Interplay of positive and negative interactions in animal communities
I am broadly interested in
questions within behavioural and evolutionary ecology, with an emphasis on
avian systems. My main research focusses on both positive and negative
interactions within communities relative to traditional enemies: competitors,
predators and brood parasites, and how these impact community structure. I
investigate the outcome of these interactions relative to the decision making
of individuals stemming from the gathering of social information. My framework for the decision
making of individuals frequently investigates the use of cues stemming from
individuals of other species, and how these heterospecifics directly or
indirectly impact adaptive decision making.
I generally use field experiments
with novel manipulations of stresses and cues. My research uses study systems that
are characterized by either hosting unique interactions between species or by being
suitable for field manipulations. Questions are currently focused within 3
systems:
- In the Kalahari I investigate Sociable weaver nests as a resource to pygmy
falcons and other species, and investigate how this keystone resource may ameliorate
stress in an increasingly harsh environment.
- In northern Finland I investigate brood
parasitism in the cuckoo - redstart system, focusing on decision making of
both hosts and parasites during the breeding season; and novel mechanisms
by which hosts may avoid parasites.
- Throughout Finland, I use the nest box breeding species to perform field experiments that investigate social information gathering and prospecting, and the consequences of conspecific and heterospecific neighbours.
I also work on a range of issues such as avian breeding systems, migration, physiology and conservation biology.
For more information, please follow my links in the panel on the right-hand side.
Contact information
Section of Ecology
Department of Biology
University of Turku
FI-20014 Turku
FINLAND
tel: +358 2 333 8863
Office address:
University Hill
LT1, 2nd floor
Room 242