Senior Research Ecologist
Daniel is a Research Ecologist and part of the Wetland & Marine Research Team. His work primarily involves fieldwork and data analysis contributing to seabird tracking and monitoring projects.
Daniel has a broad interest in marine ecology with particular focus on the response of seabird species to changes in the marine environment. Within BTO, Daniel has worked on tracking projects assessing seabird behaviour and distributions in relation to environmental covariates and marine renewable energy devices. He has a particular interest in the impacts of novel marine renewable devices, including tidal stream turbines, on the marine environment and diving seabirds. He has a keen interest in improving the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) targeted for seabirds, through improved knowledge of seabird foraging behaviour. He also has a background in using camera traps and visual observations to investigate seabird diet, kleptoparasitism, and nest predation.
PhD, “Investigating the foraging ecology of black guillemots Cepphus grylle in relation to tidal stream turbines and marine protected areas”, University of the Highlands and Islands (2015 - 2019)
MRes, Marine and Fisheries Ecology, University of Aberdeen (2011 - 2012)
BSc (Hons), Marine and Freshwater Biology, University of Glasgow (2007 - 2011)
Recent BTO Publications
- Johnston, D.T., Humphreys, E.M., Davies, J.G., Evans, T., Howells, R.J. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. Current understanding of how climate change affects seabirds varies between regions and species in the North-East Atlantic 10.3354/meps14785 View at journal website( DOI:10.3354/meps14785 )
- Feather, A.P., Burton, N.H.K., Johnston, D.T. & Boersch-Supan, P.H. A review of existing methods to collect data on seabird flight height distributions and their use in offshore wind farm impact assessments View at journal website( DOI: )
- O’Hanlon, N.J., Clewley, G.D., Davies, J.G., Johnston, D.T., Booth Jones, K.A., Green, R.M.W., Weston, E., Humphreys, E.M. & Cook, A.S.C.P. Trial of the use of silicone cord leg-loop harnesses on Black-legged Kittiwake during the 2023 breeding season View at journal website( DOI: )
- Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Humphreys, E.M., Burton, N.H.K., Atkinson, P.W., Pollock, C., Clewley, G.D., Johnston, D.T., O’Hanlon, N.J., Balmer, D.E., Frost, T.M., Harris S.J. & Baker, H. Highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in the United Kingdom in 2022: impacts, planning for future outbreaks, and conservation and research priorities. View at journal website( DOI: )
- Langlois Lopez, S., Clewley, G.D., Johnston, D.T., Daunt, F., Wildon, J.M., O'Hanlon, N.J. & Masden, E. Reduced breeding success in Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus due to harness-mounted GPS device 10.1111/ibi.13247 View at journal website( DOI:10.1111/ibi.13247 )
- Green, R.M., Thaxter, C.B., Johnston, D.T., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Bouten, W. & Burton, N.H.K. Assessing movements of Lesser Black-backed Gulls using GPS tracking devices in relation to the Galloper Wind Farm View at journal website( DOI: )
- O’Hanlon, N.J., Johnston, D.T., Cook, A.S.C.P., Robinson, R.A. & Humphreys, E.M. A crowded ocean: the need for demographic and movement data in seabird conservation 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106833 View at journal website( DOI:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106833 )
- Johnston, D.T., Thaxter, C.B., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Davies, J.G., Clewley, G.D., Green, R.M.W., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Cook, A.S.C.P., Burton, N.H.K. & Humphreys, E.M. Flight heights obtained from GPS versus altimeters influence estimates of collision risk with offshore wind turbines in Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus 10.1186/s40462-023-00431-z View at journal website( DOI:10.1186/s40462-023-00431-z )