PhD Studentship: How does gamebird release and management affect the population stability and recovery of UK bird species , NERC GW4+ DTP PhD studentship for September 2025 Entry Ref 5402

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP).  The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners:  British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,  the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.  The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/ 

Project details

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via j.r.madden@exeter.ac.uk

Project Aims and Methods

Many threatened UK bird populations are dependent on networks of socio-ecological relationship. Understanding such land use and management networks is critical to address statutory species recovery targets. Whilst effects of agricultural practices are comparatively well studied, little is known about how a second set of activities, common on agricultural land, affects threatened species. Release and shooting of gamebirds occurs over ~60% of the UK. Management associated with this activity may benefit non-game birds (habitat modification, predator control, supplementary feeding) but may also damage them (increasing disease, direct resource competition, boosting generalist predators). Studies have explored bivariate relationships between aspects of game management and bird populations, but the ecological network is complex. This PhD will take a multivariate approach to define interactions within and between trophic levels to evaluate net ecological consequences of gamebird release and management.  

The student will coordinate own and citizen science work at multiple shoots to:

1. quantify (surveying gamekeepers) gamebird release and management;
2. quantify (camera trap; field-signs) predators abundance;
3. quantify (soundscape sampling; population and nest monitoring) abundance and productivity of common/threatened bird species;
4. use structural equation modelling to test multiple conceptual models of how gamebird release and management might influence bird populations.   

Project partners

Natural England will provide time from its ecological specialists to support and help steer the student’s project. Time will also be given in kind to support the student whilst working within Natural England. This may include working with experts in land management schemes, such as agri-environment; working with staff responsible for licensing of practices including gamebird activity; working with species recovery projects to understand efforts to meet statutory targets; working with specialists in disciplines such as ecological modelling, human-wildlife co-existence, ornithology, botany, forestry and mammalogy; and understanding the role of conservation organisations in providing evidence-based advice to land managers, government and industry. Natural England will also provide access to relevant field equipment, including optics, trail cameras, laser range finders and potentially eco-acoustic monitoring apparatus. 

Training

The DTP offers funding to undertake specialist training relating to the student’s specialist area of research. 

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