Oxford Brookes MSc student secures Diarsia Grant to unlock secrets of rare Mountain Burnet Moth

Oxford Brookes University student awarded Diarsia Grant for rare moth conservation research.

Elanor Bearcroft, an Oxford Brookes MSc Conservation Ecology student, has been awarded a prestigious grant from Butterfly Conservation's Diarsia Awards to support her research into the conservation of the rare Mountain Burnet moth, found in the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands. The research is a collaboration between Oxford Brookes researchers and Patrick Cook, an ecologist from the UK charity Butterfly Conservation.

The Diarsia Awards, established in memory of the late Dr. Douglas Boyes, aim to support the next generation of Lepidopterists (scientists who study moths and butterflies) and further research into Lepidoptera conservation. Dr. Boyes, who tragically passed away in 2021, was renowned for his work on light pollution and its impact on insect populations, leading to significant changes in UK lighting policy.

The Mountain Burnet moth is an "alpine specialist," meaning it is specifically adapted to live in high-altitude environments, where conditions are harsher compared to lower regions. This day-flying moth is restricted to the Cairngorms, where it faces challenges such as  climate change which could influence the habitat and distribution of the moth . Elanor’s research, under the supervision of Dr. Matthew Bulbert, will focus on understanding the environmental and ecological factors affecting Mountain Burnet populations in the UK.

The research will consist of two phases:

• a geospatial study using predictive models to map potential habitats for the species
• a field-based investigation to examine microhabitat conditions and host plant availability.

The project aims to identify key factors influencing the distribution of this rare moth and uncover previously unknown populations. The grant will cover fieldwork expenses, including accommodation, food, and travel to the Cairngorms, where Elanor will conduct surveys in remote locations. The study will provide vital data for the long-term management and conservation of the Mountain Burnet and other alpine species threatened by climate change and environmental degradation.

Elanor's research is part of the Oxford Brookes Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation programme, which aims to understand how organisms respond to environmental pressures to support the conservation of threatened species.