Francis Daunt

Dr Francis Daunt

Seabird Ecologist

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Bush Estate
Penicuik
Midlothian
EH26 0QB 
Tel: +44 (0)131 445 4343
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 3943
E-mail: Dr Francis Daunt

Current work / research interests

My main interests lie in understanding the drivers of change in seabird populations. North Sea seabirds have shown recent population declines, and my research aims to understand the effects of climate change, disease, fisheries and marine energy developments. My approach is to gain a detailed understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of individual behaviour and physiology that determine demographic parameters. I am also interested in understanding the extent to which seabird behaviour and demography can be employed as indicators of marine environmental change. The outcome of this research is being used to assess current and future marine designations (e.g. SPAs, Marine Protected Areas, fishery closures) in safeguarding seabirds. I coordinate CEH's long term seabird population study on the Isle of May (IMLOTS). IMLOTS contributes in particular to Objectives BD 1.3, BD 1.4 and BD 2.3.

Brief Curriculum Vitae

  • 2001 - present: Seabird ecologist, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
  • 1997 - 2000: PhD 'Age specific reproductive performance in the shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis', University of Glasgow
  • 1994 - 1996: Marine Scientist, British Antarctic Survey
  • 1992 - 1993: MSc Resource Management, University of Edinburgh
  • 1988-1991: BSc (Hons) Biology, University of Nottingham

Selected publications

See also the NERC Open Research Archive and a fuller list of publications here.

Sakamoto, K.Q., Sato, K., Ishizuka, M., Watanuki, Y., Takahashi, A., Daunt, F. & Wanless, S. (2009) Can ethograms be automatically generated using body acceleration data from free-ranging birds? PLoS ONE: 4:e5379.

Lewis, S., Elston, D.A., Cheney, B., Daunt, F. & Thompson, P.M. (2009) Extrinsic and intrinsic effects on reproductive success in a long-lived seabird. Oikos 118:518-528.

Reed, T., Daunt, F., Hall, M.E., Phillips, R.A., Wanless, S. & Cunningham, E. (2008) Parental responses to parasitism affect production of sons. Science 321: 1681-1682.

Daunt, F., Wanless, S., Greenstreet, S.P.R., Jensen, H., Hamer, K.C. & Harris, M.P. (2008) The impact of the sandeel fishery closure in the northwestern North Sea on seabird food consumption, distribution and productivity. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65: 362-381.

Frederiksen, M, Jensen, H., Daunt, F., Mavor, R. & Wanless, S. (2008) Variable effects of a local sandeel fishery closure on breeding seabirds. Ecological Applications 18: 701-710.

Frederiksen, M., Daunt, F., Harris, M.P. & Wanless, S. (2008) Stochastic weather drives survival and population dynamics in a long-lived seabird. Journal of Animal Ecology 77:1020-1029.

Watanuki, Y., Daunt, F., Takahashi, A., Wanless, S. & Sato, K. (2008) Microhabitat use and prey capture of a bottom feeding top predator, the European Shag, shown by camera loggers. Marine Ecology Progress Series 356:283-293.

Daunt, F., Afanasyev, V., Adam, A., Croxall, J.P. & Wanless, S. (2007) From cradle to early grave: juvenile mortality in European shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis results from inadequate development of foraging proficiency. Biology Letters 3:371-374.

Daunt, F., Wanless, S., Harris, M.P., Money, L. & Monaghan, P. (2007) Older and wiser: improvements in breeding success are linked to better foraging performance in European shags. Functional Ecology 21:561-567.

Daunt, F., Afanasyev, V., Silk, J.R.D. & Wanless, S. (2006) Extrinsic and intrinsic determinants of winter foraging and breeding phenology in a temperate seabird. Behavioural Ecology & Sociobiology 59:381-388.

Daunt, F., Wanless, S., Peters, G., Benvenuti, S., Sharples, J., Gremillet, D. & Scott, B. (2006). Impacts of oceanography on the foraging dynamics of seabirds in the North Sea. In: Top predators in marine ecosystems: their role in monitoring and management. (eds I.L. Boyd, S. Wanless & K. Camphuysen). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp177-190.

Daunt, F., Peters, G., Scott, B., Grémillet, D. & Wanless, S. (2003) Rapid response recorders reveal interplay between marine physics and seabird behaviour. Marine Ecology Progress Series 255:283-288.

Daunt, F., Monaghan, P., Harris, M.P. & Wanless, S. (2003): Sexual ornament size and breeding performance in female and male European Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis. Ibis 145: 54-60.

Daunt, F., Benvenuti, S., Harris, M.P., Dall'Antonia, L., Elston, D.A. & Wanless, S. (2002) Foraging strategies of the black-legged kittiwake Rissa trydactyla at a North sea colony: evidence for a maximum foraging range. Marine Ecology Progress Series 245: 239-247.

Daunt, F., Monaghan, P., Wanless, S., Harris, M.P. & Griffiths, R. (2001) Sons and daughters: age-specific differences in parental rearing capacities. Functional Ecology 15 211-216.