A5024213275- Avian ecology and behavior
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Plant and animal studies
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Forest Management and Policy
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Organic Food and Agriculture
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Agricultural Innovations and Practices
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
British Trust for Ornithology
2003-2021
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
2009-2020
University of Cambridge
2017-2019
University of East Anglia
1991-1994
Courtauld Institute of Art
1992
Abstract A key assumption underlying any management practice implemented to aid wildlife conservation is that it will have similar effects on target species across the range applied. However, this basic rarely tested. We show predictors [nearly all associated with agri‐environment scheme (AES) options known affect European birds] had for 11 bird sites differing farming (pastoral vs. mixed farming) or which differed in density at was found. from one geographical region tended different other...
Summary Horizon scanning is an essential tool for environmental scientists if they are to contribute the evidence base Government, its agencies and other decision makers devise implement policies. The implication of not foreseeing issues that foreseeable illustrated by contentious responses genetically modified herbicide‐tolerant crops in UK, challenges surrounding biofuels, foot mouth disease, avian influenza climate change. A total 35 representatives from organizations involved policy,...
Reconciling the aims of feeding an ever more demanding human population and conserving biodiversity is a difficult challenge. Here, we explore potential solutions by assessing whether land sparing (farming for high yield, potentially enabling protection non-farmland habitat), sharing (lower yielding farming with within farmland) or mixed strategy would result in better bird conservation outcomes specified level agricultural production. We surveyed forest farmland study areas southern Uganda,...
Conservation policy decisions can suffer from a lack of evidence, hindering effective decision-making. In nature conservation, studies investigating why is often not evidence-informed have tended to focus on Western democracies, with relatively small samples. To understand global variation and challenges better, we established survey aimed at identifying top barriers solutions the use conservation science in policy. This obtained views 758 people policy, practice, research positions 68...
Abstract Voluntary sustainability standards have increased in uptake over the last decade; here, we explore their potential contribution to biodiversity conservation and other aspects of agricultural sustainability. We reviewed content 12 major crop quantified global coverage. All included some provisions for protection biodiversity, but only identified two with criteria that prohibited all deforestation. found records certified cropland 133 countries, estimated area by 11% (range 8.8–13.5%)...
Practically all animals must find food while avoiding predators. An individual's perception of predation risk may depend on many factors, such as distance to refuge and group size, but it is unclear whether individuals respond different factors in a similar manner. We tested flocks foraging starlings responded the same way an increased by assessing three factors: (1) neighbor distances, (2) habitat obstruction, (3) recent exposure predator. found that scenarios risk, reduced their interscan...
Poor overwinter survival caused by low food availability represents the most likely mechanism behind decline, and failure to recover, of many farmland passerine populations. Management enhance resources is now in place via agri‐environment schemes (AESs) such as Environmental Stewardship England, but measures concerned probably fail provide a significant seed resource late winter. Landscape‐scale experimental feeding over six winters was used investigate variation demand for supplementary...
Provision of bird food in gardens is a common activity that may provide an alternative source to birds winter. Long‐term survey data recording the weekly presence all species using garden feeders winter were analysed see if there was any evidence trends feeder use between 1970 and 2000 whether these correlated with breeding population trends. Of 41 analysed, 21 showed significant increases occurrence at 2000. Many evident only last 10 years. Several positive correlations relative size...
Abstract Capsule Bird species richness showed consistent positive correlations with site area and rough grass. Aim To determine those features of parks other public green spaces that are most importance in promoting bird to use this information make recommendations for management these areas. Methods Birds were counted within Greater London. Three survey visits made each the periods summer 2002 2003 winter 2002/03 2003/04. Habitat data also collected. Results Site was consistently...
Predicting the future trend and viability of populations is an essential task in ecology. Because many respond to changing environments, uncertainty surrounding environmental responses must be incorporated into population assessments. However, understanding effects variation on dynamics requires information several important demographic parameters that are often difficult estimate. Integrated models facilitate integration time series data size all existing from a species, allowing estimation...
Summary 1. The development of sustainable, multi‐functional agricultural systems involves reconciling the needs production with objectives for environmental protection, including biodiversity conservation. However, definition sustainability remains ambiguous and it has proven difficult to identify suitable indicators monitoring progress towards, successful achievement of, sustainability. 2. In this study, we show that a trait‐based approach can be used assess detrimental impacts change broad...
Increasing concerns about global environmental change and food security have focused attention on the need for environmentally sustainable agriculture. This is agriculture that makes efficient use of natural resources does not degrade systems underpin it, or deplete capital stocks. We convened a group 29 ‘practitioners’ 17 scientists with direct involvement expertise in sustainability The practitioners included representatives from UK industry, non-government organizations government...
Audience segmentation could help improve the effectiveness of conservation interventions. Marketers use audience to define target a campaign. The technique involves subdividing general population into groups that share similar profiles, such as sociodemographic or behavioral characteristics. Interventions are then designed group interest. We explored potential for in defining with case study hunters Liberia. Using 2 data sets describing households (n = 476) and 205), we applied clustering...
Abstract Trees in farmland provide valuable ecosystem services that enhance agricultural productivity and income, as well supporting biodiversity such birds. A better understanding of the benefits trees for birds, specifically relative value native exotic trees, is essential developing effective management options, particularly within tropical regions with intense cultivation pressure. In central U ganda, neither total bird species richness nor forest visitors (non‐forest dependent) were...
Abstract We present the results of a national survey breeding Skylarks Alauda arvensis in Britain 1997 carried out by British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Numbers and land-use types were recorded volunteers 608 1-km squares, selected using random stratification based on Institute Terrestrial Ecology's (ITE) Landscape Classification to avoid over- or under-sampling particular habitat types. The suggest maximum population around 1000 000 pairs. This agrees extremely well with estimate 1046...
Drought and environmental degradation in the drylands of West Africa are widely cited as a possible cause population decline migrant birds that winter or stage Sahel. Low rainfall was an important factor declines long-distance migrants 1960s 1970s, but longer-term likely to be complex causation, affected by factors operating on any all breeding grounds, migration routes wintering grounds. Human activities have had profound effects land use Sahel last four decades, farmers, livestock keepers...
Abstract Shea Vitellaria paradoxa trees bear fruit and seeds of considerable economic, nutritional cultural value in the African Sudano‐Sahelian zone. In much West Africa, shea exists within an agroforestry system referred to as ‘parkland’, where social changes, including migration, have resulted expanding areas crop cultivation, reductions both area fallow land duration periods, reduced diversity habitats woody species. benefits strongly from pollination by bees loss Parkland biodiversity...
Many bird species flock to forage on newly mown grass swards. Several potential benefits are offered by such swards, including increases in prey availability (flush of foliar prey, reduced physical obstruction surface and soil prey) a foraging environment with fewer visual obstructions, so allowing predators be detected more easily. We performed field experiment using captive Common Starlings Sturnus vulgaris bottomless enclosures swards (within 1 h) old (48 h). the during winter months...
The distribution of breeding pairs Dippers Cinclus cinclus , Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea and Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos was assessed along 18 streams in south‐west Scotland during summer 1987, the lengths territories, occupied by 5 Dippers, were measured. In each stream water chemistry, physical structure (e.g. gradient, altitude, nature bankside vegetation) density aquatic invertebrates determined. dippers significantly lower low pH (high acidity) steep gradients, territories...