Research interests

My research is focused on using satellite remote sensing and environmental modeling to address questions related to patterns of biodiversity, ecosystem services and ecosystem function.  I mainly design algorithms to process large volumes of satellite data to reveal environmental phenomena such as land cover change, phenology and resilience. In order to accomplish this I have research skills including databases, high performance scientific computing, R and a variety of GIS and RS software.  In addition, I have been closely involved in the development of web-based tools to expose environmental data to users, and in the dissemination of these tools to a wide range of stakeholders.

Selected Publications

Long PR, Nogue S, Benz, D, Willis K (2021) Devising a method to remotely model and map the distribution of natural landscapes in Europe with the greatest recreational amenity value. Frontiers in Biogeography 13(1).

Harvey WJ, Nogue S, Stansell N, Adolf C, Long PR, Willis K (2020) A palynological perspective on the impacts of European contact: historic deforestation, ranching and agriculture surrounding the Cuchumatanes highlands, Guatemala.  Vegetation History and Archaeobotany https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-020-00790-2

O’Marcaigh F, Raveloson BA, Rakotomanga G, Ratianarivo AN, Baddams J, Rasamison S, Long PR, Martin TE (2020) The avifauna of Ankobohobo wetland, a neglected important bird area in northwestern Madagascar.  Scopus 40: 18-28

Morel, A; Hirons, M; Demissie, S; Gonfa, T; Mehrabi, Z ; Long, PR.; Rifai, S; Woldemariam Gonfa, T; Mason, J; McDermott, C; Boyd, E; Robinson, E; Malhi, Y; Norris, K (2020) The structures underpinning vulnerability and resilience: examining landscape-society interactions in a smallholder coffee agroforestry system.  Environmental Research Letters 14: 075006

Palfrey R, Baddams J, Raveloson B, Rasamison S, O Marcaigh F, Neaves J, Long PR, Martin T (2020) The avifauna of Mariarano forest and its vicinity, Mahajanga II district, Madagascar. Bothalia: African Biodiversity and Conservation 49(1):2416

Long PR, Benz D, Macias-Fauria M, Seddon AWR, Holland PWA, Martin AC, Hagemann R, Frost TK, Simpson AC, Power DJ, Slaymaker MA, Willis KJ. (2017) LEFT – a web-based tool for the remote measurement and estimation of ecological value across global landscapes Methods in Ecology and Evolution  9: 571-579

Nogué S, Long PR; Eycott A, de Nascimento L, Fernández-Palacios JM, Petrokofsky G, Vandvik V, Willis KJ (2016) Polliination service delivery for European crops: challenges and opportunities Ecological Economics 128: 1-7

Seddon AWR, Macias-Fauria M, Long PR, Benz D, Willis KJ (2016) Sensitivity of global terrestrial ecosystems to climate variability. Nature 531: 229-232

Highlighted in ‘News and Views’: Huete A (2016) Vegetation’s responses to climate variability.  Nature 531: 181-182

Seddon AWR, Macias-Fauria M, Long PR, Benz D, Willis KJ (2016) Sensitivity of global terrestrial ecosystems to climate variability: data and R code. Oxford University Research Archive DOI: 10.5287/bodleian:VY2PeyGX4

Mann GKH, Long PR, Rakontondraparany F, The Seing S, Gandola R (2015) First record of Fossa Cryptoprocta ferox in Mariarano forest, Madagascar. Small Carnivore Conservation 52: 45-55

Cole EF, Long PR, Szulkin M, Zelezowski P, Sheldon BC (2015)  Satellite-derived vegetation phenology measures reveal spatial variation in phenological matching to the environment in great tits and blue tits.  Ecology & Evolution 5: 5057-5074

Macias Fauria M, Seddon A, Benz D, Long PR, Willis K (2014) Spatio-temporal patterns of warming.  Nature Climate Change 4: 845-846

Willis KJ, Seddon AR, Long PR, Jeffers ES, Smit MGD, Hagelmann R, Collin-Hansen C, Weissenberger J, Macias Fauria M (2014) Remote assessment of locally important ecological features across landscapes: how representative of reality is such an approach? Ecological Applications 25: 1290-1302

Evans B, Rakontondraparany F, Cole L, Graham S, Gandola R, Long PR (2013) The carnivores of Mariarano forest, Madagascar: first insights. Small Carnivore Conservation 49: 15-19

Willis KJ, Jeffers ES, Tovar C, Long PR, Caithness N, Smit MGD, Hageman R, Colin-Hansen C, Weissenberger J (2012) Determining the ecological value of landscapes beyond protected areas.  Biological Conservation 147: 3-12

Al Rashidi M., Long PR, O’Connell M, Shobrak M, Székely T (2011) Use of remote sensing to identify suitable breeding habitat for the Kentish Plover and estimate population size along the western coast of Saudi Arabia. Wader Study Group Bulletin 118 32–39

Zefania S, Razafimahatatra M, Faria P, Bruford MW, Long PR, Szekely T. Cryptic sexual size dimorphism in Malagasy plovers Charadrius spp. Ostrich, 81: 173-178

Brede EG, Long PR, Zefania S, Rabenandrasana M, Szekely T, Bruford MW.  PCR primers for microsatellite loci in a Madagascan waterbird, the Sakalava rail (Amaurornis olivieri).  Conservation Genetics Resources, 2: 273-277

Rabenandrasana MR, Zefania S, Long PR, Seing ST, Virginie MC, Randrianarisoa M, Szekely T, Safford R.  (2008) Distribution, status and population size of the endangered Sakalava of Madagascar.  Bird Conservation International 19: 23-32

Zefania S, ffrench-Constant R, Long PR, Szekely T.  (2008)  Breeding distribution and ecology of the threatened Madagascar Plover Charadrius thoracicus.  Ostrich 79: 43-51

Long PR, Zefania S, Szekely T, ffrench-Constant R. (2008) Estimating population size of an endangered shorebird, the Madagascar plover, using a habitat suitability model.  Animal Conservation 11: 118-127

Long PR, Szekely T, Kerhaw M, O’Connell M (2007) Ecological factors and human threats both drive wildfowl population declines.  Animal Conservation 10: 183-191

Book chapter

Willis KJ, Macias Fauria M, Gasparatos A, Long PR (2014) Identifying and mapping biodiversity: where can we damage?  In, Helm D, Hepburn C (eds) Nature in the balance: the economics of biodiversity.  Oxford University Press.