BiOME Consulting has undertaken a series of ecological research projects in Greece, applying advanced statistical modelling techniques to investigate bird migration, wildlife population trends and the demographic structure of game species.
The studies, completed in 2020, drew upon extensive long-term datasets and combined ornithological and mammalian ecology expertise with specialist ecological data analysis.
Bird Migration and Phenology
Greece occupies an important position along migratory routes connecting Europe, Asia and Africa, supporting significant populations of wintering and passage birds.
BiOME undertook a detailed investigation into the timing of spring migration in a range of waterbird and wader species, using long-term survey data to examine seasonal patterns of abundance and the influence of environmental conditions.
Statistical models were developed to investigate variation in migration timing between species and years, including relationships with temperature. The research also involved estimating minimum population sizes across the study area.
Wildlife Population Trends and Hunting Pressure
A second study investigated long-term population trends in a wide range of bird and mammal species, including wildfowl, waders, terrestrial gamebirds and mammals.
Using historical survey and hunting datasets, BiOME developed population models to examine changes in species abundance and the relationship between population trends and hunting harvest rates.
The analyses incorporated methods to account for differences in survey effort and the imperfect detection of wildlife, helping to address some of the uncertainties associated with large-scale ecological datasets.
Population Demographics
A further study examined the age and sex structure of selected mammal populations, including Wild Boar and European Hare.
Statistical analyses were undertaken to investigate changes in population structure over time, providing additional information relevant to understanding population dynamics and wildlife management.
Supporting Evidence-Based Wildlife Management
Together, these projects demonstrate BiOME Consulting's experience in international ecological research, ornithology, mammal ecology and advanced statistical analysis.
The studies illustrate how existing long-term datasets can be used to investigate complex ecological questions and provide an evidence base to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable wildlife management.