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Impacts of mammals on trees and tree protection methods pertinent to English treescapes - a systematic literature review for Forestry Commission (2025)
Report
Mackinnon, J., Turner, R. S., & White, P. J. C. (2025). Impacts of mammals on trees and tree protection methods pertinent to English treescapes - a systematic literature review for Forestry Commission. Forestry Commission

We conducted a systematic literature review as part of a Forestry Commission (FC) contract to provide good practice technical guidance to manage impacts of mammals on trees, woods, establishing woodlands and treescapes. The review examined both the p... Read More about Impacts of mammals on trees and tree protection methods pertinent to English treescapes - a systematic literature review for Forestry Commission.

Shifts in dietary composition are linked to increased clutch size, but not brood size, in a UK urban Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus population (2025)
Journal Article
Thornton, M., Wilson, D., Leitch, A., Roos, S., & White, P. (online). Shifts in dietary composition are linked to increased clutch size, but not brood size, in a UK urban Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus population. Bird Study, https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2025.2513542

Capsule: Over three decades, the garden bird community composition in Edinburgh has changed, probably in response to increased garden bird feeding, and this has increased prey biomass for Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus, coinciding with a signi... Read More about Shifts in dietary composition are linked to increased clutch size, but not brood size, in a UK urban Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus population.

Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age (2025)
Journal Article
Pringle, S., Dallimer, M., Goddard, M. A., Le Goff, L. K., Hart, E., Langdale, S. J., Fisher, J. C., Abad, S.-A., Ancrenaz, M., Angeoletto, F., Auat Cheein, F., Austen, G. E., Bailey, J. J., Baldock, K. C. R., Banin, L. F., Banks-Leite, C., Barau, A. S., Bashyal, R., Bates, A. J., Bicknell, J. E., …Davies, Z. G. (2025). Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 9(6), 1031-1042. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02704-9

With biodiversity loss escalating globally, a step change is needed in our capacity to accurately monitor species populations across ecosystems. Robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) offer technological solutions that may substantially advance terrest... Read More about Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age.

Relative Performance and Practicality of Night Vision Aids and Naked Eye Counts for Emerging Bats (2025)
Journal Article
Mitchell, L., Findlay, M., Ingledew, R., & White, P. (2025). Relative Performance and Practicality of Night Vision Aids and Naked Eye Counts for Emerging Bats. In Practice (CIEEM), 127, 41-46

The Bat Conservation Trust’s Good Practice Guidelines now require the use of night vision aids for bat emergence surveys. In light of this, we compared the efficacy and efficiency of three bat emergence roost count methods: naked eye counts, infrared... Read More about Relative Performance and Practicality of Night Vision Aids and Naked Eye Counts for Emerging Bats.

Bots on the Ground vs Boots on the Ground: The Future of Robots in Terrestrial Ecological Surveying (2025)
Journal Article
White, P., Le Goff, L., Emery, L., Abrahams, C., Findlay, M., Cook, J., Macleod, K., Deacon, L., Reason, P., Stanhope, K., Wale, M., Hart, E., & Diele, K. (2025). Bots on the Ground vs Boots on the Ground: The Future of Robots in Terrestrial Ecological Surveying. In Practice (CIEEM), 27, 47-52

At the 2023 CIEEM Modernising Ecology conference, a robot greeted the attendees as they arrived. Was it a glimpse into the future? As with other technologies, robots have the potential to revolutionise ecological surveying, yet this comes with both o... Read More about Bots on the Ground vs Boots on the Ground: The Future of Robots in Terrestrial Ecological Surveying.

Bespoke design of cage trap and patagial wing tag for the capture and study of black grouse Lyrurus tetrix at lek sites: assessment of effectiveness for future studies (2024)
Journal Article
Waltona, C., Ripodas Melero, A. I., & White, P. J. C. (2024). Bespoke design of cage trap and patagial wing tag for the capture and study of black grouse Lyrurus tetrix at lek sites: assessment of effectiveness for future studies. Ringing and Migration, 39(1-2), 43-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/03078698.2025.2465845

Given new avenues for Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix telemetry, and translocations to previously occupied areas, we designed a new cage trap for use at leks that was safe, reliable, and easily transportable, and a custom black-and-white wing-tag that wa... Read More about Bespoke design of cage trap and patagial wing tag for the capture and study of black grouse Lyrurus tetrix at lek sites: assessment of effectiveness for future studies.

Implications of newly developed SNPs for conservation programmes for the threatened Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) in Oman (2024)
Journal Article
Al-Ghafri, M. K., White, P. J., Briers, R. A., Ball, A., Senn, H., Al-Jahdhami, M. H., Al-Amri, H., Tiwari, B. B., Al-Harsusi, S. N., Al-Harsusi, A. G., Al-Rawahi, Q., & Dicks, K. L. (2024). Implications of newly developed SNPs for conservation programmes for the threatened Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) in Oman. Conservation Genetics Resources, 16(4), 293-305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12686-024-01370-6

Conservation of elusive species affected by habitat degradation, population fragmentation and poaching is challenging. The remaining wild populations of a desert-adapted ungulate, Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), within Oman are small and fragmented. The... Read More about Implications of newly developed SNPs for conservation programmes for the threatened Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) in Oman.

Scent lures and baits at camera traps improve time to first detection and detection probability of two typically elusive species of weasel (2024)
Journal Article
Ebel, K., & White, P. J. C. (2024). Scent lures and baits at camera traps improve time to first detection and detection probability of two typically elusive species of weasel. Mammal Research, 69(4), 461-478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-024-00771-0

There is a growing body of evidence that weasel species are in decline globally. More data on their ecology and distribution are needed to plan and justify any conservation management actions. Camera trapping can be an effective survey method for man... Read More about Scent lures and baits at camera traps improve time to first detection and detection probability of two typically elusive species of weasel.

Impacts of forest extent, configuration and landscape context on presence of declining breeding Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata and implications for planning new woodland (2024)
Journal Article
McGrory, R. E., Briers, R. A., Tomlin, C., Findlay, M. A., Kerslake, L. J., Riddle, N., & White, P. J. (2024). Impacts of forest extent, configuration and landscape context on presence of declining breeding Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata and implications for planning new woodland. Forest Ecology and Management, 572, Article 122281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122281

In response to the combined impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises, as well as for timber security and increased recreational access to green spaces, there is a global drive to increase tree cover. In the UK, an estimated 1.5 million ha of af... Read More about Impacts of forest extent, configuration and landscape context on presence of declining breeding Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata and implications for planning new woodland.

Surveying Birds in Open Habitats near Proposed Woodland Creation Schemes: What is the Effect of Having Fewer Visits? (2024)
Journal Article
Borthwick, M. D., Kerslake, L., Findlay, M., Briers, R. A., Tomlin, C., Riddle, N., & White, P. J. (2024). Surveying Birds in Open Habitats near Proposed Woodland Creation Schemes: What is the Effect of Having Fewer Visits?. In Practice (CIEEM), 124, 32-37

In relation to new woodland creation in England, the Forestry Commission (FC) may require breeding bird surveys of proposed sites to assess suitability for planting or natural colonisation. Previous protocols required six visits, but we wanted to tes... Read More about Surveying Birds in Open Habitats near Proposed Woodland Creation Schemes: What is the Effect of Having Fewer Visits?.

Do UK survey licenses for otter support best practice? (2024)
Journal Article
White, P., & Findlay, M. (2024). Do UK survey licenses for otter support best practice?. In Practice (CIEEM), 48-52

Under the Habitats Regulations, resting/breeding places of otters (Lutra lutra) are protected from damage and disturbance, and ecologists are expected to identify such structures. Following an extensive programme of research, we now believe there is... Read More about Do UK survey licenses for otter support best practice?.

Optimisation of Open-habitat Bird Surveys – a report to the Forestry Commission (2024)
Report
Borthwick, M., Findlay, M., Briers, R., & White, P. (2024). Optimisation of Open-habitat Bird Surveys – a report to the Forestry Commission. Forestry Commission

In the process of offering financial grants to landowners seeking to create new areas of woodland in England, the Forestry Commission (FC) requires surveying of proposed woodland creation sites for breeding birds in order to assess the suitability of... Read More about Optimisation of Open-habitat Bird Surveys – a report to the Forestry Commission.

The impacts of forestry on breeding curlew distribution – a report to the Forestry Commission (2024)
Report
McGrory, R., Briers, R., Findlay, M., & White, P. (2024). The impacts of forestry on breeding curlew distribution – a report to the Forestry Commission. Forestry Commission

We were commissioned by Forestry Commission (FC) to utilise the large-scale Breeding Waders of English Upland Farmland (BWEUF) data and the wider literature to provide evidence for several questions posed by the Curlew Recovery Partnership relating t... Read More about The impacts of forestry on breeding curlew distribution – a report to the Forestry Commission.

Choice of model and re‐nesting probability function influences behaviour of avian seasonal productivity models and their demographic predictions (2023)
Journal Article
White, P. J. C., Stoate, C., Aebisher, N. J., Szczur, J., Ferrer, L., & Norris, K. (2024). Choice of model and re‐nesting probability function influences behaviour of avian seasonal productivity models and their demographic predictions. Ibis, 166(2), 455-471. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13267

Measuring seasonal productivity is difficult in multi‐brooded species without labour‐intensive ringing studies. Individual‐based (IB) models have been used to estimate seasonal productivity with no direct knowledge of number of nesting attempts, but... Read More about Choice of model and re‐nesting probability function influences behaviour of avian seasonal productivity models and their demographic predictions.

Assessment of the accuracy of counting large ungulate species (red deer Cervus elaphus) with UAV‐mounted thermal infrared cameras during night flights (2023)
Journal Article
Zabel, F., Findlay, M. A., & White, P. J. C. (2023). Assessment of the accuracy of counting large ungulate species (red deer Cervus elaphus) with UAV‐mounted thermal infrared cameras during night flights. Wildlife Biology, 2023(3), Article e01071. https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01071

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in wildlife surveying, including estimation of population densities. It is essential that we evaluate and test new survey methods to guide optimal sampling strategies. This study aimed to assess t... Read More about Assessment of the accuracy of counting large ungulate species (red deer Cervus elaphus) with UAV‐mounted thermal infrared cameras during night flights.

An evidence-based approach to identifying resting sites of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from camera-trap and field-sign data (2022)
Journal Article
Findlay, M. A., Briers, R. A., Ingledew, R. P., & James Ciaran White, P. (2023). An evidence-based approach to identifying resting sites of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from camera-trap and field-sign data. Wildlife Biology, 2023(1), Article e01036. https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01036

Mammals' resting sites (dens) are important features of their ecology. Eurasian otter Lutra lutra resting sites are strictly protected by UK and European legislation and are ostensibly identified from associated field-signs. This legislation is diffi... Read More about An evidence-based approach to identifying resting sites of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from camera-trap and field-sign data.

Habitat selection of smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in the peri-coastal, urbanised landscape of Goa, India (2022)
Journal Article
Dias, S. J., White, P. J. C., Sinai Borker, A., & Vaz Fernandes, N. (2022). Habitat selection of smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in the peri-coastal, urbanised landscape of Goa, India. Mammal Research, 67(3), 299-309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-022-00639-1

Human development can have detrimental impacts on the environment and its contained ecosystems. However, several species have adapted to thrive in human-modified landscapes. This study was aimed to assess habitat selection of threatened Smooth Coated... Read More about Habitat selection of smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in the peri-coastal, urbanised landscape of Goa, India.

Linking agri-environment scheme habitat area, predation and the abundance of chick invertebrate prey to the nesting success of a declining farmland bird (2022)
Journal Article
McHugh, N. M., White, P. J. C., Moreby, S., Szczur, J., Stoate, C., Leather, S. R., & Holland, J. M. (2022). Linking agri-environment scheme habitat area, predation and the abundance of chick invertebrate prey to the nesting success of a declining farmland bird. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 3(2), Article e12155. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12155

1. Across Europe, farmland bird populations have continued to decline since the 1970s owing to the intensification of farming practices. Studies of such declines have tended to focus specifically on either the impacts of habitats (nesting and foragin... Read More about Linking agri-environment scheme habitat area, predation and the abundance of chick invertebrate prey to the nesting success of a declining farmland bird.

Multi-scale habitat selection and spatial analysis reveals a mismatch between the wintering distribution of a threatened population of Taiga Bean Geese Anser fabalis and its protected area (2021)
Journal Article
Thornton, M., Mitchell, C., Griffin, L., Briers, R., Minshull, B., Maciver, A., & White, P. (2022). Multi-scale habitat selection and spatial analysis reveals a mismatch between the wintering distribution of a threatened population of Taiga Bean Geese Anser fabalis and its protected area. Bird Study, 68(2), 157-173. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2021.1966740

Capsule: Our multi-scale habitat selection and spatial analysis of a threatened population of Taiga Bean Geese Anser fabalis highlights the importance of monitoring and review programmes to determine whether species conservation measures are being im... Read More about Multi-scale habitat selection and spatial analysis reveals a mismatch between the wintering distribution of a threatened population of Taiga Bean Geese Anser fabalis and its protected area.