Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/L008866/1
Biodiversity under climate change: biogeography, prospects and conservation opportunities
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor C Thomas, University of York, Biology
- Grant held at:
- University of York, Biology
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- PROJECT: Climate change is already, and is expected to continue to be, a major cause of changes to species' abundances and distributions, and hence to their conservation status. This studentship will assess the distribution of risks and benefits to species in GB, Europe and North Africa, and evaluate how practical conservation strategies need to be adjusted to accommodate changes and minimise risks. 1. Risk/opportunity assessment for European birds. The student will conduct and compare climate change risk/opportunity assessments at continental and national scales for all European bird species, developing and then, for the first time at a continental scale, using a robust risk assessment framework initially developed by the supervisors. 2. From biogeography to conservation. Using analyses from 1, the student will identify: (i) Risk hotspots that support disproportionate numbers of species predicted to be endangered by climate change, (ii) Refugium hotspots where species are most likely to be able to survive, (iii) Opportunity hotspots relevant for management aimed at facilitating spread, (iv) New priority species for which Europe and individual regions may in future hold more of the world population, and therefore assume a greater conservation responsibility, and (v) New colonists for which Europe and individual regions will become suitable. Analysis of the overlap and differences between existing and potential future conservation priorities will identify which current conservation priorities are robust and which need modification. 3. Other taxa. It is crucial to know to what extent a bird-focussed strategy would serve the interests of other taxa. Therefore, steps (1) and (2) will be repeated for butterflies and selected groups of plants, for which pan-European distribution data are available, to examine the degree of consistency in adaptation options across taxa. SUPERVISION AND TRAINING: The project will be jointly supervised by Professor Chris Thomas, Dr Colin Beale (Department of Biology at the University of York), Dr Richard Bradbury (CASE partner; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and Dr James Pearce-Higgins (additional partner; British Trust for Ornithology). The proposed project will involve a mixture of training in generic, transferable and project-specific skills, including in the following areas amongst NERC's 15 most wanted skills: Modelling, Multi-disciplinarity, Data management, Numeracy, Translating research into practice, and Risk and uncertainty. The student will benefit from the experience of research and training associated with both university and partner environments. Progress in training, development and research will be monitored by periodic meetings and reports, in line with University of York procedures. COLLABORATION AND IMPACTS: The project will cement the developing collaborations between the University of York, RSPB and BTO, delivering original research of importance to each of the organisations' strategies for research and impact development. The work will inform governmental and NGO policy development, spatial adaptation planning, and policy implementation to meet international commitments, identifying the risks and opportunities for species, assemblages and locations under climate change.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/L008866/1
- 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 - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £16,226 | £11,000 | £56,292 |
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