Research in the Department of Zoology played a major role in the emergence of modern ecology, especially through the work of figures such as Charles Elton, David Lack, Richard Southwood and Robert May. Current ecological research in the Zoology Department includes field studies, laboratory experiments and theoretical modelling, and involves organisms that range from birds and mammals through insects and plants to bacteria and viruses. It addresses both fundamental questions, as well as important issues in population management and conservation, and the Department hosts two Research Institutes that focus on Biodiversity and Conservation.
