About E³ Ecology Ltd Personnel

BECKY WHITE MA, MSc, MIEEM

POSITION: Associate Director

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• MA (Hons) Natural Sciences; Zoology 2.1 - Cambridge University
• MSc; Ecology 2.1 - Aberdeen University
• Member of the Institute of Ecological and Environmental Management (MIEEM)
• Licensed Bat Surveyor (Natural England Licence No. 20091969)

CAREER PROFILE

Becky is a mammalian ecologist with extensive experience of managing large multi-disciplinary ecological assessments and environmental statements. Becky has a background in mammal survey and assessment and over the past ten years has undertaken a wide range of protected species surveys throughout the north of England and Scotland, including specialist survey for bats, otter, badger, water vole, pine marten and wildcat.

Recent projects have included a number of proposed wind farms within the north of England and southern Scotland, several sand and gravel quarry sites, an overhead line route in the Western Isles and a number of major redevelopment projects for the NHS Trust.

Becky has undertaken academic research on a number of species, mapping animal distributions and carrying out topographic and vegetation surveys. Becky has led bat and badger walks as part of the delivery of management plans for HLF funded projects and is promoting survey for scarce bat species in Northern England and the Scottish Highlands through the computer analysis of echolocation calls.

Becky has recently completed a sabbatical in Tasmania, carrying out field work in conjunction with the University of Tasmania, assessing impacts of differing forestry techniques on native marsupial populations.

SOME RELEVANT PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN

• Assessment of potential impacts and production of Ecological Impact Assessments for a number of wind farm sites throughout the north of England and Scotland.
• Surveying and assessing potential impacts of proposed wind farms on bat roosts, key foraging areas and flightlines, including extensive use of remote monitoring via Anabat detectors.
• Undertaking collision modelling with respect to potential impacts of proposed wind farms and overhead lines on waders, wildfowl and raptors.
• Assessment of the potential impact of numerous barn conversions on both bats and barn owl and design of appropriate mitigation schemes.
• Survey and assessment of the potential impacts of active and proposed quarry sites in the north of England on both habitats and key protected species.
• Survey and assessment of the potential impact of an 80km powerline route on protected species including bats, badger, otter and wild cat.
• Extended phase 1 survey of a wide variety of sites within the north of England and southern Scotland.
• Production of management plans for various woodland sites within Northumberland.
• Leading public events as part of a variety of community projects.
• Survey and assessment of proposed road realignment schemes.
• Research into the impact of a managed retreat scheme on wintering waders at Nigg Bay, Ross-shire. This work was associated with the first managed retreat scheme to be carried out in Scotland. Detailed mapping of wintering bird abundance and distribution within an area of mudflats and saltmarsh was carried out together with sampling of both invertebrates and sediment to assess food resources.
• Production of a predictive model for the presence or absence of the 6-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae). The model was based on a number of habitat characteristics following surveys of the moth distribution and of the relevant habitat variables at Forvie Sands nature reserve, Aberdeenshire.
• Research into the feeding behaviour of the resident oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) population on the Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire. Surveys of both abundance and distribution within the study site were carried out along with information on feeding rates. This information was then related to the distribution and abundance of the mussel (Mytilus edulis) within the area.
• Research into the vigilance behaviour of fallow deer (Dama dama). Differences in behavioural patterns between members of the herd were investigated in relation to herd demographics and spatial position within the herd.

PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE AND SPECIALISATION

• Environmental and Ecological Impact Assessment
• Wind farm survey and assessment
• Quarries
• Extended Phase 1 Survey
• Protected Species
• Bats
• Licensed surveyor for bats and small mammals