David Jarrett
Breeding waders and generalist predators in Northern Norway
Many wader species breed at higher latitudes where the potential nest predator community is more limited. In the Sub-Arctic tundra of Northern Fenno-Scandia, it is likely that breeding wader populations are declining, although there are few long-term datasets. The spread of boreal generalist predators into tundra habitat may be one factor contributing to wader declines.
It is well-established that population dynamics of ground-nesting birds and predators in Arctic tundra are driven by small rodent cycles. However, in recent years the amplitude of these cycles appears to be dampening, while larger herds of semi-domesticated reindeer have been shown to be associated with higher densities of generalist predators. These changes may mean that the structure of tundra food webs is fundamentally shifting.
There are areas in Northern Norway where Red Fox Vulpes vulpes are being culled for conservation of Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus and the Arctic Fox Vulpes lagopus respectively. This project will investigate whether the reduced densities of Red Foxes in the Varanger peninsula cull area are associated with higher wader breeding productivity than in nearby control sites with higher numbers of Red Foxes. Field surveys will assess breeding success. Additionally, to improve data on generalist predators, a recording platform will be developed for hunters, fishermen and people visiting remote areas to record encounters with a suite of predator species. Data from this platform will also be used to investigate the effect of generalist predator communities on wader populations.
This project is being carried out in conjunction with the COAT (Climate-ecological Observatory for Arctic Tundra) project led by the UiT-Arctic University of Norway which has many long-term research projects in North-East Norway.
Breeding waders and generalist predators in Northern Norway
Many wader species breed at higher latitudes where the potential nest predator community is more limited. In the Sub-Arctic tundra of Northern Fenno-Scandia, it is likely that breeding wader populations are declining, although there are few long-term datasets. The spread of boreal generalist predators into tundra habitat may be one factor contributing to wader declines.
It is well-established that population dynamics of ground-nesting birds and predators in Arctic tundra are driven by small rodent cycles. However, in recent years the amplitude of these cycles appears to be dampening, while larger herds of semi-domesticated reindeer have been shown to be associated with higher densities of generalist predators. These changes may mean that the structure of tundra food webs is fundamentally shifting.
There are areas in Northern Norway where Red Fox Vulpes vulpes are being culled for conservation of Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus and the Arctic Fox Vulpes lagopus respectively. This project will investigate whether the reduced densities of Red Foxes in the Varanger peninsula cull area are associated with higher wader breeding productivity than in nearby control sites with higher numbers of Red Foxes. Field surveys will assess breeding success. Additionally, to improve data on generalist predators, a recording platform will be developed for hunters, fishermen and people visiting remote areas to record encounters with a suite of predator species. Data from this platform will also be used to investigate the effect of generalist predator communities on wader populations.
This project is being carried out in conjunction with the COAT (Climate-ecological Observatory for Arctic Tundra) project led by the UiT-Arctic University of Norway which has many long-term research projects in North-East Norway.
Position: PhD Student in the Department of Biosciences
Supervised by: Prof. Stephen Willis, Dr. Sally Street, Aleksi Lehikoinen (Finnish Museum of Natural History, Helsinki)
Contact details: Department of Biosciences,
Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE
Email: [email protected]
Supervised by: Prof. Stephen Willis, Dr. Sally Street, Aleksi Lehikoinen (Finnish Museum of Natural History, Helsinki)
Contact details: Department of Biosciences,
Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE
Email: [email protected]
Education
2019 - Present PhD Biosciences, Durham University
2010 - 2011 MSc Ecological Economics, University of Edinburgh
2001 - 2004 BSc Economics, Loughborough University
2019 - Present PhD Biosciences, Durham University
2010 - 2011 MSc Ecological Economics, University of Edinburgh
2001 - 2004 BSc Economics, Loughborough University
Publications
Jarrett, D., Calladine, J., Cotton, A., Wilson, M. and Humphreys, E. 2020. Behavioural responses of non-breeding waterbirds to drone approach are associated with flock size and habitat, Bird Study. 67(2), 190-196.
Calladine, J., Jarrett, D. and Wilson, M. 2019. Breeding bird assemblages supported by developing upland shrub woodland are influenced by microclimate and habitat structure’, Bird Study. 66(2), 178-186.
Jarrett, D., Calladine, J., Milner, J., Wernham, C. and Wilson, M. 2019. Investigating wader breeding productivity in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership Area using collaborative methods. BTO Research Report 715.
Jarrett, D., Cook, A.S.C.P., Woodward, I., Ross, K., Horswill, C., Dadam, D. and Humphreys, E.M. 2018. Short-Term Behavioural Responses of Wintering Waterbirds to Marine Activity, Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science. 9(7).
Calladine, J., Jarrett, D., Wilson, M. and Edwards, C. 2017. Stand structure and breeding birds in managed Scots pine forests: Some likely long-term implications for continuous cover forestry, Forest Ecology and Management. 397, 174-184.
Jarrett, D., Calladine, J., Wernham, C. and Wilson, M. 2017. Monitoring Breeding Waders in Wensleydale: trialling surveys carried out by farmers and gamekeepers, BTO Research Report 703.
Newson, S.E., Evans, H.E., Gillings, S., Jarrett, D., Raynor, R. and Wilson, M.W. 2017. Large-scale citizen science improves assessment of risk posed by wind farms to bats in southern Scotland. Biological Conservation 215, 61–71.
Naeem, S., Ingram, J. C., Varga, A., Agardy, T., Barten, P., Bennett, G., Bloomgarden, E., Bremer, L. L., Burkill, P., Cattau, M., Ching, C., Colby, M., Cook, D. C., Costanza, R., DeClerck, F., Freund, C., Gartner, T., Goldman-Benner, R., Gunderson, J., Jarrett, D., Kinzig, A. P., Kiss, A., Koontz, A., Kumar, P., Lasky, J. R., Masozera, M., Meyers, D., Milano, F., Naughton-Treves, L., Nichols, E., Olander, L., Olmsted, P., Perge, E., Perrings, C., Polasky, S., Potent, J., Prager, C., Quetier, F., Redford, K., Saterson, K., Thoumi, G., Vargas, M. T.,Vickerman, S., Weisser, W., Wilkie, D. and Wunder, S. 2015. Get the science right when paying for nature’s services’, Science. 347, 1206-1207.
Cosgrove, P. J., Shields, D. M., Cosgrove, C. F., Farquhar, J. E., Jarrett, D., Jancke, S., Mitchell, A. R. and Moggach, R. M. 2014. Population size, structure and distribution of an unexploited freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (l.) population in Scotland, Journal of Conchology. 41(5), 541–552.
Jarrett, D., Calladine, J., Cotton, A., Wilson, M. and Humphreys, E. 2020. Behavioural responses of non-breeding waterbirds to drone approach are associated with flock size and habitat, Bird Study. 67(2), 190-196.
Calladine, J., Jarrett, D. and Wilson, M. 2019. Breeding bird assemblages supported by developing upland shrub woodland are influenced by microclimate and habitat structure’, Bird Study. 66(2), 178-186.
Jarrett, D., Calladine, J., Milner, J., Wernham, C. and Wilson, M. 2019. Investigating wader breeding productivity in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership Area using collaborative methods. BTO Research Report 715.
Jarrett, D., Cook, A.S.C.P., Woodward, I., Ross, K., Horswill, C., Dadam, D. and Humphreys, E.M. 2018. Short-Term Behavioural Responses of Wintering Waterbirds to Marine Activity, Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science. 9(7).
Calladine, J., Jarrett, D., Wilson, M. and Edwards, C. 2017. Stand structure and breeding birds in managed Scots pine forests: Some likely long-term implications for continuous cover forestry, Forest Ecology and Management. 397, 174-184.
Jarrett, D., Calladine, J., Wernham, C. and Wilson, M. 2017. Monitoring Breeding Waders in Wensleydale: trialling surveys carried out by farmers and gamekeepers, BTO Research Report 703.
Newson, S.E., Evans, H.E., Gillings, S., Jarrett, D., Raynor, R. and Wilson, M.W. 2017. Large-scale citizen science improves assessment of risk posed by wind farms to bats in southern Scotland. Biological Conservation 215, 61–71.
Naeem, S., Ingram, J. C., Varga, A., Agardy, T., Barten, P., Bennett, G., Bloomgarden, E., Bremer, L. L., Burkill, P., Cattau, M., Ching, C., Colby, M., Cook, D. C., Costanza, R., DeClerck, F., Freund, C., Gartner, T., Goldman-Benner, R., Gunderson, J., Jarrett, D., Kinzig, A. P., Kiss, A., Koontz, A., Kumar, P., Lasky, J. R., Masozera, M., Meyers, D., Milano, F., Naughton-Treves, L., Nichols, E., Olander, L., Olmsted, P., Perge, E., Perrings, C., Polasky, S., Potent, J., Prager, C., Quetier, F., Redford, K., Saterson, K., Thoumi, G., Vargas, M. T.,Vickerman, S., Weisser, W., Wilkie, D. and Wunder, S. 2015. Get the science right when paying for nature’s services’, Science. 347, 1206-1207.
Cosgrove, P. J., Shields, D. M., Cosgrove, C. F., Farquhar, J. E., Jarrett, D., Jancke, S., Mitchell, A. R. and Moggach, R. M. 2014. Population size, structure and distribution of an unexploited freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (l.) population in Scotland, Journal of Conchology. 41(5), 541–552.