Here you may find details of some of the projects I have worked on throughout my degree. They are displayed in chronological order, and all of them have either behaviour or evolution as a central theme.
Meta-analysis on reciprocal transplant experiments
This research project will devote itself to the process of adaptation to local environmental conditions, but will look it at it in a geographic context. By reviewing and analysing data from several studies I am hoping to see if space affects local adaptation, and to what degree. A similar meta-analysis has already been conducted on salmonids and will be part of the primary literature (Fraser et al. 2011). A meta-analysis is perfect for this as it may detect even a weak, yet significant effect. This approach can also give us insight into how the other evolutionary forces such as gene-flow and genetic drift may affect a population adapting locally. The project is supervised by Florence Débarre, a lecturer at the University of Exeter, Cornwall campus.
The picture from Anderson and Johnson's study shows a geographic mosaic of two traits in a plant-pollinator mutualism (P. ganglbaueri and Z. microsiphon)
This research project will devote itself to the process of adaptation to local environmental conditions, but will look it at it in a geographic context. By reviewing and analysing data from several studies I am hoping to see if space affects local adaptation, and to what degree. A similar meta-analysis has already been conducted on salmonids and will be part of the primary literature (Fraser et al. 2011). A meta-analysis is perfect for this as it may detect even a weak, yet significant effect. This approach can also give us insight into how the other evolutionary forces such as gene-flow and genetic drift may affect a population adapting locally. The project is supervised by Florence Débarre, a lecturer at the University of Exeter, Cornwall campus.
The picture from Anderson and Johnson's study shows a geographic mosaic of two traits in a plant-pollinator mutualism (P. ganglbaueri and Z. microsiphon)
Chestnut-crowned Babbler nest video analysis
In this project I collaborated with Maximilian Huckvale on the analysis of about two years worth of nest video footage of Chestnut-crowned Babblers (Pomatostomus ruficeps). The analysis involved a wide range of tasks such as: recording precise entry & exit times, observing and analysing prey items brought into the nest (size & fate), to syncing tag data from PIT-transponders to the time displayed on the videos. The project was supervised by James Savage (a PhD student at Cambridge) and Dr Andy Russell (senior lecturer in animal behaviour at the University of Exeter). The data collected will be used to investigate the co-operative behaviour of this species.
Publication pending.
In this project I collaborated with Maximilian Huckvale on the analysis of about two years worth of nest video footage of Chestnut-crowned Babblers (Pomatostomus ruficeps). The analysis involved a wide range of tasks such as: recording precise entry & exit times, observing and analysing prey items brought into the nest (size & fate), to syncing tag data from PIT-transponders to the time displayed on the videos. The project was supervised by James Savage (a PhD student at Cambridge) and Dr Andy Russell (senior lecturer in animal behaviour at the University of Exeter). The data collected will be used to investigate the co-operative behaviour of this species.
Publication pending.
Analysis of a public goods game
This study analysed a public goods game in class with two treatments, "open" and "closed". In the "open" treatment, one's contribution to a public good was announced to the entire group, conversely, in the "closed" treatment, this was kept undisclosed. The aim of the study was to examine cooperative behaviour in a controlled context. A study by Bateson, Nettle & Roberts (2006) previously found that the image of a pair of eyes tripled the rates paid to an "honesty box" for drinks in comparison to a control image (flowers). Not surprisingly, reputation did play a role in this study. The mean pay-off differed significantly between the "open" and "closed" treatments (Mean±SD: Open = 40.53±8.03; Closed = 32.14±11.62; Paired t-test: t12=3.14, p <0.01). I also attempted to find a difference between genders, but found no significant difference, however this does not imply that the playing strategies throughout a game might not differ.
If you're interested in either the report itself or the data collected, please refer to the "contact" page. I'll send you a free copy as soon as possible.
This study analysed a public goods game in class with two treatments, "open" and "closed". In the "open" treatment, one's contribution to a public good was announced to the entire group, conversely, in the "closed" treatment, this was kept undisclosed. The aim of the study was to examine cooperative behaviour in a controlled context. A study by Bateson, Nettle & Roberts (2006) previously found that the image of a pair of eyes tripled the rates paid to an "honesty box" for drinks in comparison to a control image (flowers). Not surprisingly, reputation did play a role in this study. The mean pay-off differed significantly between the "open" and "closed" treatments (Mean±SD: Open = 40.53±8.03; Closed = 32.14±11.62; Paired t-test: t12=3.14, p <0.01). I also attempted to find a difference between genders, but found no significant difference, however this does not imply that the playing strategies throughout a game might not differ.
If you're interested in either the report itself or the data collected, please refer to the "contact" page. I'll send you a free copy as soon as possible.