Our research group is interested in the movements of individuals between local
populations within a regional distribution. We have field studies on the
recruitment dynamics of barnacles on rocky shores, and on dispersal of wading
birds between foraging patches and hedgehogs between rural populations
fragmented by roads. We use these and other empirical data to test alternative
models for dispersal dynamics. Is dispersal driven by competitive expulsion
from the birth place, or active prospecting for breeding sites? How does
habitat structure influence dispersal paths?
More conceptual models are being developed to find out how the persistence
and stability of local populations are influenced by density dependent
processes, particularly aggregation and immigration and their interactions. We
are modelling environmental variability at scales ranging from feeding
aggregations to breeding populations, metapopulations and communities. By
drawing an analogy between the processes of food consumption and habitat
colonisation, we are able to identify common patterns across all these scales.
We have a theoretical project on the evolution and maintenance of sex, in
which our aim is to model the cost of males in an ecological currency, for
sexually reproducing organisms prone to invasion by asexual competitors. The
same ecological principles that control the maintenance of sexual reproduction
also influence the evolution of lifespan. Extremely long-lived organisms
present a theoretical paradox because all life-forms are susceptible to
senescence in the presence of extrinsic mortality. We are analysing
environmental influences on this susceptibility.
- Susanna Sherwin, PhD on
multidrug tolerance in bacterial biofilms (funded by BBSRC Doctoral Training
Account);
- Pippa Wood, PhD 2007 on
sustainable conservation for shorebirds (funded by English Nature, ABPmer,
Beaulieu Estate);
- 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);
- Adam Kent, PhD 2000 on
influences of recruitment on population persistence (funded by University of Southampton).
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Conceptual
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Descriptive
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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.
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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 microbial lawns. Marine Ecology Progress Series. In press.
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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.
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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).
In press. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00663.x.
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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
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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. In press.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Doncaster, C.P. (2006)
Comment on "on the regulation of populations of mammals, birds, fish,
and insects" III. Science,
311: 1100.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Schley, D., Doncaster,
C.P. & Sluckin, T. (2004) Population models of sperm-dependent parthenogenesis.
Journal of Theoretical Biology,
229: 559-572.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Doncaster,
C.P. (2003) Evolution of indefinite generation lengths. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 80: 269-280.
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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.
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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.
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Rondinini,
C. & Doncaster, C.P. (2002) Roads as barriers for hedgehogs. Functional Ecology, 16: 504-509.
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Kent,
A., Doncaster, C.P. & Sluckin, T. (2003) Consequences for predators of
rescue and Allee effects on prey. Ecological
Modelling, 162: 233-245.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Doncaster,
C.P. (2001) Healthy wrinkles for population dynamics: unevenly spread
resources can support more users. Journal
of Animal Ecology, 70: 91-100.
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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.
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Doncaster, C.P. (2001) What
determines territory configuration of badgers? Oikos, 93: 497-498.
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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.
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Doncaster, C.P., Pound, G.E.
& Cox, S.J. (2000) The ecological cost of sex. Nature, 404: 281-285.
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Ward, J.F., Macdonald, D.W.
& Doncaster, C.P. (1997) Responses of foraging hedgehogs to badger odour.
Animal Behaviour, 53: 709-720.
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Doncaster,
C.P. (2000) Extension of ideal free resource use to breeding populations and
metapopulations. Oikos, 89: 24-36.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Doncaster,
C.P. & Gustafsson, L. (1999) Density dependence in resource exploitation:
empirical test of Levins' metapopulation model. Ecology Letters, 2: 44-51.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Doncaster, C.P., Micol, T.
& Plesner Jensen, S. (1996) Determining minimum habitat requirements in
theory and practice. Oikos, 75:
335-339.
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Doncaster, C.P.
(1993) Influence of predation threat on foraging pattern: the hedgehog's
gambit. Revue d'Ecologie (Terre et Vie), 48: 207-213.
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Doncaster, C.P. (1994)
Factors regulating local variations in abundance: field tests on hedgehogs (Erinaceus
europaeus). Oikos, 69: 182-192.
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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.
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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].
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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.
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Doncaster, C.P.
& Krebs, J.R. (1993) The wider countryside: principles underlying the
responses of mammals to heterogeneous environments. Mammal Review, 23:
113-120.
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Doncaster,
C.P. & Macdonald, D.W. (1991) Drifting territoriality in the red fox Vulpes
vulpes. Journal of Animal Ecology, 60: 423-439.
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Doncaster,
C.P. (1992) Testing the role of intraguild predation in regulating hedgehog
populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B, 249: 113-117.
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Doncaster, C.P.
& Micol, T. (1990) Response by coypus to catastrophic events of cold and
flooding. Holarctic Ecology, 13: 98-104.
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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.
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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.
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Doncaster, C.P.
(1990) Non-parametric estimates of interaction from radio-tracking data. Journal
of Theoretical Biology, 143: 431-443.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Doncaster, C.P.
& Micol, T. (1988) Comparison of three absolute estimates of coypu
abundance from cage trapping. Acta Oecologica/ Oecologia Generalis, 9:
89-99.
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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.
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Dickman, C.R. & Doncaster, C.P. (1984)
Responses of small mammals to red fox (Vulpes vulpes) odour. Journal
of Zoology (London),
204: 521-531.
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Doncaster,
C.P. (1981) The spatial distribution of ants' nests on Ramsey Island, South
Wales. Journal of Animal Ecology,
50: 195-218.
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Terminology of
analysis of variance