Dr Lisa Leaver

About me:

I study the behavioural and cognitive adaptations shaped by selective pressures specific to an animal’s ecology. My research is divided into two main areas; 1) determining how decision-making and behaviour are influenced by risk, and 2) mapping cognitive abilities onto behavioural outcomes in wild animals. I conduct my research in the field using a combination of experimental and observational techniques, focusing primarily on grey squirrels.

Interests:

My work is focused on exploring behavioural and cognitive adaptations specific to particular aspects of a species’ ecology. I conduct research on the abilities that have been shaped by the selective pressures faced by animals that cache food for use at a later time, mainly squirrels and kangaroo rats. I am interested in questions about the behavioural ecology and cognitive abilities of caching animals and carry out research on the factors affecting their foraging and food caching decisions, risk taking, social learning, categorisation, problem solving, and memory in the wild and in the laboratory.

I am using various techniques to explore the nature of squirrel cognition - for example, I have examined their performance interacting a variety of puzzle boxes in an attempt to explain how they understand and learn about causal relationships.

I am investigating social influences on foraging and food caching decisions made by eastern grey squirrels in the laboratory and in the field. I conduct cognitive and spatial memory experiments in the laboratory, and I look at natural social, foraging and caching behaviour of marked individuals in the field.

I am also investigating individual differences in cost/benefit trade-offs made by animals during foraging and food storing in relation to things such as cues of predation risk, presence of competitors and food value.

Qualifications:

B.A. (Hons) Psychology (Anthropology Minor), McMaster University 1995

Ph. D. Psychology, McMaster University 2000. Thesis entitled “Ecological determinants of foraging and caching behaviour in sympatric heteromyid rodents” Supervised by Prof. Martin Daly, Externally Examined by Prof. David Sherry.