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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.

Martín Vélez, V., Cano-Povedano, J., Cañuelo-Jurado, B., López-Calderón, C., Céspedes, V., Ros, M., Sánchez, M.I., Shamoun-Baranes, J., Müller, W., Thaxter, C.B., Camphuysen, C.J., Cózar & Green, A.J. 2024. Leakage of plastics and other debris from landfills to a highly protected lake by wintering gulls. Waste Management 177 : 13-23 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.01.034)
Cooper, J.E.J., Plummer, K.E., Middlebrook, I. & Siriwardena, G.M. 2024. Using butterfly survey data to model habitat associations in urban developments. Journal of Applied Ecology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14583)
Tirozzi, P., Massimino, D. & Bani, L. 2024. Avian responses to climate extremes: insights into abundance curves and species sensitivity using the UK Breeding Bird Survey. Oecologia Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05504-9)
Thaxter, C.B., Green, R.M.W., Collier, M.P., Taylor, R.C., Middelveld, R.P., Scragg, E.S., Wright, L.J., Cook, A.S.C.P. & Fijn, R.C. 2024. Behavioural responses of Sandwich terns following the construction of offshore wind farms. Marine Biology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1007/s00227-023-04353-7)
Boersch-Supan, P.H., Hanmer, H.J. & Robinson, R.A. 2024. Extended moult phenology models improve inferences about moult duration and timing. Ornithology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1093/ornithology/ukae003)
Calladine, J., Hallgrimsson, G.T., Morrison, N., Southall, C., Gunnarsson, H., Jubete, F., Sergio, F. & Mougeot, F. 2024. Remote tracking unveils intercontinental movements of nomadic Short-eared Owls Asio flammeus with implications for resource tracking by irruptive specialist predators. Ibis View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13304)
Boetzl, F.A., Sponsler, D., Albrecht, M., Batáry, P., Birkhofer, K., Knapp, M., Krauss, J., Maas, B., Martin, E.A., Sirami, C., Sutter, L., Bertrand, C., Bosem Baillod, A., Bota, G., Bretagnolle, V., Brotons, L., Frank, T., Fusser, M., Giralt, D., González, E., Hof, A.R., Luka, H., Marrec, R., Nash, M.A., Ng, K., Plantegenest, M., Poulin, B., Siriwardena, G.M., Tscharntke, T., Tschumi, M., Vialatte, A., Van Vooren, L., Zubair-Anjum, M., Entling, M.H., Steffan-Dewenter, I. & Schirmel, J. 2024. Distance functions of carabids in crop fields depend on functional traits, crop type and adjacent habitat: a synthesis. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 291 Link to Article (DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6984205)
Pell, R.J., Clark, J.A. & Robinson, R.A. 2024. Contrasting habitat use between and within Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew wintering on the Wash, England. Wader Study 130 View Abstract
Davies, J.G., Humphreys, E.M., Evans, T., Howells, R., O’Hara-Murray, R. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2023. Seabird abundances projected to decline in response to climate change in Britain and Ireland. Marine Ecology Progress Series Link to Article (DOI: 10.3354/meps14462)
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 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42475-0)
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. 2023. Flight heights obtained from GPS versus altimeters influence estimates of collision risk with offshore wind turbines in Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus. Movement Ecology 11 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00431-z)
Finch, T., Bradbury, R.B., Bradfer-Lawrence, T., Buchanan, G.M., Copping, J.P., Massimino, D., Smith, P., Peach, W.J. & Field, R.H. 2023. Spatially targeted nature-based solutions can mitigate climate change and nature loss but require a systems approach. One Earth 6 : 1 350-1 374 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.09.005)
van Bemmelen, R.A., Leemans, J.J., Collier, M.P., Green, R.M.W., Middelveld, R.P., Thaxter, C.B. & Fijn, R.C. 2023. Avoidance of offshore wind farms by Sandwich Terns in the North Sea increases with turbine density. Ornithological Applications Link to Article (DOI: 10.1093/ornithapp/duad055)
Buchan, C., Gilroy, J.J., Catry, I., Hewson, C.M., Atkinson, P.W. & Franco, A.M.A 2023. Combining remote sensing and tracking data to quantify species’ cumulative exposure to anthropogenic change. Global Change Biology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16974)
Boersch-Supan, P.H., Lee, A.T.K & Oschadleus, H.D. 2023. A demonstration of the value of recapture data for informing moult phenology models for species with imperfect moult data.. Ostrich Link to Article (DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2023.2248396)
Stanbury, A.J., Balmer, D.E., Eaton, M.A., Grice, P.V., Khan, N.Z., Orchard, J.M. & Wotton, S.R. 2023. The status of the UK breeding European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur population in 2021. Bird Study Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2023.2256511)
O’Hanlon, N.J., Johnston, D.T., Cook, A.S.C.P., Robinson, R.A. & Humphreys, E.M. 2023. A crowded ocean: the need for demographic and movement data in seabird conservation. Ocean and Coastal Management 244 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106833)
Kenobi, K., Read, W., Bowgen, K., Macgregor, C., Taylor, R., Cámaro García, W., Hodges, C., Dennis, P. & Holloway, P. 2023. Lasso Penalisation identifies consistent trends over time in landscape and climate factors influencing the wintering distribution of the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata). Ecological Informatics Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102244)
Howard, C., Marjakangas, E.-M., Morán-Ordóñez, A., Milanesi, P., Abuladze, A., Aghababyan, K., Ajder, V., Arkumarev, V., Balmer, D.E., Bauer, H.-G., Beale, C.M., Bino, T., Ali Boyla, K., Burfield, I.J., Burke, B., Caffrey, B., Chodkiewicz, T., Del Moral, J.C., Dumbovic Mazal, V., Fernández, N., Fornasari, L., Gerlach, B., Godinho, C., Herrando, S., Ieronymidou, C., Johnston, A., Jovicevic, M., Kalyakin, M., Keller, V., Knaus, P., Kotrošan, D., Kuzmenko, T,, Leitão, D., Lindström, Å., Maxhuni, Q., Mihelič, T., Mikuska, T., Molina, B., Nagy, K., Noble, D., Jostein Øien, I., Paquet, J.-Y., Pladevall, C., Portolou, D., Radišić, D., Rajkov, S., Rajković, D.Z., Raudonikis, L., Sattler, T., Saveljić, D., Shimmings, P., Sjenicic, J., Šťastný, K., Stoychev, K., Strus, I., Sudfeldt, C., Sultanov, E., Szép, T., Teufelbauer, N., Uzunova, D., van Turnhout, C.A.M., Velevski, M., Vikstrøm, T., Vintche 2023. Local colonisations and extinctions of European birds are poorly explained by changes in climate suitability. Nature Communications 14 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39093-1)
Clark, B.L. et al. 2023. Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds. Nature Communications 14 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38900-z)
Cook, P., Alder, D., Hordley, L., Newson, S.E. & Pengelly, D. 2023. Seeing the wood for the trees, irregular silviculture supports bat populations in conifer plantations. Forest Ecology and Management Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121214)
Davies, J.G., Kirkland, M., Miller, M.G.R., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., Atkinson, P.W. & Hewson, C.M. 2023. Spring arrival of the Common Cuckoo at breeding grounds is strongly determined by environmental conditions in tropical Africa. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 290 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0580)
Branston, C.J., Whittingham, M.J., Phillimore, A.B., Leech, D. & Willis, S.G. 2023. The phenology and clutch size of UK Blue Tits does not differ with woodland composition. Ibis Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13248)
Calladine, J., Fuller, R., Hodkinson, D., Franks, S. & Boyle, J. 2023. Changes in breeding wader populations of the Uist machair and adjacent habitats between 1983 and 2022. Scottish Birds 43 (part 2) : 132-140
Langlois Lopez, S., Clewley, G.D., Johnston, D.T., Daunt, F., Wildon, J.M., O'Hanlon, N.J. & Masden, E. 2023. Reduced breeding success in Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus due to harness-mounted GPS device. Ibis Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13247)
Oschadleus, H.D. & Boersch-Supan, P.H. 2023. Sunning in Yellow Bishops Euplectes capensis. Ostrich 94 (part 1) View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2023.2216375)
Marjakangas, E.-L., Bosco, L., Versluijs, M., Xu, Y., Santangeli, A., Holopainen, S., Mäkeläinen, S., Herrando, S., Keller, V., Voříšek, P., Brotons, L., Johnston, A., Princé, K., Willis, S.G., Aghababyan, K., Ajder, V., Balmer, D.E., Bino, T., Boyla, K.A., Chodkiewicz, T., del Moral, J.C., Mazal, V.D., Ferrarini, A., Godinho, C., Gustin, M., Kalyakin, M., Knaus, P., Kuzmenko, T., Lindström, Å., Maxhuni, Q., Molina, B., Nagy, K., Radišić, D., Rajkov, S., Rajković, D.Z., Raudoniki, L., Sjeničić, J., Stoychev, S., Szép, T., Teufelbauer, N., Ursul, S., van Turnhout, C.M., Velevski, M., Vikstrøm, T., Wilk, T., Voltzit, O., Øien, I.J., Sudfeldt, C., Gerlach, B. & Lehikoinen, A. 2023. Ecological barriers mediate spatio-temporal shifts of bird communities at a continental scale. PNAS View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213330120)
Gregory, R.D., Eaton, M.A., Burfield, I.J., Grice, P.V., Howard, C., Klvaňová, A., Noble, D., Šilarová, E., Staneva, A., Stephens, P.A., Willis, S.G., Woodward, I.D. & Burns, F. 2023. Drivers of the changing abundance of European birds at two spatial scales. Proc. Roy. Soc. B View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0198)
Maziarz, M., Broughton, R.K., Beck, K.B., Robinson, R.A. & Sheldon, B.C. 2023. Temporal avoidance as a means of reducing competition between sympatric species. Royal Society Open Science View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230521)
Plummer, K.E., Dadam, D., Brereton, T., Dennis, E.B., Massimino, D., Risely, K., Siriwardena, G.M. & Toms, M.P. 2023. Trends in butterfly populations in UK gardens - new evidence from citizen science monitoring. Insect Conservation and Diversity View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/icad.12645)
Schwemmer, P., Mercker, M., Haecker, K., Kruckenberg, H., Kämpfer, S., Bocher, P., Fort, J., Jiguet, F., Franks, S., Elts, J., Marja, R., Piha, M., Rousseau, P., Pederson, R., Düttmann, H., Fartmann, T. & Garthe, S. 2023. Behavioral responses to offshore windfarms during migration of a declining shorebird species revealed by GPS-telemetry. Journal of Environmental Management 342 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118131)
Kirkland, M., Atkinson, P.W., Pearce-Higgins, J.W., De Jong, M., Dowling, T.P.F., Grummoe, D., Critchley, M. & Ashton-Butt, A. 2023. Landscape fires disproportionally affect areas of conservation priority but only under low moisture conditions. Science of The Total Environment 884 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163849)
Rigala, S., Dakos, V., Alonso, H., Auniņš, A., Benkőe, Z., Brotons, L., Chodkiewicz, T., Chylareck, P., de Carlil, E., del Moral, J.C., Domșa, C., Escandell, V., Fontaine, B., Foppen, R., Gregory, R., Harris, S., Herrando, S., Husby, M., Leronymidou C., Jiguet, J., Kennedy, J., Klvaňová, A., Kmecl, P., Kuczyński, L. , Kurlavičius, P., Kålås J.A., Lehikoinen, A., Lindström, Å, Lorrillière, R., Moshø, C., Nellis, R., Noble, D., Eskildsen, D.P., Paquet, J-Y., Pelissié, M., Pladevall, C., Portolou, D., Reif, J., Schmid, H., Seaman, B., Szabo, Z.D., Szép, T., Florenzano, G.T., Teufelbauer, N., Trautmann, S., van Turnhout, C., Vermouzek, Z., Vikstrøm, T., Voříšek, P., Weiserbs, A. & Devictor, V. 2023. Farmland practices are driving bird population decline across Europe. PNAS View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216573120)
Fattorini, N., Costanzo, A., Romano, A., Rubolini, D., Baillie, S., Bairlein, F., Spina, F., & Ambrosini, R. 2023. Eco-evolutionary drivers of avian migratory connectivity. Ecology Letters Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ele.14223)
Clewley, G.D., Thaxter, C., Scragg, E.S., Masden, E.A., Barber, L.J., Conway, G., Clark, N.A. & Burton, N.H.K. 2023. Daily, seasonal and annual variation in area use of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus) related to offshore renewable developments. Bird Study 70 : 13-24 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2023.2190080)
Clark, J.A., Gillings, S., Clark, N.A., Cole, K.B., Breese, G., Woods, J.L., Bellman, H.A. & Robinson, R.A. 2023. How important is it to standardise the measured mass of shorebirds weighed at varying intervals after capture?. Wader Study 130 (part 1) Link to Article (DOI: 10.18194/ws.00297)
Eaton, M. Stroud, D. Francis, I, Norman, D, Baker, H., Holling, M. King, A., Stanbury, A. & Balmer, D. 2023. Monitoring five decades of change in the UK’s rarest breeding birds through citizen science: the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. British Wildlife 35 : 335-345
Stroud, D.A., Eaton, M.A., Francis, I.S, Baker, H., Holling, M., King, A., Norman, D., Stanbury, A.J. & Balmer, D.E. 2023. The Rare Breeding Birds Panel: five decades of monitoring the UK’s rare breeding birds. British Birds 116 : 191-209
Defra Science Advisory Council 2023. Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Great Britain: evaluation and future actions. Defra Science Advisory Council Report Defra View Abstract
Evans, L.C., Melero, Y., Schmucki, S., Boersch-Supan, P.H., Brotons, L., Fontaine, C., Jiguet, F., Kuussaari, M., Massimino, D., Robinson, R.A., Roy, D.B., Schweiger, O., Settele, J., Stefanescu, C., van Turnhout, C.A.M. & Oliver, T.H. 2023. A niche-based approach for evaluating the mechanisms of community stability in butterfly communities across three countries. Global Change Biology 29 : 3 271-3 284 View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16684)
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 Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13190)
Green, R.E., Taggart, M.A., Pain, D.J., Clark, N.A., Clewley, L., Cromie, R., Green, R.M.W., Guiu, M., Huntley, B., Huntley, J., Leslie, R., Porter, R., Roberts, J., Robinson, J.A., Robinson, R.A., Sheldon, R., Smith, K.W., Smith, L., Spencer, J. & Stroud, D. 2023. Limited effectiveness of actions intended to achieve a voluntary transition from the use of lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition for hunting in Britain. Conservation Evidence Journal 20 : 1-7 Link to Article (DOI: 10.52201/CEJ20/OQWU5273)
Vickery, J.A., Mallord, J.W., Adams, W.M., Beresford, A.E., Both, C., Cresswell, W., Diop, N., Ewing, S.R., Gregory, R.D., Morrison, C.A., Sanderson, F.J., Thorup, C., Van Wijk, R.E. & Hewson, C.M 2023. The conservation of Afro-Palaearctic migrants: what we are learning and what we need to know. Ibis View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13171)
Barnes, A.E., Robinson, R.A. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. 2023. Collation of a century of soil invertebrate abundance data suggests long-term declines in earthworms but not tipulids. PLOS ONE Link to Article (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282069)
Barton, M.G., Henderson, I., Border, J.A. & Siriwardena, G.M. 2023. A review of the impacts of air pollution on terrestrial birds. Science of The Total Environment 873 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162136)
Cooper, J.E.J., Plummer, K.E. & Siriwardena, G.M. 2023. Using species-habitat models to predict bird counts from urban development plans. Landscape and Urban Planning 230 Link to Article (DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104629)
Cooper, J.E.J., Garcia-del-Rey, E. & Lachlan, R.F. 2023. Evolution of female song and duetting in the Chaffinch (Fringilla) species complex. Journal of Avian Biology Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.03069)
Maskell, L., Alison, J., Forbes, N., Jarvis, S., Robinson, D., Siriwardena, G., Wood, C. & Smart, S. 2023. Inconsistent relationships between area, heterogeneity and plant species richness in temperate farmed landscapes. Oikos Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/oik.09720)
Pearce-Higgins, J.W. & Morris, R.K.A. 2023. Declines in invertebrates and birds – could they be linked by climate change?. Bird Study View Abstract Link to Article (DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2022.2157373)
Sharps, E., Hawkes, R., Bladon, A., Buckingham, D., Border, J., Morris, A., Grice, P. & Peach, W. 2023. Reversing declines in farmland birds: how much agri-environment provision is needed at farm and landscapes scales?. Journal of Applied Ecology Link to Article (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14338)

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