Current Research
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Dr Phil Stephens
Phil is a population ecologist, using monitoring, behavioural biology and consumer-resource biology in pursuit of a better science of predictive ecology. He coordinates field courses for the University of Durham and brings a group of undergraduates to Mankwe each year. More recently, he has supervised postgraduates working on antelope population dynamics at Mankwe, and the consequences of Mankwe’s burn regime for biodiversity.
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Teegan Docherty
Teegan is a PhD student from the University of Durham. Her PhD research is based at Mankwe and explores the importance of the configuration of a burn regime on biodiversity and species utilisation. A particular focus of her research will be the impacts of burn regimes on savannah bird communities. Teegan's supervisors are Dr Stephen Willis and Dr Philip Stephens. |
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Dr Anne Goodenough
Anne is an applied ecologist with interests in wildlife surveying, ecological monitoring, animal behaviour and conservation. She has a particular interest in birds and mammals and also enjoys developing new methods to survey particular species or analyse field data. Anne is a Reader in Applied Ecology at the University of Gloucestershire and brings students to Mankwe every year for a field course. |
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Professor Adam Hart
Adam is an ecologist with particular interests in entomology (especially the study of social insects such as bees, wasps, ants and termites), evolutionary ecology and animal behaviour. He is keenly interested in the communication of science, and in working with citizen scientists to collect data and improve public engagement with scientific disciplines. Adam is a Professor at the University of Gloucestershire and brings students to Mankwe every year for a field course. |
Dr Richard Rolfe
Richard is a parasitologist, with interests in parasite behaviour, physiology, host-parasite interactions, and parasite control. He is also interested in using molecular techniques to investigate neurobiology and drug resistance mechanisms. Richard is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire and brings students to Mankwe every year for a field course.
Richard is a parasitologist, with interests in parasite behaviour, physiology, host-parasite interactions, and parasite control. He is also interested in using molecular techniques to investigate neurobiology and drug resistance mechanisms. Richard is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire and brings students to Mankwe every year for a field course.
Dr Richard Yarnell
Richard completed his University of Brighton PhD entitled “The effects of game ranch management on small mammal communities in a bushveld area of South Africa” at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve between 2002 and 2005. He now works as a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, and continues to conduct research at Mankwe on carnivore ecology. He is the supervisor of two PhD students who have worked at Mankwe and he brings students from the Wildlife Conservation courses to Mankwe each year for a field trip. A list of Richard's publications can be seen here.
Richard completed his University of Brighton PhD entitled “The effects of game ranch management on small mammal communities in a bushveld area of South Africa” at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve between 2002 and 2005. He now works as a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, and continues to conduct research at Mankwe on carnivore ecology. He is the supervisor of two PhD students who have worked at Mankwe and he brings students from the Wildlife Conservation courses to Mankwe each year for a field trip. A list of Richard's publications can be seen here.
Louis Phipps was based at Mankwe from 2006 – 2011 and completed an MSc by research at the University of Pretoria which investigated the movement patterns and land use preferences of African white-backed vultures using GPS tracking technology. He is now working towards his PhD at Nottingham Trent University under the supervision of Dr Richard Yarnell. His research focusses on the ranging patterns and foraging ecology of Cape vultures in southern Africa."
Louisa Richmond-Coggan of Nottingham Trent University, supervised by Dr. Richard Yarnell, has just submitted her PhD entitled “Comparative abundance and ranging behaviour of brown hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea) inside and outside protected areas in South Africa”. The research element of the PhD was carried out in part at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve between 2009 and 2012. Mankwe Wildlife Reserve acted as an excellent case study area representing unprotected farmland.
Dr Angelo Pernetta
Angelo Pernetta is an environmental biologist with a keen interest in applied research relating to species of conservation concern. His research utilises field and laboratory based approaches to answer questions on behavioural, molecular and conservation ecology of reptiles and amphibians. Angelo is a Principal Lecturer and Assistant Director of the University of Brighton’s campus in Hastings and brings students to Mankwe every year for a field course.
Angelo Pernetta is an environmental biologist with a keen interest in applied research relating to species of conservation concern. His research utilises field and laboratory based approaches to answer questions on behavioural, molecular and conservation ecology of reptiles and amphibians. Angelo is a Principal Lecturer and Assistant Director of the University of Brighton’s campus in Hastings and brings students to Mankwe every year for a field course.
Dr Dawn Scott
Dawn is a mammalian biologist with an interest in applied conservation biology. Her principle areas of research are focused on the interactions between humans and wildlife, such as, the consequences of anthropogenic change of the environment on mammalian communities, genetics, biodiversity and their ecology. She is also passionate about science communication and citizen science based research approaches.She set up the first biology field course from Brighton University to Mankwe in 2002 and has also supervised postgraduate students research based at Mankwe since then. Investigating topics such as the impact of land management on species biodiversity and behaviour, carnivore and scavenger species interactions and human wildlife interactions. In 2006 Lynne, Richard and Dawn set up the Earthwatch Initiative project to study carnivore and scavenger research and human-wildlife issues in the area which has been running continuously since.
Dawn is a mammalian biologist with an interest in applied conservation biology. Her principle areas of research are focused on the interactions between humans and wildlife, such as, the consequences of anthropogenic change of the environment on mammalian communities, genetics, biodiversity and their ecology. She is also passionate about science communication and citizen science based research approaches.She set up the first biology field course from Brighton University to Mankwe in 2002 and has also supervised postgraduate students research based at Mankwe since then. Investigating topics such as the impact of land management on species biodiversity and behaviour, carnivore and scavenger species interactions and human wildlife interactions. In 2006 Lynne, Richard and Dawn set up the Earthwatch Initiative project to study carnivore and scavenger research and human-wildlife issues in the area which has been running continuously since.
Niall Walkden
Niall has been the assistant principal investigator on the 'Scavengers of South Africa ' Earthwatch project at Mankwe since 2013. He is currently undertaking a PhD project at the University of Brighton, investigating the value of the threatened scavenger guild. The project, predominantly based at Mankwe and its surrounding areas, focuses on jackals, brown hyena's and vultures with a particular interest on how they contribute to human well being; ecologically, economically and culturally
Niall has been the assistant principal investigator on the 'Scavengers of South Africa ' Earthwatch project at Mankwe since 2013. He is currently undertaking a PhD project at the University of Brighton, investigating the value of the threatened scavenger guild. The project, predominantly based at Mankwe and its surrounding areas, focuses on jackals, brown hyena's and vultures with a particular interest on how they contribute to human well being; ecologically, economically and culturally
Publications
Goodenough, A.E., Carpenter, W.S., MacTavish, L., MacTavish, D., Theron, C., Hart, A.G. (2018) Empirically testing the effectiveness of thermal imaging as a tool for identification of large mammals in the African bushveldt. Journal of African Ecology. 56(1): 51-62
Phipps, L.W., Diekmann, M., MacTavish, L.M., Mendelsohn, J.M., Naidoo, V., Wolter, K., and Yarnell, R.W. (2017) Due South: A first assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on Cape vulture occurrence. Biological Conservation. 210:16-25.
Goodenough, A.E., Rolfe, R.N., MacTavish, L., Hart, A.G. (2014) The Role of Overseas Field Courses in Student Learning in the Biosciences. Bioscience Education. DOI: 10.11120/beej.2014.00021
Goodenough, A.E., MacTavish, L., Hart, A.G. (2013) Developing a Supportive Framework for Learning on Biosciences Field Courses through Video-Based Resources. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching.
Phipps, W.L., Willis, S.G., Wolter, K. & Naidoo, V. (2013) Foraging ranges of immature African white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) and their use of protected areas in southern Africa. PLoS ONE 8, e52813.
Phipps, Wolter, Michael, MacTavish and Yarnell (2013) Do power lines and protected areas present a catch-22 situation for Cape vultures (Gyps coprotheres)? PLoS ONE 8(10): e76794.
Yarnell, Phipps, Burgess, Ellis, Harrison, Dell, MacTavish, MacTavish and Scott (2013). The influence of large predators on the feeding ecology of two African mesocarnivores: the black-backed jackal and the brown hyaena. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 43(2):155-166
Yarnell and MacTavish (2013) A novel record of aardwolf Proteles cristata feeding behaviour. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa.
DOI:10.1080/0035919X.2012.757712
Scott, Rott, James, Thorn, Yarnell, Richmond-Coggan, MacTavish and Phipps (2011) Recycling services provided by South Africa’s scavengers. In Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services. C. Young Eds.
Yarnell, Metcalfe, Dunstone, Burnside and Scott (2008). The effect of fire induced habitat modification on short-snouted sengi (Elephantulus brachyrhynchus) behaviour. African Zoology 43(1): 45-52 DOI: 10.3377/1562-7020(2008)43[45:TIOFOH]2.0.CO;2
Yarnell, Scott, Chimimba & Metcalfe (2007). Untangling the roles of fire, grazing and rainfall on small mammal communities in grassland ecosystems. Oecologia. 154: 387-402
Phipps, L.W., Diekmann, M., MacTavish, L.M., Mendelsohn, J.M., Naidoo, V., Wolter, K., and Yarnell, R.W. (2017) Due South: A first assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on Cape vulture occurrence. Biological Conservation. 210:16-25.
Goodenough, A.E., Rolfe, R.N., MacTavish, L., Hart, A.G. (2014) The Role of Overseas Field Courses in Student Learning in the Biosciences. Bioscience Education. DOI: 10.11120/beej.2014.00021
Goodenough, A.E., MacTavish, L., Hart, A.G. (2013) Developing a Supportive Framework for Learning on Biosciences Field Courses through Video-Based Resources. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching.
Phipps, W.L., Willis, S.G., Wolter, K. & Naidoo, V. (2013) Foraging ranges of immature African white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) and their use of protected areas in southern Africa. PLoS ONE 8, e52813.
Phipps, Wolter, Michael, MacTavish and Yarnell (2013) Do power lines and protected areas present a catch-22 situation for Cape vultures (Gyps coprotheres)? PLoS ONE 8(10): e76794.
Yarnell, Phipps, Burgess, Ellis, Harrison, Dell, MacTavish, MacTavish and Scott (2013). The influence of large predators on the feeding ecology of two African mesocarnivores: the black-backed jackal and the brown hyaena. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 43(2):155-166
Yarnell and MacTavish (2013) A novel record of aardwolf Proteles cristata feeding behaviour. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa.
DOI:10.1080/0035919X.2012.757712
Scott, Rott, James, Thorn, Yarnell, Richmond-Coggan, MacTavish and Phipps (2011) Recycling services provided by South Africa’s scavengers. In Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services. C. Young Eds.
Yarnell, Metcalfe, Dunstone, Burnside and Scott (2008). The effect of fire induced habitat modification on short-snouted sengi (Elephantulus brachyrhynchus) behaviour. African Zoology 43(1): 45-52 DOI: 10.3377/1562-7020(2008)43[45:TIOFOH]2.0.CO;2
Yarnell, Scott, Chimimba & Metcalfe (2007). Untangling the roles of fire, grazing and rainfall on small mammal communities in grassland ecosystems. Oecologia. 154: 387-402