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Prof Robert Briers' Outputs (76)

The Freshwater Sounds Archive (2025)
Preprint / Working Paper
Greenhalgh, J. A., Akmentins, M., Boullhesen, M., Brejao, G. L., Bowman, J. C., Briers, R. A., Campbell, K., Clark, A., Coen, M., Desjonqueres, C., Gaston, S., Gottesman, B. L., Jones, I. T., Lahoz-Monfort, J. J., Lindsay, E., Rodriguez, F. M., Navarrete-Mier, F., Norton, M., Las Casas e Novaes, M. C., Okazaki, S., …Looby, A. (2025). The Freshwater Sounds Archive

Freshwater ecosystems are full of underwater sounds produced by amphibians, aquatic arthropods, reptiles, plants, fishes, and methane bubbles escaping from the sediment. Although much headway has been made in recent years investigating the overall so... Read More about The Freshwater Sounds Archive.

Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms (2025)
Journal Article
Darras, K. F., Rountree, R. A., Van Wilgenburg, S. L., Cord, A. F., Pitz, F., Chen, Y., Dong, L., Rocquencourt, A., Desjonquères, C., Mauritz Diaz, P., Lin, T.-H., Turco, T., Emmerson, L., Bradfer-Lawrence, T., Gasc, A., Marley, S., Salton, M., Schillé, L., Wensveen, P. J., Wu, S.-H., …Cherico Wanger, T. (2025). Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 34(5), Article e70021. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70021

Aim
The urgency for remote, reliable and scalable biodiversity monitoring amidst mounting human pressures on ecosystems has sparked worldwide interest in Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), which can track life underwater and on land. However, we lac... Read More about Worldwide Soundscapes: A Synthesis of Passive Acoustic Monitoring Across Realms.

WABAD: A World Annotated Bird Acoustic Dataset for Passive Acoustic Monitoring (2025)
Preprint / Working Paper
Pérez-Granados, C., Etxebarría, J. M., Darras, K. F. A., Gómez, O. H. M., Mendoza, I., Mohedano-Muñoz, M. Á., Santamaría, E., Bastianelli, G., Márquez-Rodríguez, A., Budka, M., Bota, G., Rubio, J. M. D. L. P., Morena, E. L. G. D. L., Santa-Cruz:, M., Nava, P. D. L., Fernández-Tizón, M., Sánchez-Mateos, H., Barrero, A., Traba, J., Osiejuk, T. S., …Sebastián-González, E. WABAD: A World Annotated Bird Acoustic Dataset for Passive Acoustic Monitoring

Under the current global biodiversity crisis, there is a need for automated and non-invasive monitoring techniques that are able to gather large amounts of information cost-effectively at large scales. One such technique is passive acoustic monitorin... Read More about WABAD: A World Annotated Bird Acoustic Dataset for Passive Acoustic Monitoring.

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.

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.

Understanding the drivers of seagrass loss in Kenya: Evidence for the impacts of population and fishing (2024)
Journal Article
Mwikamba, E. M., Githaiga, M. N., Huxham, M., & Briers, R. A. (2024). Understanding the drivers of seagrass loss in Kenya: Evidence for the impacts of population and fishing. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 34(7), Article e4229. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.4229

Seagrass ecosystems are crucial for supporting biodiversity and serve as vital fishing grounds. Unfortunately, their cover is declining globally. In Kenya, seagrass cover is falling by ~ 1.6% annually but the causes are unknown. This study investigat... Read More about Understanding the drivers of seagrass loss in Kenya: Evidence for the impacts of population and fishing.

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?.

A review of seagrass cover, status and trends in Africa (2024)
Journal Article
Mwikamba, E., Githaiga, M., Briers, R. A., & Huxham, M. (2024). A review of seagrass cover, status and trends in Africa. Estuaries and Coasts, 47(4), 917–934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-024-01348-5

The recognition of the benefits that seagrasses contribute has enhanced the research interest in these marine ecosystems. Seagrasses provide critical goods and services and support the livelihoods of millions of people. Despite this, they are declini... Read More about A review of seagrass cover, status and trends in Africa.

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.

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.

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.

Effects of pile driving sound playbacks and cadmium co-exposure on the early life stage development of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (2022)
Journal Article
Stenton, C., Bolger, E., Michenot, M., Dodd, J., Wale, M., Briers, R., Hartl, M., & Diele, K. (2022). Effects of pile driving sound playbacks and cadmium co-exposure on the early life stage development of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 179, Article 113667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113667

There is an urgent need to understand how organisms respond to multiple, potentially interacting drivers in today’s world. The effects of the pollutants of anthropogenic sound (pile-driving sound playbacks) and waterborne cadmium were investigated ac... Read More about Effects of pile driving sound playbacks and cadmium co-exposure on the early life stage development of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus.

Quantification and Characterisation of Pre-Production Pellet Pollution in the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai, Aotearoa-New Zealand (2022)
Journal Article
Hunter, E. C., de Vine, R., Pantos, O., Clunies-Ross, P., Doake, F., Masterton, H., & Briers, R. A. (2022). Quantification and Characterisation of Pre-Production Pellet Pollution in the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai, Aotearoa-New Zealand. Microplastics, 1(1), 67-84. https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics1010005

Plastic pollution is threatening aquatic ecosystems and wildlife. Understanding the characteristics and extent of plastic pollution is the first step towards improving management and therefore the environmental impacts. Pre-production pellets are use... Read More about Quantification and Characterisation of Pre-Production Pellet Pollution in the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai, Aotearoa-New Zealand.

Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps (2021)
Journal Article
Hill, M. J., Greaves, H. M., Sayer, C. D., Hassall, C., Milin, M., Milner, V. S., Marazzi, L., Hall, R., Harper, L. R., Thornhill, I., Walton, R., Biggs, J., Ewald, N., Law, A., Willby, N., White, J. C., Briers, R. A., Mathers, K. L., Jeffries, M. J., & Wood, P. J. (2021). Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps. Ecosphere, 12(12), Article e03853. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3853

Ponds are amongst the most biodiverse and ecologically important freshwater habitats globally and may provide a significant opportunity to mitigate anthropogenic pressures and reverse the decline of aquatic biodiversity. Ponds also provide important... Read More about Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps.

The Impact Of Shadow Flicker Or Pulsating Shadow Effect, Caused By Wind Turbine Blades, On Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar): Research Summary (2021)
Report
Dodd, J. A., & Briers, R. A. (2021). The Impact Of Shadow Flicker Or Pulsating Shadow Effect, Caused By Wind Turbine Blades, On Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar): Research Summary. Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW)

As the need for onshore wind energy expands, such climate adaptation measures may have unintended and potentially significant influences on how fish respond when situated next to rivers or streams. The aim of this project was to examine evidence of p... Read More about The Impact Of Shadow Flicker Or Pulsating Shadow Effect, Caused By Wind Turbine Blades, On Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar): Research Summary.

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.

Marine invertebrate anthropogenic noise research -Trends in methods and future directions (2021)
Journal Article
Wale, M., Briers, R., & Diele, K. (2021). Marine invertebrate anthropogenic noise research -Trends in methods and future directions. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 173(A), Article 112958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112958

Selecting the correct methods to answer one's chosen question is key to conducting rigorous, evidence-based science. A disciplines' chosen methods are constantly evolving to encompass new insights and developments. Analysing these changes can be a us... Read More about Marine invertebrate anthropogenic noise research -Trends in methods and future directions.

Same data, different conclusions: Radical dispersion in empirical results when independent analysts operationalize and test the same hypothesis (2021)
Journal Article
Schweinsberg, M., Feldman, M., Van Assen, M. A. L. M., Bernstein, A., Staub, N., Sommer, S. A., van den Akker, O. R., van Aert, R., Liu, Y., Althoff, T., Heer, J., Kale, A., Mohamed, Z., Amireh, H., Venkatesh Prasad, V., Bernstein, A., Robinson, E., Snellman, K., Sommer, S. A., Otner, S. M., …Druijff-van de Woestijne, G. B. (2021). Same data, different conclusions: Radical dispersion in empirical results when independent analysts operationalize and test the same hypothesis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 165, 228-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2021.02.003

In this crowdsourced initiative, independent analysts used the same dataset to test two hypotheses regarding the effects of scientists’ gender and professional status on verbosity during group meetings. Not only the analytic approach but also the ope... Read More about Same data, different conclusions: Radical dispersion in empirical results when independent analysts operationalize and test the same hypothesis.