Lecturer
- About
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- Email Address
- thomas.bodey@abdn.ac.uk
- School/Department
- School of Biological Sciences
Biography
Advanced Research Fellow, University of Aberdeen (2020-present)
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Research Fellow, Waipapa Taumata Rau-University of Auckland/University of Exeter (2017-2020)
Senior Research Fellow, University of Exeter (2014-2017)
Research Fellow, University of Exeter (2010-2014)
Conservation Scientist, RSPB (2009-2010)
PhD, Queen's University Belfast (2009)
Various Conservation Biologist Roles: Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, BTO, USGS, WildCRU (1998-2005)
BSc, University of Manchester (1998)
- Research
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Research Overview
I am ecologist with a particular interest in the fields of behaviour and conservation. Much of my work is field-based, and centres around topics such as: how anthropogenic changes impact on movement, foraging and population dynamics; the causes and consequences of individual specialisation; the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of invasive species; improving land management for biodiversity; and the conservation and restoration of a range of species.
I have a long-standing interest in island ecology, where study can address a wide variety of broad ecological questions in both terrestrial and marine environments. These include the effects of human-mediated disruption through both the introduction of invasive organisms and subsequent attempts to control such species; restoration of endangered species through to entire ecosystems; the consequences of individual variation; and the role of birds as ecosystem drivers. I am fortunate enough to study these questions in a range of vertebrate systems.
Invasive Species
Ship Rat Rattus rattus
Invasive alien species (IAS) are a significant contributer to ecosystem change, and their impacts are increasing globally. The majority of current control efforts view the responses of IAS at population or even the species level. I conduct research investigating the importance of individual variation in invasive rats Rattus sp. across a network of New Zealand and Polynesian islands that differ in their ecosystem dynamics. This work aims to determine the extent, covariance and persistence of individual variation across multiple traits to address fundamental ecological questions around the processes of competition and predation. It will also produce answers for applied conservation management actions, including feeding into progress towards PredatorFreeNZ, and providing tools to address this global problem.
Invasive species cause colossal ecological impacts, but they also represent a huge burden on the world's economies. I am a member of a global collaboration examining these economic impacts through the InvaCost project. This includes analyses of country, regional and taxon specific costs, and the impacts and financial effectiveness of differing management approaches and the ability to predict costs and manage future economic risks.
Individual variation in behavioural interactions
Grey Reef Shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Examining how interactions between individuals shape behavioural responses provides an opportunity to investigate underlying mechanisms behind much broader phenomena. Combining individual-based modelling approaches and long-term tracking data on individual movements and behaviour, I collaborate on studies of black-tip and grey reef sharks at Palmyra Atoll and multi-predator communities in the Caribbean. We have investigated how behavioural interactions at the individual level can lead to profound social and ecological consequences that impact on population and community dynamics, resulting in spatial separation across habitats while promoting stable associations among individuals.
Causes and consequences of individual specialisation
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
Variation at the individual rather than the population level is increasingly seen as having important implications for species’ ecology, evolution and conservation. I have investigated the extent of intra- and inter-individual specialisation in foraging decisions in gannets using stable isotope analysis and fine-scale activity data collected using biologgers from individuals across a range of intraspecific densities. In tandem with individual-based modelling approaches, this work has focused on the causes and consequences of specialisation, and how both intrinsic and extrinsic factors – for example body condition, intraspecific competition and fisheries discards – affect the presence and persistence of specialisations.
Land management for biodiversity
Northen Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Many landscapes and ecosystems have been drastically modified by human actions. Anthropogenic systems such as farmland still support a wide variety of wildlife, but also typically support an increased number of generalist predators that are well adapted to these habitats. I work on issues facing ground-nesting birds in human-modified landscapes, with a particular focus on waders as model species. This has included assessing the importance of crop types for breeding success, identifying key predation threats, and the potential to apply alternative management practices to mitigate predator-prey interactions.
Physiological trade-offs and carry-over effects
Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota
Many components interact across the life cycles of organisms, and so their effects on individual fitness may carry over between stages, and can accumulate over time. I have investigated how the individual physiology and behavioural specialisations of migrants combine with broader social interactions, and the varying physical environments they experience – anything from highly modified urban parkland and farmland to Arctic tundra. Each individual has to make multiple trade-offs between these competing influences, and the causes and consequences of this variation offer insights into the impacts of individual specialisation and anthropogenic change on the ecology and evolution of migratory behaviour. Much of this work would not be possible without the long-term commitment of a variety of volunteers and organisations who combine to form the Irish Brent Goose Research Group www.irishbrentgoose.com
Collaborations
Dr Al Baylis, SAERI
Prof Stuart Bearhop, University of Exeter
Dr Pierre Bize, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr Ian Cleasby, RSPB
Prof Franck Courchamp, CNRS
Prof Jaime Dick, Queen's University, Belfast
Dr David Douglas, RSPB
Dr Brad Duthie, University of Stirling
Dr Karen Freeman, Malagasy Fauna & Flora Group
Dr Patrick Garvey, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research
Prof Keith Hamer, University of Leeds
Sarah Havery, RSPB
Dr Mark Jessopp, University College Cork
Dr Rebecca Laidlaw, University of East Anglia
Prof Xavier Lambin, University of Aberdeen
Prof Robbie McDonald, University of Exeter
Dr Jason Newton, SUERC, University of Glasgow
Dr Steffen Oppel, Swiss Ornithological Institute
Dr Yannis Papastamatiou, Florida International University
Dr Samantha Patrick, University of Liverpool
Dr Ana Payo-Payo, Universidad Complutense, Madrid
Dr Neil Reid, Queen's University, Belfast
Dr Debbie Russell, University of St Andrews
Prof James Russell, University of Auckland
Prof Steve Votier, Herriott-Watt University
Dr Patrick White, Edinburgh Napier University
Supervision
Current Students
PhD
Albert Bigata. Optimising the long-term control of invasive American mink from catchment to coast: how many mink is too many? Super DTP. (PI Xavier Lambin, Aberdeen) See a blog about this project here
Alexandra Brighten. Linking individual eco-physiology to lifetime fitness in an animal athlete. Robin & Brenda Kay Scholarship. (PI Thomas Bodey, Aberdeen)
Leah Gray. Developing effective agricultural wetland management to reduce predation nd improve wader breeding outcomes. Super DTP. (PI Thomas Bodey, Aberdeen)
Anna Kellner. Rewilding and the return of interacting meso-predators: Understanding, modelling and monitoring predator-prey dynamics in non-equilibrium ecosystems. Quadrat DTP. (PI Xavier Lambin, Aberdeen) Personal website: https://annakellner.com
Stephanie Griffiths. Assessing the risk of marine plastic debris to seabirds. Super DTP. (PI Neil James, UHI)
Rowan Kuminski. Cumulative effects of predation and bycatch in northern fulmar meta population dynamics. Quadrat DTP. (PI Greta Bocedi, Aberdeen)
Alusia Malinowska. Multitrophic responses to multitrophic conservation interventions: non-target species responses to biological eradications on an island. Quadrat DTP. (PI Neil Reid, Queen's Belfast)
Maria Clara Iruzun Martins. Investigating interactions between man-made subsea structures, marine predators and commercial fisheries in the North Sea. Super DTP. (PI Debbie Russell, St Andrews)
Elouise Mayall. Searching for a bit of peace and quiet despite unreliable cues: dispersal, settlement, and fitness of a top predator in multi-use forests. Quadrat DTP. (PI Xavier Lambin, Aberdeen)
Felicitas Pamatat. Integrating social and ecological approaches for sustainable food production and biodiversity management: The case of Orkney farmers and Greylag Goose. EastBio DTP. (PI Thomas Bodey, Aberdeen) Personal website: https://felipamatat.wordpress.com
Diane Pavat. Impacts of anthropogenic environmental change on Southern Rockhopper Penguin demography and behaviour Quadrat DTP (PI Thomas Bodey, Aberdeen)
Cristina Sellares. Understanding ecological and social management of invasive species in an island community. Howard Davis Farm Trust, Jersey. (PI Thomas Bodey, Aberdeen)
Michael Simmonds. Optimising invasive species control to reduce zoonotic disease risk and agricultural losses in Madagascar EastBio DTP. (PI Thomas Bodey, Aberdeen)
Danni Thompson. Drivers of individual foraging/behaviour specialisation in a model seabird, the Falkland Islands shag. Quadrat DTP. (PI Thomas Bodey, Aberdeen) Personal website: https://www.dannithompsonphotography.com
Past Students
MSc
Charlotte Jones, Comparing detection methods for predators of rapidly declining waders
Allison Terry, Personality variation and foraging behaviour of Falkland Island shags
Alex Philip, The influence of habitat type on the distribution of terrestrial reptiles on the Cayman Sister Islands
Amy Kidd, Identifying features of forestry clear fell associated with vole presence
Daniella Laing, Consistency in foraging behaviour of harbour seals
Hons
Megan D’Cruz, Ecological interactions between introduced and native mammals
Claudia Saez Lopez, Impacts of reef structure and complexity on invasive lionfish distributions
Holly Skene, Impacts of nest camera usage on avian predator behaviour
Viola Panigada, Enhancing place-based conservation efforts for fin whales in the NW Mediterranean
Erin Smith, Understanding individual variation in invasive rats
Erin Wilson, Consequences of personality differences in a wild seabird
John Gillies, Factors influencing feather mite abundance in the European Robin
Margot Storez, Where to fly for food: comparison of foraging trips in chick-rearing fulmars under differing weather conditions
Funding and Grants
Royal Society Research Grant (£70 000) 2024
University of Aberdeen PumpPriming Research Grant (£10 000) 2024
NERC Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility Support Grant (£30 000) 2024
Darwin Plus 128 co-I (£50 000) 2021-2024
NERC Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility Support Grant (£27 000) 2019
University of Auckland PumpPriming Research Grant (£5 000) 2019
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Fellowship (£230 000) 2017-2020
- Teaching
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- Publications
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Page 3 of 6 Results 21 to 30 of 59
Sexual Mismatch Between Vessel-Associated Foraging and Discard Consumption in a Marine Top Predator
Frontiers in Marine Science, vol. 8, 636468Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe clock is ticking: temporally prioritizing eradications on islands
Global Change Biology, vol. 27, no. 7, pp. 1443-1456Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSexual segregation of gannet foraging over 11 years: movements vary but isotopic differences remain stable
Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 661, pp. 1-16Contributions to Journals: ArticlesNesting outcomes under anthropogenic change – effects of changing climate and nestbox provision on the reproduction of Great Tits Parus major
Ibis, vol. 163, pp. 65-78Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12847
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Terrestrial vertebrate survey of Motukawanui
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 174-184Contributions to Journals: ArticlesLeveraging Motivations, Personality, and Sensory Cues for Vertebrate Pest Management
Trends in Ecology & Evolution, vol. 35, no. 11, pp. 990-1000Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMultiyear social stability and social information use in reef sharks with diel fission–fusion dynamics
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences, vol. 287, no. 1932, 20201063.Contributions to Journals: ArticlesConsistent measures of oxidative balance predict survival but not reproduction in a long-distance migrant
Journal of Animal Ecology, vol. 89, no. 8, pp. 1872-1882Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13237
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Systematic prey preference by introduced mice exhausts the ecosystem on Antipodes Island
Biological Invasions, vol. 22, pp. 1265-1278Contributions to Journals: ArticlesGannets are not attracted to fishing vessels in Iceland-potential influence of a discard ban and food availability
ICES Journal of Marine Science, vol. 77, no. 2, pp. 692-700Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsz233
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/14607/1/Clark_etal_ICESJMS_Gannets_VOR.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus