Chemical Exposures of UK Estuarine Wading Birds and Potential Impacts on their Migration Fitness. (Ref: 4282)

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Combating biodiversity declines is one of our greatest global challenges. Many migratory bird species are declining at rates far exceeding those of their resident counterparts. Impacts of chemicals on bird migration fitness has largely been ignored yet is important for international bird protection, and informing future UK policy to monitor and manage chemicals in the UK and effects abroad. Many birds feed in UK estuaries to fuel their global migrations where contaminants of environmental concern are often concentrated. Combining field sampling, empirical chemical measures, bird tracking, and modelling, this exciting project, supported by an internationally leading team of researchers at the universities of Exeter and York and policy advisors at the JNCC and Defra, will investigate the impact of contaminant exposures on wading bird migratory fitness. This project will develop new data and understanding on the risks of chemical exposure for selected estuary feeding wading birds (Dunlin, Curlew, Godwits and Oystercatchers) during critical life periods as they fuel for migration. Combining empirical studies and modelling approaches, the project will identify migratory wader species at higher risk(s) to chemical exposure effects for supporting more effective targeted future environmental protectionThe student will gain expertise in a wide range of scientific skills, including in ecotoxicology, ecology, analytical chemistry, modelling, bird handling and tagging, and advanced statistical methods. With stakeholder partners they will also gain in-depth knowledge in conservation biology, environmental monitoring, chemicals risk assessment, and domestic and international policy.