Active in both the lab and in the field
Our research focuses on the interactions between animal (including human) cognition, ecology and social behaviour within an evolutionary framework.
We investigate both proximate and ultimate questions, in the lab and in the field, in order to understand the mechanisms, development, adaptive value and evolution of animal cognition.
Staff experimentally investigate personality and leadership in birds, cognitive bias in hamsters and rhesus macaques and the neural mechanisms of somatosensation, olfaction and emotional behaviour. We are active in the field and engage in international collaborative projects in Puerto Rico, South Africa, the U.S. and Australia studying rhesus macaques, baboons, samango monkeys and birds.
Case study highlight
Developing attention bias as a novel measure of welfare in captive macaques – Dr Emily Bethell
(Details to follow)
Current MPhil projects
- To mix or not to mix? Evaluating breeding performance in mixed species bird enclosures within European zoos – Yvette Foulds
- The effect of genotype on attention bias in rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta, as a welfare indicator – Isabelle Szott
- What is Neutral?: Studying attention bias in Rhesus Macaques, Macaca mulatta, towards three different facial expressions – Harriet Thatcher
Recent PhD projects
- Social relationships and social skills of young chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in captivity – Samina H. Farooqi, 2013
Opportunities for MPhil/PhD
If you’re interested in an MPhil or a PhD please contact the relevant member of staff below to discuss possible supervision and research direction.
If you are interested in our MSc programme, see the course fact file: Primate Behaviour and Conservation (MSc).
People
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PhD students
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Publications
8 papers found
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Journal article
Cognition in a changing world: Red-headed Gouldian finches enter spatially unfamiliar habitats more readily than do black-headed birds
Mettke-Hofmann C, Eccles G and Greggor A and Bethell E
Publish date:17/09/2020 00:00:00
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Journal article
Superior Identification of Component Odors in a Mixture Is Linked to Autistic Traits in Children and Adults
Walker SC and Williams K and Moore DJ
Publish date:01/06/2020 00:00:00
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Journal article
Assessing the role of a mammalian frugivorous species on seed germination potential depends on study design: A case study using wild samango monkeys.
Stringer S, Hill RA, Swanepoel L, Dalrymple S and Linden B and Koyama N
Publish date:30/05/2020 00:00:00
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Journal article
Microplastics disrupt hermit crab shell selection
Crump A, Mullens C, Bethell E and Cunningham EM and Arnott G
Publish date:29/04/2020 00:00:00
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Journal article
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, temperature, and age affect faecal thyroid hormone concentrations in free-ranging African elephants.
Szott I, Pretorius Y and Ganswindt A and Koyama NF
Publish date:04/04/2020 00:00:00
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Chapters
Chimpanzee raiding
Nyssen P and Koyama N
Publish date:15/03/2020 00:00:00
Latest Tweets
@RCBB_LJMU
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Can the language we use affect public stigma to people who use drugs? New study from @cathymonty_psy @profhrs… https://t.co/GQ7pu85c6I
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New study on assessment of the aesthetics of territorial images and their use in tourism. See below ⬇️ https://t.co/XH5AnFnFE2
