Is there a future for the harvest mouse in arable farmland?
Fact file
| Duration |
Three to four years full-time |
|---|
| Eligibility |
Self-funded; Home, EU or International Students |
|---|
| Supervisor(s) |
Dr Tom Reader |
|---|
| Application deadline |
No deadline |
|---|
About the project
Small mammals, including the enigmatic harvest mouse (Micromys minutus), have long been associated with cereal farming. They may consume crop seed and shoots, but they also provide potentially important ecosystem services. However, we know little about how they have been affected by changes in cereal farming, such as the introduction of field margins to promote biodiversity, and the organic cultivation of “heritage” varieties. Despite the fact that their name suggests an intimate association with farming, harvest mice are particularly poorly understood in this context: we have little reliable information about their abundance and distribution in arable land, and their conservation status in the UK is far from clear.
This project will examine the impact of recent changes in cereal farming on small mammals in general, and on harvest mice in particular. We will survey small mammals, and associated ecosystem services, in experimental and real-world cereal plots, under varying conditions. The student will gain experience of mammal trapping and identification, entomological skills, laboratory feeding trials and genetic analysis.
Funding notes
This project is available to self-funded students. Home applicants should contact the supervisor to determine the current funding status for this project. EU applicants should visit the Graduate School webpages for information on specific EU scholarships. International applicants should visit our International Research Scholarships page for information regarding fees and funding at the University.
Dr Tom Reader is looking for opportunities to fund this project, and there are a couple of options available. If you are interested in the project, get in touch to discuss these options.
See this project on FindaPhD
Is there a future for the harvest mouse in arable farmland?