Research

Aileen’s research interests are in applied ecology with policy relevance focussing on vertebrate species population management. She uses spatial and temporal modelling approaches to analyse complex systems. Within the broad sphere of biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife interactions her research focusses on invasive species ecology and management, wildlife disease and species exploitation. Aileen’s work is often applied in nature and she is interested in the interrelation between scientific research and evidence and decision making and looks for opportunities to use modelling approaches to support this.  She has significant experience in analysing vertebrate systems of policy concern, both terrestrial and aquatic, through collaborations with government agencies (e.g APHA, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural England) .

Aileen trained as a marine ecologist where she studied food web ecology of reef systems using stable isotopes as tracers. Developing an affinity with the quantification of ecology she worked in Scottish inshore fisheries, modeling crustacean life history and migration patterns and conducting crab and lobster stock assessments, before broadening her research interests to include terrestrial systems.

Aileen is a fellow of the Newcastle Policy Academy and a current member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Scottish Natural Heritage, Joint Advisory Committee for Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and Scientific Advisory Committee for the Mammal Society and a member of IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group

Current Projects

EU LIFE 14 / Heritage Lottery Fund: Red Squirrels United

Red Squirrels Northern England: Impacts of invasive control on native species 

Natural England: Novel control methods of an invasive weed. Pirri-pirri burr

BBSRC (2018-2021): Host-pathogen interactions important in the movement of Campylobacter jejuni from the broiler chicken gut to edible tissues (CampAttack)

Recent Projects

BBSRC (2017): Broiler gut health and C. jejuni infection; impacts of harvest management

Defra Darwin Initative (2017): Responding to fish extripations in the global marine biodiversity epicentre

Modelling Evidence and Policy Group

We are a team of scientists with interests in modelling complex biological and socio-ecological systems international experts in the use of scientific evidence to influence policy making and decision making.

Current Postgraduate Supervision:

• Jess Ward (2016 - ) Modelling Sociality in Carnivores.
• Tina Skinner (2016 -  N Polunin and S Newman MAST) Role of apex predators in tropical ecosystems connectivity.

 

Recent PhD Students:

• Olaf Booy (2019) funded by APHA. Predicting the future invasive non-native species in Great Britain – the role of invasion pathways.
  

• Jessica Duffill-Telsnig (2019) NERC Case Studentship (CEFAS, Simon Jennings). Modelling Benthic - Pelagic coupling.

• Inaki Deza-Cruz (2018) Joint candidature with Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, St Kitts. Epidemiology of Dengue Fever and Chickungyna.

• Kirsty Lees (2018) Movement Ecology using Underwater Telemetry.

• Alexander Khan (2018). Indonesian Tuna fisheries.

• Simone Mordue (2017) funded by Defra. Natterer's bat Myotis Natterreri foraging, habitat use and roosting behaviour.

• Fabrice Stephenson (2016: MAST with N Polunin, C Fitzsimmons, C Scott) Supported by Natural England. Benthic habitat/potfishing interactions.

• Wahyu Nugraha (2016;  N Polunin and S Newman MAST) Macroecology of Caribbean Parrotfish

• Zelda Van der Waal (2013) funded by the Environment Agency. Population biology of salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta) in the river Tyne: using modelling to understand the factors influencing migration patterns.

Teaching

Bsc

• Biodiversity and Conservation (BIO3039)
• Mammal Surveying Skills (BIO3036)
  
• Vertebrate Biology (BIO2029)
• Residential Field Course (BIO2032)
• Research Projects (BIO3194/5/6)

Msc

DPD for MSc Wildlife Management

• Quantitative Research Skills (NES8010)
  
• Wildlife Conflicts and Management (BIO8064)
• Invasive Species (BIO8063)
• Wildlife Research In Practice (BIO8058)

 

Publications

• Cowan D, van der Waal Z, Pidcock S, Gomm M, Stephens N, Brash M, White PCL, Mair L, Mill A. Adaptive management of an iconic invasive goat Capra hircus population. Mammal Review 2020, Epub ahead of print.
• Everest DJ, Tolhurst-Cherriman DA, Davies H, Dastjerdi A, Ashton A, Blackett T, Meredith AL, Milne E, Mill A, Shuttleworth CM. Assessing a potential non-invasive method for viral diagnostic purposes in European squirrels. Hystrix 2019, 30(1), 44-50.
• Deza-Cruz I, Mill A, Rushton S, Kelly P. Comparison of the Use of Serum and Plasma as Matrix Specimens in a Widely Used Noncommercial Dengue IgG ELISA. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2019, 101(2), 456-458.
• Duffill Telsnig J, Jennings S, Mill A, Walker N, Parnell A, Polunin NVC. Estimating contributions of pelagic and benthic pathways to consumer production in coupled marine food webs. Journal of Animal Ecology 2019, 88(3), 405-415.
• Robertson PA, Roy S, Mill AC, Shirley M, Adriaens T, Ward AI, Tatayah V, Booy O. Invasive species removals and scale–contrasting island and mainland experience. In: Island Invasives 2017 Conference. 2019, Dundee, Scotland: IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC).
• Skinner C, Mill AC, Newman SP, Newton J, Cobain MRD, Polunin NVC. Novel tri-isotope ellipsoid approach reveals dietary variation in sympatric predators. Ecology and Evolution 2019, epub ahead of print.
• Skinner C, Newman SP, Mill AC, Newton J, Polunin NVC. Prevalence of pelagic dependence among coral reef predators across an atoll seascape. Journal of Animal Ecology 2019, 88(10), 1564-1574.
• Khan A, Rizal A, Dewanti LP, Apriliani IM, Junianto, Supriyadi D, Ghiffary W, Nasution AM, Gray TS, Mill AC, Polunin NVC. Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tuna pole-and-line marketing supply chains in Indonesia: Case study in Pulau Bacan. AACL Bioflux 2019, 12(2), 636-641.
• Scott DM, Baker R, Charman N, Karlsson H, Yarnell RW, Mill AC, Smith GC, Tolhurst BA. A citizen science based survey method for estimating the density of urban carnivores. PLoS ONE 2018, 13(5), e0197445.
• Khan A, Gray T, Mill A, Polunin N. Impact of a fishing moratorium on a tuna pole-and-line fishery in eastern Indonesia. Marine Policy 2018, 94, 143–149.
• Blackett TA, Simpson VR, Haugland S, Everest DJ, Muir CF, Smith KC, Mill AC. Mortalities, amyloidosis and other diseases in free-living red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) on Jersey, Channel Islands. Veterinary Record 2018, 183, 503.
• Lees KJ, Mill AC, Skerritt DJ, Robertson PA, Fitzsimmons C. Movement patterns of a commercially important, free-ranging marine invertebrate in the vicinity of a bait source. Animal Biotelemetry 2018, 6(1).
• Mair L, Mill AC, Robertson PA, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Rodriguez JP, McGowan PJK. The contribution of scientific research to conservation planning. Biological Conservation 2018, 223, 82-96.
• Shuttleworth CM, Mill A, van der Waal Z. A preliminary comparison of Magnum 116 body-grip traps with a live capture trap design during the control of grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). International Journal of Pest Management 2017, 63(4), 316-321.
• Nugraha WA, Newman SP, Mill AC, Polunin NVC. Caribbean parrotfish density and size inside and outside marine protected area. AACL Bioflux 2017, 10(5), 1257-1265.
• Stephenson F, Mill AC, Scott CL, Polunin NVC, Fitzsimmons C. Experimental potting impacts on common UK reef habitats in areas of high and low fishing pressure. ICES Journal of Marine Science 2017, 74(6), 1648-1659.
• Robertson PA, Roy S, Mill AC, Shirley M, Adriaens T, Ward AI, Tatayah V, Booy O. Invasive species removals and scale – contrasting island and mainland experience. In: Island Invasives: Scaling up to Meet the Challenge. 2017, Dundee, UK: IUCN.
• Robertson PA, Mill AC, Rushton SP, McKenzie AJ, Sage RB, Aebischer NJ. Pheasant release in Great Britain: long-term and large-scale changes in the survival of a managed bird. European Journal of Wildlife Research 2017, 63, 1-10.
• Booy O, Mill A, Roy H, Hiley A, Moore N, Robertson P, Baker S, Brazier M, Bue M, Bullock R, Campbell S, Eyre D, Foster J, Hatton-Ellis M, Long J, Macadam C, Morrison-Bell C, Mumford J, Newman J, Parrott D, Payne R, Renals T, Rodgers E, Spencer M, Stebbing P, Sutton-Croft M, Walker K, Ward A, Whittaker S, Wyn G. Risk management to prioritise the eradication of new and emerging invasive non-native species. Biological Invasions 2017, 19(8), 2401-2417.
• Stephenson F, Mill AC, Scott C, Stewart GB, Grainger MJ, Polunin NVC, Fitzsimmons C. Socio-economic, technological and environmental drivers of spatio-temporal changes in fishing pressure. Marine Policy 2017, 88, 189-203.
• Stephenson F, Polunin NVC, Mill AC, Scott C, Lightfoot P, Fitzsimmons C. Spatial and temporal changes in pot-fishing effort and habitat use. ICES Journal of Marine Science 2017, 74(8), 2201-2212.
• Robertson PA, Adriaens T, Lambin X, Mill A, Roy S, Shuttleworth CM, Sutton-Croft M. The large-scale removal of mammalian invasive alien species in Northern Europe. Pest Management Science 2017, 73(2), 273-279.
• Everest DJ, Dastjerdi A, Cowan D, Gomm M, Craig M, Shuttleworth CM, McInnes CJ, Dean D, Coulter L, Mill A, Rushton SP, Jackson NL, Litherland P. Adenovirus detected in juvenile squirrels. Veterinary Record 2016, 177(14), 373-374.
• Lavides MN, Molina EPV, de la Rosa GE, Mill AC, Rushton SP, Stead SM, Polunin NVC. Patterns of Coral-Reef Finfish Species Disappearances Inferred from Fishers’ Knowledge in Global Epicentre of Marine Shorefish Diversity. PloS ONE 2016, 11(5), e0155752.
• Everest DJ, Dastjerdi A, Cowan D, Gomm M, Shuttleworth CM, McInnes CJ, Deane D, Coulter L, Mill A, Rushton SP, Jackson NL, Litherland P. SQPV antibody detection in juvenile squirrels. Veterinary Record 2016, 179(4), 101-102.
• Skerritt DJ, Robertson PA, Mill AC, Polunin NVC, Fitzsimmons C. Fine-scale movement, activity patterns and home-ranges of European lobster Homarus gammarus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 2015, 536, 203-219.
• Robertson PA, Adriaens T, Caizergues A, Cranswick PA, Devos K, Gutiérrez-Expósio A, Henderson I, Hughes B, Mill AC, Smith GC. Towards the European eradication of the North American ruddy duck. Biological Invasions 2015, 17(1), 9-12.
• Mill AC, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Smith GC, Mason P, Brown MA, Budge GE. Clustering, persistence and control of a pollinator brood disease: epidemiology of American foulbrood. Environmental Microbiology 2014, 16(12), 3753-3763.
• Dunstan HJ, Mill AC, Stephens S, Yates LM, Thomas SHL. Pregnancy outcome following maternal use of zanamivir or oseltamivir during the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic: a national prospective surveillance study. International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2014, 121(7), 901-906.
• Slater MJ, Mgaya YD, Mill AC, Rushton SP, Stead SM. Effect of social and economic drivers on choosing aquaculture as a coastal livelihood. Ocean and Coastal Management 2013, 73, 22-30.
• Soto E, McGovern-Hopkins E, KlingerBowen R, Fox BK, Brock J, Antonio N, van der Waal Z, Rushton S, Mill A, Tamaru CS. Prevalence of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis in Cultured Tilapia on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. Journal of Aquatic Aniimal Health 2013, 25(2), 104-109.
• Mill AC, Rushton SP, Shirley MDF, Murray AWA, Smith GC, Delahay RJ, McDonald RA. Farm-scale risk factors for bovine tuberculosis incidence in cattle herds during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. Epidemiology and Infection 2012, 140(2), 219-230.
• Bloomfield HJ, Sweeting CJ, Mill AC, Stead SM, Polunin NVC. No-trawl area impacts: perceptions, compliance and fish abundances. Environmental Conservation 2012, 39(3), 237-247.
• Scarth JP, Clarke A, Teale P, Mill AC, Macarthur R, Kay J. Detection of endogenous steroid abuse in cattle: results from population studies in the UK. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A: Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure & Risk Assessment 2011, 28(1), 44-61.
• Scarth JP, Clarke A, Hands J, Teale P, Mill AC, Macarthur R, Kay J, De Brabander H. Detection of nandrolone and boldenone abuse in the ovine by GC-MS/MS. Chromatographia 2011, 73(11-12), 1155-1169.
• Mill AC, Rushton SP, Murrary AWA, Rose M. PAH contamination in Shellfish: Modelling to estimate exposure. Ecotoxicology 2011, 21(2), 393-408.
• Yates L, Pierce M, Stephens S, Mill AC, Spark P, Kurinczuk JJ, Valappil M, Brocklehurst P, Thomas SHL, Knight M. Influenza A/H1N1v in pregnancy: an investigation of the characteristics and management of affected women and the relationship to pregnancy outcomes for mother and infant. Health Technology Assessment 2010, 14(34), 109-182.
• Scarth JP, Clarke A, Hands J, Teale P, Mill AC, Macarthur R, Kay J, De Brabander H. Validation of an Analytical Biomarker Approach for the Detection of Nandrolone Abuse in the Porcine. Chromatographia 2010, 72(3-4), 297-305.
• Mill AC, Sweeting CJ, Barnes C, Al-Habsi SH, MacNeil MA. Mass-spectrometer bias in stable isotope ecology. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 2008, 6, 34-39.
• Mill AC, Pinnegar JK, Polunin NVC. Explaining isotope trophic-step fractionation: Why herbivorous fish are different. Functional Ecology 2007, 21(6), 1137-1145.
• Dulvy NK, Polunin NVC, Mill AC, Graham NAJ. Size structural change in lightly exploited coral reef fish communities: Evidence for weak indirect effects. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2004, 61(3), 466-475.