Postgraduate Student Profile
Claudia Garratt
Tel: 0191 222 5952
Email: c.m.garratt@ncl.ac.uk
School of Biology
Ridley Building 2
Newcastle University
Claremont Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Research Interests
I studied for a Zoology BSc at Newcastle University, and my main research interest is conservation of biodiversity in relation to anthropogenic effects on habitat. I have studied the effect of landscape characteristics on navigation behaviour in bumblebees, but more recently have been investigating ways of mitigating the effects on biodiversity associated with increased agricultural intensification.
Project
Managing habitat for the conservation of kestrels Falco tinnunculus on farmland.
My project, funded by Natural England, is investigating the responses of kestrels and their small mammal prey to various habitat characteristics, through breeding season adult foraging and nest box studies, and the carrying out of vegetation manipulation experiments to determine the effects both directly on kestrel productivity, and also on small mammal distribution in grassland. We aim to inform the future design and deployment of agri-environment schemes (AES) in England. AES are the principle strategy being used by the UK Government to reverse the decline in farmland birds within England, which it has pledged to do by 2020.
