A5000791365- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Health, psychology, and well-being
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
Ahmedabad University
2021-2025
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
2004-2024
Azim Premji University
2016-2024
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
2018-2020
University of Haifa
2015-2019
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2013-2016
Florida International University
2013-2014
Harvard University
2010
Google (United States)
2010
Wildlife Institute of India
2009
Summary 1. In the face of natural complexities and multicollinearity, model selection predictions using multiple regression may be ambiguous risky. Confounding effects predictors often cloud researchers’ assessment interpretation single best ‘magic model’. The shortcomings stepwise have been extensively described in statistical literature, yet it is still widely used ecological literature. Similarly, hierarchical which thought to an improvement procedure, fails address multicollinearity. 2....
Foraging animals have several tools for managing the risk of predation, and foraging games between them their predators. Among these, time allocation is foremost, followed by vigilance apprehension. Together, use influences a forager's giving-up density (GUD) in depletable resource patches. We examined Allenby's gerbils ( Gerbilus andersoni allenbyi ) exploiting seed patches large vivarium under varying moon phases presence red fox Vulpes vulpes ). measured allocated to electronically GUDs...
In the foraging game between gerbils and their predators, manage risk of predation using tools time allocation (where, when for how long to forage) vigilance. The optimal level a forager's vigilance should be affected by its encounter rate with predators effectiveness in reducing mortality risk. physical structure environment can alter therefore behaviour. We tested this at from barn owls or foxes large vivarium. particular, we reduced placing obstructions around feeding trays that blocked...
Cockburn, J., M. Rouget, R. Slotow, D. Roberts, Boon, E. Douwes, S. O'Donoghue, C. T. Downs, Mukherjee, W. Musakwa, O. Mutanga, Mwabvu, J. Odindi, A. Odindo, Ş. Procheş, Ramdhani, Ray-Mukherjee, Sershen, Schoeman, Smit, Wale, and Willows-Munro. 2016. How to build science-action partnerships for local land-use planning management: lessons from Durban, South Africa. Ecology Society 21(1):28.
Much of our understanding the control and dynamics animal movement derives from controlled laboratory experiments. While many aspects can be probed only in these settings, a more complete locomotion may gained by linking experiments on relatively simple motions to studies complex behaviours natural settings. To demonstrate utility this approach, we examined effects wing damage dragonfly flight performance both drop-escape response context aerial predation. The experiment shows that hindwing...
Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 302–310 Abstract Predator–prey interactions are often behaviourally sophisticated games in which the predator and prey players. Past studies teach us that hungrier take higher risks when foraging predators increase their activity willing to of injury. Yet no study has looked at simultaneous responses own each other’s hunger levels a controlled environment. We for evidence state‐dependent game between by simultaneously manipulating state barn owls, Allenby’s gerbils...
Theory states that an optimal forager should exploit a patch so long as its harvest rate of resources from the exceeds energetic, predation, and missed opportunity costs for foraging. However, many foragers, predation is not only source danger they face while Foragers also risk injuring themselves. To test whether injury gives rise to foraging cost, we offered red foxes pairs depletable resource patches in which experienced diminishing returns. The were identical all respects, save injury....
In captive experiments of Negev Desert granivores, we investigated the ways in which combinations feral mesocarnivores and native predators alter wild prey behavior. We hypothesized that would have a greater impact on energy acquisition, reflected foraging dynamics, than predators. Allenby's gerbils (Gerbillus andersoni allenbyi) Egyptian pyramidum) were used as species, with dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), cats (Felis catus), barn owls (Tyto alba), horned vipers (Cerastes gasperetti) Gerbil...
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is currently the most widespread invasive mosquito species in world. It poses a significant threat to human health, as it vector for several arboviruses. We used SNP chip genotype 748 Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from 41 localities across Europe, 28 native range Asia, and 4 Americas. Using multiple algorithms, we examined population genetic structure differentiation within Europe our global dataset gain insight into origin of European populations....
Key to predicting impacts of predation is understanding the mechanisms through which predators impact prey populations. While consumptive effects are well-known, non-consumptive predator (risk effects) increasingly being recognized as important. Studies risk effects, however, have focused largely on how trade-offs between food and safety affect fitness. Less documented, appreciated, potential for presence directly suppress reproduction life-history characteristics. For first time, we tested...
Carrying capacity is one of the most important, yet least understood and rarely estimated, parameters in population management modeling. A simple behavioral metric carrying would advance theory, conservation, biological populations. Such a should be possible because behavior finely attuned to variation environment including density. We connect optimal foraging theory with dynamics life history develop model that predicts this sort adaptive density-dependent change food consumption. then...
Young adults entering college experience immense shifts in personal and professional environments. Such a potentially stressful event may trigger multiple psychological physiological effects. In repeated-measures longitudinal survey (N = 6 time-points) of first year cohort residential undergraduate students India, this study evaluates parameters: PSS14 (Perceived Stress Scale), K10 (distress scale) positive mood measures, along with salivary cortisol levels. We find that compared to women,...
In predator-prey foraging games, predators should respond to variations in prey state. The value of energy for the changes depending on season. Prey a low energetic state and/or reproductive invest more and tolerate higher predation risk. This make catchable, thereby, preferable predators. We ask, can state? How does season affect game from predator's perspective? By letting owls choose between gerbils whose states we experimentally manipulated, could demonstrate predator sensitivity...
The interactions between predators and prey often constitute foraging games where manage risk fear. Tools available to include time allocation apprehension. Such a game exists gerbils their in sandy habitats the Negev Desert. Pulses of seeds made daily by wind action result tightly choreographed changing seed availability gerbil predator behavior throughout night. This outcome depends on summer conditions, especially mobile substrate that allows for renewal resources. But winter conditions...
Background: The KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld (KZNSS) Research Programme is part of a collaborative, transdisciplinary research partnership between the University and eThekwini Municipality (EM), aimed at bridging science-policy-practice gap. programme focuses on generating knowledge capacity to support local land-use planning, management policy development related biodiversity climate change issues. Objectives: objectives were (1) describe how continuous reflective evaluation approach...
A carrion feeder attempting to forage on a road benefits greatly from an appropriate response vehicular traffic. In this observational study, we tested the ability of American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) judge behaviour fast-moving vehicles and avoid collision narrow road. Unsurprisingly, feeding in same lane as approaching vehicle always flew off, but interestingly, significant proportion opposite chose remain addition, 21% walked over injury, none which was approaching. These are among...
Abstract Urban environments are heterogeneous landscapes of social and environmental features, with important consequences for human–nature entanglements, such as that mosquito‐borne disease. Investigations into this intra‐urban heterogeneity in mosquito dynamics find conflicting results, likely due to the complex socio‐ecological interactions importance place‐based context. Integrative research, which synthesizes multiple disciplines epistemologies, can place ecological results their...
Although whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is the preferred genotyping method for most genomic analyses, limitations are often experienced when studying genomes characterized by a high percentage of repetitive elements, linkage, and recombination deserts. The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), example, has genome comprising up to 72% therefore we set out develop single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip be more cost-effective. Aedes albopictus an invasive species originating from Southeast...