Blaise Martay

Research Ecologist

Blaise Martay

Contact

Blaise's role is to carry out ecological research, primarily on climate change impacts. Recent projects include multi-taxa modelling of the impact of climate change on UK biodiversity and the impacts of phenological mismatch. Much of her work involves combining BTO's large-scale datasets with data from other national monitoring schemes.

Interests & Responsibilities

Blaise has a broad interest in conservation ecology. In particular she is interested in disentangling the impact of climate and land-use factors on populations to identify vulnerable species and populations, drivers of change and to predict future changes. This encompasses examining shifting species interactions as species respond in a variety of ways to change. Blaise is also interested in research into the best use of conservation practices such as agri-environmental schemes and habitat protection and restoration.

Qualifications

2011 PhD Insect Conservation on Created Fenland, Anglia Ruskin University 2007 BA Hons Natural Sciences (specialising in Ecology), Cambridge University

Recent BTO Publications

Martay, B., Leech, D.I., Shortall, C.R., Bell, J.R., Thackeray, S.J., Hemming, D.L. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W 2023. Aerial insect biomass, but not phenological mismatch, is associated with chick survival of an insectivorous bird. Ibis View at journal website (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13190)
Martay, B. & Noble, D. 2022. Scoping the feasibility of developments to the Terrestrial Bird Indicator for Scotland – urban, farmland and wetland indicators. NatureScot Research Report 1 300 Link to publication
Barnes, A.E., Davies, J.G., Martay, B., Boersch-Supan, P. H., Harris, S.J., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Robinson, R.A. 2022. Rare and declining bird species benefit most from designating protected areas for conservation in the UK. Nature Ecology & Evolution View at journal website (DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01927-4)
Martay, B., Pearce-Higgings, J.W., Harris, S.J. & Gillings, S. 2022. Breeding ground temperature rises, more than habitat change, are associated with spatially variable population trends in two species of migratory bird. Ibis View at journal website (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13101)
Darvill, B., Harris, S.J., Martay, B., Wilson, M. & Gillings, S. 2020. Delivering robust population trends for Scotland's widespread breeding birds. Scottish Birds 40 (part 4) : 297-304 8pp
Martay, B. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2020. Opening a can of worms: Can the availability of soil invertebrates be indicated by birds?. Ecological Indicators 113 View at journal website (DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106222) 9pp
View all BTO publications for this author

Other Publications

Martay, B., Robertshaw, T., Doberski, J. & Thomas, A. 2014. Does dispersal limit the re-colonisation of created fenland by a wetland beetle Carabus granulatus? An assessment using direct measurements of dispersal and genetics. Restoration Ecology 22, 590-597.

Martay, B., Hughes, F.M.R. & Doberski, J. 2012. A comparison of created and ancient fenland using ground beetles as a measure of conservation value. Insect conservation and diversity 5, 251-263.

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