Behavioural Ecology Group
Our group studies the causes and consequences of decisions animals make with a focus on social contexts. We provide education in Behavioural Ecology and Applied Animal Behaviour.
Chair holder
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Research domains
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Behavioural ecology
Our research in behavioural ecology focuses on understanding how individual animals and populations function and how selection acts on fitness, using a range of different behavioural and life history traits. Our main study organisms are birds and fish.
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Conservation biology
Our research in conservation biology encompasses several projects. Part of our work includes the use of animal conditioning interventions to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, which can provide valuable insights for policy and management decisions.
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Companion animal behaviour
Dogs and cats have been living alongside humans for thousands of years and their relationship with us have been a complex and fascinating one. Dogs and cats live almost everywhere in the world and have become extremely successful in occupying various ecological niches. How is this possible? How do dogs and cats manage to navigate a complex socio-environment such as the human one? At the Behavioural Ecology group we are interested in a variety of topics linked to the ecology, behaviour and cognition of both cats and dogs. We study cats living at Carus as well as pet dogs living in the Netherlands and free-ranging dogs living in Morocco.
Education
Our education covers the whole field of animal behaviour. Our courses are directed towards both Biology and Animal Science students.
Latest publications
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Birds With Distinct Ecological Traits Show Varied Haemoglobin Adaptations Along Elevation Gradients
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Insights from the judgement bias paradigm : social group and tank size do not affect mental state in female guppies
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Coercive mating has no impact on spatial learning, cognitive flexibility, and fecundity in female porthole livebearers (Poeciliopsis gracilis)