A major challenge for conservation is to identify important sites to efficiently safeguard biodiversity. The largest systematically identified network of important sites for conserving species is BirdLife International’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) network.
IBAs are sites of international significance for the conservation of birds and other biodiversity. Over 13,000 IBAs, including terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, have been identified in >200 countries. However, some national inventories are dated, while there have been major revisions to our understanding of species’s distributions, populations, and threats. Furthermore, only 21% of IBAs are completely covered by protected areas and more than 250 sites have been assessed as ‘IBAs in Danger’.
The effectiveness of IBAs in contributing to the persistence of biodiversity has not previously been fully assessed. The aim of this PhD is to assess the adequacy of the IBA network in conserving birds and other aspects of biodiversity, and to identify priorities for its future expansion.
The objectives are to:
i) measure the effectiveness of IBAs at capturing avian biodiversity at global scales;
ii) identify shortfalls, in species, communities, and habitats in the IBA network, the reasons for these, and priorities for filling them;
iii) assess patterns of habitat loss, fragmentation, edge effects & habitat degradation within IBAs and explore the potential impacts on the effectiveness of the network for conserving avian species and communities;
iv) assess the degree to which IBAs conserve other aspects of biodiversity, including non-avian taxa, ecosystems, evolutionary heritage, and functional diversity.
The project will be co-supervised by BirdLife and will use diverse data sets (e.g. IBA trigger species lists, species’ range maps, Area of Habitat maps, point-occurrence data from e-Bird, and data from systematic monitoring of IBAs). It would suit a student with a keen interest in practical conservation theory, birds, global biodiversity challenges, and data handling.
This PhD project is part of the NERC funded Doctoral Training Partnership “ACCE” (Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment. ACCE is a partnership between the Universities of Sheffield, Liverpool, York, CEH, and NHM, for more information about ACCE and how to apply please visit the website: https://accedtp.ac.uk/
The NERC ACCE DTP and the University of Sheffield are committed to recruiting future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and we have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills. "
How to apply:
All applicants to ACCE must complete the ACCE personal statement proforma. This is instead of a normal personal/supporting statement/cover letter. The proforma is designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. The proforma and more information on the ACCE application process can be found here: https://accedtp.ac.uk/how-to-apply-to-acce-dtp/.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview to take place in the w/c 21st February 2022.
Science Graduate School
As a PhD student in one of the science departments at the University of Sheffield, you’ll be part of the Science Graduate School. You’ll get access to training opportunities designed to support your career development by helping you gain professional skills that are essential in all areas of science. You’ll be able to learn how to recognise good research and research behaviour, improve your communication abilities and experience the breadth of technologies that are used in academia, industry and many related careers. Visit http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/sgs to learn more.
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