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Dr Ed Minot Ed Minot with Morepork on Mokoia Island |
PhD Students (Current and recent)
Isabel Castro (1995) started a doctorate on the ecology and transfer of hihi (stitchbirds) in mid 1991. She followed the results of two transfers and made observations of the birds' breeding and feeding ecology on Kapiti Island for three years. We are extending observations of breeding behaviour to investigate the stitchbirds' mating system. Three papers from this study are in and others are in preparation. The project had major support from the Federation of University Women, Massey University and the Department of Conservation. Isabel was a Massey University Post-graduate Scholar and a Marsden Fund Post-doctoral Fellow. She is continuing work on hihi. (Second supervisor, Robin Fordham)
Wayne Linklater (1999) has been working on the population dynamics and home range use of the Kaimanawa wild horses. This project has major funding from the Department of Conservation. Wayne is currently completing work on a final report to Department of Conservation and completing manuscripts for publication. (Second supervisor, Kevin Stafford)
Elissa Cameron (1999) studied the maternal behaviour of horses, particularly in bands of Kaimanawa wild horses. Her work was funded by the Department of Conservation. Elissa's research has rewritten much of the current thinking on the measurement of maternal investment in mammals. She is currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Cambridge University supervising the Meerkat Project in South Africa. (Second supervisor, Kevin Stafford)
Grant Blackwell (2000) began his study of North Island Brown Kiwi and local resource competition at Lake Waikarimoana in 1995. The results of the project have implications for both kiwi conservation and theoretical aspects of interspecific competition. Grant had a Massey University Post-graduate Scholarship and the project was supported through a grant from Landcare. (First supervisor, Murray Potter)
John Ashton (2000) completed a PhD with support from a Massey University Post-graduate Scholarship. We worked on a problem in evolutionary ecology involving the relationship between resource variance and development time and are currently submitting manuscripts. (First supervisor, Doug Armstrong)
Brent Stephenson (current) has started a study of Australasian Gannets at Cape Kidnappers. He is doing direct observations, remote sensing and radio telemetry to learn more about a seabird that is increasing in numbers. Second supervisors, Brian Springett, Chris Robertson and Bryan Nelson)
Rachel Keedwell (current) is investigating the breeding ecology of birds breeding on braided rivers. What she learns will be of direct benefit to managers but will also help in understanding the evolution of predator avoidance in breeding birds. (Second supervisors, Murray Potter, Mark Sanders, John Innes)
Leigh Joyce (current) has a PhD scholarship from the Department of Conservation to carry out a study of Kakapo. The project is jointly supervised through Otago University and Massey University. (First supervisor, Kath Dickinson)
Peter Ritchie (current) is studying the ancient DNA of penguins in Antarctica. This DNA is extracted from bones found at the sites of modern colonies. The different age strata will allow Peter to investigate changes in the penguin genome spanning 10,000 years. (First supervisor, Dave Lambert)
Matt Low (current) is studying the mating system and breeding ecology of hihi (stitchbirds). He is examining the function of rape and the impact of stress on immunocompetence. (Second supervisors, Isabel Castro, Brian Springett, Doug Armstrong)
MSc Students (Current and recent)
Dean Stronge studied feral goats at the Mahanui Reserve and concentrated on their foraging and group dynamics. He also examined the interaction of goats with weta as both species feed on gorse in the Reserve. He is currently employed by the Wanganui Conservancy of the Department of Conservation. (First supervisor, Robin Fordham)
Kerry Sanders completed work on the Kakerori an endangered flycatcher from the Cook Islands. This work involved observing an elusive bird in seemingly impossible terrain. The project had support from numerous organisations including the American Museum of Natural History, Massey University and the Department of Conservation. (First supervisor, Robin Fordham)
Phil Battley has completed his thesis on the feeding ecology of wading birds at Farewell Spit. This project has received support from the Department of Conservation and from a Massey University Graduate Research Grant. Phil was a Massey University Post-graduate Scholar and currently holds a full stipendiary PhD scholarship at Griffith University. (Second supervisor, Doug Armstrong)
Andrea Booth submitted her thesis on a study of Little Shearwaters on Lady Alice Island in the Hen and Chicken Group, Northland. Little was known about the basic biology of this species prior to her study. The birds are known to suffer depredation from rats introduced to the island. The project was supported by the Department of Conservation and a Massey University Graduate Research Grant. Andrea is currently working for the Northland Conservancy of the Department of Conservation and we are still working on papers based on her study.
Atina Sinclair completed a study of chimpanzees at the Wellington Zoo. The chimpanzee group at the Zoo had a chronic problem with aggressive individuals. Atina examined this aggression and ways to reduce it. (Second supervisor, Arnold Chamove)
John Perrot examined the habitat and plant phenology of hihi on Mokoia Island. This work is part of a program in the Department of Ecology to study this threatened bird species. He is now doing a PhD at Massey University. (First supervisor, Doug Armstrong)
Kate McNutt studied the role of honeyeaters in the pollination of New Zealand native trees. She is currentlty working for the Department of Conservation in Northland. (First supervisor, Alistair Robertson)
Brent Stephenson completied a study of Morepork on Mokoia Island. He investigated the effect of secondary poisoning of moreporks by Brodifacoum targeted at mouse eradication. The breeding ecology of the morepork is also being investigated. The project was supported by private industry and the Department of Conservation. Brent has just started a PhD with me. (Second supervisor, Doug Armstrong)
Lisa MacKenzie is examining the potential impact of a proposed wind turbine site on populations of birds in the area of the Manawatu Gorge. (Second supervisor, Robin Fordham)
Simone Morrison is investigating the population structure of brush-tailed possums. The project has support from Landcare. (First supervisor, Brian Springett)
Sara Treadgold is studying the breeding ecology of the endangered New Zealand Fairy Terns in Northland. This study is funded by the New Zealannd Department of Conservation. (First supervisor, Robin Fordham)
Ross Martin is looking at the effect of season and weather on the activity of stoats on the central plateau of North Island. (First supervisor, Murray Potter)
Debbie Kyngdon is investigating stress in common dolphins at Marineland, Napier. The project is supported by Marineland at the instigation of the Department of Consevation. It is one of the first studies of common dolphins in captivity. (Secomd supervisor, Kevin Stafford)
Liz Saafi is studying the ecology of red shining parrots in Tonga. (First supervisor, Robin Fordham)
Cindy Jenkins is investigating kiwi breeding and feeding ecology. (First supervisor, Murray Potter)
Liz Raeburn is looking at the impact of food abundance and predation on robin populations on the North Island, New Zealand. (First supervisor, Doug Armstrong)
Matt Wong is studying the ecology of Australasian Harriers in the Manawatu. (First supervisor, Robin Fordham)
Publications:
Booth, A.M., E.O. Minot, R.A. Fordham and M. Imber. 2000. Coordinated food provisioning in the Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis haurakiensis; a previously undescribed foraging strategy in the Procellariidae. Ibis 142: 144-146.
Cameron, E.Z., W.L. Linklater, K.J. Stafford & E.O. Minot. 2000. Aging and improving reproductive success in horses: declining residual reproductive value or just older and wiser? Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 47: 243-249.
Robertson, B.C., E.O. Minot, & D.M. Lambert. 2000. Microsatellite primers for the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) and their utility in other parrots. Conservation Genetics (in press)
Linklater, W.L., K.M. Henderson, E.Z. Cameron, K.J. Stafford & E.O. Minot. 2000. The robustness of faecal steroid determination for pregnancy testing Kaimanawa feral maresunder field consitions. N.Z Veterinary Journal (in press)
Booth, A.M., E.O. Minot, M. Imber and R.A. Fordham . 2000. Breeding ecology of the Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis haurakiensis. J. Roy. Soc. N. Z. (in press)
Robertson, B.C., C.D. Millar, E.O. Minot, D.V. Merton & D.M. Lambert. in press. Sexing the critically endangered kakapo Strigops habroptilus. Emu
Stephenson, B., E.O. Minot and D.P. Armstrong. 1999. Fates of morepork during a pest control operation on Mokoia Island. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 23: 233-240.
Robertson, B.C., Minot, E.O. & Lambert, D.M. 1999. Molecular sexing individual kakapo (Strigops habroptilus Aves), from faeces. Molecular Ecology 8:1349-1350.
Linklater, W.L., E.Z. Cameron, E.O. Minot and K.J. Stafford. 1999. Stallion harassment and the mating system of horses. Animal Behaviour 58:295-306.
Cameron, E.Z., W.L. Linklater, K.J. Stafford and E.O. Minot. 1999. A case of co-operative nursing and offspring care by mother and daughter feral horses. J. Zoology. Lond. 249: 486-489.
Stephenson, B. M. & E.O. Minot. 1998. Consequences of island restoration, target poisoning and changes to community structure. Report to World Wide Fund, Wellington, New Zealand. 96pp.
Cameron, E.Z., W.L. Linklater, E.O. Minot and K.J. Stafford. 1998. Population dynamics and immunocontraception in Kaimanawa wild horses. Investigation number 1850. Report to Department of Conservation, Wellington. 280pp.
Stronge, D.C., R.A. Fordham, and E.O. Minot. 1997. The ecology of feral goats Capra hircus in the Mahoenui Giant Weta Reserve, Southern King Country, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 21:81-88.
Minot, E.O. 1996. Population principles. Pages 57-95 in Ecological principles and processes (A.W. Robertson and R.A. Fordham, eds). Dept. Ecology, Massey Univ., Palmerston North. 270pp.
Castro, I.C., E.O. Minot, R.A. Fordham and T. Birkhead. 1996. Face-to-face copulation in the hihi (Notiomystis cincta), a New Zealand honeyeater. Ibis: 138: 765-771.
Booth, A.M., E.O. Minot, R.A. Fordham and J. Innes. 1996. Little shearwater breeding success and evidenvce of predation by kiore, Rattus exulans. Notornis: 43: 147-153.
Castro, I., E.O. Minot, and J.C. Alley. 1995. Feeding and breeding behaviour of hihi (Notiomystis cincta) recently transferred to Kapiti Island, New Zealand, and possible management alternatives. Pages 121-128 in Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna, ed. by M. Serena. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton.
Castro, I., J.C. Alley, R.A. Empson and E.O. Minot. 1995. Translocation of hihi or stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) to Kapiti Island, New Zealand: transfer techniques and comparison of release strategies. Pages 113-120 in Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna, ed. by M. Serena. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Chipping Norton.
Alley, J.C., R.A. Fordham and E.O. Minot. 1995. Mother–offspring interactions in feral goats-a behavioural perspective of maternal investment. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 22: 17-23.
Sanders, K., E.O. Minot and R.A. Fordham. 1995. Juvenile dispersion and use of habitat by the endangered Kakerori (Pomarea dimidiata) on Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Pacific Conservation Biology 2: 167-176
Moffat, M. and E.O. Minot. 1994. Distribution and abundance of birds in the Ruamahanga Ecological Area, North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 21: 135-150.
199.101 Biology of Animals Seven lectures on behaviour, ecology and birds.
199.212 Vertebrate Zoology Six lectures and two labs on birds
199.204 Animal Behaviour All labs and many lectures
199.312 Behavioural Ecology Many lectures
199.714 Animal Behaviour Most tutorials
196.713 Ecology Three tutorials on population modelling
