Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/L009137/1
Testing agricultural impacts on breeding ground food resources as a driver of population decline in a brood parasite
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor CR Tyler, University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- The Cuckoo, an iconic bird of high public resonance and cultural significance, is declining fast in the UK and Western Europe, especially in areas of lowland agriculture. Declines in abundance of key insect prey species (e.g. moths) on which adult Cuckoos feed and/or lack of available food resources for hosts to feed young Cuckoos to rear their chicks may be critical factors in Cuckoo decline. This PhD studentship will test whether Cuckoo decline is driven by environmental change affecting the food resources of either Cuckoos or their hosts, using a land use gradient from heath land to enclosed farmland on Dartmoor. The studentship will establish distribution of territorial and foraging Cuckoos, and Cuckoo reproductive success (fledgling counts) in relation to habitat type, agricultural management and abundance of hosts and moth prey species. To do this the student will map vegetation and land management, record singing and foraging Cuckoos and presence of hosts, record Cuckoo fledglings, and light trap for moths at locations across these areas. Associations will be explored spatially and analysed using advanced statistical methods. Factors associated with Cuckoo distribution and reproductive success will be further investigated by analysis of an existing 6 year data set derived from one area on Dartmoor. Stable isotope analysis on Cuckoos and host chicks feathers will be used to investigate for differences in food consumption among nests and link this to growth rates to identify key prey items. The student will also investigate whether Cuckoo host parental foraging effort required to raise their own broods is greater in lowland agricultural contexts compared with heath land via direct observations and remote cameras. Whether female Cuckoos select host individuals on their provisioning ability will be explored via a genetic technique (genotyping) on adult host feathers. Partners in this studentship include the University of Exeter with internationally leading expertise in environmental biology,bird ecology, advanced high resolution molecular and analytical methods, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds as a leading organisation for bird conservation. The student will get a multidisciplinary training in avian and behavioural ecology, stable isotope analysis, molecular biology, field skills, modelling, and advanced statistical methods and receive extensive support from well equipped laboratories and highly experienced supervisors with first rate records in PhD completion. Training will also include in data management, health and safety, ethics, IP, and communication, both written and oral. Placements at the RSPB will enable the student to gain valuable knowledge in practical conservation and policy. Exchanges between the supervisors and student will occur (minimally) weekly and between supervisors (minimally) on a monthly basis. The PhD studentship provides an outstanding opportunity to carry out conservation science at the interface between academia and the direct users of the student's research. The nature of the work and partnership indicate excellent employment prospects for the trained PhD student. This research is expected to have high impact and immediate beneficiaries include the RSPB and Government agencies administering Rural Development Schemes (e.g. Defra) for their conservation management schemes and the wider general public. RSPB and University partners are well practised in communicating research information and major outlets for this studentship work will be through scientific journals, to relevant conservation groups and regulatory authorities and to the public through media releases, for the RSPB that includes blogs and the RSPB's Birds magazine.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/L009137/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £83,515
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|
| £16,226 | £56,292 | £11,000 |
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