Dr Jeremy Robertson

Contact Details

Key Responsibilities

• Ecotourism

Teaching

• Ecotourism

Research

Mating Behaviour and Siblicide in Australian Pelicans

Although pelicans, Pelecanus conspicillatus, are among the largest and most obvious of the Australian birds, surprisingly little is known about their breeding behaviour and there is no systematic information on marked populations. His main research concerns the constraints on clutch size and the number of fledglings, and the role of siblicide in brood reduction. All species of pelicans studied to date have exhibited obligate brood reduction by siblicide but few data are available for the Australian pelican.
 

Mate Choice in Crested Pigeons

As in the pelican the social and breeding biology of the endemic crested pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes, is poorly known and there has been little systematic research . Their mating system is intriguing because the spectacular crest and brightly coloured wing-bars would usually be considered typical male sexual signals and yet they are found on both females and males. The main aim of this research is to understand the role of these signals in mate choice. Pairs are thought to be monogamous but detailed observations will ascertain the duration of the bond, their fidelity and whether they solicit matings from other individuals. Choice experiments in which sexual signals are manipulated will lead to a significant further understanding of the evolution of sexual signalling.

Ecotourism Research

Ecotourism is a new sector of the tourist industry that emphasises interpretation of the natural world and consequently has a strong dependence on a scientific understanding of wildlife and the environment. The paradox of ecotourism is that most of the operators attract clients by advertising pristine environments and rare wildlife, both of which are potentially threatened by the ecotourist. To be successful ecotourism must have a low environmental impact and there are many opportunities for research on the impact of existing practices and on the means of further reducing the impact. The impact of ecotourism has a direct bearing on its sustainability because degraded environments or wildlife leads to the collapse of the industry.

See Publication List

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