Rosie Irwin Holbrey

(she/her)

I’m Rosie, a PhD student researching interspecies dynamics in Scottish carnivores, including wildcats, pine martens, foxes and badgers. I’m deeply passionate about the conservation of all species, with a particular interest in community ecology. I previously studied at Lancaster University for my Biology degree and MSc by Research in Ecology. I’ve also worked at the RSPB and Lancaster University.

When is a wild-living cat a wildcat? Using carnivore guild interactions to decipher ecological function

PI and Institution:
Xavier Lambin, University of Aberdeen.

PhD aim:
Understand ecological processes of coexistence, space use and prey resources in Scotland’s predator community.

PhD objectives:

  • Quantify spatial and dietary overlap between introduced captive-bred wildcats and the wider predator community in Cairngorms Connect. Specific focus on spatiotemporal partitioning of prey resources and habitat.
  • Compare diet and habitat use between captive-bred wildcats and hybridised free-living cats, and determine whether these characteristics converge as the captive-bred wildcats learn to cope with competitive interactions and changing prey supply.
  • Explore and compare the ecological function of wildcats and hybridised free-living cats.

Contact details:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @RIHolbrey
BlueSky: @rirwinholbrey