Centre for Evolutionary Biology

Publications

My research focuses on the behavioural ecology of predator-prey interactions. I am particularly interested in predator-prey ecology, specifically, the effects of predation risk on grouping behaviour and the role of learning in the development of antipredator strategies. Most of my work has been conducted with freshwater fishes including guppies, Mexican goodeids and Australian rainbowfishes. Recently I have become interested in defensive colouration (e.g. camouflage), and my latest project (see below) investigates the relationship between visual perception, grouping behaviour and crypsis in the West Australian rainbowfish.

Current Research Projects

		Color and perception in predator-prey interactions in rainbowfish \| This project combines behavioural and visual ecology to examine whether prey can achieve crypsis by choosing shoal mates of similar appearance (the ‘oddity effect’). The work considers the visual capabilities of both predators and prey to evaluate conspicuousness from the perspective of the predator. Discrimination models will be used to evaluate the relationship between shoal assortment and the conspicuousness of its shoal members

		Social networks, predation risk and information transfer \| This project uses social network theory, a mathematical technique for measuring social associations within a population, to investigate how predation risk influences shoaling dynamics. The work also examines the development of stable associations in populations that vary in predation risk. We have also used social networks to examine how shoal organization influences the transfer of learned information through a population.

		Visual sensitivity and camouflage in the seahorse \| This project (run by Brooke Anderton, Marine Honours student) examines colour preferences, visual sensitivity and camouflage in the West Australian seahorse. Behavioural preference tests are being used to determine whether camouflage is achieved through substrate choice or via changes in skin colour. We are using opsin gene sequencing to classify the unusual cone classes present in the seahorse retina.

Jennifer L Kelley