Anne Elizabeth Magurran (born 1955) is a British Professor of ecology at

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. She is the author of several books on measuring

biological diversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') lev ...

, and the importance for quantifying biodiversity for conservation. She has won numerous awards and honors, is regularly consulted for global assessments and analyses of biodiversity and conservation and her research is often highlighted by journalists. Magurran has worked with Robert May and other leading biologists, including

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, whom she advised. Her research projects often focus are on tropical freshwater fish communities - specifically the Trinidadian guppy- in the Neotropics and India.

Research and career

Magurran completed her PhD at the University of Ulster on the biological diversity of native woodlands in Ireland. She then went on to complete postdoctoral work at

Bangor University , former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007) , image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg , image_size = 250px , caption = Arms ...

and the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

. Throughout her career she has used fish communities to study biodiversity, the evolution of

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

, and on the role of predation in the evolution of social behaviour. She is now a professor at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

, where she is the university's most cited female scientist. Globally, she is the second most cited female ecologist and evolutionary biologist. She is an international counselor and advisor on issues of conservation related to biodiversity and engaged in the UN

Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its ...

and in the

World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. The foundation, ...

in 2018. Magurran was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(CBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to biodiversity.

Selected awards and honours

* 2022 - Distinguished Service Award from the Europe Section of the

Society for Conservation Biology The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is an 501(c)(3) non-profit international professional organization that is dedicated to conserving biodiversity. There are over 4,000 members worldwide, including students and those in related non-academ ...

(SCB) * 2022 - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

) * 2021 - Member of the

Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ga, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier List of Irish learned societies, learned socie ...

. * 2017 - Plenary Talk, Argentinian International Ecology Meeting * 2014 - Honorary Doctor of Science Degree,

University of Bergen The University of Bergen ( no, Universitetet i Bergen, ) is a research-intensive state university located in Bergen, Norway. As of 2019, the university has over 4,000 employees and 18,000 students. It was established by an act of parliament in 194 ...

* 2012 -

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

Wolfson Research Merit Award * 2006 - Honorary Life Membership,

Fisheries Society of the British Isles The Fisheries Society of the British Isles is an international, non-political, learned society, based in the United Kingdom, that supports scientific activity in fish biology and management through charitable sponsorship. Membership is open to anyo ...

* 2004 - Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

* 1994 - Scientific Medal, Zoological Society of London *

Selected publications

* * Magurran, A. E. 2004. ''Measuring biological diversity''. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. * * Magurran, A. E. & R. M. May (eds.). 1999. ''Evolution of Biological Diversity''. Oxford University Press. .

External links

*
Google Scholar

References

British biologists British women scientists 1955 births Living people Academics of the University of St Andrews Alumni of Ulster University Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Members of the Royal Irish Academy Commanders of the Order of the British Empire {{UK-biologist-stub