Conservation

The accurate assessment of forest persistence under environmental change is dependent on the fundamental understanding of the genetic consequences of human intervention and its comparison to that of natural processes, as declines in genetic diversity and changes in its structuri…

The population of bottlenose dolphins off the east coast of Scotland has been studied since the late 1980s, initially focused on the inner Moray Firth, where a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) was designated under the EU Habitats Directive. The population has since expanded it…

This research is a composite anthropology of life, assembled from diverse ethnographic engagements with multispecies lifeworlds in Talamanca, Costa Rica. Focusing on four different modes of dwelling in a more-than-human world, the research asks: What happens when people's lives …

This thesis is an archaeological and ethnographic exploration of historic military sites associated with the Cold War. It takes a multi-sited approach to former radar installations in the UK and examines the range of meanings and values that surround them, as well as their media…

Large marine vertebrate species can exhibit vast movements, both horizontally and vertically, which challenges our ability to observe their behaviours at extended time-scales. There is a growing need to understand the intra- and inter-annual movements of mobile marine species of…

The amphibian fauna of Mesoamerica is one the most diverse, yet the most endangered in the area, perfectly exemplifying why the region is one of the world biodiversity hotspots. I carried out analyses from three interrelated perspectives: Conservation Genetics, species delimitat…

Cetacean species face serious challenges worldwide due to the increasing noise pollution brought to their environment by human activities such as seismic exploration. Regulation of these activities is vaguely defined and uncoordinated. Visual observations and passive listening d…

Incidental catch, or bycatch, of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in fishing operations is an international conservation issue. The main objective of this thesis was to develop methods for determining the impact of bycatch on the state and dynamics of porpoise populations an…

The area of land farmed in Africa is predicted to double by the year 2050 yet very few African studies have investigated the impact of different farming intensities and regimes on bird communities. This study examined avian species richness and diversity along with the densities…

Bottlenose dolphins of the Kvarnerić (NE Adriatic Sea) live in an area of increasing human impact, through tourism and small-scale fisheries. This thesis aimed to assess the status of the local population and to inform managers on factors affecting their distribution and abundan…

Approximately 25% of bats globally are threatened, but limited data on African bats, which account for 20% of bat species, hinders our understanding of their conservation status across this ecologically diverse continent. This study combined: modelling techniques, to predict cur…

Urbanisation is a key driver in the loss, fragmentation and modification of natural habitats resulting in the global loss of biodiversity. As the human population, and consequently the rate of urbanisation, continues to increase exponentially it is important to understand how to…

Ponds are common and abundant features in nearly all landscapes typical of European lowland landscapes yet research on freshwater biodiversity has traditionally focussed on larger waterbodies such as lakes and rivers. This has led to an increased need to understand and quantify …

Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan represents over one thousand year old tradition and history of mosque construction in Iran, demonstrating a variety of practical techniques, architectural styles and Iranian architectural decorations altogether in one building complex. The unique example…

Over the last four decades national environmental groups have become an important means of political participation for many British citizens. Since the mid-1980s these organizations have established a number of local groups. There are still some gaps in our understanding of thes…

Hoverflies are important for their roles in ecological and environmental services, and are also charismatic species of conservation interest in their own right. Almost half of all hoverflies are saprophages, which are organisms that feed on dead or decaying organic matter, and t…

The objective of this thesis is to quantitatively understand the economic performance of protected area management strategies for forest and biodiversity conservation. Examples such as integrated conservation and development and eco tourism are assessed in terms of their ability…

Many bumblebee species have experienced severe population declines in response to the use of intensive land management practices throughout the UK and western Europe during the latter half of the twentieth century. The loss of wildflower-rich unimproved lowland grasslands has be…

The purpose of the study was to improve the understanding of the present situation and the key problems regarding the conservation of designed landscapes of the recent past. Another aim was to investigate roles and initiatives undertaken by key stakeholders and recommend key are…