vCardDr Mark Whittingham

Dr Mark Whittingham
Senior Lecturer

I work on agro-ecology, foraging ecology and behavioural ecology. I am interested in working on a range of applied ecological problems, for example: (i) working with scientists from other disciplines to help design multi-functional farming systems; (ii) understanding how climate change will alter behaviour and ecology in order to design mitigation methods; (iii) investigating the effects of wind farms on birds; (iv) understanding dietary preferences of organic and conventional food. I use observations and experiments in the field, controlled laboratory experiments and modelling to understand these (and other) problems. PDFs of my papers can be found at www.ncl.ac.uk/biology/staff/Mark_Whittingham.html

Research Interests

Agro-ecology, foraging ecology and behavioural ecology.

Other Expertise

Statistical modelling.

Current Work

1. The influence of habitat structure on farmland bird populations (BBSRC 2004-2009).

I studied how vegetation structure influences the feeding ecology, habitat use and demographic rates of farmland birds. The basic tenet is that the variation in the suitability of habitats for birds is dependent to a significant degree on vegetation structure. This is because the structure of the habitat affects both the availability of food and the vulnerability of foraging birds to attack by predators. In turn, food availability and predation risk affect habitat suitability and hence habitat choice. The effects of vegetation structure on habitat choice have largely been studied in enclosures and in short-term experiments. I scale up these effects to look at them at the local population level. My results, in addition to advancing our understanding of population processes, will therefore lead directly to options for managing the agricultural environment for bird populations.

2. Estimating the independent effects of different components of organic farming on biodiversity (NERC). (PI - Whittingham; co-PI Stephens Durham; Post-doc Dr Ailsa McKenzie).

It is well established that both replacing pristine habitats and increasing agricultural intensification is negatively associated with biodiversity. Agriculture is currently the largest threat to biodiversity of birds globally and is likely to be a major threat to other taxa. Thus understanding how to integrate farming and wildlife together successfully is a major goal to conserve biodiversity. Organic farming is one method that increases biodiversity relative to conventional methods of agriculture and it has recently seen large and sustained growth in developed countries owing, to a large extent, to consumers’ perceptions of the perceived environmental benefits of organic farming. However, despite decades of research the current state of knowledge of the effects of organic farming on biodiversity is that the former promotes the latter, but crucially the relative contributions of different parts of organic farming practice are not known. This problem could be solved with a large scale replicated experiment, but this would be extremely expensive. Instead we are taking a new approach by estimating the independent effect size between each different component of organic farming (e.g. pesticides, spring-sowing) and various different taxa and then comparing across these effect sizes. The review we propose will have implications for organic farming policy and be of relevance more widely in studies aimed at integrating wildlife and farming.

3. Foraging personality and anti-predatory vigilance in starlings Sturnus vulgaris (sponsored by Newcastle University studentship to Jeroen Minderman).

Recent studies have shown individual differences in behaviour that are consistent and correlated across contexts in many species. Although such behavioural syndromes or ‘animal personalities’ may be interesting in itself, analysis of their relevance in an ecological context is vital because they are expected to constrain behavioural flexibility. This project investigates the relevance of individual differences in behaviour as measured under controlled conditions with those in the field. For further details see: www.students.ncl.ac.uk/jeroen.minderman/

4. Foraging ecology of kestrels on farmland (PhD project sponsored by Natural England).

Despite large increases in grassland margins on farmland kestrel populations have continued to decline. This project aims to identify key habitat requirements of kestrels breeding on lowland farmland and how to best manage those habitats to benefit kestrels.

5. Understanding how soil moisture alters breeding performance of a soil-probing bird (the starling) (2008-2011) (NERC).

6. Understanding how soil compaction alters biodiversity across British farmland (2009-2013) (DEFRA).

Selected Publications

More Publications

Projects

Future Research

1. Investigating the effects of wind turnines on bird distribution and behaviour.

2. Understanding dietary choices in birds.

3. Understanding the linkages between ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Research Roles

School of Biology Post-graduate Committee member.
School of Biology research committee member.
SAGE Faculty internal peer-review panel.

Postgraduate Supervision

I am the main supervisor of two PhD students at Newcastle (both started in Autumn 2008).

Esteem Indicators

BBSRC David Phillips Research Fellow (2004-9).
Senior Editor Journal of Applied Ecology (2010-date) and member of editorial board of 'Bird Study' (2005-date) and 'Open Ornithology' and 'Open Zoology' (2007-date).
Joined NERC peer review panel (June 2007)
Guest editorial In Journal of Applied Ecology (Feb 2007).
Invited plenary talk at 'Popluations under pressure' conference in March 2007.
Referee 10-20 papers per annum for ecological and ornithological journals.

Funding

2009 4 year DEFRA grant (£700,000 - £176k to Newcastle) to investigate the extent of soil compaction in England and Wales and how it can be potentially be remediated to benefit birds and soil invertebrates.
2009 NERC grant entitled "Estimating the independent effects of different components of organic farming on biodiversity". £82,000.
NERC studentship departmental quota award - Climate change and bird demography started 1st October 2008 (funded for 3.5 years).
£40,000 - 2008 Natural England towards PhD project on kestrels.
£4752 - Catherine Cookson Foundation Grant 'Why do birds prefer organic food?'.
£5000 - 2006 award from BSG for work on windfarms and farmland birds.
£10,000 - 2006 award from English Nature for pilot project on kestrels.
£2200 – 2005 awarded by RSPB for pilot project on stubble management.
NERC CASE studentship with BTO. Autumn 2005 until spring 2009.
£361,000 - May 2004 awarded a 5-year BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship. This pays my salary for 5 years (£204,000) and comes with a tied grant of £157,000.
Jointly awarded 3 DPhil studentships (1 from NERC and 2 from BBSRC) with Sir John Krebs, two from October 2001-2004 and one from October 2003-2006.
Involved with two PhD projects and the setting up of a research institute in Nigeria in collaboration with Dr Will Cresswell. This project has so far raised in excess of £150,000.
£230,000 awarded by BBSRC in 2001 for three-year project entitled “Testing the trans-situationality of bird-habitat models in agricultural landscapes” (I wrote the proposal and Sir John Krebs was Principal Investigator).
£6000 from English Nature in 1999 for project entitled “The effect of field margin management on foraging by breeding yellowhammers”.
£750 from the Royal Society to attend a conference in Utah, USA in 1999.
£35,000 from the European Commission in 1998 for continuation of my work at JNCC.
£1500 from English Nature in 1996 for project entitled “Population dynamics of golden plover”.
In 1991 awarded £400 travel scholarship by the University of East Anglia for Mexico expedition.

Industrial Relevance

Wind farm work sponsored by ecological consultancy company (BSG).

Background

Keen birdwatcher since an early age and strong interest in conservation.

See article in Science in 2005 about being a UK Research Fellow sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/3500/keys_to_independence_views_from_the_trenches/(parent)/12077

Press article about recent paper on golden plovers and climate change www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050328182234.htm

Press coverage about recent paper by Dr Whittingham in Ecology Letters on farmland birds and conservation strategies www.hero.ac.uk/uk/research/archives/2007/field_reports_Jan.cfm

Previous Positions

06/98 – 06/04. Post-doctoral Research Assistant (RA1A), EGI, Oxford University. From 2001-4 I was responsible for the daily running of the Farmland Bird Group reporting directly to Prof. Lord John Krebs.

1992- present. Associate consultant for BSG Environmental Consultants. Carried out 15 Environmental Impact Assessments and also literature reviews.

02/97-06/98 Joint Nature Conservation Committee (Higher Scientific Officer).

Memberships

BES, ASAB.

Informal Interests

Football, birdwatching.

Undergraduate Teaching

BIO 2001: Biology Research Communication.
BIO 2003: Field Identification Skills (Leader of Autumn Bird ID course).
BIO 390: Honours Research Projects (c6 per annum).
BIO 3012: Conservation Biology Issues.
BIO 3015: Social Impacts of Biology (Module Leader).

Postgraduate Teaching

2-3 Masters student research projects per year.
2 PhD students as main supervisor.