Charlie Le Marquand

PhD topic title:  Woodland mediated predator impacts on open ground birds

PhD supervisors: Professor Colin Beale, Dr Karl Evans, Dr David Douglas and Dr Scott Newey

Biography

I completed my BSc Hons in Zoology at Swansea University and MRes in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation at Imperial College London. From there, I spent time honing my science communication skills as a newspaper journalist, specialising in science and conservation reporting. Following this, I became Data and Information Officer for The Mammal Society between 2019 and 2022.

I started my PhD in October 2022, and I'm enjoying being part of LCAB. When applying for my PhD, as well as the project itself, I was really drawn to the centre and its research themes, particularly on rewilding and habitat restoration strategies.

Research

My PhD investigates whether woodland, or woodland type, impacts nest success of waders in the UK. My project will look at the ecosystem as a whole, addressing whether there is a link between woodlands and nest predation rates from mesopredators such as the red fox and carrion crow. I will also consider whether an increase in top-down predation, or simulation of a missing top predator (eg wolf or lynx), could prevent high predation rates of waders near wooded areas, or areas where afforestation is occurring.

My previous research includes:

• Hedgehog distribution in Guernsey
• Red fox habitat use in London green spaces
• How urbanisation affects local scale biodiversity using the PREDICTS database
• The biological, geographical and social impacts of hydroelectric dams in Sikkim, Eastern Himalayas

Publication highlights

Coomber, F.G., Le Marquand, C., Crawley, D., Gilford, E., Kirk, S., Lloyd, A.J., Webb, S., and Gurnell, J. (2023). The Mammal Society’s National Harvest Mouse Survey: Results from the 2021-2022 Survey Season. A report produced by the Mammal Society. https://www.mammal.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/National-Harvest-Mouse-Survey-Report.pdf

Mathews, F., Anderson, M., Coomber F., Finch D., Le Marquand C., O’Malley K., Wright P. (2022). Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774). In: Hackländer, K., Zachos, F.E. (eds) Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-65038-8_66-1

Wetherhill, A.S., Coomber, F.G., Darvill, B., Hesford, N., Le Marquand, C., Macleod, R., Mathews, F., Newey, S., Raynor, R., Willis, S., and Wilson, M.W. (2022) Development of the Mountain Hare National Monitoring Scheme - trialling a citizen science approach. NatureScot Research Report No. 1294. https://www.nature.scot/doc/naturescot-research-report-1294-development-mountain-hare-national-monitoring-scheme-trialling

Funder

• NERC ACCE DTP (2022-2026)