Jake Britnell

I am a PhD student, in Professor Susanne Shultz’s lab at the University of Manchester, funded by the NERC DTP and CASE partner Chester Zoo. I am a zoologist by training and have coordinated and assisted in field work across the world. My passions lie in understanding population dynamics across large spatial and temporal scales using this to predict and prevent species extinction.

Current research suggests we may be protecting animals in areas where they struggle to breed or survive. This project investigates the key question arising from this phenomenon: how does habitat lead to poor breeding and survival? Dr. Jessica Lea, previous PhD student of Professor Susanne Shultz and Dr. Sue Walker, demonstrated links between stress, habitat conditions, reproductive hormones and breeding success in the Cape mountain Zebra (Equus zebra zebra).

This project builds on these findings, using novel techniques across the breadth of habitat types the Cape Mountain Zebra are found in, throughout South Africa.  Building on the work of Dr. Danielle Hinchcliffe, we also use the same techniques in key populations of the Critically Endangered Grevy’s Zebra (Equus zebra grevyi) in Kenya. The Cape mountain zebra is an ideal model to test how hormone profiles, social stability, gastrointestinal health and population demographics change due to habitat conditions. This physiological and behavioural toolkit of techniques can then be applied to species at risk, such as the Grevy’s Zebra, to help prevent extinction.

This project offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with in-situ and ex-situ institutions to increase our understanding of population dynamics, while assisting in the conservation of these amazing species. Ultimately, the toolkit we are creating will allow researchers to enter any population of any species, non-invasively collect samples and identify the causes of population decline. This will empower conservation managers to make effective decisions ranging from where to reintroduce a species, to the impact of perturbations and whether to provide supplements to prevent extinction.

Supervisors:

Professor Susanne Shultz (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester)

Dr Simon Dowell (Chester Zoo)

Professor Graham Kerley (Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, Centre of African Conservation Ecology, South Africa)