Dr Anita Diaz on Radio 4

Date: 30 April 2012

Research work from Dr Anita Diaz and the Student Ecology Research Team to feature on Radio 4.

Research work of Dr Anita Diaz and students from the Student Ecology Research Team (SERT) will be featuring on a Radio 4 Programme ‘Nature: In Search of the Japanese Sika’ on 1 May.

Sika deer are introduced to the UK from Japan and research and students from SERT have joined with the National Trust to monitor the quantity and distribution of Sika deer in Purbeck.

Research at BU has highlighted the importance of understanding how the abundance and distribution of Sika deer affect a wide range of species and habitats, including their usefulness in managing wet heath lands to conserve some species such as rare Silver Studded Blue Butterflies. The research has also shown that numbers need to be managed to prevent over-grazing of important salt marsh habitats and to protect neighbouring areas of forest and crops.

Dr Anita Diaz, Senior Lecturer of Ecology in The School of Applied Sciences, said “The deer count led by the National Trust recorded over 500 Sika deer and is a great way of monitoring change in the overall abundance of Sika deer across Purbeck. I am delighted that our students contributed to this essential part of building understanding of how Sika deer interact with local habitats and people. Understanding and managing the relationships between introduced species and local habitats and people is one of the great global challenges for conservation ecology.”

‘Nature: In Search of the Japanese Sika’ will air on Radio 4 on Tuesday 1 May at 11am and will be repeated on Thursday 3 May at 9pm.