Dr J Sara Churchfield
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Contact detailsGuy’s Campus
London SE1 1UL
Tel. +44 (0)20-7848 6855
FAX 020-7848 6399
e-mail: sara.churchfield@kcl.ac.uk
Resumé, Teaching & Research Students
Research
Outline of research interests.
My research interest is in the ecology of small mammals, particularly insectivores. Research has centred on the ecology of shrews which, by virtue of their small size and high energy requirements, are excellent models for the testing of ecological theories concerning niche relationships, ecological separation; community structure, survival strategies, predator-prey relationships and foraging strategies. As a field-based researcher I have worked extensively overseas (Russia, Poland, Africa, USA) as well as in Britain, investigating biodiversity of small mammals, their habitat occurrence, population dynamics, trophic relationships, conservation and management. I am author of numerous papers in refereed scientific journals and several books, and have made many contributions to books, symposia, conference proceedings, commissioned reports, popular articles, international scientific meetings and radio and television broadcasts.
Outline of research interests.
My research interest is in the ecology of small mammals, particularly insectivores. Research has centred on the ecology of shrews which, by virtue of their small size and high energy requirements, are excellent models for the testing of ecological theories concerning niche relationships, ecological separation; community structure, survival strategies, predator-prey relationships and foraging strategies. As a field-based researcher I have worked extensively overseas (Russia, Poland, Africa, USA) as well as in Britain, investigating biodiversity of small mammals, their habitat occurrence, population dynamics, trophic relationships, conservation and management. I am author of numerous papers in refereed scientific journals and several books, and have made many contributions to books, symposia, conference proceedings, commissioned reports, popular articles, international scientific meetings and radio and television broadcasts.
Photo David Hosking
1. Ecology and conservation status of the Water Shrews.
The European Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) is one of Britain’s least known mammals, and its habitat occurrence and population dynamics are poorly understood. With widespread habitat modification and pollution of water courses there is concern about the conservation status of this uncommon aquatic, insectivorous species. Following our design of a new survey technique, field-based studies have been investigating its nationwide distribution in UK, its habitat occurrence and habitat requirements to assist conservation and management plans. Funded by the Environment Agency/WRc; Mammal Society. In collaboration with colleagues in Poland and Armenia, research has been expanded to investigate the ecology of different species of Water Shrews (Neomys) in Eurasia.
Carter, P. & Churchfield, S. (2006). The Water Shrew Handbook. Mammal Society Publication, London. 36 pp.
Carter, P. & Churchfield, S. (2006). Distribution and habitat occurrence of water shrews in Great Britain. Environment Agency Science Report SC010073/SR, The Environment Agency, Bristol and The Mammal Society Research Report No. 7, The Mammal Society, London. 58 pp.
Churchfield, S., Rychlik, L., Turlejski, K. & Yavrouyan, E. (2006). First results on the feeding ecology of the Transcaucasian water shrew Neomys teres (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from Armenia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84, No.12 (In press).
Churchfield, S. & Rychlik, L. (2006). Diets and coexistence in Neomys and Sorex shrews in Białowieża Forest, eastern Poland. Journal of Zoology, London 269: 381-390.
Photo David Hosking
The biodiversity and ecology of tropical shrews, particularly forest-dwelling and montane species, have been little studied but species richness in communities of these small predators is high. In collaboration with colleagues from Germany, France and Democratic Republic of Congo, investigations of community structure, habitat occurrence and niche relationships are being conducted. Of particular interest are the incidence of commoness and rareness in African shrew communities, and the high degree of endemism in montane and forest species, with implications concerning their conservation.
Churchfield, S., Dieterlen, F., Hutterer, R. & Dudu, A. (in press). Feeding ecology of the armored shrew, Scutisorex somereni (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Zoology, London (2007, in press).
Dudu, A., Churchfield, S. & Hutterer, R. (2005). Community structure and food niche relationships of coexisting rain-forest shrews in the Masako Forest, northeastern Congo. In: Advances in the Biology of Shrews II (eds. J.F. Merritt, S. Churchfield, R. Hutterer & B.I. Sheftel). Special Publication of the International Society of Shrew Biologists No. 1, New York. pp. 229-239.
Churchfield, S., Barrière, P., Hutterer, R. & Colyn, M. (2004). First results on the feeding ecology of sympatric shrew (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. Acta Theriologica 49: 1-15.
Vertebrae of the Armored Shrew
With body masses as little as 1.5g, shrews are amongst the smallest of all mammals and yet they are able to survive through Holarctic winters as far north as the Arctic Circle without being able to migrate or hibernate.Very little is known about how they survive through a typical cold winter in northern temperate regions. In collaboration with Polish colleagues, field and laboratory investigations commenced in 2006 to elucidate the winter survival strategies, activity patterns, feeding habits, eco-physiology and metabolic rates of shrews, together with the spatial distribution and abundance of their food resources. Funded by EU and Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Churchfield, S. (2002). Why are shrews so small? The costs and benefits of small size
in northern temperate Sorex species in the context of foraging habits and prey supply. Acta Theriologica 47, Suppl. 1: 169-184.
Selected Publications
Churchfield, S., Dieterlen, F., Hutterer, R. & Dudu, A. (2007). Feeding ecology of the armored shrew, Scutisorex somereni (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Zoology, London (in press).
Churchfield, S., Rychlik, L., Turlejski, K. & Yavrouyan, E. (2006). First results on the feeding ecology of the Transcaucasian water shrew Neomys teres (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from Armenia. Canadian Journal of Zoology. (In press).
Carter, P. & Churchfield, S. (2006). The Water Shrew Handbook. Mammal Society Publication, London. 36 pp.
Churchfield, S. & Rychlik, L. (2006). Diets and coexistence in Neomys and Sorex shrews in Białowieża Forest, eastern Poland. Journal of Zoology, London 269: 381-390.
Merritt, J.F., Churchfield, S., Hutterer, R. & Sheftel, B.I. (eds) (2005). Advances in the Biology of Shrews II. Special Publication of the International Society of Shrew Biologists No. 1, New York. 454 pp.
Dudu, A., Churchfield, S. & Hutterer, R. (2005). Community structure and food niche relationships of coexisting rain-forest shrews in the Masako Forest, northeastern Congo. In: Advances in the Biology of Shrews II (eds. J.F. Merritt, S. Churchfield, R. Hutterer & B.I. Sheftel). Special Publication of the International Society of Shrew Biologists No. 1, New York. pp. 229-239.
Churchfield, S., Barrière, P., Hutterer, R. & Colyn, M. (2004). First results on the feeding ecology of sympatric shrew (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. Acta Theriologica 49: 1-15.
Clausnitzer, V., Churchfield, S. & R. Hutterer (2003) Habitat occurrence and feeding ecology of Crocidura montis and Lophuromys flavopunctatuson Mt. Elgon, Uganda. African Journal of Ecology 41: 1-8.
Churchfield, S. (2002). Why are shrews so small? The costs and benefits of small size in northern temperate Sorex species in the context of foraging habits and prey
supply. Acta Theriologica 47, Suppl. 1: 169-184.
Greenwood, A., Churchfield, S. & Hickey, C. (2002) Geographical distribution and habitat occurrence of the water shrew (Neomys fodiens) in the Weald of South-East England. Mammal Review 32, 40-50.
Churchfield, S., Barber, J. & Quinn, C. (2000). A new survey method for water shrews (Neomys fodiens) using baited tubes. Mammal Review 30: 249-254.
Churchfield, S., Nesterenko, V.A. & Shvarts, E.A. (1999). Food niche overlap and ecological separation amongst six species of coexisting forest shrews in the Russian Far East. Journal of Zoology, London 248: 349-359.
Churchfield, S. (1998). Habitat use by water shrews, the smallest of amphibious mammals. Symposium of the Zooogical Society of London 71: 49-68.
Churchfield, S. Hollier, J. & Brown, V.K. (1997). Community structure and habitat use of small mammals in grasslands of different successional age. Journal of Zoology, London 242: 519-530.
Churchfield, S., Sheftel, B.I., Moraleva, N.V. & Shvarts, E. A. (1997). Habitat occurrence and prey distribution of a multi-species community of shrews in the Siberian taiga. Journal of Zoology, London 241: 55-71.
Churchfield, S. (1996). Ecology of very small terrestrial mammals. Symposium of the Zooogical Society of London No. 69: 259-276.
Churchfield, S. (1990). The Natural History of Shrews. C. Helm/A & C Black. 178pp.
Churchfield, S., Dieterlen, F., Hutterer, R. & Dudu, A. (2007). Feeding ecology of the armored shrew, Scutisorex somereni (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of Zoology, London (in press).
Churchfield, S., Rychlik, L., Turlejski, K. & Yavrouyan, E. (2006). First results on the feeding ecology of the Transcaucasian water shrew Neomys teres (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) from Armenia. Canadian Journal of Zoology. (In press).
Carter, P. & Churchfield, S. (2006). The Water Shrew Handbook. Mammal Society Publication, London. 36 pp.
Churchfield, S. & Rychlik, L. (2006). Diets and coexistence in Neomys and Sorex shrews in Białowieża Forest, eastern Poland. Journal of Zoology, London 269: 381-390.
Merritt, J.F., Churchfield, S., Hutterer, R. & Sheftel, B.I. (eds) (2005). Advances in the Biology of Shrews II. Special Publication of the International Society of Shrew Biologists No. 1, New York. 454 pp.
Dudu, A., Churchfield, S. & Hutterer, R. (2005). Community structure and food niche relationships of coexisting rain-forest shrews in the Masako Forest, northeastern Congo. In: Advances in the Biology of Shrews II (eds. J.F. Merritt, S. Churchfield, R. Hutterer & B.I. Sheftel). Special Publication of the International Society of Shrew Biologists No. 1, New York. pp. 229-239.
Churchfield, S., Barrière, P., Hutterer, R. & Colyn, M. (2004). First results on the feeding ecology of sympatric shrew (Insectivora: Soricidae) in the Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. Acta Theriologica 49: 1-15.
Clausnitzer, V., Churchfield, S. & R. Hutterer (2003) Habitat occurrence and feeding ecology of Crocidura montis and Lophuromys flavopunctatuson Mt. Elgon, Uganda. African Journal of Ecology 41: 1-8.
Churchfield, S. (2002). Why are shrews so small? The costs and benefits of small size in northern temperate Sorex species in the context of foraging habits and prey
supply. Acta Theriologica 47, Suppl. 1: 169-184.
Greenwood, A., Churchfield, S. & Hickey, C. (2002) Geographical distribution and habitat occurrence of the water shrew (Neomys fodiens) in the Weald of South-East England. Mammal Review 32, 40-50.
Churchfield, S., Barber, J. & Quinn, C. (2000). A new survey method for water shrews (Neomys fodiens) using baited tubes. Mammal Review 30: 249-254.
Churchfield, S., Nesterenko, V.A. & Shvarts, E.A. (1999). Food niche overlap and ecological separation amongst six species of coexisting forest shrews in the Russian Far East. Journal of Zoology, London 248: 349-359.
Churchfield, S. (1998). Habitat use by water shrews, the smallest of amphibious mammals. Symposium of the Zooogical Society of London 71: 49-68.
Churchfield, S. Hollier, J. & Brown, V.K. (1997). Community structure and habitat use of small mammals in grasslands of different successional age. Journal of Zoology, London 242: 519-530.
Churchfield, S., Sheftel, B.I., Moraleva, N.V. & Shvarts, E. A. (1997). Habitat occurrence and prey distribution of a multi-species community of shrews in the Siberian taiga. Journal of Zoology, London 241: 55-71.
Churchfield, S. (1996). Ecology of very small terrestrial mammals. Symposium of the Zooogical Society of London No. 69: 259-276.
Churchfield, S. (1990). The Natural History of Shrews. C. Helm/A & C Black. 178pp.
