Projects per year
Personal profile
Administrative Posts
- Director, MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation
- CEEC Rebellion co-ordinator
- Module convenor for Univariate Statistics and Multivariate Statistics, and co-convenor for Biodiversity Conservation and Human Society/Evidence-based Global Conservation
- Promotions Committee member
Career
- Professor of Applied Ecology, University of East Anglia (2014-present)
- Reader, University of East Anglia (2007-2014)
- Lecturer, University of East Anglia (2006-2007)
- NERC Fellow, University of East Anglia (2003-2006)
- Tyndall Senior Research Associate, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research (2001-2003)
- NERC Senior Research Associate, University of East Anglia (1998-2001)
- RSPB-funded Senior Research Associate, University of East Anglia (1994-1998)
- PhD: Population Ecology, University of East Anglia (1994)
- BSc: Zoology, University of Edinburgh (1990)
Key Research Interests
I am an ecologist with primary interests in the ecology and evolution of migratory systems, and in applied issues of understanding and managing the impact of environmental changes on biodiversity. My research is principally focused on large-scale population regulation in migratory shorebirds, and developing tools for managing coastal habitats. Much of my large-scale shorebird work is constructed around a long-term study of Icelandic black-tailed godwits, Limosa limosa islandica. Since 1995, individual colour-marking of c. 1-2% of this population, and the development of a network of hundreds of volunteer observers across Europe, has allowed us to unravel the links between habitats of varying quality in summer and winter, and to track the population expansion in both seasons. These links have profound implications for a wide range of population and evolutionary processes, which we are exploring in detail. In addition to this work, I am also involved in studies of the impact of climate change on coastal habitats in the UK, management of lowland habitats for biodiversity and ecosystem services in the UK and drivers of spatial variation in population trends in migratory birds.
Current research projects
- Using phenological drivers of demograohy in conservation (with RSPB)
- Environmental and demographic drivers of migratory strategies in birds (with the University of Iceland and University of Cambridge)
- Seasonal interactions and rapid population declines in Afro-Palaearctic migratory birds (with the British Trust for Ornithology)
- Intra-guild relationships among predators of breeding waders (with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
- Climatic impacts and conservation management for breeding Lapwing (with BTO and RSPB)
Life in our research group
Field research is carried out in a variety of locations and habitats. Our shorebird work includes breeding season research in Iceland (in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Iceland), and non-breeding season research in coastal habitats throughout western Europe. In addition, we work with colleagues at the RSPB to explore the consequences of different habitat management techniques for biodiversity and ecosystem services on wetlands, and with colleagues at the British Trust for Ornithology to explore demographic trends and their drivers in migratory species. Research into coral reef ecology and conservation (in collaboration with colleagues at Simon Fraser University, Canada) is focused around identifying large-scale changes in reef ecosystems and their ecological and socio-economic consequences. We are a dynamic group with passionate interests in conservation ecology, and we meet regularly to discuss and develop research ideas and plans. We attend many conferences and workshops and we are involved in organising the annual Rebellion student conference at UEA.
PhD Positions
Click here for current PhD opportunities in Biological Sciences. But feel free to email me to discuss projects outside these areas and alternative sources of funding.
Postdocs & Fellows
I am always happy to discuss potential post-doctoral research and collaborations.
Teaching Interests
- Biodiversity Conservation and Human Society
- Evidence-based Global Conservation
- Univariate Statistics
- Multivariate Statistics
- Skills for Biologists (1A4Y)
- Annual fieldcourse of the MSc in Applied Ecology and Conservation
- Supervision of undergraduate and MSc dissertation projects
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 22 Finished
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Landscape and local-scale management for threatened breeding wader populations
British Beet Research Organisation
1/02/21 → 31/01/22
Project: Research
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Using population synchrony to target conservation action
Butler, S., Gill, J. & Morrison, C.
Natural Environment Research Council
1/10/20 → 31/08/24
Project: Research
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Monitoring and tracking of a threatened Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) population 2020
4/02/20 → 31/03/21
Project: Research
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Monitoring and tracking of a threatened Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) population
4/02/19 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
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Does early spring arrival lead to early nesting in a migratory shorebird? Insights from remote tracking
Nightingale, J., Gill, J. A., Gunnarsson, T. G., Rocha, A. R., Howison, R. A., Hooijmeijer, J. C. E. W., Piersma, T. & Alves, J. A., Apr 2024, In: Ibis. 166, 2, p. 424-439 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)8 Downloads (Pure) -
Habitat use of the micro-endemic day gecko Phelsuma antanosy in Sainte Luce, Madagascar, and the case for translocation
Pointer, M. D., Tsimilajay, H., Hyde Roberts, S., Gill, J. A. & Spurgin, L. G., 29 Aug 2024, In: Endangered Species Research. 54, p. 457-468 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Introduction of summer houses into semi-natural habitats: Impacts on ground-nesting birds
Pálsdóttir, A. E., Alves, J. A., Gill, J. A., Pálsson, S., Méndez, V. & Gunnarsson, T. G., Oct 2024, In: Animal Conservation. 27, 5, p. 648-658 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Movement of juvenile migratory birds from settlement to adulthood across the non-breeding range
Gunnarsson, T. G., Alves, J. A., Gilroy, J. J., Þórisson, B., Sutherland, W. J., Potts, P. M. & Gill, J. A., Sep 2024, In: Journal of Animal Ecology. 93, 9, p. 1236-1245 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Conservation beyond boundaries: Using animal movement networks in protected area assessment
Nightingale, J., Gill, J. A., Þórisson, B., Potts, P. M., Gunnarsson, T. G. & Alves, J. A., Dec 2023, In: Animal Conservation. 26, 6, p. 753-765 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)15 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Individual repeatability of avian migration phenology: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Franklin, K. (Creator), Nicoll, M. (Creator), Butler, S. (Creator), Norris, K. (Creator), Ratcliffe, N. (Creator), Nakagawa, S. (Creator) & Gill, J. (Creator), Dryad data repository, 31 Mar 2022
Dataset
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Subarctic afforestation: effects of forest plantations on ground-nesting birds in lowland Iceland
Pálsdottír, A. E. (Creator), Gill, J. (Creator), Alves, J. (Creator), Pálsson, S. (Creator), Méndez, V. (Creator), Ewing, H. (Creator) & Gunnarsson, T. (Creator), Dryad data repository, 1 Jun 2022
Dataset
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Movement of juvenile migratory birds from settlement to adulthood across the non-breeding range
Gunnarsson, T. G. (Creator), Alves, J. (Creator), Gilroy, J. (Creator), Porisson, B. (Creator), Sutherland, W. (Creator), Potts, P. (Creator) & Gill, J. (Creator), Dryad data repository, 18 Jun 2024
Dataset
Prizes
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Union Medal of the British Ornithologists' Union
Gill, Jenny (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Ibis (Journal)
Jenny Gill (Editor-in-Chief)
2022 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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Journal of Animal Ecology (Journal)
Jenny Gill (Editor)
2017 → 2022Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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British Trust for Ornithology (External organisation)
Jenny Gill (Chair)
2016 → 2022Activity: Membership › External research organisation
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Journal of Animal Ecology (Journal)
Jenny Gill (Associate Editor)
2015 → 2022Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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British Ornithologists' Union (External organisation)
Jenny Gill (President)
2011 → 2015Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
Press/Media
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Environmental reports greatly underestimate wildlife impacts
7/04/23 → 17/04/23
18 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Mentions research by Prof Jenny Gill (BIO) into the mating behaviour of black-tailed godwits. (Nov 2020)
15/11/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution