James A Macarthur
PhD student
Supervisors: Prof Bernd Hänfling, Dr Victoria Pritchard and Dr Martin Gaywood
James Macarthur is a PhD student with a particular interest in integrating molecular techniques into biodiversity monitoring and management frameworks. He has recently completed a research masters at the University of Hull where his project provided a molecular methodology for calculating dietary selection, which incorporated faecal metabarcoding of spraints in conjunction with eDNA water sampling of local fish communities to investigate dietary preferences of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) within the river Hull catchment.
His PhD will integrate both molecular and traditional techniques to investigate the impacts of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) on fish communities and conservation priority mammals, with a particular interest on their interactions with migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
James has previously worked on a range of research projects across the UK in collaboration with Scottish Water, Yorkshire Wildlife trust, NatureSpy, Natural England and the UK Environment Agency in which molecular tools have been used to assess species distribution and status across catchments.
MSc biological sciences (University of Hull, completed 2023), title: What’s an otter’s favourite food? - A molecular investigation into the dietary preferences of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) across the River Hull Catchment.
BSc Zoology (University of Hull, completed 2020), Dissertation: An investigation into spatio-temporal variation in the diets of the native Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and the invasive American mink (Neovison vison) across the river Hull catchment
Research interests:
- The integration of molecular tools to inform biodiversity monitoring
- Fish migration
- Predator diets
- Population genetics
Research project highlights:
His PhD will incorporate catchment wide eDNA water sampling in conjunction with targeted electrofishing approaches to increase catchment wide understanding of beaver impacts on migratory fish species, and conservation priority mammals. This project is co-supervised by NatureScot and has partners at both the Atlantic Salmon Trust and Wild Trout Trust.
Past projects:
- Scottish Water - A brief eDNA assessment of fish communities from four reservoirs to inform fish rescue prior to draining
- Environment Agency - The use of eDNA to inform eel distribution upstream of pumping stations across the Fens
- Yorkshire wildlife trust - An eDNA survey to study water vole populations across Barnsley
- Doncaster IDB - An eDNA assessment of vertebrate communities across pumping stations in Doncaster
- NatureSpy - Yorkshire Pine Marten project
- Natural England - A seasonal eDNA assessment of fish communities from the Norfolk Broads
- Freshwater eDNA: Monitoring change in freshwater biological communities
- Beaver Impacts: investigating the ecological and social impact of beaver conservation translocation
Twitter: @JamesMacarthur_