Studying Biology and Wildlife at Salford

Dr Danni Hinchcliffe - Teaching Fellow, Biology & Wildlife

@dannihinchy

A bit about me…

• Keen conservationist (Operation Wallacea, BTO, RSPB): bats and bird ringer, mammals and moth trapper, herpetology

A bit about me…

• Keen conservationist (Operation Wallacea, BTO, RSPB): bats and bird ringer, mammals and moth trapper, herpetology

• Dog-obsessed: volunteer with rescue charities and LOVE bull terriers

A bit about me…

• Keen conservationist (Operation Wallacea, BTO, RSPB): bats and bird ringer, mammals and moth trapper, herpetology

• Dog-obsessed: volunteer with rescue charities and LOVE bull terriers

• Traveller and amateur photographer (I take better pictures of my food than I do of wildlife!)

Academic background

• Masters in Biology from the University of Sheffield

• PhD in Molecular Ecology from the University of East Anglia

• Post-doctorate in Conservation Physiology, University of Manchester

• Now full-time staff at the University of Salford!

Seychelles warbler

• Using a combination of genetic and environmental tools to answer evolutionary questions

• Studied an endangered island bird – the Seychelles warbler, Acrocephalus sechellensis

• Applied my research directly to the species’ conservation and population management

Seychelles warbler

• Down to 26 individuals in the 1970s on a single island “Cousin”

• Birdlife International bought the island and restored native habitat

• Teamed up with scientists to form management strategy

Seychelles warbler

• Cousin population restored and four translocations carried out:

• Aride (1988)

• Cousine (1990)

• Denis (2004)

• Frégate (2011)

• Current global population >3000

• CE NT (IUCN)

• Assessed bottleneck impacts on the population gene pool

• Looked at genes responsible for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance

• Identified the best birds to start up new populations on other islands

• Assessed bottleneck impacts on the population gene pool

• Looked at genes responsible for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance

• Identified the best birds to start up new populations on other islands

Cousin MALARIA

52%

• Assessed bottleneck impacts on the population gene pool

• Looked at genes responsible for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance

• Identified the best birds to start up new populations on other islands

Cousin MALARIA

52%

Aride No malaria - 20 years

• Assessed bottleneck impacts on the population gene pool

• Looked at genes responsible for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance

• Identified the best birds to start up new populations on other islands

Cousin MALARIA

52%

Aride No malaria - 20 years

Cousine MALARIA 41%

• Assessed bottleneck impacts on the population gene pool

• Looked at genes responsible for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance

• Identified the best birds to start up new populations on other islands

Cousin MALARIA

52%

Denis No malaria - 10 years

Aride No malaria - 20 years

Cousine MALARIA 41%

• Assessed bottleneck impacts on the population gene pool

• Looked at genes responsible for innate immunity

• Avian malaria and resistance

• Identified the best birds to start up new populations on other islands

Cousin MALARIA

52%

Denis No malaria - 10 years

Frégate Traces of Malaria

Aride No malaria - 20 years

Cousine MALARIA 41%

Welsh Mountain Ponies

• Carneddau ponies managed by local farmers in Snowdonia

• Developed faecal hormone biomarkers to identify ‘stressors’

• How does stress impact on pony health, welfare and reproduction?

Image

Grevy’s zebras • Research Fellow at Chester Zoo

• Studied populations in Kenya • Reserves managed by science

• Reserves managed by tourism

• Unmanaged populations

• Environment and seasonal effects, the secrets to success for critically-endangered mammals…

Why the University of Salford?

• As a new staff member I love incorporating my research (and conservation industry) experience into my teaching

• I can take on students (third-year undergraduates and Master’s students) to get involved with these research themes

• The University of Salford community is friendly, embracing, encouraging and supportive – you could be a part of it!

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