Research Interests

Director of baboon research - Gashaka Gumti National Park Nigeria

My current research is primarily in the areas of primate socioecology and human-wildlife conflict. I am particularly interested in the evolution of reproductive and life history strategies in primates and in exploring these using a comparative approach. As part of this I have worked on the evolution of life histories using a comparative approach and carried out research into reproductive strategies and socioecology in a number of old world monkey species. In collaboration with colleagues in CREA, I am carrying a long-term research project into the biology and behaviour of baboons at Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria. Research by several PhD students at the same site has also looked at the causes and consequences of crop-raiding by wild animals. By focusing on the ecological, behavioural and demographic correlates of crop-raiding in baboons and combining this with work that looks at human attitudes to wildlife we hope to gain insight into the complexities of human-wildlife conflict in this national park.

Teaching Interests

Programme convener: MRes Primate Biology, Behaviour and Conservation

Animal behaviour

Behavioural ecology

Primate behaviour and ecology

CURRENT PHD STUDENTS

David Inglis
Vocal and visual communication in olive baboons
Co-supervised with Dr Stuart Semple

Emily Lodge
Feeding ecology and life history of olive baboons in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria
Co-supervised with Prof Ann MacLarnon

PAST PHD STUDENTS

Adrian Barnett (awarded 2010)
The ecology and natural history of the golden-backed uakari, Cacajao melanocephalus.
Co-supervised with Prof Ann MacLarnon

David Bennett (awarded 2009)
Human wildlife conflict: Perception of crop damage and crop protection.
Co-supervised with Dr Garry Marvin and Dr Claire Ozanne

Gillian Hood(awarded 2009)
Two decades of chronic illness: A study exploring the ‘diabetic biography’ of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Co-supervised with Dr Joerg Huber, Dr Sasha Scambler (King's College, London) and Dr Koula Asimakopoulou (University of Bedfordshire)

James Higham (awarded 2006)
The reproductive ecology of female olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) at Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria
Co-supervised with Prof Ann MacLarnon and Dr Stuart Semple

Ymke Warren (awarded 2003)
Olive baboons (Papio cyncocephalus anubis): behaviour, ecology and human conflict in Gashaka Gumti National Park,Nigeria
Co-supervised with Prof Ann MacLarnon

Christie Allan (awarded 2002)
Amerindian ethnoecology, Resource use and forest management in southwest Guyana.
Co-supervised with Dr Claire Ozanne, Dr Garry Marvin & Dr Peter Shaw

Mari MacLeod (awarded 2000)
The reproductive strategies of the samango monkey (Cercopithecus mitis erythrarchus)
Co-supervised with Dr Peter Shaw