The history of seabird work in Glasgow
The University of Glasgow has long been a centre for seabird research. While David Newth was Regius Professor of Zoology from 1965 to 1981, an Applied Ornithology Unit was established, and its members included Pat Monaghan and Bob Furness, two of Scotland's most prominent seabird scientists. Early work followed seabird populations over time and how the responded to changes in food supply and environmental threats like pollution. As more people joined, ornithological research at the University of Glasgow grew and diversified, and by the 1990s the university hosted one of the largest ornithology research groups in the world.
One area of research that has received a lot of attention at Glasgow is the cost of reproduction. The particular focus of the studies in Glasgow was the cost of early stages in the breeding cycle, the number of eggs laid and the incubation effort . Following on from that great interest developed in how variation in early conditions, like egg or incubation quality affect later life, something which has been studied in several seabird species.
In recent years a lot of work is making use of various loggers to study movement of a variety of seabirds including great skuas, black-legged kittiwakes,northern gnnets and herring gulls. Another key question is how the development of renewable energy will impact seabirds, which has been addressed by making use of a variety of field and modelling techniques.
Being home to so many prominent seabird researchers, many students at the university have studied seabirds for their honours, masters or PhD theses, carrying out field studies all over the world. Many of these students have since continued conducting research on seabirds, here at the university as well as in various other locations in the UK and all around the world.
Since its formation, the Seabird Special Interest Group has provided a place where all students and researchers in Glasgow interested in seabirds can meet to discuss their work. We have hosted talks, workshops and field visits to increase the capability of seabird researchers at Glasgow and to spread the work that we do, both within and outside the institute. We are always open to new people who want to join the group or visit to give a talk or a workshop.
More on recent work by the Ornithology group at Glasgow in: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/136295#page/50/mode/1up
Some of all the seabird scientists with a connection to the University of Glasgow