vendredi 22 novembre 2013

PhD in wildlife ecology

NERC funded CASE PhD in the Environment Dept, University of York

Title: Biodiversity and ecosystem service conservation in protected peatland ecosystems

Background 
In Britain, only 5% of original lowland raised peatlands remain and are priorities under the EU Habitats Directive. Restoration of peatland provides many ecosystem services and habitat for key species including Red-Listed nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that increasing deer numbers are having adverse impacts on peatlands and dependent species. 

Objectives
1) Use thermal imaging and electronic tracking on and around Humberhead Peatlands NNR, in combination with habitat data, to determine the habitat preferences of red and roe deer, and nightjars to identify overlap and potential conflicts. 

2) Use participatory mapping of deer activity on and around Peatlands with local stakeholders, to develop representations of deer movements which will then be compared and integrated with objective 3 using GIS to develop maps of deer abundance.

3) Assess current deer population levels and impacts in and around the NNR, to evaluate changing impacts and develop appropriate adaptive management.

4) Integrate the CASE partner NE’s long term datasets (35+ years) on nightjars, water levels and habitats from several NNRs with the above data to model the likely impacts of ongoing peatland restoration through raising water levels and potential deer management.

Supervisor: Dr Piran White (York Environment) 
Co-supervisors: Dr Kathryn Arnold (York Environment) & Dr Julian Small (Natural England) 

To discuss your suitability for this project please email: piran.white@york.ac.uk