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BTO Research
Professional and Consultancy Services
BIRD POPULATION STUDIES
BTO has extensive skill and experience in
modelling the demography of bird populations using complex models incorporating
both data from its own long-running schemes monitoring abundance, survival
and productivity and data from external sources such as the MAFF
June Agricultural Census database.
Recent projects involving demographic analyses include:
- Large-scale Processes in Ecology – spatial scale and populations.
A study of the effects of spatial scale on population processes of British
breeding birds. To test whether demographic variables differ between
habitats and between areas with different population densities. Funded
through a research grant from the Natural Environment Research Council.
- Effects of Agricultural Change on Bird Populations. A project
undertaken to identify the mechanisms by which changes in agricultural
land-use practices have contributed to severe declines in the range
and abundance of farmland bird populations and to predict how future
changes might be tailored to accommodate the long-term viability of
these populations. Undertaken in collaboration with Oxford University
for MAFF.
- Song Thrush Decline. An analysis of agricultural statistics
and first year survival rates to gain understanding into the causes
for the long-term Song Thrush decline for RSPB.
- Sparrowhawks and Songbirds. An investigation of Sparrowhawk
abundance and its relation to abundance and population change in a range
of songbird species for RSPB.
- Waterways Birds Survey of Severn-Trent Region. An investigation
of population trends for riparian birds in Severn-Trent Region using
national and regional data from the Waterways Birds Survey for National
Rivers Authority.
- Breeding Bird Survey in National Parks. An evaluation of the
BBS to develop appropriate methodology for annual monitoring of birds
in National Parks, for Countryside Commission.
- Climate Change. An analysis of how climate change is already
affecting the breeding of a wide range of common birds. This has been
incorporated into the government's set of Climate Change Indicators
published by DETR. Funded by BTO, JNCC and DETR.
- The Importance of Different Habitats for Bird Populations in the
UK. Using Breeding Bird Survey data, the proportion of birds
of a number of declining species in each major habitat was investigated
to show the importance of man-made habitats. Funded by the BBS Partners
(BTO, JNCC, RSPB).
- Indicators of Sustainable Development in the UK. Population
trends of breeding birds have been combined to produce a wildlife index
that will measure the "health" of the UK's environment. Published
by the UK government. Funded by BTO, RSPB and DETR.
- Movements of Cormorants. Analysis of movements of Cormorants
based on ring recovery analysis has been undertaken to help understand
the perceived conflicts with inland fisheries. Funded by DETR.
- Survival of Oiled Seabirds. Analysis of oiled Guillemots
that have been cleaned and released after oil spills has been undertaken
to investigate the value of this rehabilitation. Funded by Sea Empress
Environmental Evaluation Committee
- Population Range-Abundance Relationships. Using national
BTO bird datasets, the theoretical models of the relationships between
local population abundance and geographic range size was investigated.
In collaboration with Imperial College, London, ITE and the Universities
of Sheffield
and Leeds.
Funded by NERC.
In addition, there is a substantial amount of work undertaken under ongoing
research projects funded by the BTO/JNCC
Partnership and Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds.
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