Martin’s first degree was in Zoology with Marine Zoology from the University of Wales, followed by a DPhil in Entomology from the University of York.

Since 1975 he has lectured at Oxford University, becoming a Tutorial Fellow in 1978. His main interests and expertise centre on tropical ecology, both terrestrial and marine.

Research interests have ranged from the effects of forest management on tropical insects, to anthropogenic impacts on coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs. He has worked in many countries, including Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia.

His latest project is based in Fiji. He has written several student textbooks, including one on insect ecology and another on marine ecology.