Blaise Martay

Research Ecologist

Blaise Martay

Contact

Based in BTO Scotland, Blaise is a Research Ecologist in the Framing Futures team and co-leads a group that maintains oversight in this work area, particularly related to the impacts of, and responses to climate change. Blaise carries out ecological research, primarily on climate change impacts and adaptation.

Interests & Responsibilities

Recent projects have included multi-taxa modelling of the impact of climate change on UK biodiversity, and the impacts of phenological mismatch and insect abundance on swallow productivity and populations. She was also responsible for a project to engage school children in collecting extensive UK-wide data on soil invertebrates and birds.

Much of her work involves combining BTO's large-scale datasets with data from other national monitoring schemes and she recently contributed to the 2023 global review: Climate change and migratory species: a review of impacts, conservation actions, indicators and ecosystem services. This report was presented by the UK government at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference. 

Blaise has a broad interest in conservation ecology. In particular, she is interested in disentangling the impact of climate and land-use factors on populations to identify vulnerable species and populations, drivers of change and to predict future changes. This encompasses examining shifting species interactions, such as bird-insect interactions.

Blaise is also interested in research into the best use of conservation practices such as agri-environmental schemes and habitat protection and restoration.

Qualifications

PhD Insect Conservation on Created Fenland, Anglia Ruskin University 2011

BA Hons Natural Sciences (specialising in Ecology), Cambridge University 2007

Recent BTO Publications

Williams, J.M., Scott, S.E., Galbraith, C.A., Martay, B., Macphie, K.H., Hereward, H.F.R., Barton, M.G., Bowgen, K.M., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Robinson, R.A. 2023. Climate change and migratory species: a review of impacts, conservation actions, indicators and ecosystem services.. JNCC, Peterborough Link to publication ISBN: 978-0-86139-000-7
Suggitt, A.J., Wheatley, C.J., Aucott, P., Beale, C.M., Fox, R., Hill, J.K., Isaac, N.J.B., Martay, B., Southall, H., Thomas, C.D., Walker, K.J. & Auffret , A.G. 2023. Linking climate warming and land conversion to species’ range changes across Great Britain. Nature Communications 14 View at journal website (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42475-0)
Martay, B., Leech, D.I., Shortall, C.R., Bell, J.R., Thackeray, S.J., Hemming, D.L. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W 2023. Aerial insect biomass, but not phenological mismatch, is associated with chick survival of an insectivorous bird. Ibis View at journal website (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13190)
Martay, B. & Noble, D. 2022. Scoping the feasibility of developments to the Terrestrial Bird Indicator for Scotland – urban, farmland and wetland indicators. NatureScot Research Report 1 300 Link to publication
Barnes, A.E., Davies, J.G., Martay, B., Boersch-Supan, P. H., Harris, S.J., Noble, D.G., Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Robinson, R.A. 2022. Rare and declining bird species benefit most from designating protected areas for conservation in the UK. Nature Ecology & Evolution View at journal website (DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01927-4)
Martay, B., Pearce-Higgings, J.W., Harris, S.J. & Gillings, S. 2022. Breeding ground temperature rises, more than habitat change, are associated with spatially variable population trends in two species of migratory bird. Ibis View at journal website (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13101)
View all BTO publications for this author

Other Publications

Martay, B., Robertshaw, T., Doberski, J. & Thomas, A. 2014. Does dispersal limit the re-colonisation of created fenland by a wetland beetle Carabus granulatus? An assessment using direct measurements of dispersal and genetics. Restoration Ecology 22, 590-597.

Martay, B., Hughes, F.M.R. & Doberski, J. 2012. A comparison of created and ancient fenland using ground beetles as a measure of conservation value. Insect conservation and diversity 5, 251-263.

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