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Dr Tom Martin

Head of Research
Tom is a conservation scientist and zoologist with a broad range of research interests, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications and more than 20 years of biodiversity survey experience. He joined his first Operation Wallacea expedition in 2005, when he completed his undergraduate dissertation examining the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on the bird communities found on Buton Island. This in turn led to his PhD, which followed similar themes, and also took him to Opwall’s Honduras research site in Cusuco National Park. After a few years working in the steppes of Central Asia and on an ex-situ conservation research project in Canada, Tom returned to Opwall as part of a KTP Partnership with Hull University to administer the REDD+ application for the forests of Buton Island. After this Tom spend a further two years working in the Middle East and Central Asia, and returned to a full-time position in the UK office as a terrestrial research manager between 2018 and 2020. After another spell working on zoo conservation work with the University of Cambridge and Paignton zoo, and an 18 month stint as a conservation science lecturer and degree director at Bangor University, Tom returned to the Opwall office in 2024 to take up his current position of head of research.
Publications
Haelewaters, D., Quandt, C.A., Bartrop, L., Cazabonne, J., Crockatt, M.A., Cunha, S.V.P., De Lange, R., Dominici, L., Douglas, B., Drechsler-Santos, E.R., Halme, P., Heilmann-Clausen, J., Irga, P.J., Jakob, S., Lofgren, L., Martin, T.E., Muchane, N.M., Stallman, J.K., Verbeken, A., Walker, A.K., Gonçalves, S.C. 2024. The power of citizen science to advance fungal conservation. Accepted for publication in Conservation Letters 27/02/24. In press.
Haelewaters, D., Matthews, T.J., Wayman, J.P., Cazabonne, J., Heyman, F., Quandt, C.A. & Martin, T.E. 2024. Biological knowledge shortfalls impede conservation efforts in poorly studied taxa – a case study of Laboulbeniomycetes. Journal of Biogeography 51: 29-39.
Matthews, T.J., Wayman, J.P., Whittaker, R.J., Cardoso, P., Hume, J.P., Sayol, F., Proios, K., Martin, T.E., Baiser, B., Borges, P.A.V., Kubota., Y., dos Anjos, L., Tobias, J.A., Soares, F.C., Si, X., Ding, P., Mendenhall, C.D., Sin, Y.C.K., Rheindt, F.E., Triantis, K.A., Rigal, F. 2023. A global analysis of avian diversity–area relationships on different island systems. Ecology Letters 26: 965-982.
Martin, T.E., Bennet, G., Fairbairn, A. & Mooers, A.O. 2023. Towards a standardized framework for managing lost species. Animal Conservation 26: 29-30.
Martin, T.E., Bennet, G., Fairbairn, A. & Mooers, A.O. 2023. ‘Lost’ taxa and their conservation implications. Animal Conservation 26: 14-24.
Matthews, T.J., Wayman, J.P., Cardoso, P., Sayol, F., Hume, J.P., Ulrich, W., Tobias J.A, Soares, F.C., Thébaud, C., Martin, T.E., Trianti, K.A. 2022. Threatened and extinct island endemic birds: distribution, threats and functional diversity. Journal of Biogeography 49: 1920-1940.
O’Connell, D.P., Kelly, D.J., Akbar, P.G., Monkhouse, J., Kelly, S.B.A, Simcox, W., Wijayanti, A.,Courtney Jones, S.K., Analuddin, K., Karya, A., Keogh, N.T., Mulyani, Y., Nightingale, J., Marples, N.M. & Martin, T.E. 2022. Breeding records from the islands of South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia. Breeding records South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 142: 278-301.
Fairbairn, A., Thornhill, I., Martin, T.E., Hayward, R., Ive, R., Hammond, J., Newman, S., Pollard, P. & Palmer, C. 2022. The short-term impacts of Hurricane Maria on the forest birds of Dominica, West Indies. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 35: 70-82.
Mitchell, S.L., Edwards, D.P., Martin, R.W., Deere, N.J., Voigt M., Kastanya, A., Karya, A., Akbar, P.G., Jordan, K., Martin, T.E., Supriatna, J., Winarni N, Davies, Z.G. & Struebig, M.J. 2022. Severity of deforestation mediates biotic homogenisation in an island archipelago. Ecography 7: e05990.
Wayman, J.P., Sadler, J.P, Pugh, T.A.M., Martin, T.E., Tobias, J.A. & Matthews, T.J. 2022. Assemblage functional and taxonomic temporal change in the British breeding avifauna. Global Ecology and Biogeography 31: 925-939.
Cazabonne, J., Bartrop, L., Dierickx, G., Gafforov, Y., Hofmann, T.A., Martin, T.E., Piepenbring, M., Rivas-Ferreiro, M. & Haelewaters, D. 2022. Molecular-based diversity studies and field surveys are not mutually exclusive: On the importance of integrated methodologies in mycological research. Frontiers in Fungal Biology 3: 860777
Hughes, M., Thomas, O., Suvorova, A., Saunders, T.J., Krajnović, M., Jelic, D., Martin, T.E. & Haelewaters, D. 2021. The skynet, a new method to capture bats over water bodies. Journal of Bat Research and Conservation 14: 215-221.
Haelewaters, D., Schoutteten, N., Martin, T.E., Verbeken, A. & Aime, M.C. 2021. Pioneering a fungal inventory at Cusuco National Park, Honduras. Journal of Mesoamerican Biology 1: 111-131.
Medina-Van Berkum, P., Haelewaters, D., Thompson, J.R.E., Uribe, E., Vulinec, K. & Martin, T.E. 2021. Bat assemblages and their ectoparasites in a Honduran cloud forest: the effect of disturbance and altitude. Journal of Mesoamerican Biology. 1: 51-69.
Martin, T.E., Jones, S.E.I., Creedy, T.J., Hoskins, H.M.J., Mccann, N.P., Batke, S.P., Kelly, D.L., Kolby, J.E., Downing, R., Zelaya, S.M.S., Green, S.E.W., Lonsdale, G., Brown, T., Waters, S., Rodríguez-Vásquez, F., Mccravy, K.W., D’souza, M.L., Crace, D., Nuñez-Mino, J.M., Haelewaters, D., Medina-Van Berkum, P., Phipps, C.D., Barker, R.J., Castañeda, F., Reid, N. & Jocque, M. 2021. A review of the ecological value of Cusuco National Park: an urgent call for conservation action in a highly threatened Mesoamerican cloud forest. Journal of Mesoamerican Biology 1: 6-50.
Donnelly, M., Martin, T.E., Cropper, O., Yusti, E., Arfian, A., Smethurst, R., Fox, C., Pryde, M., Hafirun., Phangurha, J., van der Aar, R.N., Karya, A., Analuddin, K. Samsudin & Courtney Jones, S. 2021. New species records from Buton Island, South-east Sulawesi, including regional range extensions. Journal of Bat Research and Conservation 14: 14-32.
López Gallego, Z., Medina-van Berkum, P. & Martin, T.E. 2021. Opportunistic predation events of bats entangled in mist nets by margay Leopardus wiedii (Schinz, 1821) in northwest Honduras: recommendations to avoid preventable casualties. Journal of Bat Research and Conservation 14: 34-37.
Wayman, J.P., Sadler, J.P., Pugh, T.A.M., Martin, T.E. Tobias, J & Matthews, T.J. 2021. Identifying the drivers of spatial taxonomic and functional beta-diversity of British breeding birds. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9: 620062.
O’Connell, D.P, Martin, T.E., Kelly, D.J., Marples, N.M., Analuddin, K., Karya, A. 2021. Conservation threat for an undescribed songbird species in Indonesia. Oryx 55: 9-11.
Nunes, M.S., Falconer, K., Jelić, D., Martin, T.E., Kučinić, M.& Jocque, M. 2020. The value of eco-volunteer projects for biodiversity conservation: butterfly monitoring in Krka National Park (Croatia) with an updated checklist. Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity 4: 58-67.
Medina Van-Berkum, P.V., Vulinec, K., Crace, D., Lopez-Gallego, Z. & Martin, T.E. 2020. Community composition of bats in Cusuco National Park, a Mesoamerican cloud forest, including new regional and altitudinal records. Neotropical Naturalist 3: 1-23.
Martin, T.E., Gillespie, G., Kusrini, M. & Stroud, J. 2020. Xenochrophis Trianguligerus (Triangle Keelback). Diet and Feeding Behaviour. Herpetological Review 51: 631-632.
O’Connell, D.P., Kelly, D.J., Analuddin, K., Karya, A., Marples, N.M. & Martin, T.E. 2020. Adapt taxonomy to conservation goals. Science 369: 1172.
Ó Marcaigh, F., Andriandraotomalaza, B.R., Rakotomanga, G., Ratianarivo, A.N., Baddams, J., Rasamison, S., Neaves, J., Long, P. & Martin, T.E. 2020. The avifauna of Ankobohobo Wetland, a neglected Important Bird Area in northwest Madagascar. Journal of East African Ornithology 40: 18–28.
O’Connell, D.P.O., Kelly, D.J., Kelly, S.B.A., Analuddin, K., Karya, A., Marples, N.M. & Martin, T.E. 2020. An assessment of the avifauna of the Wakatobi Islands, South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia: species recorded and taxonomic considerations. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68: 574-587.
Lonsdale G, Curlis Jr, J.D., Phipps, C., Brown, T. & Martin, T. 2020. Oedipina tomasi (El Cusuco Worm Salamander). Predation. Herpetological Review 51: 293.
Harrison, B., Martin, T.E. & Mustari, A.H. 2020. The accuracy of volunteer surveyors for obtaining tree measurements in tropical forests. Ambio 49: 98-106.
Palfrey, R.H., Baddams, J., Raveloson, B.A., Rasmison, S., Neaves, J., Long, P. & Martin, T.E. 2019. The avifauna of the forest mosaic habitats of the Mariarano region, Mahajanga II district, north-west Madagascar. Bothalia 49: a2416.
Monkhouse, J, O’Connell, D., Kelly, D.J., Analuddin, K., Karya, A., Marples, N.M. & Martin, T.E. 2019. The avifauna of Menui Island, south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia. Forktail 34: 42-47.
Biega, A., Lamont, M., Mooers, A.O, Bowkett, A.E. & Martin, T.E. 2019. Editor’s choice article: Guiding the prioritization of the most endangered and evolutionary distinct birds for new ex-situ conservation programs. Zoo Biology 38: 305-315.
Martin, T.E., Machado, C., Domashevsky, S. & Godino, A. 2019. Two records of Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis in central Uzbekistan. Vulture News 74: 20-23.
Martin, T.E., Monkhouse J., O’Connell, D., Kangkuso, A., Karya, A., Priston, N.E.C., Palmer, C.A., Harrison, B., Baddams, J., Mustari, A.H., Wheeler, P.M. & Tosh, D.G. 2019. Distribution and status of threatened and endemic marsupials on the offshore islands of southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Australian Mammalogy 41: 76-81.
Raveloson, B.A., Rasmison, S., Palfrey, R.H. & Martin, T.E. 2018. Records of Van Dam’s Vanga Xenopirostris damii in Mariarano forest, north-west Madagascar. Bulletin of the British Ornithology Club 138: 275-277.
Martin, T.E., Gurein, R., Fages, F., Martineau, A. & Hingrat, Y. 2018. A breeding population of Great Bustard and Little Bustard in South Kazakhstan Province. Sandgrouse 40: 138-143.
Martin, T.E., O’Connell, D., Kelly, D.J., Karya, A., Analuddin, K. & Marples, N. 2018. A new record of Dwarf Sparrowhawk Accipiter nanus in south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia: is it only restricted to upland forests? BirdingAsia 29: 103-104.
Palmer, C.A., Durand, S., Lamont, M. & Martin, T.E. First observations of the impacts of Hurricane Maria on the endemic Imperial Amazon. Oryx 52: 409-415.
Martin, T.E., Dubos J., Riviere, T., Loubon, M., Fleureau, J., Martineau, A., Guillemin, M.& Nivet-Mazerolles, V. 2018. Bird records from the arid and semi-arid areas in southern Kazakhstan, 2009–2017. Sandgrouse 40: 53-74.
Martin, T.E., Fleureau, J., Passerault, M. & Godino, A. 2018. Observations of Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria and Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus in south-central Uzbekistan (with records of three additional species from the study area). Sandgrouse 40: 2-4.
Martin, T.E., Monkhouse, J., Halliday, Baddams, J., Mulyani, Y., Kaban, A., Sumanto, L.Y., Keogh, N.T. & Nightingale, J. 2018. Notes on the distribution, status, or natural history of ten species on Buton Island, South-East Sulawesi. BirdingAsia 28: 74-77.
Pfeifer, M., Burt, A., Calders, K., Courtney-Mustaphi, C., Cuni-Sanchez, A., Deere, N.J., Denu, D., de Tanago, J.G., Hayward, R., Lau, A., Macía, M.J., Olivier, P.I., Pellikka, P., Seki, H., Shirima, D., Trevithick, R., Wedeux, B., Wheeler, C., Munishi, P.K.T., Martin, T.E. & Mustari, A.H. 2018. Tropical forest canopies and their relationships with climate and disturbance – results from a global dataset of consistent field-based measurements. Forest Ecosystems 5: 7.
Biega, A. & Martin, T.E. 2018. Do Amphibian conservation breeding programs target species of immediate
and future conservation concern? Oryx 52, 723-729.
Hardwick, J.L., Priston, N.E.P., Tosh, D.G., Martin, T.E., Mustari, A.H. & Abernethy, K.E. 2017. Community perceptions of the crop-raiding Buton macaque (Macaca ochreata brunnescens): an ethnoprimatological study on Buton Island, Sulawesi. International Journal of Primatology 6: 1102-1119.
Patterson, G., Martin, T.E., Adams, N. Cropper, O., Haris, A.M & Tosh, D.G. 2017. Lowland rainforest bat communities of Buton Island, SE Sulawesi, including new regional records. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 65: 373-385.
Martin, T.E., Guillemin, M., Nivet-Mazerolles, V.N.M., Landsmann, C., Dubos, J., Eudeline, R. & Stroud, J. 2017. The herpetofauna of Central Uzbekistan. Reptile and Amphibian Conservation 11: 93-107.
Martin, T.E., Biega, A., Greenberg, D. & Mooers, A. 2017. Asking the right questions about the role of Zoos in Amphibian Conservation. Animal Conservation. 20: 126-127.
Biega, A., Greenberg, D., Mooers, A., Jones, O. & Martin, T.E. 2017. Feature article: Global representation of threatened amphibians ex-situ is bolstered by non-traditional institutions, but gaps remain. Animal Conservation 20: 113-119.
Hayward, R., Martin, T.E., Utteridge, T., Mustari, A.H. & Marshall, A.R. 2017. Are neotropical predictors of forest epiphyte–host relationships consistent in Indonesia? Journal of Tropical Ecology 33: 178-182.
Guillemin, M. & Martin, T.E. 2017. Geographical distributions – Platyceps karelini (Spotted Desert Racer), Kazahstan; South Kazakhstan Region. Herpetological Review 48: 130-131.
Martin, T.E., Nightingale, J., Baddams, J., Monkhouse, J., Kaban, A., Sastranegara, H., Mulyani, Y., Blackburn G.A.B. & Simcox, W. 2017. Variability in the effectiveness of two ornithological survey methods between tropical forest ecosystems. PLoS ONE 12: e0169786.
Martin, T.E., Rodriguez, F., Dickson, I., Jones, S., Van Dort, J., Reyes, E. & Simcox, W. 2016. Notable range and altitudinal records from Cusuco National Park and environs, north-western Honduras. Cotinga 38: 32-39.
Martin, T.E., Kaiser, H., Harrison, B. & O’Shea, M. 2015. Geographical distributions – Cryptoblepharus cf. schlegelianus, Lautem District, Timor Leste. Herpetological Review 46: 568.
Martin, T.E., Kelly, S.B.A., Froese, G., Brodie, J., Mulyani, Y. & Kelly, D.J. 2015. New records from Buton Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia. BirdingASIA 23: 128.
Martin, T.E., Nivet-Mazerolles, V., Landsmann, C., Guillemin, M., Dubos, J., Vallejo, F. & Dombrovski, V. 2014. Bird records from south-central Uzbekistan, 2010–2013. Sandgrouse 36: 34-49.
Martin, T.E., Lurbiecki, H., & Mooers, A. 2014. The economic geography of ex-situ conservation. Animal Conservation 17: 104-105.
Martin, T.E., Lurbiecki, H., Joy, J. & Mooers, A. 2014. Feature article: Mammal and bird species held in zoos are less endemic and less threatened than their close relatives not held in zoos. Animal Conservation 17: 89-96.
Martin, T.E. & Blackburn, G.A. 2014. Conservation value of secondary forest habitats for range-restricted bird species and the influence of ecological and biogeographical factors; a perspective from two widely separated tropical ecosystems. Ecography 37: 250-260.
Martin, T.E., Blackburn, G.A., Kelly, D.J., Heriyadi, D. & Singer, H. 2012. The avifauna of the Lambusango Forest Reserve, Buton Island, South-East Sulawesi (with additional sightings from Southern Buton). Forktail 28: 107-112.
Martin, T.E. & Blackburn, G.A. 2012. Habitat associations of an insular Wallacean avifauna: a multi-scale approach for biodiversity proxies. Ecological Indicators 23: 491-500.
Martin, T.E. & Blackburn, G.A. 2010. Impacts of tropical forest disturbance upon avifauna on a small island with high endemism: implications for conservation. Conservation and Society 8: 127-139.
Martin, T.E., Blackburn, G.A. & Simcox, W. 2010. An assessment of the effectiveness of two methods in describing a neotropical cloud forest bird community. Ornitologia Neotropical 21: 131-147.
Martin, T.E. & Blackburn, G.A. 2009. The effectiveness of a Mesoamerican ‘Paper park’ in conserving cloud forest avifauna. Biodiversity and Conservation 18: 3841-3859.
Martin TE, Blackburn GA, Simcox W (2010) An assessment of the effectiveness of two methods in describing a neotropical cloud forest bird community. Ornitologia Neotropical 21, 131-147.
Martin TE, Blackburn GA (2009) The effectiveness of a Mesoamerican ‘Paper park’ in conserving cloud forest avifauna. Biodiversity and Conservation 18: 3841–3859.
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