Our videos give more insight into the range of integrated research we undertake across terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and the atmosphere. Our YouTube channel has everything or view a selection below:
Monitoring kestrel behaviour
For the past few years, our nest box camera at Wallingford in Oxfordshire has been offering a glimpse into the breeding behaviour of kestrels (Falco tinnunculus).
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See details of previous breeding seasons here (2015-2019)
Why are we interested? Kestrel numbers have declined since the 1970s and the species is included on the Amber List. UKCEH researchers, led by Professor Richard Shore, run a long-term national monitoring programme that is investigating contaminant levels across a range of predatory bird species (including kestrels) across Britain. Find out more about the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme.
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Leaf area
The video below is a model simulation of the leaf area of vegetation from 1986-2011. These kinds of models play a critical role in predicting how vegetation will respond to climate change, for as vegetation grows and dies back over the seasons, carbon levels in the atmosphere fall and rise with it. This particular clip is simulated by the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES), which is the land-surface component of the UK Earth system modelling project.
UKCEH works with partners on this model to better understand the carbon cycle, and so to create better predictions of future vegetation response to climate change. The work will feed in to the next IPCC report and influence policy both nationally and internationally. Read more about our research on biosphere-atmosphere interactions.
Isle of May seabird monitoring
Our time-lapse camera recorded activity at a site on the Isle of May during May and June 2015. A number of species can be spotted (and not just seabirds!). We study birds on the Isle of May as part of our long-term seabird population ecology research.
UKCEH lakes monitoring
Our lake ecologists come across a variety of microscopic organisms during their sampling and long-term monitoring work. Our video below offers a peek into this often beautiful microscopic world.
UKCEH on YouTube
Visit our YouTube channel for many more videos about our science including interviews with many of our researchers and even more videos from the kestrel webcam.