Professor John Dover

Emeritus Professor of Ecology

Health, Science and Wellbeing

My main research interests are in the factors that affect the distribution and abundance of species within agricultural environments, including the effects of landscape elements on dispersal; my main research subjects are Lepidoptera. I have a particular interest in the ecology of hedges, green lanes and hay meadows. Recently my interests have expanded to include the value of green walls in providing wildlife habitat and their potential in air quality improvement. More generally, I am interested in green infrastructure and its multifunctional role in delivering ecosystem services.

Professional memberships and activities

  • Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, 1980-present
  • Member of the British Ecological Society, 1981-present
  • Member of Butterfly Conservation, 1987-present

Academic qualifications

PhD Ecology, University of Southampton
Thesis: The effects of non-host plants on the ecology of Brassica Lepidoptera

BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, Salford University

Expertise

  • Ecology of hedges and green lanes
  • Ecology of butterflies on farmed land
  • Green Infrastructure, especially green walls
  • Consultancy

Publications

Dover, J.W. (ed). (2019)The Ecology of Hedgerows and Field Margins. Routledge, London

Weerakkody, U., Dover, J.W.; Mitchell, P. & Reiling, K. (2018) The impact of rainfall in remobilising particulate matter accumulated on leaves of four evergreen species grown on a green screen and a living wall. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 35:21-31.

Weerakkody, U., Dover, J.W.; Mitchell, P. & Reiling, K. (2018) Quantification of the traffic-generated particulate matter capture by plant species in a living wall and evaluation of the important leaf characteristics. Science of the Total Environment 365:1012-1024

Weerakkody, U., Dover, J.W.; Mitchell, P. & Reiling, K. (2018) Evaluating the impact of individual leaf traits on atmospheric Particulate Matter accumulation using natural and synthetic leaves. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 30:98-107

Dover, J.W. (2018) Introduction to urban sustainability issues: Urban Ecosystem. In K. Perini & G. Pérez (eds) Nature Based Strategies for Urban and Building Sustainability. Elsevier pp.3-15

Weerakkody, U., Dover, J.W.; Mitchell, P. & Reiling, K.(2017) Particulate matter pollution capture by leaves of seventeen living wall species with special reference to rail-traffic at a metropolitan station. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening 27:173-186

Dover, J.W.(2017) Editorial. Special Issue: future 4 butterflies in Europe. Journal of insect Conservation 21:367-368

Dover, J.W. (2015)Green Infrastructure: Incorporating Plants and Enhancing Biodiversity in Buildings and Urban Environments. Earthscan/Routledge, Abingdon 352 pp.

Dennis, Roger, L.H., Dapporto, Leonardo and Dover, John W. (2014) Ten years of the resource-based habitat paradigm: the biotope-habitat issue and implications for conserving butterfly diversity. Journal of Insect Biodiversity, 2:1-32.

Chiquet, C.; Dover, J.W. & Mitchell, P. (2013) Birds and the urban environment: the value of green walls. Urban Ecosystems, 16:453-462.

Dennis, R.L.H., Dapporto, L., Dover, J.W. & Shreeve, T.G. (2013). Corridors and barriers in biodiversity conservation: a novel resource-based habitat perspective for butterflies. Biodiversity & Conservation, 22: 2709-2734.

Dover, J.W. (ed.)(2012)Hedgerow Futures. Hedgelink, 206pp.

Chiquet, C.; Dover, J.W. & Mitchell, P.(2012) Are hedgerows and green walls analogues? In: Dover, J.W. (ed.)(2012) Hedgerow Futures. Hedgelink, 206pp.

Rescia, A.J., Pérez-Corona, M.E., Arribas-Ureña, P. & Dover, J.W. (2012) Cultural landscapes as complex adaptive systems: The cases of Northern Spain and Northern Argentina. In: Plieninger, T. & Bieling, C. (eds.) Resilience and the Cultural Landscape: Understanding and managing change in human-shaped environments. CUP, Cambridge.

Dover, J.W.; Spencer, S.; Collins, S.; Hadjigeorgiou I. & Rescia, A. (2011) Grassland butterflies and low-intensity farming in Europe. Journal of Insect Conservation 15: 129-137.

Dover, J.W.; Rescia, A.; Fungariño, S.; Fairburn, J.; Carey, P.; Lunt, P.; Arnot, C.; Dennis, R.L.H. & Dover, C.J. (2011) Land-use, environment, and their impact on butterfly populations in a mountainous pastoral landscape: Species richness and Family-level abundance. Journalof Insect Conservation 15: 523-528.

Dover, J.W.; Warren, M.S. & Shreeve, T. (eds.) (2011)Lepidoptera Conservation in a Changing World. Springer, Dordrecht pp.384.

Dover, J.W.; Rescia, A.; Fungariño, S.; Fairburn, J.; Carey, P.; Lunt, P.; Arnot, C.; Dennis, R.L.H. & Dover, C.J. (2011) Land-use, environment, and their impact on butterfly populations in a mountainous pastoral landscape: individual species distribution and abundance. Journal of Insect Conservation 15: 207-220.

Dover, J.W.; Rescia, A.; Fungariño, S.; Fairburn, J.; Carey, P.; Lunt, P.; Dennis, R.L.H. & Dover, C.J. (2010) Can hay harvesting detrimentally affect adult butterfly abundance? Journal of Insect Conservation 14, 413-418.

Settele, J.; Dover, J.; Konvicka, M & Dolek, M. (2009) Butterflies of European ecosystems: impact of land use and options for conservation management. In: Josef Settele, Tim Shreeve, Martin Konvicka and Hans van Dyck (eds.) The Ecology of Butterflies in Europe, CUP, Cambridge, pp.353-370

Dover, J.W.; Dennis, R.H.L. & Atkins, L. (2009) The western jewel butterfly (Hypochrysops halyaetus) II: factors affecting oviposition within native Banksia bushland in an urban setting. Journal of Insect Conservation 13, 487-503

Dover, J. & Settele, J. (2009) A review of landscape influences on butterflies. Journal of Insect Conservation 13, 3-27.

Gardiner, T. and Dover, J. (2008) Thermal resources are important for Orthoptera in open landscapes? Journal of Insect Conservation 12, 705-709

Rescia, A.; Pons, A.; Lomba, I.; Estevan, C. & Dover, J. W. (2008) Reformulating the social-ecological system in a cultural rural mountain landscape in Picos de Europa region (northern Spain). Landscape and Urban Planning 88, 23-33

Dover, J.; Carey, P.; Lunt, P.; Rescia, A.; Fairburn, J.; Fungariño, S.; Lang, A.; Arnot, C; Pons, A.; Esteban, C. & Lomba, I. (2007) Butterflies and orchid distribution in the Deva Valley, Picos de Europa, Spain. In: J.J. Hopkins; A.J. Duncan; D.I. McCracken; S. Peel & J.R.B. Tallowin (eds), High Value Grassland: providing biodiversity, a clean environment and premium products. British Grassland Society/British Ecological Society, pp.209-212

Walker, M.J.; Dover, J.W.; Hinsley, S.A. & Sparks, T.H. (2006) Hedges and green lanes: vegetation. Biodiversity and Conservation 15: 2595-261

Smith, P.J.; Dover, J.W.; Lunt, P.H. & Mitchell, P. (2006) An improved standardised method for sampling and processing the invertebrate fauna of grass tussocks. Entomologist’s Gazette 57: 153-164

Dover, J.W. (2005) Landscape influences on butterflies. In: E. Kühn, R. Feldmann, J. Thomas & J. Settele (eds.) Studies on the Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies in Europe Vol 1: General Concepts and Case Studies, Pensoft, Sofia-Moscow pp. 9-10

Walker, M.J.; Dover, J.W.; Hinsley, S.A. & Sparks, T.H. (2005) Birds and Green Lanes: Breeding season bird abundance, territories and species richness. Biological Conservation 126: 540-547

Dover, J.W. & Rowlingson, B. (2005) The western jewel butterfly (Hypochrysops halyaetus): factors affecting adult butterfly distribution within native Banksia bushland in an urban setting. Biological Conservation 122: 599-609

Ouin, A., Aviron, S., Dover, J. & Burel, F. (2004) Complementation/ supplementation of resources for butterflies in agricultural landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 103: 473-479

Schneider, C., Dover, J.W. & Fry, G.L.A. (2003) Movement patterns of two grassland butterflies (Maniola jurtina L. and Lycaena virgaureae L.) in the same habitat network. Ecological Entomology 28:219-227

Dover, J.W. & Fry, G.L.A. (2001) Experimental simulation of some visual and physical components of a hedge and the effects on butterfly behaviour in an agricultural landscape. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 100: 221-233

Dover, J.W. & Sparks, T.H. (2001) Green lanes: biodiversity reservoirs in farmland? In: Barr, C. & Petit, S., Hedgerows of the World: their ecological functions in different landscapes. IALE(UK), Lymm, 241-250

Dover, J.W. (2000) Green corridors: environmental, human and wildlife values. Landscape Research 25:333-344

Dover, J. & Sparks, T. (2000) A review of the ecology of butterflies in British hedgerows. Journal of Environmental Management 60: 51-63

Dover, J.W.; Sparks, T.H.; Clarke, S.; Gobbett, K. & Glossop, S. (2000) Linear features and butterflies: the importance of green lanes. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 80: 227-242

Dover, J.W. & Bunce, R. (eds.) (1998).Key Concepts in Landscape Ecology. IALE(UK), Preston pp.456

Dover, J.W. (ed.) (1994)Fragmentation in Agricultural Landscapes. IALE(UK), Preston pp.202

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021