamic body acceleration
  
  Dickinson, E., Stephens, P., Marks, N., Wilson, R., & Scantlebury, D. (2021). Behaviour, temperature and terrain slope impact estimates of energy expenditure using oxygen and dynamic body acceleration. Animal Biotelemetry, 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-021-00269-5
• The Verification of Ecological Citizen Science Data: Current Approaches and Future Possibilities
  
  Baker, E., Drury, J., Judge, J., Roy, D., Smith, G., & Stephens, P. (2021). The Verification of Ecological Citizen Science Data: Current Approaches and Future Possibilities. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 6(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.5334/cstp.351
• Limitations of using surrogates for behaviour classification of accelerometer data: refining methods using random forest models in Caprids
  
  Dickinson, E., Twining, J., Wilson, R., Stephens, P., Westander, J., Marks, N., & Scantlebury, D. (2021). Limitations of using surrogates for behaviour classification of accelerometer data: refining methods using random forest models in Caprids. Movement Ecology, 9, Article 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-021-00265-7
• A PIT-tag based method for measuring individual bait uptake in small mammals
  
  Beatham, S., Goodwin, D., Coats, J., Stephens, P., & Massei, G. (2021). A PIT-tag based method for measuring individual bait uptake in small mammals. Ecological Solutions and Evidence., 2(2), Article e12081. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12081
• Contrasting Effects of Climate Change on Alpine chamois
  
  Chirichella, R., Stephens, P., Mason, T., & Apollonio, M. (2021). Contrasting Effects of Climate Change on Alpine chamois. Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(1), 109-120. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21962
• Impacts of invasive plants on animal behaviour
  
  Stewart, P., Hill, R., Stephens, P., Whittingham, M., & Dawson, W. (2021). Impacts of invasive plants on animal behaviour. Ecology Letters, 24, 891-907. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13687
• Red deer exhibit spatial and temporal responses to hiking activity
  
  Marion, S., Demšar, U., Davies, A., Stephens, P., Irvine, R., & Long, J. (2021). Red deer exhibit spatial and temporal responses to hiking activity. Wildlife Biology, 2021(3). https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00853
• How international journals can support ecology from the Global South
  
  Pettorelli, N., Barlow, J., Nuñez, M. A., Rader, R., Stephens, P. A., Pinfield, T., & Newton, E. (2021). How international journals can support ecology from the Global South. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13815
• Disentangling the relative roles of climate and land cover change in driving the long-term population trends of European migratory birds
  
  Howard, C., Stephens, P., Pearce-Higgins, J., Gregory, R., Butchart, S., & Willis, S. (2020). Disentangling the relative roles of climate and land cover change in driving the long-term population trends of European migratory birds. Diversity and Distributions, 26(11), 1442-1455. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13144
• Automated detection and classification of birdsong: An ensemble approach
  
  Brooker, S. A., Stephens, P. A., Whittingham, M. J., & Willis, S. G. (2020). Automated detection and classification of birdsong: An ensemble approach. Ecological Indicators, 117, Article 106609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106609
• Only the largest terrestrial Carnivores increase their dietary breadth with increasing prey richness
  
  Ferretti, F., Lovari, S., Lucherini, M., Hayward, M., & Stephens, P. (2020). Only the largest terrestrial Carnivores increase their dietary breadth with increasing prey richness. Mammal Review, 50(3), 291-303. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12197
• Burning savanna for avian species richness and functional diversity
  
  Docherty, T., Hethcoat, M., MacTavish, L., MacTavish, D., Dell, S., Stephens, P., & Willis, S. (2020). Burning savanna for avian species richness and functional diversity. Ecological Applications, 30(4), Article e02091. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2091
• A systematic review of methods for studying the impacts of outdoor recreation on terrestrial wildlife
  
  Marion, S., Davies, A., Demšar, U., Irvine, R. J., Stephens, P. A., & Long, J. (2020). A systematic review of methods for studying the impacts of outdoor recreation on terrestrial wildlife. Global Ecology and Conservation, 22, Article e00917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00917
• Citizen scientists: school students conducting, contributing to and communicating ecological research – experiences of a school–university partnership
  
  Hsing, P.-Y., Coghill, L., Ryder, J., Austin, M., Dooley, S., Ellison, A., Fenwick, C., Garland, M., Humphrey, P., Proudlock, H., Robson, A., Steer, C., Turnbull, L., Kent, V., Bradley, S., Hill, R., Ascroft, R., & Stephens, P. (2020). Citizen scientists: school students conducting, contributing to and communicating ecological research – experiences of a school–university partnership. School Science Review, 101(376), 67-74.
• Innovations in Camera Trapping Technology and Approaches: The Integration of Citizen Science and Artificial Intelligence
  
  Green, S., Rees, J., Stephens, P., Hill, R., & Giordano, A. (2020). Innovations in Camera Trapping Technology and Approaches: The Integration of Citizen Science and Artificial Intelligence. Animals, 10(1), Article 132. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010132
• Capital and Income Breeding in Male Ungulates: Causes and Consequences of Strategy Differences Among Species
  
  Apollonio, M., Merli, E., Chirichella, R., Pokorny, B., Alagic, A., Flajsman, K., & Stephens, P. (2020). Capital and Income Breeding in Male Ungulates: Causes and Consequences of Strategy Differences Among Species. Frontiers in Ecology Evolution, 8, Article 521767. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.521767
• A global assessment of the drivers of threatened terrestrial species richness
  
  Howard, C., Flather, C., & Stephens, P. (2020). A global assessment of the drivers of threatened terrestrial species richness. Nature Communications, 11, Article 993. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14771-6
• Best practice for collar deployment of tri-axial accelerometers on a terrestrial quadruped to provide accurate measurement of body acceleration
  
  Dickinson, E., Stephens, P., Marks, N., Wilson, R., & Scantlebury, D. (2020). Best practice for collar deployment of tri-axial accelerometers on a terrestrial quadruped to provide accurate measurement of body acceleration. Animal Biotelemetry, 8, Article 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-020-00198-9
• Population responses of bird populations to climate change on two continents vary with species’ ecological traits but not with direction of change in climate suitability
  
  Mason, L. R., Green, R. E., Howard, C., Stephens, P. A., Willis, S. G., Aunins, A., Brotons, L., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylarecki, P., Escandell, V., Foppen, R. P., Herrando, S., Husby, M., Jiguet, F., Kålås, J. A., Lindström, Åke, Massimino, D., Moshøj, C., Nellis, R., … Gregory, R. D. (2019). Population responses of bird populations to climate change on two continents vary with species’ ecological traits but not with direction of change in climate suitability. Climatic Change, 157(3-4), 337-354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02549-9
• Joint effects of weather and interspecific competition on foraging behaviour and survival of a mountain herbivore
  
  Ferretti, F., Lovari, S., & Stephens, P. (2019). Joint effects of weather and interspecific competition on foraging behaviour and survival of a mountain herbivore. Current Zoology, 65(2), 165-175. https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy032
• What drives at-risk species richness? Environmental factors are more influential than anthropogenic factors or biological traits
  
  Howard, C., Flather, C., & Stephens, P. (2019). What drives at-risk species richness? Environmental factors are more influential than anthropogenic factors or biological traits. Conservation Letters, 12(2), Article e12624. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12624
• Assessing the uneven global distribution of readership, submissions and publications in applied ecology: Obvious problems without obvious solutions
  
  Nuñez, M. A., Barlow, J., Cadotte, M., Lucas, K., Newton, E., Pettorelli, N., & Stephens, P. A. (2019). Assessing the uneven global distribution of readership, submissions and publications in applied ecology: Obvious problems without obvious solutions. Journal of Applied Ecology, 56(1), 4-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13319
• The limits to population density in birds and mammals
  
  Stephens, P., Vieira, M., Willis, S., & Carbone, C. (2019). The limits to population density in birds and mammals. Ecology Letters, 22(4), 654-663. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13227
• Economical crowdsourcing for camera trap image classification
  
  Hsing, P.-Y., Bradley, S., Kent, V., Hill, R., Smith, G., Whittingham, M., Cokill, J., Crawley, D., Volunteers, M., & Stephens, P. (2018). Economical crowdsourcing for camera trap image classification. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 4(4), 361-374. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.84
• Ecology: Luck, Scarcity and the Fate of Populations
  
  Stephens, P. (2018). Ecology: Luck, Scarcity and the Fate of Populations. Current Biology, 28(24), R1384-R1386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.10.059
• Making rewilding fit for policy
  
  Pettorelli, N., Barlow, J., Stephens, P. A., Durant, S. M., Connor, B., Schulte to Bühne, H., Sandom, C. J., Wentworth, J., & du Toit, J. T. (2018). Making rewilding fit for policy. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55(3), 1114-1125. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13082
• Flight range, fuel load, and the impact of climate change on the journeys of migrant birds
  
  Howard, C., Stephens, P., Tobias, J., Sheard, C., Butchart, S., & Willis, S. (2018). Flight range, fuel load, and the impact of climate change on the journeys of migrant birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1873), Article 20172329. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2329
• On the extinction of the single-authored paper: The causes and consequences of increasingly collaborative applied ecological research
  
  Barlow, J., Stephens, P. A., Bode, M., Cadotte, M. W., Lucas, K., Newton, E., Nuñez, M. A., & Pettorelli, N. (2018). On the extinction of the single-authored paper: The causes and consequences of increasingly collaborative applied ecological research. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13040
• The behavioral trade-off between thermoregulation and foraging in a heat-sensitive species
  
  Mason, T. H., Brivio, F., Stephens, P. A., Apollonio, M., & Grignolio, S. (2017). The behavioral trade-off between thermoregulation and foraging in a heat-sensitive species. Behavioral Ecology, 28(3), 908-918. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arx057
• Global patterns in the divergence between phylogenetic diversity and species richness in terrestrial birds
  
  Voskamp, A., Baker, D., Stephens, P., Valdes, P., & Willis, S. (2017). Global patterns in the divergence between phylogenetic diversity and species richness in terrestrial birds. Journal of Biogeography, 44(4), 709-721. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12916
• Solving environmental problems in the Anthropocene: the need to bring novel theoretical advances into the applied ecology fold
  
  Cadotte, M., Barlow, J., Nunez, M., Pettorelli, N., & Stephens, P. (2017). Solving environmental problems in the Anthropocene: the need to bring novel theoretical advances into the applied ecology fold. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12855
• Assessing the performance of EU nature legislation in protecting target bird species in an era of climate change
  
  Sanderson, F., Pople, R., Leronymidou, C., Burfield, I., Gregory, R., Willis, S., Howard, C., Stephens, P., Beresford, A., & Donald, P. (2016). Assessing the performance of EU nature legislation in protecting target bird species in an era of climate change. Conservation Letters, 9(3), 172-180. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12196
• Consistent response of bird populations to climate change on two continents
  
  Stephens, P., Mason, L., Green, R., Gregory, R., Sauer, J., Alison, J., Aunins, A., Brotons, L., Butchart, S., Campedelli, T., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylarecki, P., Crowe, O., Elts, J., Escandell, V., Foppen, R., Heldbjerg, H., Herrando, S., Husby, M., … Willis, S. (2016). Consistent response of bird populations to climate change on two continents. Science, 352(6281), 84-87. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac4858
• Beyond climate envelope projections: Roe deer survival and environmental change
  
  Davis, M., Stephens, P., & Kjellander, P. (2016). Beyond climate envelope projections: Roe deer survival and environmental change. Journal of Wildlife Management, 80(3), 452-464. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.1029
• Achieving and communicating globally relevant applied ecological research
  
  Barlow, J., Cadotte, M., Newton, E., Pettorelli, N., Plane, A., Stephens, P., & Whittingham, M. (2016). Achieving and communicating globally relevant applied ecological research. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12587
• Land sparing, land sharing, and the fate of Africa's lions
  
  Stephens, P. (2015). Land sparing, land sharing, and the fate of Africa’s lions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(48), 14753-14754. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1520709112
• The drivers of avian abundance: patterns in the relative importance of climate and land use
  
  Howard, C., Stephens, P., Pearce-Higgins, J., Gregory, R., & Willis, S. (2015). The drivers of avian abundance: patterns in the relative importance of climate and land use. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 24(11), 1249-1260. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12377
• Nationwide trophic cascades: changes in avian community structure driven by ungulates
  
  Palmer, G., Stephens, P., Ward, A., & Willis, S. (2015). Nationwide trophic cascades: changes in avian community structure driven by ungulates. Scientific Reports, 5, Article 15601. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep15601
• Management by proxy? The use of indices in applied ecology
  
  Stephens, P., Pettorelli, N., Barlow, J., Whittingham, M., & Cadotte, M. (2015). Management by proxy? The use of indices in applied ecology. Journal of Applied Ecology, 52(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12383
• Predicting potential responses to future climate in an alpine ungulate: interspecific interactions exceed climate effects
  
  Mason, T., Stephens, P., Apollonio, M., & Willis, S. (2014). Predicting potential responses to future climate in an alpine ungulate: interspecific interactions exceed climate effects. Global Change Biology, 20(12), 3872-3882. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12641
• Demonstrating frequency-dependent transmission of sarcoptic mange in red foxes
  
  Devenish-Nelson, E., Richards, S., Harris, S., Soulsbury, C., & Stephens, P. (2014). Demonstrating frequency-dependent transmission of sarcoptic mange in red foxes. Biology Letters, 10(10), Article 20140524. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0524
• Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal
  
  Mason, T., Apollonio, M., Chirichella, R., Willis, S., & Stephens, P. (2014). Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal. Frontiers in Zoology, 11, Article 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-014-0069-6
• Improving species distribution models: the value of data on abundance
  
  Howard, C., Stephens, P. A., Pearce-Higgins, J. W., Gregory, R. D., & Willis, S. G. (2014). Improving species distribution models: the value of data on abundance. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 5(6), 506-513. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.12184
• Capital and income breeding: the role of food supply
  
  Stephens, P., Houston, A., Harding, K., Boyd, I., & McNamara, J. (2014). Capital and income breeding: the role of food supply. Ecology, 95(4), 882-896. https://doi.org/10.1890/13-1434.1
• Exapting exaptation
  
  Larson, G., Stephens, P., Tehrani, J., & Layton, R. (2013). Exapting exaptation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 28(9), 497-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2013.05.018
• Demography of a carnivore, the red fox, Vulpes vulpes,: what have we learnt from 70 years of published studies?
  
  Devenish-Nelson, E., Harris, S., Soulsbury, C., Richards, S., & Stephens, P. (2013). Demography of a carnivore, the red fox, Vulpes vulpes,: what have we learnt from 70 years of published studies?. Oikos, 122(5), 705-716. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20706.x
• Does litter size variation affect models of terrestrial carnivore extinction risk and management?
  
  Devenish-Nelson, E., Stephens, P., Harris, S., Soulsbury, C., & Richards, S. (2013). Does litter size variation affect models of terrestrial carnivore extinction risk and management?. PLoS ONE, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0058060
• Prey Selection by an Apex Predator: The Importance of Sampling Uncertainty
  
  Davis, M., Stephens, P., Willis, S., Bassi, E., Marcon, A., Donaggio, E., Capitani, C., & Apollonio, M. (2012). Prey Selection by an Apex Predator: The Importance of Sampling Uncertainty. PLoS ONE, 7(10), Article e47894. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047894
• Intraseasonal variation in reproductive effort: young males finish last
  
  Mason, T., Stephens, P., Willis, S., Chirichella, R., Apollonio, M., & Richards, S. (2012). Intraseasonal variation in reproductive effort: young males finish last. American Naturalist, 180(6), 823-830. https://doi.org/10.1086/668082
• A general target for MVPs: unsupported and unnecessary
  
  Flather, C. H., Hayward, G. D., Beissinger, S. R., & Stephens, P. A. (2011). A general target for MVPs: unsupported and unnecessary. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 26(12), 620-622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2011.09.014
• The bigger they come, the harder they fall: body size and prey abundance influence predator-prey ratios
  
  Carbone, C., Pettorelli, N., & Stephens, P. (2011). The bigger they come, the harder they fall: body size and prey abundance influence predator-prey ratios. Biology Letters, 7(2), 312-315. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2010.0996
• Honest Signaling and the Uses of Prey Coloration
  
  Lee, T., Speed, M., & Stephens, P. (2011). Honest Signaling and the Uses of Prey Coloration. American Naturalist, 178(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1086/660197
• Genetic panmixia and demographic dependence across the North Atlantic in the deep-sea fish, blue hake (Antimora rostrata).
  
  White, T., Fotherby, H., Stephens, P., & Hoelzel, A. (2011). Genetic panmixia and demographic dependence across the North Atlantic in the deep-sea fish, blue hake (Antimora rostrata). Heredity, 106(4), 690-699. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2010.108
• Model selection and model averaging in behavioural ecology: the utility of the IT-AIC framework
  
  Richards, S., Whittingham, M., & Stephens, P. (2011). Model selection and model averaging in behavioural ecology: the utility of the IT-AIC framework. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65(1), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-010-1035-8
• Contrasting life histories in neighbouring populations of a large mammal
  
  Mason, T., Chirichella, R., Richards, S., Stephens, P., Willis, S., & Apollonio, M. (2011). Contrasting life histories in neighbouring populations of a large mammal. PLoS ONE, 6(11), Article e28002. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028002
• No safety in numbers
  
  Beissinger, S., Flather, C., Hayward, G., & Stephens, P. (2011). No safety in numbers. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 9(9), 486-486.
• Minimum viable populations: is there a 'magic number' for conservation practitioners?
  
  Flather, C., Hayward, G., Beissinger, S., & Stephens, P. (2011). Minimum viable populations: is there a ’magic number’ for conservation practitioners?. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 26(6), 307-316.
• Uncertainty in Population Growth Rates: Determining Confidence Intervals from Point Estimates of Parameters
  
  Devenish-Nelson, E., Harris, S., Soulsbury, C., Richards, S., & Stephens, P. (2010). Uncertainty in Population Growth Rates: Determining Confidence Intervals from Point Estimates of Parameters. PLoS ONE, 5(10), Article e13628. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013628
• Litter size and latitude in a large mammal: the wild boar Sus scrofa
  
  Bywater, K., Apollonio, M., Cappai, N., & Stephens, P. (2010). Litter size and latitude in a large mammal: the wild boar Sus scrofa. Mammal Review, 40(3), 212-220.
• Diversification of honest signals in a predator-prey system
  
  Speed, M., Ruxton, G., Blount, J., & Stephens, P. (2010). Diversification of honest signals in a predator-prey system. Ecology Letters, 13(6), 744-753. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01469.x
• Capital breeding and income breeding: their meaning, measurement, and worth
  
  Stephens, P., Boyd, I., McNamara, J., & Houston, A. (2009). Capital breeding and income breeding: their meaning, measurement, and worth. Ecology, 90(8), 2057-2067. https://doi.org/10.1890/08-1369.1
• Evolution of trust and trustworthiness: social awareness favours personality differences
  
  McNamara, J., Stephens, P., Dall, S., & Houston, A. (2009). Evolution of trust and trustworthiness: social awareness favours personality differences. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1657), 605-613.
• Predictive models of weed population dynamics
  
  Freckleton, R., & Stephens, P. (2009). Predictive models of weed population dynamics. Weed Research, 49(3), 225-232.
• Warning displays may function as honest signals of toxicity
  
  Blount, J., Speed, M., Ruxton, G., & Stephens, P. (2009). Warning displays may function as honest signals of toxicity. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1658), 871-877. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.1407
• The scaling of diving time budgets: Insights from an optimality approach.
  
  Stephens, P., Carbone, C., Boyd, I., McNamara, J., Harding, K., & Houston, A. (2008). The scaling of diving time budgets: Insights from an optimality approach. American Naturalist, 171(3), 305-314. https://doi.org/10.1086/527491
• Modelling the effects of management on population dynamics: some lessons from annual weeds
  
  Freckleton, R., Sutherland, W., Watkinson, A., & Stephens, P. (2008). Modelling the effects of management on population dynamics: some lessons from annual weeds. Journal of Applied Ecology, 45(4), 1050-1058.
• Optimal annual routines: New tools for conservation biology?
  
  Fero, O., Stephens, P., Barta, Z., McNamara, J., & Houston, A. (2008). Optimal annual routines: New tools for conservation biology?. Ecological Applications, 18(6), 1563-1577.
• A call for statistical pluralism answered
  
  Stephens, P., Buskirk, S., Hayward, G., & Del Rio, C. (2007). A call for statistical pluralism answered. Journal of Applied Ecology, 44(2), 461-463.
• Null-hypothesis significance tests in education and inference - Response
  
  del Rio, C., Buskirk, S., & Stephens, P. (2007). Null-hypothesis significance tests in education and inference - Response. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 22(9), 446-446.
• Capital or income breeding? A theoretical model of female reproductive strategies
  
  Houston, A., Stephens, P., Boyd, I., Harding, K., & McNamara, J. (2007). Capital or income breeding? A theoretical model of female reproductive strategies. Behavioral Ecology, 18(1), 241-250.
• Inference in ecology and evolution
  
  Stephens, P., Buskirk, S., & del Rio, C. (2007). Inference in ecology and evolution. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 22(4), 192-197.
• Why do we still use stepwise modelling in ecology and behaviour?
  
  Whittingham, M., Stephens, P., Bradbury, R., & Freckleton, R. (2006). Why do we still use stepwise modelling in ecology and behaviour?. Journal of Animal Ecology, 75(5), 1182-1189.
• Estimating population density from indirect sign: track counts and the Formozov-Malyshev-Pereleshin formula
  
  Stephens, P., Zaumyslova, O., Miquelle, D., Myslenkov, A., & Hayward, G. (2006). Estimating population density from indirect sign: track counts and the Formozov-Malyshev-Pereleshin formula. Animal Conservation, 9(3), 339-348.
• Dispersal, eviction, and conflict in meerkats (Suricata suricatta): An evolutionarily stable strategy model
  
  Stephens, P., Russell, A., Young, A., Sutherland, W., & Clutton-Brock, T. (2005). Dispersal, eviction, and conflict in meerkats (Suricata suricatta): An evolutionarily stable strategy model. American Naturalist, 165(1), 120-135.
• Dispersal, eviction, and conflict in meerkats (Suricata suricatta): An evolutionarily stable strategy model
  
  Stephens, P., Russell, A., Young, A., Sutherland, W., & Clutton-Brock, T. (2005). Dispersal, eviction, and conflict in meerkats (Suricata suricatta): An evolutionarily stable strategy model. American Naturalist, 165(1), 120-135. https://doi.org/10.1086/426597
• Information theory and hypothesis testing: a call for pluralism
  
  Stephens, P., Buskirk, S., Hayward, G., & Del Rio, C. (2005). Information theory and hypothesis testing: a call for pluralism. Journal of Applied Ecology, 42(1), 4-12.
• Amelioration of biodiversity impacts of genetically modified crops: predicting transient versus long-term effects
  
  Freckleton, R., Stephens, P., Sutherland, W., & Watkinson, A. (2004). Amelioration of biodiversity impacts of genetically modified crops: predicting transient versus long-term effects. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences., 271(1536), 325-331.
• Modelling the effects of genetically modified crops on farmland food webs
  
  Freckleton, R., Stephens, P., Sutherland, W., & Watkinson, A. (2004). Modelling the effects of genetically modified crops on farmland food webs. Aspects of Applied Biology, 74, 183-190.
• Agriculture, transport policy and landscape heterogeneity
  
  Stephens, P., Pretty, J., & Sutherland, W. (2003). Agriculture, transport policy and landscape heterogeneity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 18(11), 555-556.
• Predicting the response of farmland bird populations to changing food supplies
  
  Stephens, P., Freckleton, R., Watkinson, A., & Sutherland, W. (2003). Predicting the response of farmland bird populations to changing food supplies. Journal of Applied Ecology, 40(6), 970-983.
• Model complexity and population predictions. The alpine marmot as a case study
  
  Stephens, P., Frey-Roos, F., Arnold, W., & Sutherland, W. (2002). Model complexity and population predictions. The alpine marmot as a case study. Journal of Animal Ecology, 71(2), 343-361.
• Sustainable exploitation of social species: a test and comparison of models
  
  Stephens, P., Frey-Roos, F., Arnold, W., & Sutherland, W. (2002). Sustainable exploitation of social species: a test and comparison of models. Journal of Applied Ecology, 39(4), 629-642. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00740.x
• Impact of livestock and settlement on the large mammalian wildlife of Bale Mountains National Park, southern Ethiopia
  
  Stephens, P., d’Sa, C., Sillero-Zubiri, C., & Leader-Williams, N. (2001). Impact of livestock and settlement on the large mammalian wildlife of Bale Mountains National Park, southern Ethiopia. Biological Conservation, 100(3), 307-322.
• Consequences of the Allee effect for behaviour, ecology and conservation
  
  Stephens, P., & Sutherland, W. (1999). Consequences of the Allee effect for behaviour, ecology and conservation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 14(10), 401-405.
• What is the Allee effect?
  
  Stephens, P., Sutherland, W., & Freckleton, R. (1999). What is the Allee effect?. Oikos, 87(1), 185-190.