Method(Ec)ology Lab

Research that has practical applications for conservation of threatened species and for the wider profession of ecology and environmental management. Particular focus on testing or developing the evidence-base for best-practice in monitoring and mitigation methods. Part of Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Conservation & Restoration Science (CCRS).

Research programmes and themes

Technologies in terrestrial ecological monitoring – developing evidence-based approaches for their use (read more)

OTTERS

Identification and monitoring of resting and breeding sites of Eurasian otters (read more)

Assessing seasonality of breeding in Eurasian otters through diverse data sources (read more)

Small mammal and bird conservation in Goa, India (read more)

BIRDS

Methods for modelling seasonal productivity in multi-brooded birds (read more)

Upland bird monitoring, conservation and ecology (read more)

Influence on policy and practice

Commissioned conduct evidence review (report) and then to write “Protecting trees from mammal damage: technical guidance” and “Small mammals, beavers and domestic grazing species damage to trees: visual guide” (in press). Some case studies we wrote have been published: Burrator Forest, Holnicote Estate and Nature & Nurture, Ingleborough NNR and Kingley Vale NNR.

Research (report 1 | report 2) commissioned to inform Forestry Commission guidance on “Ecological survey and assessment for woodland creation in England” hosted on gov.uk. Guidance is endorsed by CIEEM.

Research (report) commissioned to inform Forestry Commission, Natural England and DEFRA “Guidance to help inform when an upland breeding wader survey is needed and when woodland creation is likely to be appropriate” hosted on gov.uk.

We offer professional training courses on otter ecology, field survey and camera-trapping or to ecological consultancies (such as WSP, SLR) or other organizations, with excellent feedback. Please contact us to find out more or to discuss any bespoke training/CPD courses for your organization

INTERVIEW: Call of the Wild! ‘STEM with Mr N’ Career Interview with environmental biologist Dr. Patrick White

WEBINAR: CIEEM Academia Special Interest Group – Meet the robotics scientist: a discussion of the role future robots might play in ecological survey featuring Pat White

CAM-TRAP FOOTAGE: Method(Ec)ology Lab Youtube Channel

If you are considering applying for the MSc Wildlife Biology & Conservation (on campus or distance-learning), projects in the lab will be available. For current MSc students, project briefs are available in the Research Project Prospectus on the programme Moodle site or contact us for more information

If you are interested in doing a self-funded PhD or MRes project in the lab please contact us

We have a partnership with the CREA Margay Project in Panama to study camera trapping and night vision survey methods for arboreal mammals, please contact us for more information. You can find out more about the Margay project and the Cocobolo reserve and field station on their Youtube channel

We are currently advertising for a self-funded Masters by Researhc project “Investigating wildlife camera-trap theft and vandalism in the wild” which is a good opportunity to develop a range of research skills. All equipment and training would be provided. Please contact Pat White for information.

Postdoctoral Research Assistant Dr Richard Turner (funded by Forestry Commission)

Research Assistant Murray Borthwick (funded by Forestry Commission)

Research Assistant Roisin McGrory (funded by Forestry Commission)

PhD student Mataab al Ghafri (with RZSS) – Genetic assessment and development of genomic resources for Nubian ibex conservation in Oman (Oman Government funded | paper 1 | paper 2 | PhD thesis)

PhD student Melanie Findlay – Optimisation of monitoring using camera-traps and field evidence when identifying Eurasian otter Lutra lutra resting or breeding sites (paper 1 | paper 2 | paper 3 | CIEEM article | webinar | PhD thesis)

MRes student Mike Thornton – Evidence-based assessment of protected area (SPA) design for Taiga bean geese (with WWT) (paper | BOU blog post)

MSc student Ben Blackledge – Using Convolutional Neural Networks and geophones to identify large mammal species from their footfall (paper)

MSc student Stephen Dias – Habitat selection of Indian smooth-coated otters Lutrogale perpicillata in the pericoastal, urbanised landscape of Goa (with Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science) (paper)

MSc student Neil Diamond – Determining the Efficacy of Camera Trap Surveys in the Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra (contributed to paper)

MSc student Kate Ebel – Baits and lures impact time to detection and detection probabilities in weasels (with Wildland Conservancy) (paper)

MSc student Lucy Ferrer – Modelling the breeding season functions of a multi-brooded songbird produces similar outputs to those from a marked population (contributed to paper)

MSc student Izabella Kennedy – Habitat selection by nightjars in Ashdown Forest in 2023 (Sussex Bird Report article)

MSc student Laura Mitchell – A comparative study of bat emergence count methods including night vision aids and computer vision automation (CIEEM article)

MSc student Ruth Peters-Grundy – Comparison of effectiveness of close-focus camera-traps and live traps for surveying small mammals (footage)

MSc student Alba Ripodas Melero -Behaviour of individual marked black grouse at a lek site in the Cairngorms National Park (contributed to paper)

MSc student Sina Weier – Changes of bat species distribution over an altitudinal gradient in the Soutpansberg, South Africa (with University of Venda) (paper)

MSc student Darren Wilson – Diet Composition of Eurasian Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus in Edinburgh, Scotland (contributed to paper)

MSc student Gillian Wilson – Estimating availability bias in diving seabirds and marine mammals from aerial surveys – a systematic review (with HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd.) (contributed to poster at European Cetacean Society conference)

MSc student Frank Zabel – Accuracy of counting red deer with UAV-mounted thermal cameras (paper | webinar)

BSc student Shona Gordon – An investigation into the variation of the vocalisations emitted by wild populations of the Eurasian otter at a holt in Fife (thesis | was used to inform otter section of this book)