![Rob Thomas](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1236?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Rob Thomas
(Translated he/him)
Darlithydd
Ysgol y Biowyddorau
- ThomasRJ@caerdydd.ac.uk
- +44 29208 76653
- Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Ystafell C5.11, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Trosolwyg
My research group studies animal behaviour in changing environments. The environmental changes that we study range from long-term climate changes, through seasonal and daily changes, to the sudden appearance of a potential predator or an unfamiliar type of food. This work falls under four main headings, though there is plenty of overlap between these topics.
Climate change biology
Focusing on major study systems that use migratory birds as sensitive bio-indicators of climate-driven changes in trophic relationships.
- The Storm Petrels –the smallest of the seabirds, spending most of their lives on the open ocean
- The Northern Wheatear –an upland species with the most extreme trans-oceanic migration of any songbird
- Reed-bed warblers (Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers) –a pair of congeneric migrants with contrasting migration strategies
- The Pied Flycatcher -a rapidly-declining songbird of the Welsh oak woodlands
- The Barn Swallow -familiar herald of summer in a rapidly changing climate
- The European Nightjar -specialist predator of nocturnal moths
An online talk about some of my current climate change research is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yizBE01S9hc
Sensory constraints on behaviour
- Eye design in birds and visual constraints on behaviour
- Impacts of light and noise pollution on wildlife
- Automated acoustic monitoring and identification of bat echolocation calls as a monitoring tool
Dietary wariness and foraging ecology
- Novel-food wariness in birds and fish, and its evolutionary consequences
- Strategic regulation of energy reserves in wild birds
- Diet choice and foraging ecology
- Co-author/curator of the Wikipedia page for Dietray Conservatism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietary_conservatism
Impacts of human activities on wild animals
- Impacts of capture and handling on birds and other animals
- Practical conservation of populations, habitats and biodiversity hotspots in a changing world -an online talk about this work is available here: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/sustainable-places/events/webinar-series
- Ecological impacts of eco-tourism and game-bird shooting
- Birds of prey in human-modified landscapes -here is a recent podcast discussion about the challenges of preventing illegal persecution of birds of prey in the UK: https://www.theyorkshiregent.com/podcast/068/ (main discussion begins at 58 mins).
- Human-elephant conflicts in Sabah and Sri-Lanka
Cyhoeddiad
2023
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Between-year and spatial variation in body condition across the breeding cycle in a pelagic seabird, the Red-billed Tropicbird. Ecology and Evolution 13(12), article number: e10743. (10.1002/ece3.10743)
- Isted, G. H., Thomas, R. J., Warner, K. S., Stuber, M. J., Ellsworth, E. and Katzner, T. E. 2023. Ferruginous Hawk movements respond predictably to intra-annual variation but unexpectedly to anthropogenic habitats. Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science 165(4), pp. 1156-1168. (10.1111/ibi.13200)
- Clark, B. L. et al. 2023. Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds. Nature Communications 14(1), article number: 3665. (10.1038/s41467-023-38900-z)
- Beard, A., Madeiros Mirra, R., Clingham, E., Henry, L., Thomas, R. J. and Hailer, F. 2023. Breeding ecology, population size and nest site preferences of red-billed tropicbirds at St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean. Emu - Austral Ornithology 123(3), pp. 185-194. (10.1080/01584197.2023.2205595)
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Vafidis, J. O., Smith, J. A. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Teaching data analysis to life scientists using “R” statistical software: Challenges, opportunities, and effective methods. In: Medeiros Mirra, R. and Farnell, D. J. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham: Springer, pp. 167-187., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_12)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Killing me softly with your stats teaching: how much stats is too much stats?. In: Farnell, D. and Medeiros Mirra, R. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 197–209., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_14)
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Increasing use of artificial nest chambers by seasonally segregated populations of band-rumped storm petrels hydrobates castro at St Helena, South Atlantic. Marine Ornithology 51(1), pp. 85-96.
2022
- Thomas, R. J. and Davison, S. P. 2022. Seasonal swarming behavior of Myotis bats revealed by integrated monitoring, involving passive acoustic monitoring with automated analysis, trapping, and video monitoring. Ecology and Evolution 12(9), article number: e9344. (10.1002/ece3.9344)
- Davies, S. R., Vaughan, I. P., Thomas, R. J., Drake, L. E., Marchbank, A. and Symondson, W. O. 2022. Seasonal and ontological variation in diet and age-related differences in prey choice, by an insectivorous songbird. Ecology and Evolution 12(8), article number: e9180.
- Carreiro, A. R. et al. 2022. First insights into the diet composition of Madeiran and Monteiro’s storm petrels (Hydrobates castro and H. monteiroi) breeding in the Azores. Waterbirds 44(3), pp. 300-307. (10.1675/063.044.0304)
- Shewring, M. P., Vaughan, I. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2022. Moth biomass and diversity in coniferous plantation woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 505, article number: 119881. (10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119881)
- Rowley, L. D., Felgueiras, M., Rethore, G., Braganca, F., Thomas, R. J., Huckle, E. and Medeiros, R. 2022. Reliability of morphological criteria for sexing of birds during ringing, assessed using molecular methods - a study of thirteen species of passerines and near-passerines. Ringing and Migration 35(2), pp. 83-93. (10.1080/03078698.2021.2009544)
2021
- Hereward, H. F. R. et al. 2021. Raspberry Pi nest cameras – an affordable tool for remote behavioural and conservation monitoring of bird nests. Ecology and Evolution 11(21), pp. 14585-14597. (10.1002/ece3.8127)
- Raymond, S., Schwartz, A. L. W., Thomas, R. J., Chadwick, E. and Perkins, S. E. 2021. Temporal patterns of wildlife roadkill in the UK. PLoS ONE 16(10), article number: e0258083. (10.1371/journal.pone.0258083)
- Deakin, Z. et al. 2021. Decline of Leach’s Storm Petrels Hydrobates leucorhous at the largest colonies in the northeast Atlantic. Seabird 33, pp. 74-106.
2020
- Facey, R. J., Vafidis, J. O., Smith, J. A., Vaughan, I. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2020. Contrasting sensitivity of nestling and fledgling Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica body mass to local weather conditions. Ibis 162(4), pp. 1163-1174. (10.1111/ibi.12824)
- Williams, S., Perkins, S. E., Dennis, R., Byrne, J. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2020. An evidence-based assessment of the past distribution of Golden and White-tailed Eagles across Wales. Conservation Science and Practice 2(8), article number: e240. (10.1111/csp2.240)
- Lakin, R. J., Barrett, P. M., Stevenson, C., Thomas, R. J. and Wills, M. A. 2020. First evidence for a latitudinal body mass effect in extant Crocodylia and the relationships of their reproductive characters. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 129(4), pp. 875-887. (10.1093/biolinnean/blz208)
- Shewring, M., Jenks, P., Cross, A. V., Vaughan, I. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2020. Testing for effects of tail mounted radio tags and environmental variables on European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus nest survival. Bird Study 67(4), pp. 429-439. (10.1080/00063657.2021.1927979)
2019
- Vafidis, J., Smith, J. and Thomas, R. 2019. Climate change and insectivore ecology. eLS, pp. -. (10.1002/9780470015902.a0028030)
2018
- Vafidis, J. O., Facey, R. J., Leech, D. and Thomas, R. J. 2018. Supplemental food alters nest defence and incubation behaviour of an open-nesting wetland songbird. Journal of Avian Biology 49(8), article number: e01672. (10.1111/jav.01672)
- Marples, N. M., Speed, M. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2018. An individual-based profitability spectrum for understanding interactions between predators and their prey. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 125(1), pp. 1-13. (10.1093/biolinnean/bly088)
- Williams Schwartz, A., Williams, H. F., Chadwick, E., Thomas, R. J. and Perkins, S. E. 2018. Roadkill scavenging behaviour in an urban environment. Journal of Urban Ecology 4(1), article number: juy006. (10.1093/jue/juy006)
2017
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. O. and Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2017. Climatic impacts on invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Jones, T. H. and Johnson, S. N. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 295-316., (10.1002/9781119070894.ch15)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. and Medeiros Mirra, R. 2017. Invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Johnson, S. and Jones, T. H. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. John Wiley & Sons, pp. 295-316.
- Davison, S. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2017. Apparent spring swarming behaviour of Lesser Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Journal of Bat Research and Conservation 10(1) (10.14709/BarbJ.10.1.2017.03)
2016
- Vafidis, J., Vaughan, I. P., Jones, T. H., Facey, R., Parry, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2016. The effects of supplementary food on the breeding performance of Eurasian reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus; implications for climate change impacts. PloS One 11(7), article number: e0159933. (10.1371/journal.pone.0159933)
- Jones, G., Wills, A., Morgan, A. J., Thomas, R. J., Kille, P. and Novo Rodriguez, M. 2016. The worm has turned: behavioural drivers of reproductive isolation between cryptic lineages. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 98, pp. 11-17. (10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.03.015)
2015
- King, R. A., Symondson, W. O. C. and Thomas, R. J. 2015. Molecular analysis of faecal samples from birds to identify potential crop pests and useful biocontrol agents in natural areas. Bulletin of Entomological Research 105(3), pp. 261-272. (10.1017/S0007485314000935)
- Newman, R. C., Ellis, T., Davison, P. I., Ives, M. J., Thomas, R. J., Griffiths, S. W. and Riley, W. D. 2015. Using novel methodologies to examine the impact of artificial light at night on the cortisol stress response in dispersing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) fry. Conservation Physiology 3(1), article number: cov051. (10.1093/conphys/cov051)
2014
- Vafidis, J. O., Vaughan, I. P., Jones, T. H., Facey, R. J., Parry, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2014. Habitat use and body mass regulation among warblers in the Sahel Region during the non-breeding season. PLoS ONE 9(11), article number: e113665. (10.1371/journal.pone.0113665)
- Seward, A. M., Beale, C. M., Gilbert, L., Jones, T. H. and Thomas, R. J. 2014. The impact of increased food availability on reproduction in a long-distance migratory songbird: Implications for environmental change?. PLoS ONE 9(10), article number: e111180. (10.1371/journal.pone.0111180)
- McMahon, K., Conboy, A., O'Byrne-White, E., Thomas, R. J. and Marples, N. M. 2014. Dietary wariness influences the response of foraging birds to competitors. Animal Behaviour 89, pp. 63-69. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.12.025)
- Richards, E. L., Alexander, L. G., Snellgrove, D., Thomas, R. J., Marples, N. M. and Cable, J. 2014. Variation in the expression of dietary conservation within and between fish species. Animal Behaviour 88, pp. 49-56. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.11.009)
2013
- Seward, A. M., Beale, C. M., Gilbert, L., Jones, T. H. and Thomas, R. J. 2013. The impact of increased food availability on survival of a long-distance migratory bird. Ecology 94(1), pp. 221-230. (10.1890/12-0121.1)
2012
- Medeiros Mirra, R. et al. 2012. Molecular evidence for gender differences in the migratory behaviour of a small seabird. PLoS ONE 7(9), article number: e46330. (10.1371/journal.pone.0046330)
- Soanes, L. M., Thomas, R. J. and Bolton, M. 2012. Evaluation of field and analytical methods for estimating the population size of burrow-nesting seabirds from playback surveys. Bird Study 59(3), pp. 353-357. (10.1080/00063657.2012.695334)
2011
- Richards, E. L., Thomas, R. J., Marples, N., Snellgrove, D. and Cable, J. 2011. The expression of dietary conservatism in solitary and shoaling 3-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus. Behavioral Ecology 22(4), pp. 738-744. (10.1093/beheco/arr047)
- Clapham, J., Slater, F. M. and Thomas, R. J. 2011. Small mammals in tall grasses: biomass crops as a novel habitat. Mammal News(159), pp. 2-2.
2010
- Thomas, R. J., King, T. A., Forshaw, H. E., Marples, N. M., Speed, M. and Cable, J. 2010. The response of fish to novel prey: Evidence that dietary conservatism is not restricted to birds. Behavioral Ecology 21(4), pp. 669-675. (10.1093/beheco/arq037)
2007
- Marples, N. M., Quinlan, M., Thomas, R. J. and Kelly, D. J. 2007. Deactivation of dietary wariness through experience of novel food. Behavioral Ecology 18(5), pp. 803-810. (10.1093/beheco/arm053)
- Stokke, B. G. et al. 2007. Host density predicts presence of cuckoo parasitism in reed warblers. Oikos 116(6), pp. 913-922. (10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.15832.x)
2006
- Thomas, R. J., Szekely, T., Powell, R. F. and Cuthill, I. C. 2006. Eye size, foraging methods and the timing of foraging in shorebirds. Functional Ecology 20(1), pp. 157-165. (10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01073.x)
- Thomas, R. J., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Pollard, A. L. 2006. Evidence for nocturnal inter-tidal foraging by European Storm-Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus during migration. Atlantic Seabirds 8(1/2), pp. 87-94.
2004
- Thomas, R. J., Bartlett, L. A., Marples, N. M., Kelly, D. J. and Cuthill, I. C. 2004. Prey selection by wild birds can allow novel and conspicuous colour morphs to spread in prey populations. Oikos 106(2), pp. 285-294. (10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13089.x)
2003
- Thomas, R. J., Marples, N. M., Cuthill, I. C., Takahashi, M. and Gibson, E. A. 2003. Dietary conservatism may facilitate the initial evolution of aposematism. Oikos 101(3), pp. 458-466. (10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12061.x)
- Thomas, R. J., Cuthill, I., Goldsmith, A., Burdett Proctor, S., Cosgrove, D. and Lidgate, H. 2003. The trade-off between singing and mass gain in a daytime-singing bird, the European robin. Behaviour 140(3), pp. 387-404. (10.1163/156853903321826693)
2002
- Thomas, R. J. and Cuthill, I. C. 2002. Body mass regulation and the daily singing routines of European robins. Animal Behaviour 63(2), pp. 285-295. (10.1006/anbe.2001.1926)
- Thomas, R. J. 2002. The costs of singing in nightingales. Animal Behaviour 63(5), pp. 959-966. (10.1006/anbe.2001.1969)
- Thomas, R. J., Szeskely, T., Cuthill, I. C., Harper, D. G. C., Newson, S. E., Frayling, T. D. and Wallis, P. D. 2002. Eye size in birds and the timing of song at dawn. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 269(1493), pp. 831-837. (10.1098/rspb.2001.1941)
2000
- Thomas, R. J. 2000. Strategic diel regulation of body mass in European robins. Animal Behaviour 59(4), pp. 787-791. (10.1006/anbe.1999.1360)
Articles
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Between-year and spatial variation in body condition across the breeding cycle in a pelagic seabird, the Red-billed Tropicbird. Ecology and Evolution 13(12), article number: e10743. (10.1002/ece3.10743)
- Isted, G. H., Thomas, R. J., Warner, K. S., Stuber, M. J., Ellsworth, E. and Katzner, T. E. 2023. Ferruginous Hawk movements respond predictably to intra-annual variation but unexpectedly to anthropogenic habitats. Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science 165(4), pp. 1156-1168. (10.1111/ibi.13200)
- Clark, B. L. et al. 2023. Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds. Nature Communications 14(1), article number: 3665. (10.1038/s41467-023-38900-z)
- Beard, A., Madeiros Mirra, R., Clingham, E., Henry, L., Thomas, R. J. and Hailer, F. 2023. Breeding ecology, population size and nest site preferences of red-billed tropicbirds at St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean. Emu - Austral Ornithology 123(3), pp. 185-194. (10.1080/01584197.2023.2205595)
- Beard, A. et al. 2023. Increasing use of artificial nest chambers by seasonally segregated populations of band-rumped storm petrels hydrobates castro at St Helena, South Atlantic. Marine Ornithology 51(1), pp. 85-96.
- Thomas, R. J. and Davison, S. P. 2022. Seasonal swarming behavior of Myotis bats revealed by integrated monitoring, involving passive acoustic monitoring with automated analysis, trapping, and video monitoring. Ecology and Evolution 12(9), article number: e9344. (10.1002/ece3.9344)
- Davies, S. R., Vaughan, I. P., Thomas, R. J., Drake, L. E., Marchbank, A. and Symondson, W. O. 2022. Seasonal and ontological variation in diet and age-related differences in prey choice, by an insectivorous songbird. Ecology and Evolution 12(8), article number: e9180.
- Carreiro, A. R. et al. 2022. First insights into the diet composition of Madeiran and Monteiro’s storm petrels (Hydrobates castro and H. monteiroi) breeding in the Azores. Waterbirds 44(3), pp. 300-307. (10.1675/063.044.0304)
- Shewring, M. P., Vaughan, I. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2022. Moth biomass and diversity in coniferous plantation woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 505, article number: 119881. (10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119881)
- Rowley, L. D., Felgueiras, M., Rethore, G., Braganca, F., Thomas, R. J., Huckle, E. and Medeiros, R. 2022. Reliability of morphological criteria for sexing of birds during ringing, assessed using molecular methods - a study of thirteen species of passerines and near-passerines. Ringing and Migration 35(2), pp. 83-93. (10.1080/03078698.2021.2009544)
- Hereward, H. F. R. et al. 2021. Raspberry Pi nest cameras – an affordable tool for remote behavioural and conservation monitoring of bird nests. Ecology and Evolution 11(21), pp. 14585-14597. (10.1002/ece3.8127)
- Raymond, S., Schwartz, A. L. W., Thomas, R. J., Chadwick, E. and Perkins, S. E. 2021. Temporal patterns of wildlife roadkill in the UK. PLoS ONE 16(10), article number: e0258083. (10.1371/journal.pone.0258083)
- Deakin, Z. et al. 2021. Decline of Leach’s Storm Petrels Hydrobates leucorhous at the largest colonies in the northeast Atlantic. Seabird 33, pp. 74-106.
- Facey, R. J., Vafidis, J. O., Smith, J. A., Vaughan, I. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2020. Contrasting sensitivity of nestling and fledgling Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica body mass to local weather conditions. Ibis 162(4), pp. 1163-1174. (10.1111/ibi.12824)
- Williams, S., Perkins, S. E., Dennis, R., Byrne, J. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2020. An evidence-based assessment of the past distribution of Golden and White-tailed Eagles across Wales. Conservation Science and Practice 2(8), article number: e240. (10.1111/csp2.240)
- Lakin, R. J., Barrett, P. M., Stevenson, C., Thomas, R. J. and Wills, M. A. 2020. First evidence for a latitudinal body mass effect in extant Crocodylia and the relationships of their reproductive characters. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 129(4), pp. 875-887. (10.1093/biolinnean/blz208)
- Shewring, M., Jenks, P., Cross, A. V., Vaughan, I. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2020. Testing for effects of tail mounted radio tags and environmental variables on European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus nest survival. Bird Study 67(4), pp. 429-439. (10.1080/00063657.2021.1927979)
- Vafidis, J., Smith, J. and Thomas, R. 2019. Climate change and insectivore ecology. eLS, pp. -. (10.1002/9780470015902.a0028030)
- Vafidis, J. O., Facey, R. J., Leech, D. and Thomas, R. J. 2018. Supplemental food alters nest defence and incubation behaviour of an open-nesting wetland songbird. Journal of Avian Biology 49(8), article number: e01672. (10.1111/jav.01672)
- Marples, N. M., Speed, M. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2018. An individual-based profitability spectrum for understanding interactions between predators and their prey. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 125(1), pp. 1-13. (10.1093/biolinnean/bly088)
- Williams Schwartz, A., Williams, H. F., Chadwick, E., Thomas, R. J. and Perkins, S. E. 2018. Roadkill scavenging behaviour in an urban environment. Journal of Urban Ecology 4(1), article number: juy006. (10.1093/jue/juy006)
- Davison, S. P. and Thomas, R. J. 2017. Apparent spring swarming behaviour of Lesser Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Journal of Bat Research and Conservation 10(1) (10.14709/BarbJ.10.1.2017.03)
- Vafidis, J., Vaughan, I. P., Jones, T. H., Facey, R., Parry, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2016. The effects of supplementary food on the breeding performance of Eurasian reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus; implications for climate change impacts. PloS One 11(7), article number: e0159933. (10.1371/journal.pone.0159933)
- Jones, G., Wills, A., Morgan, A. J., Thomas, R. J., Kille, P. and Novo Rodriguez, M. 2016. The worm has turned: behavioural drivers of reproductive isolation between cryptic lineages. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 98, pp. 11-17. (10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.03.015)
- King, R. A., Symondson, W. O. C. and Thomas, R. J. 2015. Molecular analysis of faecal samples from birds to identify potential crop pests and useful biocontrol agents in natural areas. Bulletin of Entomological Research 105(3), pp. 261-272. (10.1017/S0007485314000935)
- Newman, R. C., Ellis, T., Davison, P. I., Ives, M. J., Thomas, R. J., Griffiths, S. W. and Riley, W. D. 2015. Using novel methodologies to examine the impact of artificial light at night on the cortisol stress response in dispersing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) fry. Conservation Physiology 3(1), article number: cov051. (10.1093/conphys/cov051)
- Vafidis, J. O., Vaughan, I. P., Jones, T. H., Facey, R. J., Parry, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2014. Habitat use and body mass regulation among warblers in the Sahel Region during the non-breeding season. PLoS ONE 9(11), article number: e113665. (10.1371/journal.pone.0113665)
- Seward, A. M., Beale, C. M., Gilbert, L., Jones, T. H. and Thomas, R. J. 2014. The impact of increased food availability on reproduction in a long-distance migratory songbird: Implications for environmental change?. PLoS ONE 9(10), article number: e111180. (10.1371/journal.pone.0111180)
- McMahon, K., Conboy, A., O'Byrne-White, E., Thomas, R. J. and Marples, N. M. 2014. Dietary wariness influences the response of foraging birds to competitors. Animal Behaviour 89, pp. 63-69. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.12.025)
- Richards, E. L., Alexander, L. G., Snellgrove, D., Thomas, R. J., Marples, N. M. and Cable, J. 2014. Variation in the expression of dietary conservation within and between fish species. Animal Behaviour 88, pp. 49-56. (10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.11.009)
- Seward, A. M., Beale, C. M., Gilbert, L., Jones, T. H. and Thomas, R. J. 2013. The impact of increased food availability on survival of a long-distance migratory bird. Ecology 94(1), pp. 221-230. (10.1890/12-0121.1)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. et al. 2012. Molecular evidence for gender differences in the migratory behaviour of a small seabird. PLoS ONE 7(9), article number: e46330. (10.1371/journal.pone.0046330)
- Soanes, L. M., Thomas, R. J. and Bolton, M. 2012. Evaluation of field and analytical methods for estimating the population size of burrow-nesting seabirds from playback surveys. Bird Study 59(3), pp. 353-357. (10.1080/00063657.2012.695334)
- Richards, E. L., Thomas, R. J., Marples, N., Snellgrove, D. and Cable, J. 2011. The expression of dietary conservatism in solitary and shoaling 3-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus. Behavioral Ecology 22(4), pp. 738-744. (10.1093/beheco/arr047)
- Clapham, J., Slater, F. M. and Thomas, R. J. 2011. Small mammals in tall grasses: biomass crops as a novel habitat. Mammal News(159), pp. 2-2.
- Thomas, R. J., King, T. A., Forshaw, H. E., Marples, N. M., Speed, M. and Cable, J. 2010. The response of fish to novel prey: Evidence that dietary conservatism is not restricted to birds. Behavioral Ecology 21(4), pp. 669-675. (10.1093/beheco/arq037)
- Marples, N. M., Quinlan, M., Thomas, R. J. and Kelly, D. J. 2007. Deactivation of dietary wariness through experience of novel food. Behavioral Ecology 18(5), pp. 803-810. (10.1093/beheco/arm053)
- Stokke, B. G. et al. 2007. Host density predicts presence of cuckoo parasitism in reed warblers. Oikos 116(6), pp. 913-922. (10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.15832.x)
- Thomas, R. J., Szekely, T., Powell, R. F. and Cuthill, I. C. 2006. Eye size, foraging methods and the timing of foraging in shorebirds. Functional Ecology 20(1), pp. 157-165. (10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01073.x)
- Thomas, R. J., Medeiros Mirra, R. and Pollard, A. L. 2006. Evidence for nocturnal inter-tidal foraging by European Storm-Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus during migration. Atlantic Seabirds 8(1/2), pp. 87-94.
- Thomas, R. J., Bartlett, L. A., Marples, N. M., Kelly, D. J. and Cuthill, I. C. 2004. Prey selection by wild birds can allow novel and conspicuous colour morphs to spread in prey populations. Oikos 106(2), pp. 285-294. (10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13089.x)
- Thomas, R. J., Marples, N. M., Cuthill, I. C., Takahashi, M. and Gibson, E. A. 2003. Dietary conservatism may facilitate the initial evolution of aposematism. Oikos 101(3), pp. 458-466. (10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.12061.x)
- Thomas, R. J., Cuthill, I., Goldsmith, A., Burdett Proctor, S., Cosgrove, D. and Lidgate, H. 2003. The trade-off between singing and mass gain in a daytime-singing bird, the European robin. Behaviour 140(3), pp. 387-404. (10.1163/156853903321826693)
- Thomas, R. J. and Cuthill, I. C. 2002. Body mass regulation and the daily singing routines of European robins. Animal Behaviour 63(2), pp. 285-295. (10.1006/anbe.2001.1926)
- Thomas, R. J. 2002. The costs of singing in nightingales. Animal Behaviour 63(5), pp. 959-966. (10.1006/anbe.2001.1969)
- Thomas, R. J., Szeskely, T., Cuthill, I. C., Harper, D. G. C., Newson, S. E., Frayling, T. D. and Wallis, P. D. 2002. Eye size in birds and the timing of song at dawn. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 269(1493), pp. 831-837. (10.1098/rspb.2001.1941)
- Thomas, R. J. 2000. Strategic diel regulation of body mass in European robins. Animal Behaviour 59(4), pp. 787-791. (10.1006/anbe.1999.1360)
Book sections
- Medeiros Mirra, R., Vafidis, J. O., Smith, J. A. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Teaching data analysis to life scientists using “R” statistical software: Challenges, opportunities, and effective methods. In: Medeiros Mirra, R. and Farnell, D. J. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham: Springer, pp. 167-187., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_12)
- Medeiros Mirra, R. and Thomas, R. J. 2023. Killing me softly with your stats teaching: how much stats is too much stats?. In: Farnell, D. and Medeiros Mirra, R. eds. Teaching Biostatistics in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 197–209., (10.1007/978-3-031-26010-0_14)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. O. and Medeiros Mirra, R. J. 2017. Climatic impacts on invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Jones, T. H. and Johnson, S. N. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. Chichester: Wiley, pp. 295-316., (10.1002/9781119070894.ch15)
- Thomas, R. J., Vafidis, J. and Medeiros Mirra, R. 2017. Invertebrates as food for vertebrates. In: Johnson, S. and Jones, T. H. eds. Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates. John Wiley & Sons, pp. 295-316.
Ymchwil
Projects
Climate change biology
What are the biological impacts of climate change? My research group is investigating the effects of climate on individuals, populations and ecological processes - particularly how such effects may be mediated by the behaviour of individual animals. Our current work in this field focuses on major study systems that use migratory birds as sensitive bio-indicators of climate-driven changes in trophic relationships.
Effects of climate changes on trophic relationships in marine ecosystems
The body mass regulation behaviour of the smallest Atlantic seabird (the European storm petrel) changes between years in response to climate-driven changes in sea temperatures. Together with Renata Medeiros and collaborators, we coordinate a long-term monitoring project investigating how these changes are mediated by changes in the marine food webs on which storm petrels rely.
The speciation of the band-rumped storm petrel "super-species" is the first documented example of sympatric speciation in a bird (and indeed in any tetrapod). Renata Medeiros, Hannah Hereward, Annalea Beard and collaborators are investigating how diet and foraging ecology varies between sibling-species breeding in different seasons and locations and years, with the aim of understanding how foraging traits are linked to speciation events.
Effects of climate changes on migrant birds
Migration is one of the major challenges to survival faced by many animals, and the availability of food and other resources along the migration route is of critical importance to successfully completing the journey. Furthermore, climate may impact individuals in different ways in different parts of the annual cycle (breeding grounds, migration stopover sites and wintering areas). Together with Adam Seward, James Vafidis, Rich Facey, Jez Smith, Mike Shewring, Sarah Davies and collaborators, we combine observational studies in the field, lab and field mesocosm experiments, experimental manipulations of food availability and analyses of long-term climate and bird ringing databases, to examine the effects of climate changes on breeding behaviour, reproductive success, migration decisions, wintering ecology and annual survival of migrant songbirds. The species studied to date are primarily northern wheatears and various species of reedbed warblers, with a new project on barn swallows now underway. This work is carried out at breeding locations (Wales for warblers, flycatcher, swallows and nightjars, Shetland and Greenland for wheatears), migration stopovers (Portugal and Shetland) and wintering areas (Senegal).
Sensory constraints on behaviour
How do animals decide when to be active? My research collaboration with Alex Pollard, Rhian Newman and others focuses on the role of eye design and visual constraints in an animal's behavioural decisions, particularly under varying light levels at twilight and at night. Specific projects have examined eye size and the timing of singing (in songbirds) and foraging (in shorebirds), as well as aviary and field studies of the impacts of light pollution, using night-singing in European robins and activity of aquatic organisms as case-studies.
Dietary wariness and foraging ecology
When a forager encounters an unfamiliar object, it must decide whether to eat it and risk being poisoned (if it is toxic) or avoid it and risk missing out on a valuable food source (if it is palatable). Foragers generally show brief aversions to novel objects (neophobia) but some individuals also show a much more persistent aversion to eating novel foods (dietary conservatism), which can last for weeks or even years. In collaboration with Nicola Marples, Jo Cable and others, we investigate the function, control and evolutionary consequences of these aspects of dietary wariness, in a range of taxonomic groups –primarily birds and fish. Related to this, I am also interested in the foraging decisions underlying the strategic regulation of energy reserves in foraging birds, over minutes, days, seasons and years.
Impacts of human activities on wild animals
Large numbers of wild animals are captured, handled, often marked for individual identification, and released in the course of scientific research and conservation monitoring programmes. Surprisingly, little is known about the effects of capture and handling on the animals themselves. Together with Leila Duarte and others, I am investigating the impact of capture and handling on the body mass regulation and foraging behaviour of animals throughout the annual cycle, and on breeding behaviour and fitness parameters. This work has implications for the design and implementation of ethical field studies on wild animals. Other studies of human impacts include evaluating and minimising the impacts of eco-tourism, and monitoring habitat use and foraging ecology of birds and other animals, in areas earmarked for –or currently undergoing- development.
Addysgu
PhD
- PhD student supervision (see "supervision" tab)
- PhD assessor / examiner
- Data analysis training (see below)
MSc
- Data Science (module leader)
- Survey methods: Ornithology
- Personal tutor
- MSc project supervisor
MBiol / MRes
- Project supervisor
- Research methods: Ornithology
Final year
- Conservation Biology
- Global Change Biology
- Final-year project supervision
Professional Training Year (PTY)
I provide a substantial contribution to Cardiff School of Biosciences work-placement programme for undergraduates, normally supervising 2-3 PTY students per year as Cardiff University academic supervisor, plus 1-3 placements per year as Eco-explore co-director.
Second year
- Animal Diversity & Adaptation
- Brain & Behaviour (assessment leader)
Field courses
- Ecological Survey Methods (Kenfig and Parc Slip Nature Reserves, South Wales)
- Behaviour and ecology (Cardiff)
First year
- Animal Behaviour
- Sexual selection
- Ecological survey methods
Data analysis and statistics
I run regular courses in Data Analysis through the year. for staff and students, including courses for PhD students (NERC GW4+ DTP), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and the Student Conference for Conservation Science (SCCS) at Cambridge University.
General teaching / learning activities
- Various activities relevant to the Zoology degree scheme, including supporting the Cardiff University Ornithological Scociety ("Bird Club"), and the Wildlife and Conservation Society ("Wildsoc")
- Personal tutor
Bywgraffiad
Rolau a chyfrifoldebau
- Cyd-gyfarwyddwr Eco-explore Community Interest Company.
- Aelod o'r Gymdeithas Astudio Ymddygiad Anifeiliaid (ASAB, 2009-2016).
- Ysgrifennydd Addysg y Gymdeithas Astudio Ymddygiad Anifeiliaid (2011-2016).
- Aelod o Bwyllgor Moeseg y Gymdeithas Astudio Ymddygiad Anifeiliaid (2006-2013, Ysgrifennydd dros dro 2007, 2009).
- Aelod o Bwyllgor Moeseg Prifysgol Caerdydd sy'n ymdrin ag ymchwil nad yw'n ASPA (2019-presennol).
- Ymddiriedolwr y Fenter ar gyfer Cadwraeth Natur Cymru (INCC; 2023-presennol)
Meysydd goruchwyliaeth
Myfyrwyr PhD cyfredol
- Lucy Rowley: Geneteg o eryr sydd wedi'u hailgyflwyno.
- Annalea Beard: Bioleg Gadwraeth St Helena Storm Petrels ac adar Tropig coch-gynffon https://www.linkedin.com/in/annalea-beard-94b5655a
- Paul Robinson: Dewis a gwarchod cynefinoedd adar yng Ngorllewin Affrica.
- Elisa Panjang: Cadwraeth Pangolinau yn Borneo.
- Ed Drewitt (Prifysgol Bryste): Dewis ysglyfaethus o hebogiaid Peregrine sy'n byw yn drefol https://www.eddrewitt.co.uk/
- Hannah Meinerzhagen (Prifysgol Caerwysg, Campws Falmouth): effeithiau gwynt ar hedfan adar môr a dosbarthu: Goblygiadau ar gyfer asesu effaith ffermydd gwynt ar y môr https://www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/people/profile/index.php?web_id=HMeinertzhagen
- Emma Inzani (Prifysgol Caerwysg, Campws Falmouth): Ecoleg ymddygiadol gwylanod trefol https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Emma-Inzani-2096384511
- Sarah Morgan: Cymunedau parasitiaid cymunedau adar môr. Sarah hefyd yw Swyddog Addysg Eco-explore Community Interest Company (www.eco-explore.co.uk ).
- Amanda Wilson: Ecoleg o felids sympatric bach mewn tirwedd olew palmwydd sy'n dominyddu Gwarchodfa Bywyd Gwyllt Isaf Kniabatangan.
Ymchwilwyr Cysylltiedig
Stephen Davison
Addysg:BSc (Anrh.) Prifysgol Leeds. MSc Prifysgol Salford. MBA Open University. BA (Anrh.) Prifysgol Cymru Llanbedr Pont Steffan.
Diddordebau Ymchwil: ystlumod, yn enwedig agweddau ecolegol ystlumod coetir De-ddwyrain Cymru.
Cyhoeddiadau:
Stephen P. Davison & Robert J. Thomas. Ymddygiad heidio ymddangosiadol y gwanwyn o ystlumod pedol lleiaf (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Journal of Bat Research and Conservation 10 (1).
Stephen Davison 2021 Ffobia Lunar yn Ystlumod Cynhesu Prydain. Ystlumod Ynys Prydain vol 2 P174 – 185.
Ashoka Ranjeewa
Gwefan ymchwil: https://www.wilsonperformancelab.com/ashoka-ranjeewa
Cyhoeddiadau:
Ranjeewa A. D. G., Pastorini J., Isler K., Weerakoon D. K., Kottage H. D., Fernando P; Mae lleihau lefelau dŵr cronfa ddŵr yn gwella ansawdd cynefinoedd eliffantod Asiaidd. (Paratoi'r llawysgrif)
Ranjeewa A. D. G., Tharanga Y. J. S., Sandanayake G. H. N. A., Perera B. V., & Fernando P. (2015) trapiau camera dadorchuddio'r cyrchwyr cnwd enigmatig yn Udawalawe, Sri Lanka. Gajah 42, 7-14.
Ranaweera E., Ranjeewa A. D. G., Koun Sugimoto (2015). Ysgogodd twristiaeth aflonyddwch ar fywyd gwyllt mewn ardaloedd gwarchodedig; Astudiaeth achos o eliffantod rhydd yn Sri Lanka. Ecoleg a Chadwraeth Fyd-eang, 4, 625–631.
de Silva S., Ranjeewa A. D. G., Weerakon D. K. (2011) Demograffeg eliffantod Asiaidd (Elephasmaximus) ym mharc cenedlaethol Udawalawe, Sri Lanka, yn seiliedig ar unigolion a nodwyd. Cadwraeth fiolegol, 144, 1742-1752.
de Silva S., Ranjeewa A. D. G., & Kryazhimskiy S. (2011) Dynameg rhwydweithiau cymdeithasol ymhlith eliffantod Asiaidd benywaidd. Ecoleg BMC, 11, 17.
Nils Bouillard
Mae Nils yn cynnig ystod o wasanaethau mewn ymchwil, hyfforddiant ac ymgynghoriaeth ystlumod: https://www.batacoustics.com/
Goruchwyliaeth gyfredol
Elisa Panjang
Myfyriwr ymchwil