Institute of Zoology LIVING conservation Science for Conservation Annual Report of the Institute of Zoology 2006/07 director’s introduction 1 Institute of Zoology mission: To identify, undertake, and communicate high-quality research to benefit the conservation of animal species and their habitats. i . t d s e t e y n u e q IoZ objective 1 IoZ objective 2 IoZ objective 3 e r m e l n To undertake relevant, To anticipate and respond to To communicate outcomes and results to p o g high-quality biological research conservation research priorities scientists, conservation practitioners and m e i l b and research training identified by conservation the wider community e a l b i organisations a e o } v t a s i s i t i y t h g c e i t h We run a programme of meetings and a IoZ HEFCE funded programme r w t a publications see page 8: s Activities n i We undertake research and research training. Current themes are: e y h • Journal of Zoology and Animal t • Biodiversity and macroecology see page 12 a f w r • Behavioural and population ecology see page 14 Conservation o e n • Genetic variation, fitness and adaptability see page 16 h o t i • Wildlife epidemiology see page 18 • Annual programme of evening s d r t • Reproductive biology see page 20 scientific meetings n e a v We provide training through MSc and PhD programmes see page 25 , l l y • Biannual international symposia u s g f e on topical themes in conservation t A a r . Science Plan. The major topics: biology t s s r (a) Biodiversity patterns and processes o h t • Technical publications to support c How can we explain and model biological diversity at a range of spatial, a r r a best practice in zoos (International o temporal and biological scales? e b h s (b) People and the environment in a changing world Zoo Yearbook) and in field a l e l r How can we manage wild species and habitats sustainably alongside conservation (Conservation Reports) o r c u human population growth and development? d o c • Conservation Science and Practice book n f a o series published with Blackwell s s r t e c n • Conservation biology book series e r t r p a published with CUP s with ZSL We respond to research questions and contribute to ZSL’s Conservation p a Programmes see page 22: r n i u a • Bushmeat and forests a o m • Carnivores and people h t i e • Deserts and rangelands e h w t • Marine and freshwater s • UK native species e s s i • Island ecosystems r a m We respond to research questions and contribute to ZSL’s living e m u animal collection: s • Animal health and welfare research e l • Reproductive monitoring b r a t s i h } T with We maintain and develop Our research is influenced by We contribute to the Tropical z Cambridge research links with Zoology and organisations in the Cambridge Biology Association programme and University other relevant departments Conservation Forum Cambridge Student Conference o with institutions We maintain and develop Our research is influenced by Our meetings facilities and in London research links with academic London-based conservation issues programme of talks communicate science i bodies, especially the Centre for and conservation Ecology and Evolution We run MSc courses in Wild Animal Health and Wild Animal Biology with the Royal Veterinary College and a MSC course in Conservation Science see page 25 with other Collaboration with most relevant Research questions are influenced Our meetings facilities and organisations outside bodies for our core by our formal links with the programme of talks communicate science research interests see page 28 Wildlife Conservation Society and and conservation English Nature 1 director’s introduction This annual report emphasises once again the remarkable diversity of research carried out at the Institute of Zoology and its impact on the d conservation of animals and their environments through distinguished r scientific publications, promotion of research findings to relevant organisations and the wider public, and the training of the future generation of scholars and practitioners. o Among the highlights, the reader will find here news of a large DEFRA grant for the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme. The 2006 w Living Planet Report describes indicators of how well or otherwise the earth is surviving under the environmental pressures of modern lifestyles. e It illustrates the immense benefit of an Institute working closely with r organisations such as the WWF and the Global Footprint Network in producing outcomes that should advise policy makers. The following pages also reveal a dynamic programme. A new o Behavioural and Population Ecology research theme integrates studies of f individuals and populations. These include the resistance of California sea lions to pathogens, DNA barcoding success in the identification of known and previously unknown biodiversity of the oceans, and prediction of the spread of emerging diseases, such as West Nile virus, to the Galapagos. The link between the Institute and University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology continues to be fruitful as seen in the wealth of collaborative studies, the strength of publications and the training of students. The same can be said for collaborations with institutions in London and elsewhere. Altogether, staff, research students, honorary Contents research fellows and associates have reached record levels. 1 Foreword Much of the credit must go to the dedication of the Institute’s staff and 2 Introduction the support of the Officers and Directors, but also to the former Director 3 Awards of Science, Professor Georgina Mace CBE FRS who has now become 4 Research news Professor of Conservation Science and Director of the Natural Environment 6 Indicators and assessments unit 8 Communicating science Research Council Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College, London. 10 Funding We thank her for all that she achieved and contributed to the the Institute 12 Biodiversity and macroecology and wish her every success in her new post. We were delighted to learn 14 Behavioural and population ecology that she is the winner of the 2007 International Cosmos Prize. 16 Genetic variation, fitness and adaptability We are very pleased to welcome Professor Tim Blackburn as Head of 18 Wildlife epidemiology 20 Reproductive biology the Institute. Previously Professor of Macroecology at the University of 22 ZSL conservation programmes Birmingham, he is also Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford. 24 Library During the interregnum the Institute was most ably led by Dr Bill Holt who 25 Education and training is warmly thanked for his loyal guidance. 26 Governance, staff and students 28 Collaborations 31 Staff representation Professor Sir Brian Heap 32 Publications Chair, ZSL/University of Cambridge Joint Committee foreword 1 The renowned philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus noted in the fifth century BC that the world is in a state of flux, and two-and-a-half n thousand years on all that has changed is the rate of change itself. Human activities are responsible for upping the pace, and a significant o concern for biologists is whether animals and plants will be able to keep i up. Many of the current key questions in conservation biology relate to responses to changes in the environment, and Institute scientists are t at the forefront of research into these issues, as the reports from our c research themes demonstrate (see pages 12–21). The Institute has recently been coming to terms with environmental u change within as well as outside. Georgina Mace left in November, after 23 years of service, the last six as Director of Science. Her contribution here has been immense, assembling a team of talented and passionate d scientists, and putting in place a science plan that addresses a wide- ranging set of questions of general theoretical interest and high o conservation relevance. Over and above that, she leaves the Institute having fostered a spirit of community and purpose that really sets us r apart from most other academic organisations. Georgina was this year t awarded a CBE for her services to environmental science, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate her on behalf of everybody at the Institute. n It is also a time of change more generally at the higher echelons of I ZSL. The recently appointed leaders of collections and science are soon to be joined by a new head of the field conservation department. The fresh perspectives that this will bring give us the chance to assess how we might more effectively capitalise on our unique position as part of an organisation addressing conservation questions from scientific, field and captive-breeding perspectives, and bring closer integration of these three branches of ZSL. We have similar opportunities to forge new connections in our partnership with Cambridge University, with Professor Bill Sutherland taking up the Chair in Conservation Biology there. So, while change can be daunting, it can also be a positive experience. As Hercalitus would have known, to stand still is really to move backwards. It is a great pleasure for me to be working with everyone here to help to take the Institute forward. Tim Blackburn Head of the Institute of Zoology 2 ZSL recognises outstanding The Frink Medal The Marsh Award for Marine and achievements in conservation and Presented to a professional scientist for Freshwater Conservation zoological research through its annual substantial and original contributions Awarded to: presentation of awards and prizes. to zoology. Awarded to: Professor Hal Whitehead, Dalhousie Professor Brian Charlesworth, University University, Canada, for significant of Edinburgh, for his outstanding contributions to the conservation of research in evolutionary genetics, cetaceans, including the development of including molecular evolution and behavioural methods of analysis that are variation, the evolution of genetic and now widely used to better understand sexual systems and the quantitative the social structure of whales and the genetics of life-history traits.