PhD Student
James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF
edparker98@gmail.com
Thesis: Ranging patterns and resource use in samango monkeys
Research Interests
My principal research interests lie in the fields of behavioural ecology and wildlife conservation; particularly how animals use space depending on resource availability and perceived predation risk, and how this can be applied to develop effective conservation plans. As such, my research has so far focussed on modelling ranging patterns, habitat selection and the “landscape of fear” in arboreal primates. Future research plans include using population genetics to verify species distribution models which would help identify viable habitat for facilitating dispersal between populations. In addition, I would also like to incorporate predator locations into “landscape of fear” models and explore how these compare with models based on perceived predation risk.
Research Project
My research was conducted in collaboration with the Primate and Predator Project, based at the Lajuma Research Centre in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa. The aims of the project are structured around three key themes:
(i) To assess the role of mountainous regions in biodiversity conservation
(ii) The behavioural ecology of predator-prey interactions focussing on diurnal primates and their predators as a model system
(iii) Evaluating the nature and extent of human-wildlife conflict within the Soutpansberg Mountains
Associations
Nicola Koyama (Supervisor)
Research Centre for Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology 