IUCN SSC Goose Specialist Group

I am an ecologist with a passion for migratory birds and the Arctic, with a special focus on the African-Eurasian flyway. My research revolves around the effects of climate warming on fitness and movement of migratory species. I study how climate warming impacts reproduction and offspring growth of migratory species, both directly via increasing temperatures as well as via changing interactions with their food, and whether species are able to compensate for such changes by adapting their movement and migration behaviour. Based on this knowledge I identify which conservation actions are needed along the flyway to safeguard migratory bird populations in a warming climate, and engage with conservation organisations to disseminate this information. I use tracking techniques in combination with long-term datasets, field experiments and theoretical models to link individual-level responses to predictions at the population level. I capitalize on a large international network to study the effects of climate warming in a range of migratory birds across the entire Arctic region, in order to maximise the potential use of my results for conservation management.