E-Thesis 247 views 143 downloads
Standardised methods for collaborative long-term monitoring and management of cetaceans in Wales / RHIAN FORREST
Swansea University Author: RHIAN FORREST
Abstract
Monitoring long terms trends of species abundance is a fundamental requirement for effective conservation. Surveying wildlife creates a baseline to measure changes in the population and to detect and manage specific abiotic and biotic threats. However, long term monitoring is not always effective or...
| Published: |
Swansea
2020
|
|---|---|
| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Master of Research |
| Degree name: | MRes |
| Supervisor: | Nuuttila, Hannah |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60120 |
| Abstract: |
Monitoring long terms trends of species abundance is a fundamental requirement for effective conservation. Surveying wildlife creates a baseline to measure changes in the population and to detect and manage specific abiotic and biotic threats. However, long term monitoring is not always effective or achievable because of insufficient finances, resources, planning or limited project focus. Establishing a collaborative network of scientists to bring together similar research may provide the solution as seen with networks on seagrass, aquatic macrophytes and avian populations. Frequently there are many organisations working in isolation using multiple approaches on similar species. This case study specifically investigates the social barriers leading to a lack of collaborative efforts in cetacean monitoring in Wales where there are four organisations independently undertaking systematic long-term monitoring. Here, I produce, trial and analyse a simple low-cost standardised methodology that could be used for long-term monitoring by multiple organisations and review the potential of a collaborative acoustics project to enable simple comparisons of encounter rates for cetaceans Wales-wide. An online questionnaire to stakeholders revealed that primary barriers to collaborative research were personality differences and funding competition; participants indicated that the re-establishment of a marine mammal working group by Natural Resources Wales would enable development of personal relationships and fair access to resources. Similar working groups have been established in terrestrial and aquatic ecology which have attempted to overcome the challenges in effective long-term monitoring. It is anticipated that this research could be duplicated to other species to assess any barriers and solutions to collaborative working and establish more cohesive long-term monitoring strategies in ecology. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
Cetacean, Collaboration, Conservation Network, Vantage Point Survey, Land- Based Survey, SAM, Acoustic Monitoring, C-POD |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |