A5001974889- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Census and Population Estimation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Offshore Engineering and Technologies
- Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
University of Kent
2016-2025
British Council
2024
University of Edinburgh
2019
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
2016-2017
Environmental Protection Agency
1981-2004
National Botanic Garden of Wales
2003
University of Cincinnati
1999
North East Surrey College of Technology
1992
Institute of Science and Technology
1985-1986
University of Wales Institute Cardiff
1985-1986
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a rapid, non-invasive, cost-efficient biodiversity monitoring tool with enormous potential to inform aquatic conservation and management. Development ongoing, strong commercial interest, new uses are continually being discovered. General applications of eDNA guidelines for best practice in freshwater systems have been established, but habitat-specific assessments lacking. Ponds highly diverse, yet understudied that could benefit from monitoring. However,...
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List of Colour Plates ix Preface xi CHAPTER 1: Newt or Salamander? 1 Newts and salamanders in folklore Distribution newts The amphibian life-style Classification 2: Life on Land Water 11 senses Internal structure function Relations with the environment Feeding Defence 3: Biogeography Evolution 33 invasion land Ancient amphibians rise Speciation glaciations Relationships between living tailed 4: Reproduction 48 Reproductive cycles Hibernation, aestivation environmental cues for breeding...
Abstract: The global amphibian crisis has resulted in renewed interest captive breeding as a conservation tool for amphibians. Although and reintroduction are controversial management actions, amphibians possess number of attributes that make them potentially good models such programs. We reviewed the extent effectiveness programs through an analysis data from Global Amphibian Assessment other sources. Most have focused on threatened species industrialized countries with relatively low...
Abstract Analysing DNA that organisms release into the environment (environmental DNA, or eDNA) has enormous potential for assessing rare and cryptic species. At present method is only reliably used to assess presence-absence of species in natural environments, as seasonal influences on eDNA relation presence, abundance, life stages behaviours are poorly understood. A naturally colonised, replicated pond system was show how changes were influenced by abundance adults larvae great crested...
Summary 1. Altered global climates in the 21st century pose serious threats for biological systems and practical actions are needed to mount a response species at risk. 2. We identify management from across world diverse disciplines that applicable minimizing loss of amphibian biodiversity under climate change. Actions were grouped three thematic areas intervention: (i) installation microclimate microhabitat refuges; (ii) enhancement restoration breeding sites; (iii) manipulation hydroperiod...
Abstract Accurate species identification is fundamental when recording ecological data. However, the ability to correctly identify organisms visually rarely questioned. We investigated how experts and non-experts compared in of bumblebees, a group insects considerable conservation concern. Experts were asked whether two concurrent bumblebee images depicted same or different species. Overall accuracy was below 60% comparable for non-experts. more consistent their answers repeated cautious...
The use of aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect the presence species depends on seasonal activity in sampled habitat. eDNA may persist sediments for longer than it does water, and analysing sediment could potentially extend window assessment. Using great crested newt as a model, we compare how detection probability changes across seasons samples collected from both pond water sediments. Detection sedimentary varied through year, peaking summer (July), with its lowest point winter...
Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand evolution aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods underrepresented this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study aging rates and longevity across tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) nonavian reptiles amphibians. test hypotheses how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, pace life history contribute...
The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess the presence-absence rare, cryptic or invasive species is hindered by a poor understanding factors that can remove from system. In aquatic systems, eDNA be transported out either horizontally in water flows vertically incorporation into sediment. Equally, may broken down various biotic and abiotic processes if target organism leaves We occupancy modelling replicated mesocosm experiment examine how detection probability changes once no longer...
Summary Environmental DNA is a survey tool with rapidly expanding applications for assessing the presence of species at surveyed sites. methodology known to be prone false negative and positive errors data collection laboratory analysis stages. Existing models environmental require augmentation additional sources information overcome identifiability issues likelihood function do not account covariates that predict probability or probabilities error. We present novel Bayesian model analysing...
Abstract Ecological surveys risk incurring false negative and positive detections of the target species. With indirect survey methods, such as environmental DNA, error can occur at two stages: sample collection laboratory analysis. Here we analyse a large qPCR based eDNA data set using occupancy models, one which accounts for by Griffin et al . (J R Stat Soc Ser C Appl 69: 377–392, 2020), second that assumes no Stratton (Methods Ecol Evol 11: 1113–1120, 2020). Additionally, apply (2020)...
1. Temporary ponds provide rich but unpredictable habitats for amphibians. Frogs, toads and newts have life cycles which are geared to the filling drying-up of temporary ponds, evolved strategies dealing with desiccation short-term changes in pond quality. 2. Plasticity development allows frogs adjust rate larval according risk desiccation. This may be achieved by increasing behavioural thermoregulation so that body temperature is raised warm, shallow water. 3. As a dries up, increased...
Summary Although captive breeding and reintroduction is a high‐profile management tool for many threatened species, it unclear how long‐term can influence fitness attributes such as natural defences to predators. Induced that have evolved in the Mallorcan midwife toad Alytes muletensis response introduced predators were compared reintroduced populations had common ancestry, short‐term differed ancestry. Defences against maintained population derived from stock passed through three eight...