Population Ecology at Southampton University

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Dr C. Patrick Doncaster
Reader in Ecology
Centre for Biological Sciences
B85, Life Sciences Building
University of Southampton
Southampton SO17 1BJ
U.K.

Email: cpd@soton.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)2380 594352

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Our research interests include theory and fieldwork on the movements of individuals within and between local populations, and their adaptations to crowded environments.

Current and recent postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers include:

- Becky Spake, PhD on biodiversity of spiders and fungi in the New Forest (funded by BBSRC);

- Angela Watkins, PhD on applications of complexity science to conservation (funded by EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Complex Systems Simulation; co-supervisor Dr Jason Noble);

- Louise Fairless, PhD on ecophysiology of bats (funded by the School of Biological Sciences and the Kerkut trust; co-supervisors Professor Phil Newland, Dr Felix Eigenbrod, Dr Lex Kraaijeveld);

- Verónica Benitez, PhD on behaviour of the invasive Red-Bellied Beautiful Squirrel in Argentina (based at Luján University, Argentina, funded by CONICET; co-supervisor Dr Laura Guichón);

- Tania Gilbert, PhD on captive breeding of scimitar-horned oryx (funded by Marwell Zoo);

- Vasthi Alonso, PhD 2012 on mathematical models of fragmented ecosystems (funded by Conacyt; co-supervisor Professor Tim Sluckin);

- Susanna Sherwin, PhD 2011 on multidrug tolerance in bacterial biofilms (funded by BBSRC Doctoral Training Account; co-supervisor Dr Jeremy Webb);

- Dr Martin Skov, NERC post-doctoral researcher 2006-2009 on consumer responses to habitat depletion: food-refuge interactions in periwinkles;

- Becci Foster, PhD 2009 on jaguar-human conflict in Belize (funded by NERC);

- Pippa Wood, PhD 2007 on sustainable conservation for shorebirds (funded by English Nature, ABPmer, Beaulieu Estate);

- Bart Harmsen, PhD 2007 on conservation of jaguars in Belize (funded by NERC);

- Rich Young, PhD 2006 on ecology of dispersal in hedgehogs (funded by CSL);

- Dr Laura Guichón, UNESCO-L'Oréal Fellowship 2004-2005 on invasion dynamics of the Red-Bellied Beautiful Squirrel; named as one of the outstanding women of 2004 by Clarín;

- Nikki Tagg, PhD 2004 on coexistence of reproductive modes (funded by NERC, MBA);

- Andrew Davey, PhD 2003 on competitive interactions in stream fish communities (funded by FSBI);

- Sarah Benge, PhD 2002 on nutrient selection in fallow and roe deer;

- Graeme Pound, PhD 2001 on maintenance of sexual reproduction (funded by EPSRC);

- Matt Henderson, PhD 2001 on population genetic structure of hedgehogs (funded by BBSRC);

- Will Betz, MPhil 2001 on conservation of tree kangaroos;

- Adam Kent, PhD 2000 on influences of recruitment on population persistence (funded by University of Southampton).

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MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS

Statistics for Biologists

Lexicon of statistics

Means and variances

Terminology of analysis of variance

Examples of analysis of variance and covariance

Orthogonal contrasts for balanced analysis of variance

Statistical power for balanced analysis of variance

R for analysis of variance and covariance

Population Ecology and Evolution

Lexicon of evolutionary genetics

Lexicon of reproductive modes

Model for population growth

Timetable of human evolution and cultural development

Conservation Biology

Organisations and conventions on environmental issues

Organisations with interests that conflict with the natural environment

Institutions

Southampton University home page

Centre for biological sciences

Graduate School of Biological Sciences

Undergraduate programmes in Biological Sciences

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RECENTLY FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS

Belize large-mammal corridor project (UK Darwin Initiative)

Consumer responses to habitat depletion: food-refuge interactions in periwinkles (NERC)

Use of olfaction capabilities of dogs to distinguish faeces of jaguar and puma (PTES)

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TOOLS

Datasets and programs for study designs with Analysis of Variance

Programs for statistical analysis

Programs for analysing interaction from radio-tracking data

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RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Conceptual	Descriptive
Doncaster, C. P., Davey, A. J. H. & Dixon, P. M. (2013) Prospective evaluation of designs for analysis of variance without knowledge of effect sizes. Environmental and Ecological Statistics, in press.	Santos, M.M., Juáres, M.A., Rombolá, E.F., García, M.L., Coria, N.R. & Doncaster, C.P. (2012) Over-representation of bird prey in pellets of South Polar Skuas. Journal of Ornithology, 153: 979-983. doi: 10.1007/s10336-012-0840-4.
Doncaster, C. P., Jackson, A. & Watson, R. A. (2013) Manipulated into giving: when parasitism drives apparent or incidental altruism. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 280: 20130108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.0108	Harmsen, B.J., Foster, R.J., Silver, S.C., Ostro, L.E.T. & Doncaster, C.P. (2011) Jaguar and puma activity patterns in relation to their main prey. Mammalian Biology, 76: 320-324. doi: 10.1016/j.mambio.2010.08.007.
Skov, M.W., Hawkins, S.J., Volkelt-Igoe, M., Pike, J., Thompson, R.C. & Doncaster, C.P. (2011) Patchiness in resource distribution mitigates habitat loss: insights from high-shore grazers. Ecosphere, 2: art60. doi:10.1890/ES11-00017.1	Harmsen, B.J., Foster, R.J. & Doncaster, C.P. (2011) Heterogeneous capture rates in low density populations and consequences for capture-recapture analysis of camera-trap data. Population Ecology, 53: 253-259.
Watkins, A., Noble, J. & Doncaster, C.P. (2011) An agent-based model of jaguar movement through conservation corridors. Pp. 846-853 in: Advances in Artificial Life, ECAL 2011: Proceedings of the Eleventh European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems (Eds. Lenaerts, T., Giacobini, M., Bersini, H., Bourgine, P., Dorigo, M. & Doursat, R.). MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-29714-1.	Rowe R, Hanley, M., Goulson, D., Clarke, D., Doncaster, C.P. & Taylor, G. (2011) Potential benefits of commercial willow Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) for farm-scale plant and invertebrate communities in the agri-environment. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35: 325-336. doi:10.1016/ j.biombioe.2010.08.046.
Doncaster, C.P. (2009) Ecological equivalence: a realistic assumption for niche theory as a testable alternative to neutral theory. PLoS ONE, 4(10): e7460. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007460.	Harmsen, B.J., Foster, R.J., Silver, S.C., Ostro, L.E.T. & Doncaster, C.P. (2010) The ecology of jaguars in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. Chapter 18, pp. 403–416 in: Macdonald, D.W. & Loveridge, A. (Eds) The biology and Conservation of Wild Felids. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Davey, A.J.H., Doncaster, C.P. & Jones, O.D. (2009) Distinguishing between interference and exploitation competition for shelter in a mobile fish population. Environmental Modeling & Assessment, 14: 555-562.	Harmsen, B.J., Foster, R.J., Gutierrez, S.M., Marin, S.Y. & Doncaster, C.P. (2010) Scrape-marking behavior of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor). Journal of Mammalogy, 91: 1225-1234.
Doncaster, C.P. (2008) Non-linear density dependence in time series is not evidence of non-logistic growth. Theoretical Population Biology, 73: 483-489. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tpb.2008.02.003	Foster, R.J., Harmsen, B.J., and Doncaster, C.P. (2010) Sample-size effects on diet analysis from scats of jaguars and pumas. Mammalia, 74: 317-321.
Seymour, R.M. & Doncaster, C.P. (2007) Density dependence triggers runaway selection of reduced senescence. PLoS Computational Biology, 3(12): e256. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.0030256	Foster, R.J., Harmsen, B.J., and Doncaster, C.P. (2010) Habitat use by sympatric jaguars and pumas across a gradient of human disturbance. Biotropica, 42: 724-731. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00641.x
Doncaster, C.P. & Davey, A.J.H. (2007) Analysis of Variance and Covariance: How to Choose and Construct Models for the Life Sciences. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 302 pp. ISBN-13: 9780521684477. Website: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~cpd/anovas/datasets/	Skov, M.W., Volkelt-Igoe, M., Hawkins, S.J., Jesus, B., Thompson, R.C., Doncaster, C.P. (2010) Past and present grazing boosts the photo-autotrophic biomass of biofilms. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 401: 101-111.
Akçakaya, H.R., Mills, G. & Doncaster, C.P. (2007) The role of metapopulations in conservation. Pp 64-84 in: Key Topics in Conservation Biology (Eds D. W. Macdonald & K. Service). Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 328 pp. ISBN: 1405122498.	Foster, R.J., Harmsen, B.J., Valdes, B., Pomilla, C. and Doncaster, C.P. (2010) Food habits of sympatric jaguars and pumas across a gradient of human disturbance. Journal of Zoology (London), 280: 309-318. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00663.x.
Doncaster, C.P. (2006) Comment on "on the regulation of populations of mammals, birds, fish, and insects" III. Science, 311: 1100.	Harmsen, B.J., Foster, R.J., Silver, S.C., Ostro, L.E.T. & Doncaster, C.P. (2010) Differential use of trails by forest mammals and the implications for camera trap studies, a case study from Belize, Central America. Biotropica, 42: 126-133.
Tagg, N., Innes, D.J. & Doncaster, C.P. (2005) Outcomes of reciprocal invasions between genetically diverse and genetically uniform populations of Daphnia obtusa (Kurz). Oecologia, 143: 527-536.	Harmsen, B.J., Foster, R.J., Silver, S.C., Ostro, L.E.T. & Doncaster, C.P. (2009) Spatial and temporal interactions of two sympatric cats in a neotropical forest: the jaguar (Panthera onca) and the puma (Puma concolor). Journal of Mammalogy, 90: 612-620.
Tagg, N., Doncaster, C.P. & Innes, D.J. (2005) Resource competition between genetically varied and genetically uniform populations of Daphnia pulex (Leydig): does sexual reproduction confer a short-term ecological advantage? Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 85: 111-123.	Wood, P.J., Hudson, M.D. & Doncaster, C.P. (2009) Impact of egg harvesting on breeding success of black-headed gulls, Larus ridibundus. Acta Oecologica, 35: 83-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2008.08.006.
Kent, A., Jensen, S.P. & Doncaster, C.P. (2005) Model of microtine cycles caused by lethal toxins in non-preferred food plants. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 234: 593-604.	Guichón, M.L. & Doncaster, C.P. (2008) Invasion dynamics of an introduced squirrel in Argentina. Ecography, 31: 211-220. doi: 10.1111/j.0906-7590.2008.5308.x
Schley, D., Doncaster, C.P. & Sluckin, T. (2004) Population models of sperm-dependent parthenogenesis. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 229: 559-572.	Driezen, K., Adriaensen, F., Rondinini, C., Doncaster, C. P. & Matthysen, E. (2007) Evaluating least-cost model predictions with empirical dispersal data: a case-study using radiotracking data of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). Ecological Modelling, 209: 314-322.
Pound, G.E., Cox, S.J. & Doncaster, C.P. (2004) The accumulation of deleterious mutations within the frozen niche variation hypothesis. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 17: 651-662.	Young, R. P., Davison, J., Trewby, I. D., Wilson, G. J., Delahay, R. J. & Doncaster, C. P. (2006) Abundance of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in relation to the density and distribution of badgers (Meles meles). Journal of Zoology, 269: 349-356.
Doncaster, C.P. (2003) Evolution of indefinite generation lengths. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 80: 269-280.	Davey, A.J.H., Turner, G.F., Hawkins, S.J. & Doncaster, C.P. (2006) Mechanisms of density dependence in stream fish: exploitation competition for food reduces growth of adult European bullheads (Cottus gobio). Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Science, 63: 597-606.
Doncaster, C.P., Pound, G.E. & Cox, S.J. (2003) Dynamics of regional coexistence for more or less equal competitors. Journal of Animal Ecology, 72: 116-126.	Davey, A.J.H., Hawkins, S.J., Turner, G.F. & Doncaster, C.P. (2005) Size-dependent microhabitat use and intraspecific competition in Cottus gobio. Journal of Fish Biology, 67: 428-443.
Kent, A., Doncaster, C.P. & Sluckin, T. (2003) Consequences for predators of rescue and Allee effects on prey. Ecological Modelling, 162: 233-245.	Tricker, P.J., Trewin, H., Kull, O., Clarkson, G.J.J., Eensalu, E., Tallis, M.J., Colella, A., Doncaster, C.P., Sabatti, M. & Taylor, G. (2005) Stomatal conductance and not stomatal density determines the long-term reduction in leaf transpiration of poplar in elevated CO2. Oecologia, 143: 652-660.
Pound, G.E., Doncaster, C.P. & Cox, S.J. (2002) A Lotka-Volterra model of coexistence between a sexual population and multiple asexual clones. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 217: 535-545.	Guichón, M.L., Doncaster, C.P. & Cassini, M.H. (2003) Population structure of coypus (Myocastor coypus) in their region of origin and comparison with introduced populations. Journal of Zoology (London), 261: 265-272.
Doncaster, C.P. (2001) Healthy wrinkles for population dynamics: unevenly spread resources can support more users. Journal of Animal Ecology, 70: 91-100.	Kent, A., Hawkins, S. J. & Doncaster, C. P. (2003) Population consequences of mutual attraction between settling and adult barnacles. Journal of Animal Ecology, 72: 941-952.
Doncaster, C.P. (2001) What determines territory configuration of badgers? Oikos, 93: 497-498.	Rondinini, C. & Doncaster, C.P. (2002) Roads as barriers for hedgehogs. Functional Ecology, 16: 504-509.
Doncaster, C.P., Pound, G.E. & Cox, S.J. (2000) The ecological cost of sex. Nature, 404: 281-285.	Doncaster, C.P., Rondinini, C. & Johnson, P.C.D. (2001) Field test for environmental correlates of dispersal in hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). Journal of Animal Ecology, 70: 33-46.
Doncaster, C.P. (2000) Extension of ideal free resource use to breeding populations and metapopulations. Oikos, 89: 24-36.	Henderson, M., Becher, S.A., Doncaster, C.P. & Maclean, N. (2000) Five new polymorphic microsatellite loci in the European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus. Molecular Ecology, 9: 1949-1951.
Jensen, S.P. & Doncaster, C.P. (1999) Lethal toxins in non-preferred foods: how plant chemical defences can drive microtine cycles. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 199: 63-85.	Joyce, K.A., Holland, J.M. & Doncaster, C.P. (1999) Influences of hedgerow intersections and gaps on the movement of carabid beetles. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 89: 523-531.
Doncaster, C.P. (1999) A useful phenomenological difference between exploitation and interference in the distribution of ideal free predators. Journal of Animal Ecology, 68: 836-838.	Doncaster, C.P. & Macdonald, D.W. (1997) Activity patterns and interactions of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) in Oxford city. Journal of Zoology (London), 241: 73-87.
Doncaster, C.P. & Gustafsson, L. (1999) Density dependence in resource exploitation: empirical test of Levins' metapopulation model. Ecology Letters, 2: 44-51.	Ward, J.F., Macdonald, D.W. & Doncaster, C.P. (1997) Responses of foraging hedgehogs to badger odour. Animal Behaviour, 53: 709-720.
Doncaster, C.P., Clobert, J., Doligez, B., Gustafsson, L. & Danchin, E. (1997) Balanced dispersal between spatially varying local populations: an alternative to the source-sink model. American Naturalist, 150: 425-445.	Micol, T., Doncaster, C.P. & Jouventin, P. (1996) Chapters 1 & 2 in: Le Ragondin (Jouventin, P., Micol, T., Verheyden, C. & Guédon, G., eds) pp. 11-41. Acta, Paris.
Doncaster, C.P. (1997) Interactions prédateur-proie et ressources non utilisées: éclaircie dans les problèmes de rareté et de persistance. Bulletin de la Société Neuchâteloise des Sciences Naturelles, 120: 5-18.	Ward, J.F., Macdonald, D.W., Doncaster, C.P. & Mauget, C. (1996) Physiological responses of the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, to predator and non-predator odour. Physiology and Behavior, 60: 1469-1472.
Doncaster, C.P., Micol, T. & Plesner Jensen, S. (1996) Determining minimum habitat requirements in theory and practice. Oikos, 75: 335-339.	Doncaster, C.P. & Macdonald, D.W. (1996) Intra-specific variation in movement behaviour of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) - a reply to White, Saunders and Harris. Journal of Animal Ecology, 65: 126-127.
Doncaster, C.P. (1994) Factors regulating local variations in abundance: field tests on hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). Oikos, 69: 182-192.	Micol, T., Doncaster, C.P. & Mackinlay, L.A. (1994) Correlates of local variation in the abundance of hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus. Journal of Animal Ecology, 63: 851-860.
Doncaster, C.P. & Woodroffe, R. (1993) Den site can determine shape and size of badger territories: implications for group-living. Oikos, 66: 88-93 [see also Erratum 66: 560].	Weimerskirch, H., Doncaster, C.P. & Cuenot-Chaillet, F. (1994) Pelagic seabirds and the marine environment: foraging patterns of wandering albatrosses in relation to prey availability and distribution. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B, 255: 91-97.
Doncaster, C.P. & Krebs, J.R. (1993) The wider countryside: principles underlying the responses of mammals to heterogeneous environments. Mammal Review, 23: 113-120.	Taber, A.B., Doncaster, C.P., Neris, N.N. & Colman, F. (1994) Ranging behaviour and activity patterns of two sympatric peccaries, Catagonus wagneri and Tayassu tajacu in the Paraguayan Chaco. Mammalia, 58: 61-71.
Doncaster, C.P. (1992) Testing the role of intraguild predation in regulating hedgehog populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B, 249: 113-117.	Doncaster, C.P. (1993) Influence of predation threat on foraging pattern: the hedgehog's gambit. Revue d'Ecologie (Terre et Vie), 48: 207-213.
Doncaster, C.P. & Macdonald, D.W. (1992) Optimum group size for defending heterogenous distributions of resources: a model applied to red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, in Oxford city. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 159: 189-198.	Taber, A.B., Doncaster, C.P., Neris, N.N. & Colman, F. (1993) Ranging behavior and population dynamics of the Chacoan peccary, Catagonus wagneri. Journal of Mammalogy, 74: 443-454.
Doncaster, C.P. (1990) Non-parametric estimates of interaction from radio-tracking data. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 143: 431-443.	Moinard, C., Doncaster, C.P. & Barré, H. (1992) Indirect calorimetry measurements of behavioral thermoregulation in a semi-aquatic rodent, Myocastor coypus. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 70: 907-912.
	Doncaster, C.P. & Macdonald, D.W. (1991) Drifting territoriality in the red fox Vulpes vulpes. Journal of Animal Ecology, 60: 423-439.
	Doncaster, C.P. & Micol, T. (1990) Response by coypus to catastrophic events of cold and flooding. Holarctic Ecology, 13: 98-104.
	Doncaster, C.P., Dickman, C.R. & Macdonald, D.W. (1990) Feeding ecology of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the city of Oxford, England. Journal of Mammalogy, 71: 188-194.
	Doncaster, C.P., Dumonteil, E., Barré, H. & Jouventin, P. (1990) Temperature regulation of young coypus (Myocastor coypus) in air and water. American Journal of Physiology (Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative), 259: R1220-R1227.
	Dickman, C.R. & Doncaster, C.P. (1989) The ecology of small mammals in urban habitats. II. Demography and dispersal. Journal of Animal Ecology, 58: 119-129.
	Doncaster, C.P. & Micol, T. (1989) Annual cycle of a coypu (Myocastor coypus) population: male and female strategies. Journal of Zoology (London), 217: 227-240.
	Doncaster, C.P. & Micol, T. (1988) Comparison of three absolute estimates of coypu abundance from cage trapping. Acta Oecologica/ Oecologia Generalis, 9: 89-99.
	Dickman, C.R. & Doncaster, C.P. (1987) The ecology of small mammals in urban habitats. I. Populations in a patchy environment. Journal of Animal Ecology, 56: 629-640.
	Dickman, C.R. & Doncaster, C.P. (1984) Responses of small mammals to red fox (Vulpes vulpes) odour. Journal of Zoology (London), 204: 521-531.
	Doncaster, C.P. (1981) The spatial distribution of ants' nests on Ramsey Island, South Wales. Journal of Animal Ecology, 50: 195-218.

Pages maintained by Dr Patrick Doncaster

Last updated 30 April 2013