Studying Biology and Wildlife at Salford Dr Danni Hinchcliffe - - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Studying Biology and Wildlife at Salford

Dr Danni Hinchcliffe - Teaching Fellow, Biology & Wildlife

@dannihinchy

A bit about me…

• Keen conservationist (Operation Wallacea, BTO, RSPB):

bats and bird ringer, mammals and moth trapper, herpetology

A bit about me…

• Keen conservationist (Operation Wallacea, BTO, RSPB):

bats and bird ringer, mammals and moth trapper, herpetology

• Dog-obsessed: volunteer with rescue

charities and LOVE bull terriers

A bit about me…

• Keen conservationist (Operation Wallacea, BTO, RSPB):

bats and bird ringer, mammals and moth trapper, herpetology

• Dog-obsessed: volunteer with rescue charities and LOVE bull terriers
• Traveller and amateur photographer (I take better pictures of my food

than I do of wildlife!)

Academic background

• Masters in Biology from the University of Sheffield
• PhD in Molecular Ecology from the University of East Anglia
• Post-doctorate in Conservation Physiology, University of Manchester
• Now full-time staff at the University of Salford!

Seychelles warbler

• Using a combination of genetic and environmental tools to

answer evolutionary questions

• Studied an endangered island bird – the Seychelles warbler,

Acrocephalus sechellensis

• Applied my research directly to the species’ conservation and

population management

Seychelles warbler

• Down to 26 individuals in the

1970s on a single island “Cousin”

• Birdlife International bought the

island and restored native habitat

• Teamed up with scientists to form

management strategy

Seychelles warbler

• Cousin population restored and

four translocations carried out:

• Aride (1988)
• Cousine (1990)
• Denis (2004)
• Frégate (2011)
• Current global population >3000
• CE  NT (IUCN)

• Assessed bottleneck impacts
• n the population gene pool
• Looked at genes responsible

for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance
• Identified the best birds to

start up new populations on

• ther islands

• Assessed bottleneck impacts
• n the population gene pool
• Looked at genes responsible

for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance
• Identified the best birds to

start up new populations on

• ther islands

Cousin MALARIA 52%

• Assessed bottleneck impacts
• n the population gene pool
• Looked at genes responsible

for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance
• Identified the best birds to

start up new populations on

• ther islands

Cousin MALARIA 52% Aride No malaria - 20 years

• Assessed bottleneck impacts
• n the population gene pool
• Looked at genes responsible

for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance
• Identified the best birds to

start up new populations on

• ther islands

Cousin MALARIA 52% Aride No malaria - 20 years Cousine MALARIA 41%

• Assessed bottleneck impacts
• n the population gene pool
• Looked at genes responsible

for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance
• Identified the best birds to

start up new populations on

• ther islands

Cousin MALARIA 52% Denis No malaria - 10 years Aride No malaria - 20 years Cousine MALARIA 41%

• Assessed bottleneck impacts
• n the population gene pool
• Looked at genes responsible

for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance
• Identified the best birds to

start up new populations on

• ther islands

Cousin MALARIA 52% Denis No malaria - 10 years Frégate Traces of Malaria Aride No malaria - 20 years Cousine MALARIA 41%

Welsh Mountain Ponies

• Carneddau ponies managed by

local farmers in Snowdonia

• Developed faecal hormone

biomarkers to identify ‘stressors’

• How does stress impact on pony

health, welfare and reproduction?

Image

Grevy’s zebras

• Research Fellow at Chester Zoo
• Studied populations in Kenya
• Reserves managed by science
• Reserves managed by tourism
• Unmanaged populations
• Environment and seasonal

effects, the secrets to success for critically-endangered mammals…

Why the University of Salford?

• As a new staff member I love incorporating my research (and

conservation industry) experience into my teaching

• I can take on students (third-year undergraduates and Master’s

students) to get involved with these research themes

• The University of Salford community is friendly, embracing,

encouraging and supportive – you could be a part of it!

To see what other presentations are available today, please go back to our event hub