Population connectivity of native and invasive species in the Fens: what are appropriate habitats for conservation?

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This fully-funded project provides the opportunity for a motivated student to learn cutting-edge skills in conservation science and to make an important contribution to the conservation and restoration of the UK's largest wetland. The student will: 1) gain skills in population genetics and individually-based modelling, 2) deliver internationally relevant science related to resolving trade-offs between improving habitat connectivity for native species while minimising the spread of invasive species, and 3) work closely with ecologists and practitioners in the conservation organisation Natural England, to deliver effective strategies for restoration of the Fens in eastern England. The Fens is an ecologically important area, covering 3900 km2 and providing critical habitat for >13,000 species (1500 of which are of conservation concern and 50 of which are Fens endemics). However, due to intensive land use, less than 1% of this habitat remains intact. Efforts are currently underway to restore connectivity among remaining habitat fragments, to conserve the biodiversity of this valuable ecosystem. However, the Fens are also home to a number of invasive species, and improving connectivity among habitat patches may have the unwanted consequence of hastening the spread of these species. This project will have a direct applied relevance to conservation decisions for the Fens, and will also address broader, global issues relating to the challenge of improving native species connectivity in the context of invaded ecosystems. For this project, the student will conduct fieldwork and genetic analyses to assess connectivity for a range of native and invasive species that specialise on wetland habitats, and which have a local stronghold in the Fens. The student will also use a suite of new modelling approaches to predict the consequences of various conservation strategies, with an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of the increasingly popular software tool RangeShifter for understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics and the consequences of land management and conservation strategies.