My research activities are anchored in community ecology, behavioural ecology, spatial ecology and conservation ecology. I study interspecific interactions, their role in the functioning of communities, and consequences of human activities and global changes on these interactions.

I study interspecific interactions in communities of African large mammals.

 

I am particularly interested by :

  • Predator-prey interactions
  • Intraguild carnivore interactions
  • Interactions between elephants and other large herbivores
  • The role of scavenging and the interaction between scavenging and active hunting

 

Most of my research is carried out in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, a CNRS Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) site, and I recently started to work in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa. My research is mostly empirical (behavioural observations, use of GPS collars, camera trapping, field experiments). I strongly collaborate with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at Oxford University, and more recently with the Wildlife Ecology Lab at Nelson Mandela University.

In particular, I study the mechanisms underlying habitat selection, movements and foraging strategies of large herbivores and carnivores. In this context, I am particularly interested in the link between individual behaviour and the functioning of populations, communities and food webs. Ultimately, I am trying to take into account the multi-species context of savanna ecosystems by considering the effects of predator-predator interactions and the composition of prey community in foraging strategies, space use and movements of animals.

Finally, I try to understand how human activities inside protected areas (e.g. water management), outside protected areas (e.g. trophy hunting), and climate changes shape the network of interspecific interactions. In a research project funded by the ANR, I am studying the role of climatic and environmental conditions on the hunting success of African large carnivores.

 

PhD and Master students I had/have the chance and pleasure to (co)supervise (in chonological order) - Thanks to all!

Completed theses

Stéphanie Périquet

  • PhD thesis entitled: "Sharing the top: how do spotted hyaenas cope with lions?"

 

Nicolas Ferry

  • PhD thesis entitled: "Processes involved in the functioning of large mammal communities : the role of the African elephant in the ecology of predator-prey relationships"

Moreangels Mbizah

  • PhD thesis entitled: "The effect of resource abundance and dispersion on the ecology of African lions in a semi-arid landscape"

Elise Say-Sallaz

  • PhD thesis entitled: "Ecology of predator-prey and predator-predator interactions in a multi-specific context"

Mellina Sidous

  • Master thesis: "Effects of management practices on the coupling between predator and prey population dynamics"

 

On going theses

Aïssa Morin

  • PhD thesis : "Responses of large mammal communities to anthropogenic activities: impacts of climate change, management practices and disturbance on interspecific interactions."

Elisa Sandoval-Seres

  • PhD thesis : "Impact of interspecific interactions on African wild dogs in an ecosystem with artificial perennial water provision"

Romain Dejeante

  • PhD thesis : "Role of sociality in space use of large mammals"

Terry-Lee Honiball

  • PhD thesis : "Social dynamic of spotted hyaena in fenced protected areas: implications for conservation management of a socially intelligent species"

Amauréé Jansen van Vuuren

  • PhD thesis: "The role of spotted and brown hyaenas activity hotspots on predator behaviour"

Teddy Chief Chikwane

  • Master thesis: "Role of large carcasses on the structure and funtioning of the vertebrate scavenger guild"

 

If you want to know more...

                                                          ... about my research, click here.

 

 

Publications

Display of 1 to 30 publications on 64 in total