Dr. Kirsty J. Park

Lecturer in Ecology

DPhil - University of Bristol (1998)
BSc - University of Leeds (1994)

Centre for Conservation Science

School of Biological & Environmental Sciences
University of Stirling
Stirling
Scotland, FK9 4LA

tel: +44 1786 467799
fax: +44 1786 467843
email: Kirsty Park

PhD opportunity in bat ecology & conservation ~ CLOSING DATE 17TH FEBRUARY 2010

Field assistant position in bat ecology & conservation ~ CLOSING DATE 15TH MARCH 2010

PhD opportunity in pine marten ecology ~ CLOSING DATE 18TH FEBRUARY 2010

PhD funding notes

Current research areas in conservation ecology:

Micro-turbines and wildlife

Research is currently underway at Stirling University to investigate possible effects of micro-turbines on bats and birds. We aim to identify situations where problems associated with micro-turbines may arise, and to quantify any risks to wildlife involved. This information will then be used for guidance on siting micro-turbines to minimise any risk to wildlife whilst maximising energy efficiency. Photo credit: Proven Energy

Click here for further details of this research.

If you are the owner of a micro-turbine you could help this research by completing a short questionnaire either on-line or by downloading a hard copy.

Funded by the Leverhulme Trust

Invasive alien species

Invasive alien species pose a significant threat to biodiversity worldwide, and many eradication programmes are now underway in an effort to reduce the impact they may have on native species and ecosystems. Recent projects include the ecology and control of North American mink, Mustela vison, on the Western Isles in Scotland (with Central Science Laboratory and York University); the use of simulation models to assess the efficacy of invasive species’ control strategies (e.g. Travis & Park, 2004); ecology and control of Rhododendron ponticum (Stephenson et al. 2007; Harris et al. in press; see below).

Development of a landscape model for the spread and control of R. ponticum

In collaboration with Aberdeen University (Justin Travis), St. Andrew's University/Stirling University (Catriona Harris), Forest Research.

Funded by Carnegie Trust, Oleg Polunin Trust

R. ponticum is a well-established invasive species throughout the UK and its presence is of great conservation and economic concern. There is currently considerable uncertainty over the effectiveness of R. ponticum control strategies. In particular, it is not clear what control strategy will deliver the highest biodiversity or economic benefits under realistic management situations, both in terms of the available resources and duration of funding for such work. The aim of this work is to develop a spatially-explicit landscape model of R. ponticum spread and control, incorporating a range of conservation and management priorities and economic constraints.

Bat ecology & conservation

There is evidence that many bat species in Europe have undergone large

population declines in the 20th century, driven largely by the loss of roosts and foraging habitats. For the past ten years I have been involved in bat research and conservation, specifically the identification of important roosting and foraging habitats and threats to the conservation status of bats (e.g. Park et al. 1996 ; Park & Cristinacce 2006). Current research interests are focussed on the ecology and conservation of bats in heavily anthropogenically altered environments such as agricultural and urban landscapes. Some of this work is being carried out as part of a PhD to investigate the influence of farming practices on bat populations (further details).

Endocrine disruptors

There is growing concern that a number of substances (often termed endocrine disruptors, EDCs) which interfere with physiological processes governed by the endocrine system, have the potential to cause adverse effects in humans and wildlife. In particular, the effect of oestrogen-mimics has implications for fertility, behaviour, and the immune and endocrine systems, but there is little information on the effect of background levels of these pollutants on most species. Some EDCs are known to enter the environment via sewage treatment works. Many invertebrates develop on percolating filter beds at sewage treatment works and provide a valuable foraging resource to insectivorous vertebrates such as bats and birds (e.g. Park & Cristinacce 2006). Recent work, however, has shown that aerial invertebrates developing on sewage filterbeds take up a range of chemicals thought to be incorporated from the sewage effluent, which act as endocrine disruptors (Park et al. in press).

Human-wildlife conflict

1. The impacts of predatory birds on wildlife . In collaboration with BTO, Scotland, the Centre for Conservation Science (CCS) has recently completed a review, commissioned by Scotland's Moorland Forum, of the population trends and status of a number of 'predatory bird' species in Scotland and an evaluation of the scientific evidence for their impact on a range of prey species in Scotland (Park et al. 2005; Park et al. 2008; Stephenson et al. 2008).

2. The management & ecology of urban gulls. The presence of colonies of urban gulls within towns and cities throughout the UK has been highlighted as a problem for some residents, tourism and businesses, and has been reported as stretching the resources of some Local Authorities. Commonly reported problems have included removal of litter from bags and bins, fouling from droppings, the noise resulting from gull activities, and aggressive behaviour towards people during the breeding season. In collaboration with BTO, Scotland, CCS was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to review the ecology and management of urban gulls in Scotland. This involved: collating the most up to date information regarding the size, distribution and ecology of urban gull populations in Scotland; reviewing current management practices; assessing perceived problems associated with urban gulls across Scotland (Calladine et al. 2005).

Research students

Current

Elisa Fuentes-Montemayor (PhD) "The influence of farming practices on bat populations within agricultural landscapes"

Heather McCallum (PhD) "Identifying and implementing key habitat features for breeding waders in upland grassland systems: ecology and economics"

Enda McLouglin (MPhil) "Golden plovers and windfarms"

Past

Fiona Caryl (PhD, 2008) "Pine marten diet and habitat use within a managed coniferous forest" . Now at University of Melbourne, Australia.

Teaching

I am the co-ordinator of the Conservation Biology & Managment degree and the following Msc and undergraduate modules:

- Biodiversity (module in Environmental Management MSc)

- Conservation Biology (undergraduate)

- Conservation Management (undergraduate)

I also teach on an undergraduate field course in Switzerland, on vertebrate diversity and a course on advanced analytical techniques.

Publications

Papers in refereed journals:

Redpath N, Osgathorpe LM, Park KJ & Goulson D (In press). Crofting and bumblebee conservation: the impact of land management practices on bumblebee populations in northwest Scotland. Biological Conservation.
Park KJ, Müller CT, Markman S, Swinscow-Hall O, Pascoe D & Buchanan KL (2009). Detection of endocrine disrupting chemicals in aerial invertebrates at sewage treatment works. Chemosphere 77: 1459-1464.
Harris CM, Park KJ, Atkinson R, Edwards C & Travis JMJ (2009). Invasive species control: Incorporating demographic data and seed dispersal into a management model for Rhododendron ponticum. Ecological Informatics 4: 226-233.
Goulson D, McGuire K, Munro EE, Adamson S, Colliar L, Park KJ, Tinsley MC & Gilburn A (2009). Functional significance of the dark central floret of Daucus carota (Apiaceae) L.; is it an insect mimic? Plant Species Biology 24: 77-82.
Lye G, Park KJ, Osborne J, Holland J & Goulson D (2009). Assessing the value of Rural Stewardship schemes for providing foraging resources and nesting habitat for bumblebee queens (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Biological Conservation 142: 2023-2032
Harris CM, Calladine J, Wernham CW & Park KJ (2008). Impacts of piscivorous birds on salmonid populations and game fisheries in Scotland: a review. Wildlife Biology 14: 395-411.
Park KJ, Graham K, Calladine J & Wernham CW (2008). Impacts of birds of prey on gamebirds in the UK. Ibis 150 (Suppl 1): 9-26.
Bremner A & Park KJ (2007). Public attitudes to the management of invasive non-native species in Scotland. Biological Conservation 139: 306-314.
Stephenson CM, Kohn DD, Park KJ, Atkinson R, Edwards C & Travis JMJ (2007). Testing mechanistic models of seed dispersal of the invasive Rhododendron ponticum (L.). Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 9: 15-28.
Goulson D, Cruise JL, Sparrow KR, Harris AJ, Park, KJ, Tinsley MC & Gilburn AS (2007). Long and short-range use of floral cues to improve foraging efficiency in foraging bumblebees and honeybees. Behavioural Ecology & Sociobiology 61: 1523-1529.
Park KJ & Cristinacce A (2006). The use of sewage treatment works as foraging sites by insectivorous bats. Animal Conservation 9: 259-268.
Park KJ (2004). Assessment and management of invasive alien predators. Ecology & Society 9(2): 12. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss2/art12/ .
Travis J & Park KJ (2004). Spatial structure and the control of alien invasive species. Animal Conservation 7: 321-330.
Evans MR, Rosén M, Park KJ & Hedenström A (2002). How do birds’ tails work? Delta wing theory fails to predict tail shape during flight. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 269:1053-7.
Park KJ, Booth F, Newborn D& Hudson PJ (2002). Breeding losses of red grouse in Glen Esk: comparative studies, 30 years on. Annales Zoologica Fennici 39: 21-28.
Park KJ, Hurley MM & Hudson PJ (2002). Territorial status and survival in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus): Hope for the doomed surplus? Journal of Avian Biology 33: 56-62.
Park KJ, Rosén M & Hedenström A (2001). Flight kinematics of the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) over a wide range of speeds in a windtunnel. Journal of Experimental Biology 204: 2741-2750.
Park KJ, Buchanan KL & Evans MR (2001). Sexy streamers? The role of natural and sexual selection in the evolution of hirundine tail morphology. Evolution 55: 445-446.
Park KJ, Robertson PA, Campbell ST, Foster R, Russell ZM, Newborn D& Hudson PJ (2001). The role of invertebrates in the diet, growth and survival of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) chicks. Journal of Zoology, London 254: 137-145.
Robertson PA, Park KJ & Barton AF (2001). Loss of heather moorland in the Scottish uplands: the role of red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus management. Wildlife Biology 7: 37-42.
Park KJ, Evans MR & Buchanan KL (2000). Assessing the aerodynamic effects of tail elongations in the house martin (Delichon urbica): Implications for the initial selection pressures in hirundines. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 48: 364-372.
Park KJ, Jones G& Ransome RD (2000). Torpor, arousal and activity patterns of hibernating greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Functional Ecology 14: 580 - 588.
Park KJ, Jones G & Ransome RD (1999). Winter activity of a population of greater horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Journal of Zoology, London 248: 419 - 427.
Park KJ, Masters E & Altringham JD (1998). Social structure of three sympatric bat species (Vespertilionidae). Journal of Zoology, London 244: 379 - 389.
Park KJ, Altringham JD & Jones G (1996). Assortative roosting in the two phonic types of Pipistrellus pipistrellus during the mating season. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 263: 1495 – 1499.

Reports:

Park KJ, Calladine JR, Graham KE, Stephenson CM, & Wernham CV (2005). The Impacts of Predatory Birds on Waders, Songbirds, Gamebirds and Fisheries Interests. A report to Scotland’s Moorland Forum. Research contract FO4AC20A. Available at: http://www.moorlandforum.org.uk/documents.php

Calladine JR, Park KJ, Thompson K & Wernham CV (2005). Review of Urban Gulls and their Management in Scotland. A report to the Scottish Executive. Research contract ENV/BTO/001/04. Available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/18113519/0

Travis J, Park KJ, Harwood J, Buckland S & Thirgood S (2002). The use of modelling techniques to predict the response of the introduced hedgehog population in the Western Isles to a range of potential control options. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report IH020305T