Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/J016772/1
Using next generation sequencing to track habitat use by birds exploiting heterogeneous landscapes
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor WOC Symondson, Cardiff University, School of Biosciences
- Grant held at:
- Cardiff University, School of Biosciences
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Declines in farmland birds are of major conservation concern, in part because birds are considered to be sensitive bioindicators of the functional health of farmland ecosystems. The causes remain elusive, but may arise from changes in climate, land use and/or pollution, or from the complex ways in which these factors interact with each other and landscape heterogeneity. This project will use an environmental genomics approach to analyse the diets of birds in simple and complex landscapes, in order to understand the trophic connections between the birds and different landscape elements. Identification of DNA from habitat-specific prey in the faeces of birds on farmland will allow us to construct food webs linked to specific landscape elements (e.g. hedgerows, field margins, crops, woodland). We will use three common thrush species as tractable models with which to investigate relationships between habitat heterogeneity and quality. Faecal samples will be collected, in collaboration with the British Trust for Ornithology, from areas of mixed farming and high habitat complexity in South Wales and from the extensive arable farms with lower complexity of Norfolk. Samples pooled by species, location and date will be analysed using 454 pyrosequencing, followed by individual screening with prey-specific primers. Food webs will be constructed based upon numbers of sequences for each prey taxon obtained from the pyrosequencing and from the numbers of individual predators testing positive for specific prey taxa using prey-specific primers. Species will be identified mainly from their sequences by searches on GenBank and the Barcoding of Life Database. The cumulative strength of these interactions between predators and the different prey associated with each landscape element, will be a measure of the trophic importance of that habitat for each bird species. The data will be used, in association with the massive datasets held by BTO, to analyse the abundance and breeding success of our focal bird species in relation not simply to habitat complexity but specifically to the availability of habitat elements associated with strong exploitation links identified in our food webs. Scientifically, the proposed approach is unique and should provide a model for using next generation sequencing to relate trophic relationships, via habitat-linked food webs, to address major conservation issues. The impact of this work is likely to be considerable, empowering the BTO to provide detailed guidance to governmental and NGO bodies, particularly with respect to criteria for future farmer subsidies aimed at enhancing biodiversity. The intention is that such changes would help to reverse declines in farmland birds while promoting the functioning of farmland ecosystems.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/J016772/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Open CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £70,596
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|
| £13,812 | £48,285 | £8,500 |
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