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Peer-reviewed papers

Peer Journal sample covers

It is BTO’s policy to make public the results of our research. Our aim is to publish as much as possible of our work in the peer reviewed scientific literature.  Many results are also published in our BTO Research Report series.

Ross-Smith, V.H., Thaxter, C.B., Masden, E.A., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Burton, N.H.K., Wright, L.J., Rehfisch, M.M. & Johnston, A. 2016. Modelling flight heights of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Great Skuas from GPS: a Bayesian approach. Journal of Applied Ecology 53 (part 6) Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12760)
Hewson, C.M., Thorup, K., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Atkinson, P.W. 2016. Population decline is linked to migration route in the Common Cuckoo, a long-distance nocturnally-migrating bird. Nature Communications Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12296)
Broughton, R.K., Alker, P.J., Bellamy, P.E., Britton, S., Dadam, D., Day, J.C., Miles, M. & Hinsley, S.A. 2016. <p>Comparative biometrics of British Marsh Tits Poecile palustris and Willow Tits P. montana</p> . Ringing & Migration 31 (part 1) : 30-40 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/03078698.2016.1195209)
Rock, P., Camphuysen, C.J., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Ross-Smith, V.H. & Vaughan, I.P. 2016. Results from the first GPS tracking of roof-nesting Herring Gulls Larus argentatus in the UK. Ringing & Migration 31 (part 1) View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/03078698.2016.1197698)
Morrison, C.A., Robinson, R.A, Clark, J.A. & Gill, J.A. 2016. Causes and consequences of spatial variation in sex ratios in declining bird species. Journal of Animal Ecology 85 : 1 298-1 306 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12556)
Morrison, C.A., Robinson, R.A., & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2016. Winter wren populations show adaptation to local climate. Royal Society of Open Science View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160250)
Thackeray, S.J., Helaouet, P., Johns, D.G., Jones, I.D., Bacon, P.J., Brereton, T.M., Carvalho, L., Clutton-Brock, T.H., Duck, C., Edwards, M., Elliott, J.M., Hall, S.J.G., Harrington, R., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Pemberton, J.M., Sparks, T.H., Thompson, P.M., White, I., Winfield, I.J., Henrys, P.A., Hemming, D., Leech, D.I., Bell, J.R., Botham, M.S., Burthe, S., Mackay, E.B., Massimino, D., Høye, T.T., Kruuk, L.E.B., Wanless, S. & Atkinson, S. 2016. Phenological sensitivity to climate across taxa and trophic levels. Nature View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/nature18608)
Dyer, R.J., Gillings, S., Pywell, R.F., Fox, R., Roy, D.B. & Oliver, T.H. 2016. Developing a biodiversity-based indicator for large-scale environmental assessment: a case study of proposed shale gas extraction sites in Britain. Journal of Applied Ecology 54 : 872-882
Clewley, G.D., Norfolk, D.L., Leech, D.I. & Balmer, D.E. 2016. Playback survey trial for the Little Owl Athene noctua in the UK. Bird Study 63 (part 2) : 268-272 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2016.1180344)
Warwick-Evans V.C., Atkinson P.W., Robinson L.A. & Green J.A. 2016. Predictive modelling to identify near-shore, fine-scale seabird distributions during the breeding season. PLoS ONE 11 (part 3) Link to Article (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150592)
Warwick-Evans, V., Atkinson, P.W., Arnould, J.P.Y., Gauvain, R., Soanes, L., Robinson, L., & Green J.A. 2016. Changes in behaviour drive inter-annual variability in the at-sea distribution of northern gannets. Marine Biology 163 (part 7) Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s00227-016-2922-y)
Warwick-Evans, V., Green, J.A. & Atkinson, P.W. 2016. Survival estimates of Northern gannets Morus bassanus in Alderney: Big data but low confidence. Bird Study 63 (part 3) : 380-386
Phillimore, A.B., Leech, D.I., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Hadfield, J.D. 2016. Passerines may be sufficiently plastic to track temperature-mediated shifts in optimum lay date. Global Change Biology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13302)
Murray, C., Minderman, J., Allison, J. & Calladine, J. 2016. Vegetation structure influences foraging decisions in a declining grassland bird: the importance of fine-scale habitat and grazing regime. Bird Study 63 (part 2) : 223-232 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2016.1180342)
Zöckler, T., Beresford, A.E., Bunting, G., Chowdhury, S.U., Clark, N.A., Kan Fu, V.W., Htin Hla, T., Morozov, V.V., Syroechkovskiy, E.E., Kashiwagi, M., Lappo, E.G., Tong, M., Long, T.L., Yu, Y-T., Huettmann, F., Akasofu, H.K., Tomida, H. & Buchanan, G.M. 2016. The winter distribution of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaeus. Bird Conservation International Link to Article (DOI: 10.1017/S0959270915000295)
Sansom, A., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Douglas, D.J.T. 2016. Negative impact of wind energy development on a breeding shorebird assessed with a BACI study design. Ibis 158 (part 3) : 541-555 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12364)
McLean, N., Lawson, C.R., Leech, D.I. & van de Pol, M. 2016. Predicting when climate-driven phenotypic change affects population dynamics. Ecology Letters Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ele.12599)
Holloway, P., Miller, J.A. & Gillings, S. 2016. Incorporating movement in species distribution models: how do simulations of dispersal affect the accuracy and uncertainty of projections?. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 30 : 2 050-2 074 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/13658816.2016.1158823)
Stephens, P.A., Mason, L.R., Green, R.E., Gregory, R.D., Sauer, J.R., Alison, J., Aunins, A., Brotons, L., Butchart, S.H.M., Campedelli, T., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylarecki, P., Crowe, O., Elts, J., Escandell, V., Foppen, R.P.B., Heldbjerg, H., Herrando, S., Husby, M., Jiguet, F., Lehikoinen, A., Lindström, A., Noble, D.G., Paquet,J.Y., Reif,J., Sattler, T., Szép,T., Teufelbauer, N., Trautmann, S., van Strien, A.J., van Turnhout, C.A.M., Vorisek, P., Willis, S.G. 2016. Consistent response of bird populations to climate change on two continents. Science 352 American Association for the Advancement of Science : 84-87 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1126/science.aac4858)
Broughton, R.K., Burgess, M.D., Dadam, D, Hebda, G., Bellamy, P.E. & Hinsley, S.A. 2016. Morphology, geographical variation and the subspecies of Marsh Tit Poecile palustris in Britain and Central Europe. Bird Study 63 (part 1) : 58-65 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1132187)
Sullivan, M.J.P., Newson, S.E. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2016. Changing densities of generalist species underlie apparent homogenization of UK bird communities. Ibis 158 (part 3) : 645-655 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12370)
Burns, F., Eaton, M.A., Barlow, K.E., Beckmann, B.C., Brereton, T., Brooks, D.R., Brown, P.M.J., Al Fulaij, N., Gent, T., Henderson, I., Noble, D.G., Parsons, M., Powney, G.D., Roy, H.E., Stroh, P., Walker, K., Wilkinson, J.W., Watton, S.R., Gregory, R.D. 2016. Agricultural management and climatic change are the major drivers of biodiversity change in the UK. PLOS ONE 11 (part 3) View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151595)
Thaxter, C.B., Ross-Smith, V.H., Clark, J.A., Clark, N.A., Conway, G.J., Masden, E.A., Wade, H.M., Leat, E.H.K., Gear, S.C., Marsh, M., Booth, C., Furness, R.W., Votier, S.C. & Burton, N.H.K. 2016. Contrasting effects of GPS device and harness attachment on adult survival of Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus and Great Skuas Stercorarius skua. Ibis 158 (part 2) : 279-290 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12340)
Gilbert, N.I., Correia, R.A., Silva, J.P., Pacheco,C., Catry, I., Atkinson,P.W., Gill, J.A. & Franco, A.M.A. 2016. Are white storks addicted to junk food? Impacts of landfill use on the movement and behaviour of resident white storks (Ciconia ciconia) from a partially migratory population. Movement Ecology 4 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1186/s40462-016-0070-0)
Johnston, A., Robinson, R.A., Gargallo, G., Julliard, R., Van Der Jeugd, H. & Baillie, S.R. 2016. Survival of Afro-Palaearctic passerine migrants in western Europe and the impacts of seasonal weather variables. Ibis 158 (part 3) : 465-480 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12366)
Newson, S.E., Moran, N.J., Musgrove, A.J., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Gillings, S., Atkinson, P.W., Miller, R., Grantham, M.J. & Baillie, S.R. 2016. Long-term changes in the migration phenology of UK breeding birds detected by large-scale citizen science recording schemes. Ibis 158 (part 3) : 481-495 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12367)
Eglington, S.M., Brereton, T.M., Tayleur, C.M., Noble, D., Risely, K., Roy, D.B. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2016. Patterns and causes of covariation in bird and butterfly community structure . Landscape Ecology 30 (part 8) : 1 461-1 472 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007%2Fs10980-015-0199-z)
Blackburn, E., Burgess, M., Freeman, B., Risely, A., Izang, A., Ivande, S., Hewson, C. & Cresswell, W. 2016. An experimental evaluation of the effects of geolocator design and attachment method on between-year survival on whinchats Saxicola rubetra. Journal of Avian Biology 47 : 530-539 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/jav.00871)
Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Wright, L.J., Grant, M.C. & Douglas, D.J.T. 2016. The role of habitat change in driving Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix population declines across Scotland. Bird Study Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1134439)
Ainsworth, G., Calladine, J., Martay, B., Park, K., Redpath, S., Wernham, C., Wilson, M. & Young, J. 2016. Understanding Predation. A review bringing together natural science and local knowledge of recent wild bird population changes and their drivers in Scotland. Moorland Forum View Abstract
Fuller, R., Marshall, M., Eversham, B., Wilkinson, P. & Wright, K. 2016. The increasing importance of monitoring wildlife responses to habitat management. British Wildlife 27 (part 3) : 175-186
Jovani, R., Lascelles, B., Garamszegi, L. Z., Mavor, R., Thaxter, C. B. and Oro, D. 2016. Colony size and foraging range in seabirds. Oikos 125 (part 7) : 968-974 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/oik.02781)
Masden, E.A. & Cook, A.S.C.P. 2016. Avian collision risk models for wind energy impact assessments. Science Direct 56 : 43-49 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2015.09.001)
Skov, H., Heinänen, S., Thaxter, C.B., Williams, A.E., Lohier, S. & Banks, A.N. 2016. Real-time species distribution models for conservation and management of natural resources in marine environments. Marine Ecology Progress Series 542 : 221-234 Link to Article (DOI: 10.3354/meps11572)
Zeale, M.R.K., Bennitt, E., Newson, S.E., Packman, C., Browne, W.J., Harris, S., Jones, G. & Stone, E. 2016. Mitigating the Impact of Bats in Historic Churches: The Response of Natterer’s Bats Myotis nattereri to Artificial Roosts and Deterrence. PLoS ONE 11 (part 1) View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146782)
Clewley, G.D., Plummer, K.E., Robinson, R.A., Simm, C.H. & Toms, M.P. 2015. The effect of artificial lighting on the arrival time of birds using garden feeding stations in winter: A missed opportunity?. Urban Ecosystems 19 : 535-546 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007%2Fs11252-015-0516-y)
Senar, J.C., Kew, J. & Kew, A. 2015. Do Siskins have friends? An analysis of movements of Siskins in groups based on EURING recoveries. Bird Study 62 (part 4) : 566-568 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1089836)
Sullivan, M.J.P., Newson, S.E. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2015. Using habitat-specific population trends to evaluate the consistency of the effect of species traits on bird population change. Biological Conservation 192 : 343-352 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2015.10.009)
Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Ockendon, N., Baker, D.J., Carr, J., White, E.C., Almond, R.E.A., Amano, T., Bertram, E., Bradbury, R.B., Bradley, C., Butchart, S.H.M., Doswald, N., Foden, W., Gill, D.J.C., Green, R.E., Sutherland, W.J. & Tanner, E.V.J. 2015. Geographical variation in species' population responses to changes in temperature and precipitation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 282 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1561)
Massimino, D., Johnston, A. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2015. The geographical range of British birds expands during 15 years of warming. Bird Study 62 (part 4) : 523-534 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1089835)
Jørgensen, P.S., Böhning-Gaese, K., Thorup, K., Tøttrup, A.P., Chylarecki, P., Jiguet, F., Lehikoinen, A., Noble, D.G., Reif, J., Schmid, H., van Turnhout, C., Burfield, I.J., Foppen, R., Voříšek, P., van Strien, A., Gregory, R.D. & Rahbek, C. 2015. Continent-scale global change attribution in European birds - combining annual and decadal time scales. Global Change Biology early view View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13097)
Heward, C.J., Hoodless, A.N., Conway, G.J., Aebischer, N.J., Gillings, S. & Fuller, R.J. 2015. Current status and recent trend of the Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola as a breeding bird in Britain. Bird Study Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1092497)
Johnston, A. Fink, D., Reynolds, M.D., Hochachka, W.M., Sullivan, B.L., Bruns, N.E., Hallstein, E., Merrifield,, M.S., Matsumoto, S. & Kelling, S. 2015. Abundance models improve spatial and temporal prioritization of conservation resources. Ecological Applications 25 (part 7) : 1 749-1 756 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1890/14-1826.1)
Kelling, S., Alison Johnston, A., Hochachka, W.M., Iliff, M., Fink, D., Gerbracht, J., Lagoze, C., La Sorte, F.A., Moore, T., Wiggins, A., Wong, W-K., Wood, C. & Yu, J. 2015. Can Observation Skills of Citizen Scientists Be Estimated Using Species Accumulation Curves?. PLoS ONE 10 (part 10) Link to Article (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139600)
Calladine, J., Humphreys, E.M. & Boyle, J. 2015. Changes in breeding wader populations of the Uist machair between 1983 and 2014. Scottish Birds 35 (part 3) : 207-215
Harrison, P.J., Yuan, Y., Buckland, S.T., Oedekoven, C.S., Elston, D.A., Brewer, M.J., Johnston, A. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2015. Quantifying turnover in British breeding bird communities. Journal of Applied Ecology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12539 )
Plummer, K.E., Siriwardena, G.M., Conway, G.J., Risely, K. & Toms, M.P. 2015. Is supplementary feeding in gardens a driver of evolutionary change in a migratory bird species?. Global Change Biology 21 : 4 353-4 363 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13070)
Gullett, P.R., Hatchwell, B.J., Robinson, R.A. & Evans, K.L. 2015. Breeding season weather determines long-tailed tit reproductive success through impacts on recruitment . Journal of Avian Biology 46 : 441-451 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/jav.00560)
Méndez, V., Austin, G.E., Musgrove, A.J., Ross-Smith, V.H., Hearn, R.D., Stroud, D.A., Wotton, S.R. & Chas A. Holt, C.A. 2015. Use of environmental stratification to derive non-breeding population estimates of dispersed waterbirds in Great Britain. Journal for Nature Conservation Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.09.001)
Feber , R.E., Johnson, P.J., Bell, J.R., Chamberlain, D.E., Firbank, L.G., Fuller, R.J., Manley, W., Mathews, F., Norton,L.R., Townsend, M. & Macdonald, D.W. 2015. Organic Farming: Biodiversity Impacts Can Depend on Dispersal Characteristics and Landscape Context. PLOS ONE 10 (part 8) Link to Article (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135921)

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