This proposal builds upon our current research exploring the spatial ecology and sustainable management of large herbivores in human-transformed environments. Since October 2018, our research group has been studying the key drivers of fallow deer distribution, activity and diet from the habitat to landscape scale in the woodlands of the Elwy Valley, North Wales. We have employed a range of novel technology including terrestrial laser scanning, remotely activated camera traps and genetic metabarcoding to better understand the complex interactions between deer, woodlands and people. We now propose to build upon this research by exploring the influence of herbivory and woodland structure on avian biodiversity using the latest acoustic technology coupled with machine learning and citizen science.

Funding awarded through the Bangor University Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £19,900