Non-native alien species are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, especially on islands. Eradication of such species, although controversial, remains the only effective means by which to prevent extinctions and restore native island ecosystem functioning.
This project, in collaboration with RSPB, aims to quantify non-target multi-trophic responses (principally avian and mammalian) to a simultaneous multi-trophic (omnivore and carnivore) island eradication. The student will work alongside a wider RSPB-led project that incorporates an eradication programme (for which the student will not be responsible) to remove brown rats (using rodenticides over 6 months) and feral ferrets (by trapping over 18 months or less) from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland during Year 2 of the studentship. Rathlin is a picturesque, large (1x8km, 1,400 hectare) inhabited island (population ca. 150 residents) approximately 5km off the north coast of Northern Ireland, accessible by daily ferry.
The objectives are to determine community-wide terrestrial impacts of, and responses to, eradications. This includes direct effects on non-target mammals (house mouse, wood mouse, pygmy shrew, rabbit and hare) and birds (passerines, gulls, waders, eider, etc.). Currently rats outcompete native small mammals for many resources while sharing parasites and disease, and predate bird nests; while ferrets prey on small mammals, lagomorphs, eggs and adult birds, notably seabirds and wildfowl. Trophic cascades may result from rapid changes to the community, with indirect impacts on ground flora and invertebrates with wide ecological consequences.
This project will use multiple remote-sensing technologies allied with recent advances in artificial intelligence machine learning. Camera trapping (for small mammals, lagomorphs, birds) and soundscape acoustic recording (for birds) will be used to investigate multiple responses including: numerical/density changes, spatial and temporal changes in distributions and habitat use, behavioural responses (e.g. vigilance/alarm calling) comparing before-during-and-after eradication. There may also be the potential for a complementary social science approach to evaluate human-wildlife conflict created as an unintended consequence (e.g. increases in mice, rabbits or gulls).
The project will be supervised by Dr Neil Reid and co-supervised by Prof Jaimie Dick at Queen’s University Belfast and Dr Thomas Bodey at the University of Aberdeen. You will be based at QUB but the project necessitates significant residential field seasons on Rathlin Island. Candidates must be independent, problem-solving, resilient, sociable and prepared for the challenges of island life. You will learn a range of transferable skills including: experimental design; remote monitoring technologies and automated data extraction; fieldwork logistics; analysis and synthesis of large datasets; advanced statistical techniques; communication skills to a wide variety of audiences. You will benefit from training in many aspects of conservation practice working alongside RSPB. Good computer literacy and numeracy are essential. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.
More project details are available here:
https://www.quadrat.ac.uk/quadrat-projects/
How to apply:
https://www.quadrat.ac.uk/how-to-apply/
References:
1. Norouzzadeh et al. (2018) PNAS 115: E5716-5725.
2. Caravaggi et al. (2016) Remote. Sens. Ecol. Conserv. 2:45-58
3. Bodey et al. (2011) Biol. Invasions 13:2817-2828.
Continue with Facebook
