Role:
PhD Researcher in Sensory and Behavioural Ecology
Current Research:
My PhD thesis is titled ‘Sensory Processing and Signal Assessment During Communication’ supervised by Prof Laura Kelley, in collaboration with Dr Jolyon Troscianko. During my PhD I will be using two-choice behavioural assays to quantify the visual signals of Poeciliid fish and investigate how proportional processing affects preference during mate choice. Currently, I am investigating the effect of female size on male preference in green swordtail fish (Xiphophorus hellerii).
Prior Research:
I completed my MSci project researching the mechanisms mediating synchronised silences (collective chorus cessation) in Village Weaver birds, supervised by Prof Gareth Jones at the University of Bristol. In 2023, I conducted a research project titled ‘Saltatory Search in Virtual Prey Does Not Affect Predation Risk from Fish Predators’ supervised by Prof Christos Ioannou (Bristol) and in collaboration with Prof Graeme Ruxton (St Andrews).
Interests:
I am mainly interested in how visual signalling between individuals is perceived and processed and the behavioural outcomes of this communication. I am also passionate about the function and mechanisms underlying animal colouration in motion, including anti-predator colouration and hunting displays.
Publications:
Johnston-Barrett, D., Ruxton, G.D. and Ioannou, C.C. (2024) Saltatory search in virtual prey does not affect predation risk from fish predators. Animal Behaviour, p.123049.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.12.005.
Contact Info:
Work email: dj401@exeter.ac.uk
