Overview

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. 

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.

Research group links

• Animal Behaviour
• Cognition

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Research

Research 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.

Research grants

• 2019 British Ecological Society (UK)
  Grey squirrels and pine martens: the role of stress in suppressing grey squirrel populations
• 2007 Great Western Research
  PhD studentship jointly funded by Astra Zenica entitled "Using behaviour to determine welfare and enrichment criteria for aquatic environmental protection research".
• 2005 EU STREP/NEST
  From Associations to rules in the development of concepts
• 2001 British Ecological Society (UK)
  The ecological impact of common rats (Rattus norvegicus) on the Isles of Scilly: assessing the value of pest control

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Publications

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External Engagement and Impact

Administrative responsibilities

2011 – 2013 - External Examiner for the MRes in Animal Behaviour at Newcastle University

2011 – External Assessor for the BSc in Animal Behaviour at Cornwall College, Newquay.

Media Coverage

My squirrel caching research was featured on “Autumnwatch”, BBC2.  Aired Tuesday October 30, 2012.

Interviewed on BBC Radio Devon, discussing squirrel intelligence. Tuesday October 30, 2012.

Guest on Countywide Breakfast with Matt Woodley. Aired Wednesday July 29, 2009. BBC Radio Devon

“May (or may not) contain nuts”. Planet Earth online, July 28, 2009. http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=491

“They know they’re being watched”. New Scientist. January 19, 2008.

David Attenborough’s ‘The Life of Mammals’ Series episode entitled ‘The Seed Predators’. Aired Wednesday December 11, 2002. BBC1.

Bill Oddie Goes Wild On the Isles of Scilly. Aired Friday January 4, 2002. BBC2.
 

Workshops organised

Member of the organising committe for the 16th congress of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology, University of Exeter, July 28- August 3, 2016.

Co-organiser of Integrative Biology of Scatter Hoarding: Ecology, Psychology and Neuroscience, Newcastle University, 9 August 2013.

Member of the organising committee for Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Easter Meeting, University of Exeter, April 7-9, 2010.

Member of the organising committee for Integrative Biology of Scatter Hoarding: Ecology, Psychology and Neuroscience, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), August 8-9, 2008.

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Teaching

Modules

2023/24

• PSYM208 - Animal Behaviour Research Skills
• PSYM210 - Research Apprenticeship

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Supervision / Group

Postgraduate researchers

Alumni

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