My research interests cover animal cognition, social evolution and predator prey interactions, combining classical behavioural ecology with novel analytical and experimental methods on wild populations. My current work investigates the evolution of anti-predator signals given in the absence of a detected threat, using pied wagtails as an experimental system. Understanding such pre-emptive behaviours can play a key role in understanding how animals navigate their world. Such pre-emption was the focus of my post-doc research, where I demonstrated how mongoose groups changed their behaviour based on the potential risks associated with encountering rival neighbours. My work has demonstrated how within-group conflict can reduce cooperation and contributions to group defence, how animals assess and develop social relationships and how information transmits through populations. I also collaborate on projects involving my previous study systems (dwarf mongooses, meerkats and jackdaws) as well as comparative work on sensory evolution and global avian declines.
