Check out the following post to learn more about our survey leader Tom 🦎 #UoKBioBlitz #Newts #surveyleader

DICE TWITTER CONFERENCE 2022! We're holding a Twitter conference on July 28th & 29th to showcase the work of DICE students, staff and alumni. Everyone is welcome to participate so please visit the conference website to find out more: research.kent.ac.uk/dice/dice-twit… #DICECON22

1/6 Hello everyone! My name is Thomas Fry and I am a Conservation Biology MSc student at DICE. Today, I will be presenting my research on the population ecology of the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) found on the University of Kent campus for #DICECON22 #SpsMon2.

2/6 This research project is the longest running population study of its kind in the UK lead by Prof Richard Griffiths on the great crested newt. Using this data, I am analysing their population size, annual survival, and their detectability. #DICECON22 #SpsMon2

3/6 Using ethical trapping methods, each great crested newt' is weighed, measured, and photographed for identification. This has provided a novel data log of individuals who have all been named and can be recognised via their belly patterns. #DICECON22 #SpsMon2

4/6 Whilst previous studies have used manual identification, this study uses the digital identification software 'Wild-ID' to automate the identification process. Once IDs are confirmed, indivudal annual presence and absence can be recorded. #DICECON22 #SpsMon2

5/6 The recapture, survival, and detectability rates are computed in Program MARK using the JS/CJS model. Whilst this part of my research is not yet complete, I expect to see a growing population with high survival and detectability as seen in previous studies #DICECON22 #SpsMon2

6/6 This research, once complete, will bring this 21-year-old project up to date, and ready for the next round of future analysis. The outcomes can then be used to provide more research into the species and how better we can contribute to its conservation. #DICECON22 #SpsMon2

Thank you for reading my #DICECON22 posts briefly explaining my research on the great crested newt population found on campus - Feel free to follow me here and on instagram @ conservation_tom for regular posts and updates!

Our next #HerpJSM2022 talk is by Tom Fry on his Masters research into the population ecology of the Great Crested Newts on the University of Kent campus!

It’s desiccation day at the University of Kent - amphibian research field site! Head over to instagram (@ conservation_tom) to hear more about it! #Conservation #Ecology #GreatCrestedNewt #SmoothNewt #PalmateNewt #AquaticInvertebrates #PredationControl KRAG DICE Kent

It’s #WorldFrogDay, so let’s celebrate one of my favourite #amphibian species, the common frog (Rana temporaria). They may not be exotic but they make up for it by breeding en masse, look at all of those frogs and spawn! #Herpetology #Frogs