Cumulative effects of predation and bycatch in northern fulmar metapopulation dynamics

The proposed PhD encompasses QUADRAT remit and strategic priorities specifically with the Biodiversity and Environmental management research areas. This project focuses on improving our ability to capture realism in the quantification and subsequent forecasting of Northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) metapopulation dynamics. This work will advance our understanding of a priority species, and its conservation, through improvements in metapopulation modelling by understanding how different sources of disturbance and perturbations affect metapopulation dynamics. Ultimately, the project aims to advance our understanding of, and methodologies available for, modelling metapopulation dynamics. This will be important for informing marine management policy by providing rigorous evidence to decision makers, nature conservation advisors and industry, and remove barriers to the delivery of Seabird Conservation Strategies. Moreover, such advances would reduce uncertainty when forecasting how potential bycatch mitigation may affect priority species such as fulmars in the context of the post-Brexit Uk Seabird Bycatch Mitigation Initiative and Clean Catch UK'.

Likewise, the proposed PhD project aligns with the NERC remit and strategic priorities specifically with the following research areas: Ecology biodiversity and systematics and Tools, technology and methods.

Ecology biodiversity and systematics: The proposed PhD aims to better understand large spatio-temporal metapopulation dynamics of Northern fulmars in the UK (Population ecology). The project will also develop an understanding of the strategies used by fulmars to maximise fitness in the face of cumulative effects such as interactions with fisheries, presence of predators or density dependence (Behavioural ecology). Ultimately the research outputs produced here will be used to inform the conservation of fulmars in their natural habitat through its core partnerships with relevant stakeholders such as JNCC and MSS (Conservation ecology). Tools, technology & methods: The PhD project will adapt existing remote monitoring technology (camera traps) with environmental applications (Technology for environmental applications) as well as developing remote environmental monitoring of fulmar populations (and their predators) (Survey and monitoring), with likely applications to other seabirds and similarly logistically intensive species.