Kittiwakes and offshore energy
The now Critically Endangered Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla, has experienced widespread declines across the UK. Conservation focus is shifting offshore amid marine renewable developments that require impact assessment and offsetting, and the decommissioning and re-purposing of end-of-life oil and gas platforms. Offshore structures could support a significant kittiwake breeding population, not currently included in current population estimates.
Aims:
To understand the importance of offshore oil rigs as breeding habitats for kittiwakes. Multiple projects led by former UoE masters student Anna Lowden and current UoE PhD student Debs Allbrook.
To understand year-round distributions of the North Atlantic kittiwake metapopulation to inform future offshore renewable consenting. Led by PhD student Vance Mak
