A5053778809- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Forest Management and Policy
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Conservation Techniques and Studies
- Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
University of York
2015-2024
Leverhulme Trust
2024
University of Glasgow
2008-2009
Institute of Biomedical Science
2008-2009
Abstract Protected areas are fundamental for conservation, yet constantly threatened by illegal activities, such as cattle encroachment and wildlife poaching, which reduce biodiversity. Law enforcement is an essential component of reducing activities. Although necessary, law costly its effectiveness in the field rarely monitored. Improving ranger patrol efficiency likely to decrease activity occurrence benefit biodiversity without additional resource implications. Using ranger‐collected...
Within protected areas, biodiversity loss is often a consequence of illegal resource use. Understanding the patterns and extent activities therefore essential for effective law enforcement prevention declines. We used extensive data, commonly collected by ranger patrols in many Bayesian hierarchical models to identify drivers, trends, distribution multiple within Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area (QECA), Uganda. Encroachment (e.g., pastoralists with cattle) poaching noncommercial animals...
Conservationists increasingly use unstructured observational data, such as citizen science records or ranger patrol observations, to guide decision making. These datasets are often large and relatively cheap collect, they have enormous potential. However, the resulting data generally "messy," their can incur considerable costs, some of which hidden. We present an overview opportunities limitations associated with messy by explaining how preferences, skills, incentives collectors affect...
Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), the World's largest primate, is confined to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and threatened by civil war insecurity. During war, armed groups in mining camps relied on hunting bushmeat, including gorillas. Insecurity presence several militia across gorilla's range made it very difficult assess their population size. Here we use a novel method that enables rigorous assessment local community ranger-collected data occupancy evaluate...
Climate change vulnerability assessments are commonly used to identify species at risk from global climate change, but the wide range of methodologies available makes it difficult for end users, such as conservation practitioners or policymakers, decide which method use a basis decision-making. In this study, we evaluate whether different consistently assign same categories and any existing perform well identifying climate-threatened species. We compare outputs 12 assessment methodologies,...
Illegal hunting is a persistent problem in many protected areas, but an overview of the extent this and its impact on wildlife lacking. We reviewed 40 years (1980–2020) global research to examine spatial distribution socio-ecological factors influencing population decline within areas under illegal pressure. From 81 papers reporting 988 species/site combinations, 294 mammal species were reported have been illegally hunted from 155 across 48 countries. Research has increased substantially...
Wildlife poaching presents a serious extinction threat to many animal species. Agencies (defenders) focused on protecting such animals need tools that help analyze, model and predict poacher activities, so they can more effectively combat poaching; could also assist in planning effective defender patrols, building the previous security games research.To end, we have built new predictive anti-poaching tool, CAPTURE (Comprehensive Anti-Poaching tool with Temporal observation Uncertainty...
Abstract Semiarid rangelands are identified as at high risk of degradation due to anthropogenic pressure and climate change. Through tracking timelines we aimed identify whether results from a loss resistance environmental shocks, or recovery, both which important prerequisites for restoration. Here combined extensive field surveys with remote sensing data explore long-term changes in grazing potential demonstrate (ability maintain function despite pressure) recovery recover following...
Abstract Protected area (PA) networks have in the past been constructed to include all major habitats, but often developed through consideration of only a few indicator taxa or across restricted areas, and rarely account for global climate change. Systematic conservation planning (SCP) aims improve efficiency biodiversity conservation, particularly when addressing internationally agreed protection targets. We apply SCP Great Britain (GB) using widest taxonomic coverage date (4,447 species),...
Abstract Protected areas have been gazetted to protect natural resources and biodiversity, but evaluations of effectiveness rarely include measures species population change. We compiled annual site‐level spending elephant data for 102 protected conserving either savannah ( Loxodonta africana ) or forest cyclotis elephants, which showed a median decline −0.78% across the areas. Site‐level change was strongly associated with funding government effectiveness. Annual deficits occurred in 78%...
Wildlife species such as tigers and elephants are under the threat of poaching. To combat poaching, conservation agencies (“defenders”) need to 1) anticipate where poachers likely poach 2) plan effective patrols. We propose an anti-poaching tool CAPTURE (Comprehensive Anti-Poaching with Temporal observation Uncertainty REasoning), which helps defenders achieve both goals. builds a novel hierarchical model for poacher-patroller interaction. It considers patroller's imperfect detection signs...
The Yabelo–Mega region of southern Ethiopia's Borana holds two threatened endemic and restricted-range species, the White-tailed Swallow Hirundo megaensis (‘Vulnerable’) Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni (‘Endangered’). Concern about these species’ conservation status has recently increased owing to rapid alterations their thornbush savanna habitat. This six-week field study aimed identify specific habitat requirements each with a view understanding how they are likely be...
Abstract Climate change vulnerability assessments are commonly used to identify species at risk from global climate change, but the wide range of methodologies available makes it difficult for end users, such as conservation practitioners or policy makers, decide which method use a basis decision-making. Here, we compare outputs 12 assessment methodologies, using both real and simulated species, test methods historic data British birds butterflies (i.e., historical assign risks, more recent...
Abstract Illegal activities are a persistent problem in many protected areas, but an overview of the extent this and its impact is lacking. We review 35 years (1980-1914) research across globe to examine spatial distribution socio-ecological factors influencing population decline within areas under illegal pressure. From 92 papers reporting 1048 species/site combinations, more than 350 species comprising mammals, reptiles, birds, fishes molluscs were reported have been extracted illegally...
<p>Semiarid rangelands have been identified as at high risk of degradation a result changing socio-ecological conditions. Tanzanian savannahs are typical and some areas become degraded in recent years, while other maintain resilience. To track pathways to degradation, we developed workflow create annual maps for all Tanzania, spatial (30m) temporal (30+ years) resolution, function bare ground invasive plant cover. Making use the freely available Google Earth Engine (GEE)...