Kirsty Ann Franklin

Curriculum Vitae

2018–Present: PhD Researcher, BOU Warham Studentship; University of East Anglia, Institute of Zoology and British Antarctic Survey
2018: Volunteer Assistant Warden, Skokholm Island Bird Observatory
2016–2018: Research Associate, Cardiff University
2012–2016: BSc in Zoology with Professional Training Year (PTY); Cardiff University

Research Interests

My research interests lie primarily with the ecology and conservation of migratory birds. I am particularly interested in understanding the impacts of environmental change (anthropogenic and climatic) on seabirds, by studying movement ecology through the use of remote-tracking technology. Previous research has focused on the movement ecology of the Philippine slow loris through a fragmented landscape using radio telemetry, and the combination of meta-barcoding and tracking to investigate spatial use and foraging ecology of the Madeiran storm petrel, and European nightjar.

Current Research

My PhD will focus on the factors influencing individual variation in ocean movement patterns of Round Island petrels. These petrels breed at a single colony (Round Island), 23 km off Mauritius, and have been the subject of a study by the Zoological Society of London since 2009. These studies have shown that Round Island petrels are actually a hybrid complex of at least three species of Pterodroma petrel, consisting of one species from the Atlantic (Pterodroma arminjoniana) and at least two from the Pacific (P. heraldica and P. neglecta). This means the petrel population consists of individuals with a range of genetic and therefore geographic origins, making this a unique and interesting model system.

Over 500 individual Round Island petrels have been equipped with geolocators, and my project will use these data to explore the factors influencing the extraordinary levels of individual variation in ocean movement patterns, and the ecological impacts of environmental change. This spatial data will be related to individual genotype (to describe its origin) to investigate how this might affect distribution patterns and population growth. With human activities transforming the marine environment through pathways including fishing, pollution, and climate change, understanding the implications of environmental change on individual fitness is incredibly important, which in turn will have consequences at both the individual and population level.

My PhD is based at the University of East Anglia, and is conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Zoology (IoZ) and British Antarctic Survey (BAS). My PhD is the first to be funded by the BOU’s John and Pat Warham Studentship Fund.