Associate Professor in Conservation Biology

Associate Professor in Conservation Biology

Conservation Ecology, Species Recovery, Modelling, Habitat, Analysis

Publications

Behavioural and faecal cortisol metabolite monitoring of harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) in rehabilitation centres

Published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2026

Behaviour is a more effective indicate of seal welfare in rehabilitation centres than faecal cortisol metabolites

Recommended citation: Zatrak, M., Shaw, K. J., Geary, M., Ilderton, R., & Grant, R. A. (2026). Behavioural and faecal cortisol metabolite monitoring of harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) in rehabilitation centres. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 106910. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159126000018

Assessing threats and conservation action using population viability analysis for the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi

Published in Journal for Nature Conservation, 2026

Population Viability Analysis suggests population supplementation is the most effective strategy from the candidate set for Grenada Dove recovery

Recommended citation: Peters, C., Muir, A., Hosie, C., Nelson, H., & Geary, M. (2025). Assessing threats and conservation action using population viability analysis for the Critically Endangered Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi. Journal for Nature Conservation, 127052. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138125002298

Massive declines and local recoveries: First range-wide assessment spotlights ending egg-taking as key to the survival of Macrocephalon maleo (Maleo)

Published in Ornithological Applications, 2025

Area of Occupancy for Maleo has declined drastically since 1980

Recommended citation: Summers, M., Geary, M., Tasirin, J. S., Djuni, N., Summers, L. J., Kresno, P. A., ... & Collar, N. J. (2025). Massive declines and local recoveries: First range-wide assessment spotlights ending egg-taking as key to the survival of Macrocephalon maleo (Maleo). Ornithological Applications, duaf022. https://academic.oup.com/condor/article/127/3/duaf022/8124486?login=false

Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) on camera: assessing the behaviour of a vulnerable, colonially nesting raptor with temperature and time of day at nest sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Published in Ornithology, 2025

Camera traps present a valuable method for monitoring Cape Vulture nests

Recommended citation: de Freitas, D., Gray, J., Ehlers Smith, Y., Geary, M., & Downs, C. T. (2025). Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) on camera: assessing the behaviour of a vulnerable, colonially nesting raptor with temperature and time of day at nest sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Journal of Ornithology, 1-12. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10336-024-02249-x

When enough is enough: Optimising monitoring effort for large-scale wolf population size estimation in the Italian Alps

Published in Ecology and Evolution, 2024

Wolf monitoring can be optimised with a combination of camera trapping and genetic capture-mark-recpature methods

Recommended citation: Boiani, M. V., Dupont, P., Bischof, R., Milleret, C., Friard, O., Geary, M., ... & Marucco, F. (2024). When enough is enough: Optimising monitoring effort for large‐scale wolf population size estimation in the Italian Alps. Ecology and Evolution, 14(8), e70204. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.70204

Non-invasive sampling reveals low mitochondrial genetic diversity for an island endemic species: The critically endangered Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi

Published in Ecology and Evolution, 2023

Grenada Dove populations are isolated and lack genetic diversity.

Recommended citation: Peters, C., Geary, M., Hosie, C., Nelson, H., Rusk, B., & Muir, A. (2023). Non‐invasive sampling reveals low mitochondrial genetic diversity for an island endemic species: The critically endangered Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi. Ecology and Evolution, 13(11), e10767. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.10767

Gone with the wind: the proximate and ultimate causes of the decline and extinction of the Bahama Nuthatch Sitta insularis

Published in Bird Conservation International, 2023

Bahama warbler on Grand Bahama were associated with taller thatch palms and fewer needless pines, indicating the negative effects of hurricanes on this species

Recommended citation: Gardner, M. A., Pereira, D. J., Geary, M., Collar, N. J., & Bell, D. J. (2024). Gone with the wind: the proximate and ultimate causes of the decline and extinction of the Bahama Nuthatch Sitta insularis. Bird Conservation International, 34, e28. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bird-conservation-international/article/distribution-and-habitat-requirements-of-the-bahama-warbler-setophaga-flavescens-on-grand-bahama-in-2018/2068B09FA0293A394DCF7A80F2F04376

Degree of egg-taking by humans determines the fate of maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) nesting grounds across Sulawesi

Published in Biodiversity and Conservation, 2022

Egg-taking by humans is the single biggest driver of maleo decline.

Recommended citation: Summers, M., Geary, M., Djuni, N., Kresno, P.A., Laya, A., Sawuwu, S., Bawotong, A., Abas, W., Tan Oga, V.M., Nur, A.M. and Isfandri, M., 2023. Degree of egg-taking by humans determines the fate of maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) nesting grounds across Sulawesi. Biodiversity and Conservation, 32(3), 899-919. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-022-02527-1

Published in , 2026

Distribution and habitat requirements of the Bahama Warbler Setophaga flavescens on Grand Bahama in 2018

Published in Bird Conservation International, 2023

Bahama warbler on Grand Bahama were associated with taller thatch palms and fewer needless pines, indicating the negative effects of hurricanes on this species

Recommended citation: Pereira, D. J., Gardner, M. A., Geary, M., Bell, D. J., & Collar, N. J. (2023). Distribution and habitat requirements of the Bahama Warbler Setophaga flavescens on Grand Bahama in 2018. Bird Conservation International, 33, e46. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bird-conservation-international/article/distribution-and-habitat-requirements-of-the-bahama-warbler-setophaga-flavescens-on-grand-bahama-in-2018/2068B09FA0293A394DCF7A80F2F04376

Factors affecting the survival of harbor (Phoca vitulina) and gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) juveniles admitted for rehabilitation in the UK and Ireland

Published in Marine Mammal Science, 2022

Harbor and gray seals in the UK and Ireland are commonly admitted for rehabilitation due to malnourishment, injuries and maternal abandonment. Heavier seals are more likely to survive and be released, showing how important fat is to seals

Recommended citation: Zatrak, M., Brittain, S., Himmelreich, L., Lovick-Earle, S., Pizzi, R., Shaw, K.J., Grant, R.A. & Geary, M., 2023._Factors affecting the survival of harbor (_Phoca vitulina_) and gray seal (_Halichoerus grypus_) juveniles admitted for rehabilitation in the UK and Ireland. Marine Mammal Science, 39(2), 462-480

Targeting burrows improves detection in giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea camera trap surveys

Published in Oryx, 2022

Targeting Giant Pangolin burrows increases detection rates in camera trap studies

Recommended citation: Matthews, N., Nixon, S., von Hardenberg, A., Isoke, S. & Geary, M. 2023. Targeting burrows improves detection in giant pangolin Smutsia gigantea camera trap surveys. Oryx, 1-9. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/targeting-burrows-improves-detection-in-giant-pangolin-smutsia-gigantea-cameratrap-surveys/E23C62AFF2A8F8B4AF4C32A47BF5857C

Phylogenetic placement and life history trait imputation for Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi

Published in Bird Conservation International, 2022

Grenada Dove is a distinct species, most closely related to the Gray-Chested Dove. We use this information to estimate unknown life history traits for this critically endangered species.

Recommended citation: Peters, C.M., Geary, M., Nelson, H.P., Rusk, B. von Hardenberg, A. & Muir, A.P., 2023. Phylogenetic placement and life history trait imputation for Grenada Dove Leptotila wellsi. Bird Conservation International, 1-11. doi:10.1017/S0959270922000065 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bird-conservation-international/article/phylogenetic-placement-and-life-history-trait-imputation-for-grenada-dove-leptotila-wellsi/E1845DBBE2AFCB4962A527D98E85255A

Anthropogenic influences on habitat use by African Houbaras Chlamydotis undulata on Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Published in Journal for Nature Conservation, 2022

African Houbaras on Lanzarote favour the vicinity of small-scale agriculture and abandoned farmland, but avoid areas with higher levels of human land-use.

Recommended citation: Geary, M. Cooper, J.R. & Collar, N.J. 2022. Anthropogenic influences on habitat use by African Houbaras Chlamydotis undulata on Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Journal for Nature Conservation 68, 126231. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138122001042

Responses of dispersing GPS-tagged Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) to multiple wind farms across Scotland

Published in IBIS, 2022

Golden Eagles in Scotland avoid wind turbines but fly closer in preferred habitat

Recommended citation: Fielding, A.H., Anderson, D., Benn, S., Dennis, R., Geary, M., Weston, E. and Whitfield, D.P., 2022. Responses of dispersing GPS‐tagged Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) to multiple wind farms across Scotland. Ibis, 164(1), pp.102-117. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ibi.12996

New haplotypes found in stranded long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the eastern North Atlantic and adjacent waters

Published in Marine Mammal Science, 2021

Nine haplotypes were identified for Long-finned Pilot WHale in the North Atlantic, of which five were newly described

Recommended citation: Ball, R.J., Kitchiner, A., Davison, N.J., Brownlow, A., Berrow, S., McKeown, N.J., IJsseldijk, L.L., Geary, M., McDowall, I. and Muir, A.P., 2022. New haplotypes found in stranded long‐finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) in the eastern North Atlantic and adjacent waters. Marine Mammal Science, 38(3), pp.898-912. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mms.12893

Non-territorial GPS-tagged golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos at two Scottish wind farms: Avoidance influenced by preferred habitat distribution, wind speed and blade motion status.

Published in PLOS ONE, 2021

Golden Eagles in Scotland avoid windfarms resulting in functional habitat loss rather than collisison risk

Recommended citation: Fielding AH, Anderson D, Benn S, Dennis R, Geary M, et al. (2021) Non-territorial GPS-tagged golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos at two Scottish wind farms: Avoidance influenced by preferred habitat distribution, wind speed and blade motion status. PLOS ONE 16(8): e0254159. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254159 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0254159

Street-level green spaces support a key urban population of the threatened Hispaniolan parakeet Psittacara chloropterus

Published in Urban Ecosystems, 2021

Hispaniolan parakeet in Santo Domingo use parks and gardens as feeding resources rather than large greenspaces

Recommended citation: Geary, M., Brailsford, C.J., Hough, L.I., Baker, F., Guerrero, S., Leon, Y.M., Collar, N.J. and Marsden, S.J., 2021. Street-level green spaces support a key urban population of the threatened Hispaniolan parakeet Psittacara chloropterus. Urban Ecosystems https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-021-01119-1 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11252-021-01119-1

White-faced Darter distribution is associated with coniferous forests in Great Britain.

Published in Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2020

Coniferous forests (in Scotland, Scots Pine) with low potential evapotransipration are key habitats for white‐faced darter.

Recommended citation: Geary, M. and von Hardenberg, A., 2020. White-faced Darter distribution is associated with coniferous forests in Great Britain. Insect Conservation and Diversity https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/icad.12438

The importance of long-term genetic monitoring of reintroduced populations: inbreeding in the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita)

Published in Herpetological Journal, 2020

Evidence of inbreeding in translocated Natterjack toad populations

Recommended citation: Phillips, S., Geary, M., Allmark, M., Bennett, S., Norman, K., Ball, R.J., Peters, C.M. and Muir, A.P., 2020. The importance of long-term genetic monitoring of reintroduced populations: inbreeding in the natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita). Herpetological Journal, 30(3). https://www.thebhs.org/publications/the-herpetological-journal/volume-30-number-3-july-2020/3118-05-the-importance-of-long-term-genetic-monitoring-of-reintroduced-populations-inbreeding-in-the-natterjack-toad-i-epidalea-calamita-i

A review of tropical dry forest ecosystem service research in the Caribbean – gaps and policy-implications

Published in Ecosystem Services, 2020

Dry forest ecosystems are important in the Caribbean but very little research exists for most islands

Recommended citation: Nelson, H.P., Devenish-Nelson, E.S., Rusk, B.L., Geary, M. and Lawrence, A.J., 2020. A review of tropical dry forest ecosystem service research in the Caribbean–gaps and policy-implications. Ecosystem Services, 43, p.101095. hhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212041620300371

Combining bioacoustics and occupancy modelling for improved monitoring of rare breeding bird populations

Published in Ecological Indicators, 2020

Bioacoustics can be used to provide improved data over traditional survey methods

Recommended citation: Abrahams, C., Geary, M., 2020 Combining bioacoustics and occupancy modelling for improved monitoring of rare breeding bird populations. Ecological Indicators (112). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106131 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20300686?via%3Dihub#!

Camera Traps Confirm the Presence of the White-naped Mangabey Cercocebus lunulatus in Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, Western Ghana

Published in Journal Of the British Dragonfly Society, 2019

Camera trap confirmation of White-naped Mangabey in Cape Three Points

Recommended citation: Nolan, R., Welsh, A., Geary, M., Hartley, M., Dempsey, A., Mono, J.C., Osei, D. & Stanley, C.R. 2019. Camera Traps Confirm the Presence of the White-naped Mangabey Cercocebus lunulatus in Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, Western Ghana, Primate conservation (33). http://www.primate-sg.org/primate-conservation-33/

Recapture rates and habitat associations of White-faced Darter Leucorhinnia dubia on Fenn’s and Whixall Moss, Shropshire, UK

Published in Journal Of the British Dragonfly Society, 2018

Capture-Mark-Recapture and Habitat use of White-faced darter in Shropshire

Recommended citation: Davies, R., von Hardenberg, A. and Geary, M., 2018. Recapture rates and habitat associations of White-faced Darter Leucorhinnia dubia on Fenn`s and Whixall Moss, Shropshire, UK. Journal of the British Dragonfly Society, 34:2, 89:101 https://chesterrep.openrepository.com/handle/10034/621511

Hen harrier Circus cyaneus nest sites on the Isle of Mull are associated with habitat mosaics and constrained by topography

Published in Bird Study, 2018

Investigating habitat use by nesting hen harrier on the Isle of Mull, Scotland

Recommended citation: Geary, M., Haworth, P.H. & Fielding, A.H., 2018. Hen harrier Circus cyaneus nest sites on the Isle of Mull are associated with habitat mosaics and constrained by topography, Bird Study, DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2017.1421611 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00063657.2017.1421611

Both habitat change and local lek structure influence patterns of spatial loss and recovery in a black grouse population

Published in Population Ecology, 2015

Investigating the influence if habitat and connectivity in a declining then recovering black grouse population

Recommended citation: Geary, M., Fielding, A.H., Marsden, S.J., 2015. Both habitat change and local lek structure influence patterns of spatial loss and recovery in a black grouse population. Population Ecology 57, 421–431. doi:10.1007/s10144-015-0484-3 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10144-015-0484-3