David L. Robert – CV
DAVID L. ROBERTS
www.drdavidroberts.com
Permanent Address: Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK
Email: d.roberts@kew.org Tel. (work): +44 (0)20 8332 5291 Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5798
POSITIONS CURRENTLY HELD
2001-present Senior Scientific Officer, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK; Head of
Orchid Research (Orchidaceae) 2007-present; tenured since 2001
2009-present Honorary Research Fellow, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex
2007-2008
Sarah & Daniel Hrdy Fellowship in Conservation Biology – Dept. of Organismic
& Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, USA (sabbatical 2007-2008)
EDUCATION
1997-2001
1996-1997
1993-1996
Ph.D. ‘Reproductive Biology and Conservation of the Orchids of Mauritius’
Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
M.Phil. ‘Analysis of Genetic Structure in Oak Woodlands of West Wales’
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales
B.Sc. (Hons) Botany 2.1
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales
Research project - ‘Biosystematics of carnivorous plants’
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE (current)
Scientific Advisor to the UK government on the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES) issues relating to the trade in orchids (inc. giving expert
evidence in court)
Editorial Board of Endangered Species Research
Editor of the Orchid Research Newsletter – (www.kew.org/herbarium/orchids/)
Advisor – Malesian Orchid Journal
Orchid Conservation International – Founder development committee member, trustee and
member of the scientific and grants committee
IUCN/SSC Afro-Madagascan Orchid Specialist Group – member
Herbier de la Réunion – associate
Association pour l’Étude Taxonomique de la Flore d’Afrique Tropicale – member
Society for Conservation Biology – member
Botanical Society of America – member
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE (previous)
Deputy Health and Safety Officer – Herbarium, RBG Kew
Children in Schools – Education Committee – RBG Kew
Cypripedium calceolus Recovery Committee – English Nature
International Orchid Commission – Secretary
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David L. Robert – CV
Initial Biodiversity Assessment & Planning (IBAP) Guidance Development Team – member
IUCN/SSC Madagascar Plant Specialist Group – member
IUCN/SSC Orchid Specialist Group – member and List Authority Focal Point
Invited Examiner
RNDr Theses
Jana Jeráková, ‘Patterns of pollinator-generated fruit set in Orchis morio (Orchidaceae)’,
University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, 2003
PhD Theses
Nigel Swarts – ‘Intergrated conservation of the rare and endangered terrestrial orchid
Caladenia huegelii H. H. Reichb.’, University of Western Australia, Australia, 2007
Santi Watthana – ‘Systematics & ecology of the genus Promatocalpa Breda (Orchidaceae)’,
University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 2005
Tien Huynh, ‘Mycorrhizal fungi in Caladenia species (Orchidaceae)’, University of
Melbourne, Australia, 2004
Jana Jeráková, ‘Reproductive success in terrestrial orchids’, University of South Bohemia,
Czech Republic, 2003
MSc Theses
Emma Clayton, ‘Does spur length increase threat and rarity in Malagasy angraecoid
orchids’, University of East Anglia, 2006
Jennifer Ah-King, ‘The effect of climatic change on flowering in British orchids’, University
of East Anglia, 2004
Neil Lancaster, ‘Habitat, site and host specificity of the orchids of La Réunion’, Reading
University, 2004
Karen Robbirt, ‘The dichotomy of the Red List criteria’, Reading University, 2004
JOURNAL & GRANTS REVIEWED
Science, Current Biology, Journal of Applied Ecology, American Journal of Botany, Ecological
Applications, Australian Systematic Botany, Biodiversity and Conservation, Endangered
Species Research, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Conservation Genetics, Acta
Oecologica, Annales Botanici Fennici, Kew Bulletin, Selbyana, Edinburgh Journal of
Botany, American Orchid Society, Springer Books
National Geographic, Dorothy Hodgkins Fellowship, Orchid Conservation International
POSTDOCS
2006
2004
‘Inferring habitat health from biological collections’ U. of Melbourne,
Australia, Zoë Smith
‘Mycorrhizal fungi in Cypripedium calceolus’ U. of Melbourne, Australia, Tien
Huynh
GRADUATE COMMITTEE MEMBER (PhD)
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David L. Robert – CV
2007-2012
‘Cooperation, convergence and resource partitioning in African ant-acacias’
Harvard University, USA (Ph.D.) Dino Martins
GRADUATES (PhD)
2009-2012
2007-2009
2006-2009
2005-2011
2003-2007
‘Epiphyte orchid diversity and coexsistence’
University of Melbourne (Ph.D.) Emily McQualter (finalizing)
‘Population dynamics and conservation of the endangered Japanese orchid
Nervilia nipponica’ University of Sussex, UK (Ph.D.) Stephan Gale
‘Maintaining deception in a rewarding landscape’
University of East Anglia, UK (Ph.D.) David White
‘Will climate warming present British orchids with a pollination crisis?’
University of East Anglia, UK (part-time Ph.D.) Karen Robbirt
‘Molecular phylogeny and conservation of the horticulturally important
genus Vanda’ University of East Anglia, UK (Ph.D.) Lauren Gardiner
GRADUATES (Masters)
2005-2007
2005-2006
2004-2006
2004-2006
2004-2005
2003-2005
2003-2004
2003-2004
2003-2004
2002-2003
2002-2003
‘Ontogeny of the staminode in the genus Phragmipedium’
Reading University, UK (M.Sc.) Clive Lundquist
‘Linking extinction risk models to online databases’
University of Surrey, UK (M.Sc.) Zeting Feng
‘Host-specificity and Batesian mimicry in the endangered epiphytic orchid,
Eulophiella roempleriana’ University of Antananarivo, Madagascar (DEA)
Johary Ramahenina
‘Does spur length increase threat and rarity in Malagasy angraecoid orchids’
University of East Anglia, UK (M.Sc.) Emma Clayton
‘A mathematical modelling system for ecologists’
University of Surrey, UK (M.Sc.) Thomas Crowder
‘Conservation biology of a critically endangered orchid, Angraecum
longicalcar’ University of Antananarivo, Madagascar (DEA) Landy Rajaovelona
‘Habitat, site and host specificity of the orchids of La Réunion’
Reading University, UK (M.Sc.) Neil Lancaster
‘The dichotomy of the Red List criteria’
Reading University, UK (M.Sc.) Karen Robbirt
‘Dating the divergence times of fossil lineages with optimal linear estimation
using the Weibull distribution’ University of Montpellier, France (DEA) Anna
Saltmarsh
‘The effect of climatic change on flowering in British orchids’
University of East Anglia, UK (M.Sc.) Jennifer Ah-King
‘Species delimitation in the genus Trudelia’
University of Reading, UK (M.Sc.) Lauren Gardiner
UNDERGRADUATES
2006-2007
‘Biological correlates of description date in Paphiopedilum species of
Vietnam’ Reading University, UK (B.Sc.) Harry Earle
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David L. Robert – CV
2004-2005
2004-2005
2004-2005
2002-2003
‘Investigation into the decline of the Early Spider Orchid on the Isle of
Wight’ University of Kingston, UK (B.Sc.) Mandy Wall
‘Multivariate analysis of factors effecting the decline and rarity of British
orchids’ University of Kingston, UK (B.Sc.) Thomas Hogan
‘Micromorphology of rewarding and non-rewarding orchids’
Reading University, UK (B.Sc.) Alexandra Bell
‘Prioritising priorities: Quantitative inference of threat and extinction from
sighting data’ University of East Anglia, UK (B.Sc.) Greg McInerny
EXTERNAL FUNDING
2008 Royal Society Conference Grant – Society for Conservation Biology, Beijing, 2008
Kew Sandwich Year Student – Internship
2008 NERC/Systematics Association (CoSyst grant) – ‘Orchid-TEMPEST (Temperature
Perception and Signal Transduction)’
2007 Royal Society – International Outgoing Short Visit – ‘Structure & distribution of rarity in
an ancient landscape’ with Prof. Kingsley Dixon, Western Australia
2007 Nuffield Undergraduate Research Bursaries – ‘Where is the final frontier? Spatial
boundaries in species range under climate change’
2007 Swiss Orchid Foundation – ‘Will climate warming present orchids with a pollination
crisis?’
2007 Sarah & Daniel Hrdy Fellowship in Conservation Biology – with Profs. Charles Marshall
& James Hanken (Director), Museum of Comparative Zoology/Dept. of Organismic &
Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, USA
2006 Swiss Orchid Foundation – ‘Inferring habitat health from biological collections’
2006 Kew Sandwich Year Student – Internship
2006 Departmental NERC PhD – CASE Studentship – ‘Maintaining deception in a rewarding
landscape’
2006 Lennox Boyd Foundation – ‘Inferring habitat health from biological collections’
2004 Royal Society Education Grant – orchid pollination biology in Central & South America
2003 Swiss Orchid Foundation – 2 day Orchid Conservation Workshop, XVIIth AETFAT
(Association pour l’Étude Taxonomique de la Flore d’Afrique Tropicale) Congress, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia
2003 Departmental NERC PhD Studentship – ‘Molecular phylogeny and conservation of the
horticulturally important genus Vanda’
2003 Royal Society Conference Grant – 1st International Conference on Neotropical
Orchidology, San Jose, Costa Rica
2002 Bentham-Moxon Trust – ‘High altitude orchids of Réunion’
1999 Bentham-Moxon Trust – ‘Reproductive biology of the orchids of Réunion’
1996 Oakdale Trust – ‘Analysis of Genetic Structure in Oak Woodlands of
West Wales’
1996 Seven Trent Water Authority – ‘Analysis of Genetic Structure in
Oak Woodlands of West Wales’
1996 Shotton Paper – ‘Analysis of Genetic Structure in Oak Woodlands of
West Wales’
PAPERS PRESENTED AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
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David L. Robert – CV
2009
Mycological Society of America, Snowbird, Utah, USA, 25-30th July – special symposium on
Conservation biology of fungi: Lessons learned from efforts to conserve plants (Invited)
Society for Conservation Biology, Beijing, China, 11-16th July – Species detectability and
extinction
rd
3 Scientific Conference on Andean Orchids, Loja, Ecuador, 4-8th February, 2009 (Invited decline) – Orchid ecology
2008
Mini-Symoposium on Macroecology, The Natural History Museum, London, UK, 4-5th February
2008 (Invited) – “Species occupancy in orchid communities”
19th World Orchid Conservation, Miami, Florida, USA, January 2008 (Session Chairman &
Invited) – Orchid-pollinator-predator interactions
2007
2nd Scientific Conference on Andean Orchids, Loja, Ecuador, 15-17th November, 2007 (Invited) –
“Why are most species rare?”
2nd Scientific Conference on Andean Orchids, Loja, Ecuador, 15-17th November, 2007 (Invited) –
“Are we missing something?”
Advances in Orchid Systemetics and Ecology, Linnean Society, London, 31st October-2nd
November, 2007 (Invited & Organising Committee) – “Life at the thin end of the wedge:
patterns of species-range size distributions in orchid communities”
50th Anniversary of the Cape Orchid Society, “An Orchid Safari – a Window on Conservation of
African Orchids”, South Africa, 12-16th September, 2007 (Keynote Speaker - decline)
rd
3 International Orchid Conservation Congress, San Jose, Costa Rica, 19-24th March, 2007
(Invited & Scientific Committee)
2006
Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of horticulturally important orchids – a celebration of
Phillip Cribb's contributions to orchidology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, March, 2006
(Invited & Organising Committee) – Extinction modelling
2005
Gilbert White and Recording: Past, Present and Future, University of Southampton,
Southampton, September 2005 (Invited) – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
Perspectives on Plant-Animal Interactions, Zoological Society of London, London, April 2005
(Invited) – Orchid-pollinator interactions and climate change
Ophrys 2005, European Orchid Conference, Chios, Greece, April 2005 – Symmetry of
pollination systems
th
18 World Orchid Conservation, France, March 2005 (Invited) – Mid-Domain Effect and island
colonisation
2004
International Orchid Workshop, Population Dynamics, Haapsalu, Estonia, June 2004 – Baker’s
Law
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David L. Robert – CV
2nd International Orchid Conservation Congress, Selby Botanic Garden, Sarasota, USA, May 1621, 2004 – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
New Perspectives on the Orchid Systematics and Ecology, Toulouse, France, November 2004
(Plenary Session Speaker) – Orchid-pollinator interactions and climate change
Recent Avian Extinctions, British Ornithologist’s Union/Linnean Society, London, November
2004 (Invited) – Extinction probability
th
XVII AETFAT (Association pour l’Étude Taxonomique de la Flore d’Afrique Tropicale)
Congress, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, September 2003 – Mid-Domain Effect and island
colonisation
2003
Extinction Risk, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, September 2003 – Novel uses
of herbarium specimens
Biotic Interactions in the Tropics, British Ecological Society Special Symposium and Annual
Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, University of
Aberdeen, Aberdeen, July 2003 – Patterns of fruiting success in Mascarene Island orchids
1st International Conference on Neotropical Orchidology, San Jose, Costa Rica, May 2003 –
Novel uses of herbarium specimens
Monocots III, 3rd International Conference on the Comparative Biology of the Monocotyledons
and 4th International Symposium on Grass Systematics and Evolution, Rancho Santa Ana
Botanic Garden, Claremont, California, USA, March 2003 – Mid-Domain Effect and island
colonisation
EOC2003, European Orchid Conference, London, UK, March 2003 – Orchid flora of Mauritius
2002
17th World Orchid Conference, Shah Alam, Malaysia, April 2002 – Conservation status of
Mauritian orchids
2001
1st International Orchid Conservation Congress, Perth, Australia, October 2001 (Session
Chairman & Invited) – Patterns of fruiting success in Mascarene Island orchids
2000
Plant-Animal Interactions, University of Åarhus, Denmark. Autumn 2000 – Patterns of fruiting
success in Mascarene Island orchids
Mascarene Island Flora and Fauna, Natural History Museum, London, 2000 – Orchid flora of
Mauritius
INVITED SEMINARS
2008
Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, Australia – Biodiversity: Are we missing something?
Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre, LaTrobe – Biodiversity: Are we missing something?
Kings Park Wildflower Festival – Orchid hunting on Madagascar & other Western Indian Ocean
islands
West Australian Native Orchid Study & Conservation Group, Perth, Australia – The kitchen table
scientist: getting the most out of orchid collections and orchids in the field
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David L. Robert – CV
Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology/University of Melbourne, Australia – Are we
missing something? Conservation & biodiversity prioritization
James Cook University, Australia – Are we missing something? Conservation & biodiversity
prioritization
University of Florida, USA – Biodiversity, am I missing something? Conservation & biodiversity
prioritization
Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanic Garden, USA – Are we missing
something? Conservation & biodiversity prioritization (invited by Dr Peter Raven)
Concord Land Conservation Trust (Environmental Lecture Series), USA – Biodiversity, am I
missing something?
Redlands Orchid Festival, Miami, Florida, USA – Orchids of Madagascar
2007
New York Botanic Garden, USA – What can herbaria do for us? Novel uses of herbarium
specimens for plant conservation
Dept. of Biology, Tufts University, USA – Are we missing something? Conservation &
biodiversity prioritisation
Dept. of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, USA – Are we missing
something? Conservation & biodiversity prioritisation
Somerset & Wiltshire Orchid Society – Orchids of Madagascar
2006
Zoological Society of London, Conservation Seminar Series – Novel uses of herbarium
specimens
Science Visiting Group, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Extinction risk
Millennium Seed Bank, Improving seed set of pollination and the genetical representation of seed
harvested – Artificial pollination in orchids.
Orchid Society of Great Britain – Orchids of Madagascar: rare or medium rare?
Irish Orchid Society, Ireland – Orchid-pollinator interactions and climate change, and threatened
orchids of Madagascar
Friends of Kew – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
University of Connecticut, USA – Orchid-pollinator interactions and climate change
Silwood Park, Imperial College, London – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
2004
University of Mauritius, Mauritius – Novel uses of herbarium specimens and patterns of fruiting
success in Mascarene Island orchids
University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
Jodrell Laboratory, RBG Kew – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
University of Montpellier – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
Leeds & Harrogate Orchid Society – Orchid flora of West Africa
Thames Valley Orchid Society – Orchid flora of Mauritius
Writhlington School, Bath – Orchid systematics and biology
Surrey Natural History Society – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
2003
Leeds & Harrogate Orchid Society – Orchid systematics and biology
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David L. Robert – CV
University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
University of Reading – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
Sunbury Natural History Society – Orchid flora of Mauritius
2002
Kew Student Guild – Orchid flora of Mauritius
Jodrell Laboratory, RBG Kew – Patterns of fruiting success in Mascarene Island orchids
2001
Agriculture Victoria, Melbourne, Australia – Patterns of fruiting success in Mascarene Island
orchids
2000
Mauritian Orchid Society, Mauritius – Orchid flora of Mauritius
SYMPOSIA AND COURSES ORGANISED
2007
2 days – Advances in Orchid Systematics and Ecology, Linnean Society, London, October, 2007
2006
2 days – A Celebration of Phillip Cribb's Contributions to Orchidology, Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, March, 2006
2003
2 days – Orchid Conservation Workshop, XVIIth AETFAT (Association pour l’Étude
Taxonomique de la Flore d’Afrique Tropicale) Congress, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
September 2003
2000
4 days – Orchid Micropropagation Techniques Workshop, Mauritius, 2000
1 day – Orchid Conservation Workshop, Mauritius, 2000
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Full Course
2008
Harvard University – Conservation Biology – Student evaluation of the course 4.8
out of 5.0 compared with the faculty average of 3.9
Invited Lectures (as part of academic courses)
2009
2009
2009
University of Sussex (Postgraduate) – Biodiversity: Am I missing something?
Species detectability and conservation biology
Imperial College, London (Postgraduate –Conservation Science) – Biodiversity:
Am I missing something? Species detectability and conservation biology
Imperial College, London (Postgraduate –Conservation Science) – The role of
herbaria in conservation science
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David L. Robert – CV
Imperial College, London (Postgraduate – Evolutionary Ecology & Conservation)
– Biodiversity: Am I missing something? Species detectability and conservation
biology
2007
RBG Kew, Tropical Plant Identification – Orchid systematics and biology
2006
Exeter University (Postgraduate) – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
2006
Reading University (Postgraduate) – Orchid systematics and biology
2006
University of Edinburgh/RBG Edinburgh (Postgraduate) – Novel uses of
herbarium specimens
2006
RBG Kew, Tropical Plant Identification – Orchid systematics and biology
2005
Manchester Metropolitan University (Postgraduate) – Novel uses of herbarium
specimens
2005
Exeter University (Postgraduate) – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
2005
Reading University (Postgraduate) – Orchid systematics and biology
2005
University of Connecticut (Postgraduate) – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
2005
Imperial College (Postgraduate) – Herbarium techniques
2004 – 2005 RBG Kew Horticulture Diploma Course – Orchid systematics and biology
2004
RBG Kew International Conservation course – Novel uses of herbarium specimens
2002 – 2003 RBG Kew Orchids for Beginners, Orchid Festival – Orchid Biology
1996 – 1997 University of Wales, Aberystwyth (undergraduate) – Advanced PCR techniques
2008
Full Courses (teaching assistant in practicals)
1997
Biotechnology Summer School (16-18)
1996 – 1997 Animal physiology (2nd year undergraduate)
1996 – 1997 Microbiology (2nd year undergraduate)
1996 – 1997 Mycology (2nd year undergraduate)
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY
Television
Documentary on Madagascar – BBC, 2008-present
Documentary on biodiversity assessment in Papua New Guinea – BBC, 2008-present
Advised on films and dramas – inc. Pride & Prejudice, Silent Witness, and Waking the Dead
Documentary on Darwin and orchids – BBC, 2007
Orchid pollination – Russian TV Channel 5, 2007
Year At Kew, series 1 and 2 – BBC 1, 2003 and 2005 (Orchid identification, the spirit collection
and Madagascar)
Orchid conservation in Mauritius – Mauritian National News, 2000
Radio
Women’s Hour, BBC Radio 4, 2004, 2009 (Orchids)
Big Toe Show, BBC Radio 7, 5 appearances – 2003 and 2004 (kids radio – Carnivorous plants x
2, orchids, plants and extreme environments, expedition to Cameroon)
Schools
Writhlington School (high school), Bath – since 2003, lectures, research projects (resulting in
finals of Royal Society’s Young Scientist of the Year awards) and expedition with 3
students and teacher to Laos in 2007
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David L. Robert – CV
Personal Sponsorship
Since 2004 – 3 scientists (Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Madagascar) for
membership to the International Association of Plant Taxonomists
10