Research

PhD title: 

The Impact of Winter and Breeding Season Habitat Selection on Distribution and Productivity in Partial Migrants in Iberia.

• Research period: 1st November 2011 to 31st October 2014
• Supervisor: Dr Aldina Franco, University of East Anglia
• Co-supervisors: Dr Jenny Gill and Dr Alina Marca from the University of East Anglia; Dr Phil Atkinson, British Trust for Ornithology 
• Collaborators: Dr Ines Catry, Centro de Ecologia Aplicada Prof. Baeta Neves, Lisbon; Mr Goncalo Rosa, Lisbon

I am an ecologist and stable isotope geochemist very interested in species response to climate change, particularly in understanding how climate change impacts species distributions and migration.

My PhD focuses on the changing wintering and breeding distribution of the partially migrant White Stork as a result of climatic change and due to the effects of the planned series of rubbish dump closures across Portugal. I am using movement data from GPS loggers attached to 15 adult storks to investigate and compare winter and breeding season habitat selection in relation to breeding success and climate. I am also monitoring productivity in 22 white stork colonies in different habitats (wet and dry) at different latitudes throughout Portugal to test the impact of climate (particularly temperature) and habitat factors on white stork breeding success. Additionally I am monitoring colonies both close and far from landfill sites at different latitudes; and colonies close to landfills that have recently closed. 

Red swamp Crayfish -an easy catch!

The closure of the landfill sites in Portugal will likely return white storks to foraging in agricultural fields. A main prey item in rice fields is the invasive Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), a species known to accumulate heavy metals. Heavy metal poisoning is suspected to be the cause of low productivity in some rice field colonies. I am assessing heavy metal abundances in crayfish, eggshell and feather material from all my colonies. Results could indicate that landfill ‘junk food’ is actually a better option than natural food.

 

I am also comparing the wintering habitat selection of the white stork with other partial migrants: Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Hoopoe (Upupa epops) and European Roller (Coracias garrulus). Stable isotopes of Carbon, Nitrogen and Hydrogen from toenails and feathers grown in the wintering area will be used to estimate whether an individual wintered in Europe or Africa.

 

My PhD includes 2 months per year spent at the British Trust for Ornithology. 

Up on the roof! Stork chicks in one of my dry habitat colonies

Ringing at a Lesser Kestrel breeding colony -pictured here with a male.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded By: