Qualifications and Experience
BSc (Hons) Zoology, University of Newcastle
PhD Behavioural Ecology, University of Newcastle
PDRA, University of Glasgow
PDRA, University of St Andrews
NERC Research Fellow, University of Exeter
Current Research
I am interested in the mechanistic basis of animal behaviour, and conduct
empirical and theoretical work on a range of vertebrate and invertebrate
species, including birds, fish and insects, both in the lab and in the field. My
research primarily addresses the evolution of animal signals, focussing on the
mechanisms underpinning their production, maintenance and detection.
Current projects include: (1) Olfactory communication in birds, testing
whether olfactory detection of individual-based odour cues can facilitate
adaptive mate choice in birds, and what information odour cues convey, using
Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) as a model; (2) Evolution of visual
sexual signals, investigating how the evolution and development of sexual
signals is mediated by the visual systems that detect them, primarily using
three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) as a model; (3)
Evolution of iridescent colouration, exploring the factors underlying the
development of iridescent structural colouration and how this affects its
efficacy as a signal to predators and conspecifics.
My work is currently funded by NERC and the
Royal Society.
I am always looking to take on high quality research students or develop new
collaborations, so please get in touch if you have interests in any of the above
areas or related subjects.
Selected Publications
Reprints are available on request.
Pike, T.W. (2011) Using digital cameras to investigate animal coloration:
estimating sensor sensitivity functions. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology
65, 849-858.
Pike, T.W., Bjerkeng, B., Blount, J.D., Lindström, J. & Metcalfe, N.B. (2011) How integument colour reflects its carotenoid content: a stickleback’s perspective. Functional Ecology 25, 297-304.
Royle, N.J. & Pike, T.W. (2010) Social feedback and attractiveness in zebra finches. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 64, 2015-2020.
Pike, T.W. & Laland, K.N. (2010) Conformist learning in nine-spined sticklebacks’ foraging decisions. Biology Letters 6, 466-468.
Pike, T.W., Blount, J.D., Lindström, J. & Metcalfe, N.B. (2010) Dietary carotenoid availability and reproductive effort influence the age-related decline in performance. Behavioral Ecology 21, 1048-1053.
Pike, T.W. (2010) Collaboration networks and scientific quality among behavioural ecologists. Behavioral Ecology 21, 431-435.
Pike, T.W., Kendal, J., Rendell, L.R. & Laland, K.N. (2010) Learning by proportional imitation in a species of fish. Behavioral Ecology 21, 570-575.
Pike, T.W., Blount, J.D., Lindström, J. & Metcalfe, N.B. (2009) Dietary carotenoid availability, sexual signalling and functional fertility in sticklebacks. Biology Letters 6, 191-193.Lindström, J., Pike, T.W., Blount, J.D., Metcalfe, N.B. (2009) Optimization of resource allocation can explain the temporal dynamics and honesty of sexual signals. American Naturalist 174, 515-525.
Duffy, G.A., Pike, T.W. & Laland, K.N. (2009) Size-dependent directed social learning in nine-spined sticklebacks. Animal Behaviour 8, 371-375.
Kendal, J., Rendell, L., Pike, T.W. & Laland, K.N. (2009) Nine-spined sticklebacks employ a hill-climbing social learning strategy. Behavioral Ecology 20, 238-244.
Petrie, M., Cotgreave, P. & Pike, T.W. (2009) Variation in the peacock’s train shows a heritable component. Genetica 135, 7-11.
Pike, T.W., Sumanta, M., Lindström, J. & Royle, N.J. (2008) Behavioural phenotype affects social interactions in an animal network. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 275, 2515-2520.
McLachlan A., Pike T.W. & Thomason J. (2008) Another kind of symmetry: are there adaptive benefits to the arrangement of mites on an insect host? Ethology, Ecology and Evolution 20, 257-270.
Pike, T.W., Blount, J.D., Lindström, J. & Metcalfe, N.B. (2007) Dietary carotenoid availability influences a male’s ability to provide parental care. Behavioral Ecology 18, 1100-1105.
Pike, T.W., Blount, J.D., Bjerkeng, B., Lindström, J. & Metcalfe, N.B. (2007) Carotenoids, oxidative stress and female mating preference for longer-lived males. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 274, 1591-1596.
Pike, T.W., Blount, J.D., Lindström, J. & Metcalfe, N.B. (2007) Availability of non-carotenoid antioxidants affects the expression of a carotenoid-based sexual ornament. Biology Letters 3, 353-356.
Pike, T.W. (2006) Fitness effects of parasite-mediated spatial heterogeneity within a swarm. Behavioral Ecology 17, 992-997.
Pike, T.W. & Petrie, M. (2006) Experimental evidence that corticosterone affects offspring sex ratios in quail. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 273, 1093-1098.
Pike, T.W. (2005) Sex ratio manipulation in response to maternal condition in pigeons: evidence for pre-ovulatory follicle selection. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 58, 407-413.
Pike, T.W. & Petrie, M. (2005) Maternal body condition and plasma hormones affect offspring sex ratios in peafowl. Animal Behaviour 70, 745-751.
Pike, T.W. & Petrie, M. (2005) Offspring sex ratio is related to paternal train elaboration and yolk corticosterone in peafowl. Biology Letters 1, 204-207.
Pike, T.W. & Petrie, M. (2003) Potential mechanisms of avian sex manipulation. Biological Reviews 78, 553-574.