Hosted by the School of Biological Sciences
Abstract: Animals modify their behaviour in response to social and environmental conditions. Bringing together proximate drivers of these behavioural changes and their ultimate outcomes is challenging, particularly in long-lived species. Of interest to me, are behavioural responses that are energetically costly in the short-term but are beneficial in the long-term. In this talk, I will present three research stories, one based on my MSc work on dwarf mongooses (Helogale parvula), one on my PhD work on chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) and one on ongoing postdoc work on vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum). Each story reveals trade-offs. Dwarf mongooses forage less and increase vigilance after territorial intrusions (cost), but more intergroup encounters are associated with higher pup survival (benefit). Grooming in baboons increases physiological stress (cost), but grooming underpins social bonds that provide fitness benefits (benefit). Not ramping up foraging effort during the dry season may mean losing out on food (cost) but reduces the chances of being predated in vulturine guineafowl (benefit). In a rapidly changing world, behaviour is often the first line of defence. With an eye on future research, I am interested in how short-term costs will increase under climate change.
Biog: Charlotte started her academic journey at the University of Bristol as a psychology-zoology BSc student (2010-2013). She obtained her MSc by research in dwarf mongoose territorial behaviour in Andrew Radford’s lab (2013-2015). For her PhD, she used non-invasive hormone sampling and accelerometer-identified grooming to study socio-endocrinology in chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) at Swansea University and the University of Cape Town (2018-2022). She is now doing research on the behavioural responses of vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) to harsh environmental conditions at the University of Zurich and the Mpala Research Centre.