Email               katherine.jones@bangor.ac.uk

  • DPhil: The starvation-predation risk trade-off in the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
    University of Oxford, 2007
  • BA: Natural Sciences (Zoology)
    University of Cambridge, 2002
  • Professional: PGCertHE

 

I teach on a variety of modules, covering animal behaviour, ethics and welfare and have been shortlisted and won a number of university teaching awards over the years. I am passionate about teaching students how to critically review evidence, conduct ethical research and develop a curious, questionning scientific mindset. 

As well as a busy schedule of teaching I have also contributed to marking PGCertHE portfolio’s and presented teaching methods at a number of different conferences and workshops.

 

Collaborations

I’ve worked with various Zoos within the UK to allow students to conduct dissertations on a wide range of taxa.

 

Current opportunities

Most of my current research is via masters students on either the extended undergraduate (M-degree) pathway or on the MsciRes degree. Students interested in my area of research are encouraged to contact me to discuss projects.

For PhD students I normally act as a “second supervisor”.

 

My research interests focus on predator-prey interactions and the role of the environment versus the individual on predator and prey behaviours.

 

Research focus

I am interested in the role of the environment  on predator and prey behavioural decisions. I often look at patterns in prey anti-predator behaviour, for example, looking at changes in vigilance in response to habitat structure or human disturbance. This is particulary important as wild animals are increasingly impacted by human land-use and activities.

As well as extrinsic factors influencing anti-predator behaviour, I am also interested in the role of individual variability in behaviour. For example, how different “personality types” of prey utilise different escape strategies or how being unpredictable (“protean”) may in itself confer an advantage against predators.

Finally, I am interested in how different predators and different predator hunting tactics impact prey, both in terms of predation risk and prey anti-predator tactics.

I have worked with a variety of species across mammals, birds and fish. My early career was focussed on laboratory experiments, whereas in recent years I have taken advantage of Bangor’s unique location to mostly conduct observational field studies locally.

I am also interested in how animals behave in more managed systems, such as wild animals in captivity or farmed animals in field systems, as part of an interest in improving animal welfare. In particular, how the environment impacts welfare.

 

Research themes

  • Anti-predator vigilance
  • Domestic cat predation
  • Human disturbance
  • Environmental enrichment

 

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I am willing to supervise a PhD

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