Research Interests

I am a behavioural ecologist and study research topics including spatial ecology, life-history, decision making processes, evolutionary theory, and ecotoxicology. I mostly work on avian top predators, especially seabirds and birds of prey. My main study sites can be seen in the list of publications, but currently occur at Teuri Island and Middleton Island.

Biotransport by highly mobile predators

Physical systems, such as currents and winds, have traditionally been considered responsible for transporting contaminants. While evidence is mounting that animals play a role in this process through their movements, we still know little about how such contaminant biotransport occurs, and the extent of effects at deposition sites. Here, we tackle questions in understanding the process of biotransport and the extent and consequences of individual behaviour differences on breeding and wintering behaviour.

Evolutionary ecology of Migration

Understanding the drivers of migration at the level of individual and the consequences of migratory strategies on fitness. I am particularly interested in carry-over effect questions how amount of investment during breeding can alter non-breeding behaviour under different conditions such as food availability, costs of breeding, altering currency (time/energy).

Foraging behaviour

Optimal foraging theory is a behavioural ecology model that predicts how an animal behaves when searching for food, to maximise fitness dealing with costs of time and energy. I am interested in testing predictions of this model in wild setting especially on seabirds which can travel for long-distance. Further topics can include foraging niche differentiation in sympatric species, intra-species, within individuals between years, and effects of climate change.