About the Project
Translocations of water voles (Arvicola amphibius) in Britain are vital to reverse declines of this nationally endangered mammal, caused by predation, habitat conversion and degradation. Against the backdrop of one of the most severe mammalian declines in Britain, this project addresses critical knowledge gaps in the genetic management of our national reintroduction efforts.
This conservation case-study provides a unique opportunity to address fundamental evolutionary questions relating to genetics of small, fragmented populations with broad applications for conservation strategy across species, alongside novel contributions to the field of temporal river ecology and spatial geography.
Analysis of genomic data from a range of captive, reintroduced, relict and natural populations of water voles will provide insights to understand levels of inbreeding, diversity, mutational load across populations and estimate population divergence and differentiation. Genetic data from long term reintroduction sites will elucidate population-level relatedness, and population structure and shed light on reproductive success and longer-term genetic consequences post-translocation. It is vital to determine whether reintroduction boosts genetic diversity after several generations or if local diversity is being lost through genetic erosion as low diversity populations are at risk of extinction and have reduced adaptive capacity and resilience.
Identifying genetic hotspots and landscape permeability using GIS analysis will help identify and map barriers to gene-flow and model an effective migration surface (EMS), predicting how this may be affected by changes to river systems over time. Modelling EMS under different future climate scenarios, foresees future changes to connectivity, isolation and extinction risk. This supports the long-term sustainability of populations and habitats, ensuring that conservation strategies remain effective as conditions change.
The outcomes of this project will contribute to best practice guidance for reintroduction and metapopulation management, informing national conservation practices and policies. Both the project’s methodologies and findings will be applicable to other endangered species facing similar challenges such as fragmentation and restricted gene flow. Developing evidence-based guidance ensures future conservation interventions are more effective and sustainable.
Supervisory Team
Franziska Elsner-Gearing
Dr Claire Howe, Natural England
Funding Notes
This PhD opportunity is match-funded with Natural England, open to UK fee applicants only.
