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Movement of Harbour seals: an individual-based modelling framework as a reliable management tool

Objective

Understanding movement is fundamental to animal ecology in areas such as foraging, predator avoidance, mate encounter, and migration. Moreover, movement responses of individuals to the changes in environment such as disturbance will affect their individual performance. Effective conservation of species in an altered habitat must, therefore, be built on an understanding of the link between environment and animal movement. Declines in local populations of UK Harbour seals give cause for concern and disturbance have been suggested as possible cause for the declines. The ways in which stressors influence animals may not be straightforward as they may show very non-linear responses. The main objective of the project is to build a realistic movement model and to predict the consequences of simultaneous and cumulative effect of different stressors on harbour seal movement based on biologically realistic processes. The proposal aims to develop an individual-based model (IBM) that takes into account individual variation in behaviour and simultaneous effect of a range of stressors operating at different spatial scales on movement of seals. IBMs are currently the most reliable ways to address combinatorial problems where essential processes such physiology, ecology, life cycle, and multiple stressors have to be included in order to get a realistic picture of the studied problem. The model will be based on the impressive amount of data already collected for Harbour seals during the last 20 years, fitting the 3Rs: replacement, reduction and refinement principle, and parameterised using most up-to-date statistical techniques. The model will be readily adaptable to take account of additional marine stressors, and to simulate long-term effects on movement of seals. Through simulations, it will then be possible to suggest answers to important ecological questions and to use the model as a management tool to meet demand from conservationists and developers for ‘what if’ scenario.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2016

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Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 183 454,80
Address
NORTH STREET 66 COLLEGE GATE
KY16 9AJ ST ANDREWS
United Kingdom

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Region
Scotland Eastern Scotland Clackmannanshire and Fife
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 183 454,80
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