The Ecology and Conservation Group
Dr Weihong Ji

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests are in conservation biology and vertebrate behavioural ecology. My main focuses are on habitat selection, social behaviour, mating systems, mate choice and implications of such behavioural studies to vertebrate management. I have worked on a range of projects involving brushtail possums (Trichosurur vulpecula) in New Zealand, golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellanae) in China and badgers (Meles meles) in UK. My work has recently expanded to behaviour ecology of New Zealand geckos.

Behavioural ecology of brushtail possums.
Current research projects in this field include the social system and olfactory communication.

Behaviour, behavioural ecology and conservation of endangered primates.
In collaboration with the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Research Centre, Northwest University.
Current projects include:

1. Vocalisation of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys
2. Inter-unit individual transfer and dispersal of Sichuan snub nosed monkeys (PhD project)
3. Mating system of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (PhD project)

Conservation and behavioural ecology of New Zealand lizards.
The relationship between population size, genetic diversity and fitness of viviparous lizards. Founder effects of remnant and translocated populations.

Current research projects: (5 PhD & 1 MSc students)

• Olfactory communication of possums. [MSC]
• The effect of population size on genetic diversity and fitness in New Zealand common geckos.[PHD]
• Novel applied techniques in pest management.[PHD]


Co-supervisor to:
• The social behaviour of Duvaucel's gecko.[PHD]
• Social organisation and mating system of a high-density North Island brown kiwi population [PHD]
• An evaluation of wildlife reserves in New Zealand. [PHD]

Previous research projects:

• 2009
  Behavioural ecology of little blue penguin populations. - MSc |Abstract|
  Spatial ecology, habitat us and inpacts of rats on chevron skinks on Great Barrier Island. - MSc |Abstract|
  The impact of isolation on the anti-predator behaviours of North Island robins. - MSc |Abstract|



• 2008
  Post-release monitoring of translocated Duvaucel's geckos and impact of native predators on lizards. - MSc |Abstract|



• 2007
  Mating system of New Zealand bellbird. - MSc |Abstract|
  Aspects of the impacts of mouse control on skinks in Auckland, New Zealand. - MSc |Abstract|
  The ecology of micro-oganisms in New Zealand's paradise shellduck. - MSc |Abstract|



• 2001
  Denning behaviour of mate brushtail possums. - MSc |Abstract|

RESEARCH

Social interactions, mating success and mate choice in possums.

DNA studies revealed that possums are weakly polygynous. It is unknown whether such non-random matings are a result of female choice or competition between males. This project investigates these aspects of nocturnal possums through a combination of Microsatellite DNA, interactive data loggers and statistical modelling.

Mating system, interactions and disease transmission in mammals.

Collaborators:Dr Piran White(University of York)

The maintenance and spread of diseases such as Tb in wildlife hosts depend on patterns of interactions between individuals within wild populations. These in turn depend on the social structure of these populations. Disease transmission mechanisms, operating through contact patterns and contact rate/density relationships, are recognised as key parameters influencing wildlife disease dynamics. This project uses a combination of DNA profiling, proximity data loggers and modelling approaches to investigate the mating system, social organisation and contact rates in two systems; solitary possums in New Zealand and social badgers in the UK (in collaboration with The University of York).

Effect of habitat fragmentation and behavioural ecology of golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellanae).

Collaborators:Professor Baoguo Li (Northwest University, China)

Golden monkey is an endangered arboreal primate indigenous to China. They are the only nonhuman primate that can live in temporal forest as high as 4000 meters above sea level. This project investigated the habitat use of this species and how habitat fragmentation caused by deforestation for farming and timber affect on the survival of this species.

PUBLICATIONS

Guo S, Ji W, Li B, Li M In Press. Response to commercial logging by a group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys in the Qinling Mountains, China. Conservation Biology.

Brunton DH, Evans B, Cope T & Ji W 2008. A test of the 'dear enemy' hypothesis in female NZ bellbirds: female neighbours as threats. Behavioral Ecology. |online|

Huang D, Zhang Y, Qi Y, Chen C & Ji W 2008. Global DNA hypomethylation, rather than reactive oxygen species (ROS), a potential facilitator of Cadmium-stimulated K562 cell proliferation. Toxicology Letters (179): 43-47.

Zhao D, Ji W, Watanabe K & Li B 2008. Hand Preference during Unimanual and Bimanual reaching action in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana). Journal of American Primatology 70: 500-504.

Qi X, Li B & Ji W 2007. Reproductive parameters of wild female Rhinopithecus roxellana. Journal of American Primatology. 70: 1-9.

Baling M, Ji W& Brunton DH 2007. Categorising shore skink (Oligosoma smithi) colour patterns at Tawharanui Regional Park (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34 (3): 259.

Barr B, Ji W & Brunton DH 2007. Habitat preference and dispersal of translocated shore skink (Oligosoma smithi) populations on Tiritiri Matangi and Motuora Islands (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34(3): 259-260.

Barry M, Ji W & Brunton DH 2007. The mating system of New Zealand's largest gecko: Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34(3): 260.

Ji W, Baling M, Barry M, van Winkel D, Wedding C, Barr B & Brunton DH 2007. Translocation of Duvaucel's gecko and shore skinks to Tiritiri Matangi Island, Motuora Island and Massey University captive breeding facility (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34 (3): 264-265.

van Winkel D, Brunton DH & Ji W 2007. Efficiency of techniques for post-release monitoring of translocated Duvaucel's geckos (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) and impact of native predators on island lizard populations (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34 (3): 271-272.

Wedding CJ, Ji W & Brunton DH 2007. The impacts of mice (Mus musculus), and their control using brodifacoum, on the post-harvest recovery of small lizard populations (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34(3): 272.

Derraik JGB, Ji W& Slaney D 2007. Mosquitoes feeding on brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and humans in a native forest fragment in the Auckland region of New Zealand. The New Zealand Medical Journal 120 (1266).

Zhang DHY, Wang Y, Xie Z & Ji W 2007. Assessment of the genotoxicity in toad Bufo raddei exposed to petrochemical contaminants in Lanzhou Region, China. Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis 629 (2): 81-88.

Huang DJ, Zhang YM, Song G, Long J & Liu JH & Ji W 2007. Contaminants-induced oxidative damage on the carp Cyprinus carpio collected from upper Yellow River, China. Environmental Mornitoring and Assessment 128 (1-3): 483-488.

Douglas ME, Ji W & Clout MN 2006. MateID: design and testing of a novel device for recording contacts between free-ranging animals. Wildlife Bulletins 34 (1): 203-207.

Ji W White, PCL & Clout MN 2005. Contact rates between possums revealed by novel proximity data loggers. Journal of Applied Ecology 42: 595-604.

Ji W, Sarre SDL, White PC, & Clout MN 2004. Population recovery of common brushtail possums after local depopulation. Wildlife Research 31(5): 543-550.

Ji W & Clout M 2003. Denning behavior of brushtail possums in populations recovering from density reduction. Journal of Mammalogy 84 (3): 1059-1067.

Ji W & Clout MN 2002. The common brushtail possum in New Zealand-an unfinished battle with an alien invasive marsupial. Biodiversity Science 10: 98-105.

Ji W, Stephen DS, Aitken N, Hankin RK & Clout MN 2001. Sex biased dispersal and a density independent mating system in the Australian brushtail possum, as revealed by minisatellite DNA profiling. Molecular Ecology 10: 1527-1537.

Ji W, Clout MN & Sarre SD 2000. Responses of male brushtail possums to sterile females: implications for biological control. Journal of Applied Ecology 37: 926-934.

Sarre SD, Aitken N, Mick N, Ji W, Robins JH & Lambert DM 2000. Molecular ecology and biological control: the mating system of a marsupial pest. Molecular Ecology 9: 723-733.

Li B; Chen C; Ji W & Ren B 2000. Seasonal home range changes of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellanae) in the Qinling Mountains of China. Folia Primatologica 71(6): 375-386.

Ji W, Veitch CR & Craig J 1999. An evaluation of the efficiency of rodent trapping methods: the effect of trap arrangement, cover type, and bait. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 23: 45-51.

Ji W & Chen F 1990. The relationship between the species density of Chiroptera and environmental factors. Acta Theriologica Sinica 10(1): 23-30.

BOOKS

Carter SP, Roy SS, Cowan DP, Massei G, Smith GC, Delahay RJ, Ji W, Rossi S, Woodroffe R In Press. Control of vectors In: Management of Disease in Wild Mammals (Eds: Dez Delehay, Graham and Mike Hutchings). Springer Tokyo.

Ji W & Clout M 2006. Conservation - applied ecology. Pp 84-99 In Biology Aotearoa: the unique flora, fauna and fungi of New Zealand (ed. Stuart Parsons). pp. 84-99. Pearson Education New Zealand, Auckland.

Ji W, Clout MN , Douglas M, Day T & Hendra R 1999. Mate ID- first trial of a novel device for measuring possum contacts. In: Advances in the Biological Control of Possums (ed. G. Sutherland) pp 92-95, The Royal Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

Chen F, Liu S, Li B & Ji W (eds) 1988. Advances in Research on Golden Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellanae). Northwest University publisher, Xian, China.