Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/P010210/1
Conservation and management conflicts in the Greenland Barnacle Goose
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor S Bearhop, University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Exeter, Biosciences
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Crop protection
- Behavioural Ecology
- Conservation Ecology
- Population Ecology
- Abstract:
- Conflicts between people and animals are becoming a major obstacle to effective conservation of threatened species globally. Managing such issues can be highly complex, yet resolving them is likely to become an even more important focus for conservationists in future years, particularly in countries like the UK where there are few regions where wildlife exists in true isolation from human activity. The Greenland barnacle goose is a species of considerable conservation importance (the entire population spends the winter at a few sites in the UK and Ireland) and is listed on Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. Conservation measures have resulted in hunting moratoria and roost site protection. However, in recent years the population has increased considerably, and as a grazer, it is now viewed as an agricultural pest in several parts of its Scottish range. Successful management of this conflict is challenging because of the complex nature of the barnacle goose life cycle and the fact that it shares habitat with the globally endangered Greenland White-fronted goose On Islay, which supports over 50% of the world's GBG population (40,000 birds), the management target is to reduce the wintering population. Current management of agricultural damage involves deliberate scaring, lethal control and payments to farmers. However, it is not clear how this can best be achieved, whether it will mitigate levels of agricultural damage or whether it will simply move the problem elsewhere (GBG occur as a metapopulation, meaning that management action at one site can have effects at others). Thus a better understanding of the individual and population-level responses of GBG to management is imperative. This CASE studentship brings together experts from the University of Exeter, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and Scottish Natural Heritage in order to better understand how management affects the movement and population biology of Greenland Barnacle Geese. Using a combination of behavioural observations, physiological measures and existing data sets on distribution and numbers, the work will help identify the consequences of current management tactics. As such it will also help define a way forward and therefore will inform SNH and Scottish government policy on how best to manage this conflict.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/P010210/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £88,292
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|
| £17,296 | £59,998 | £11,000 |
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