A return to blogging ... and a re-introduction

Well, it’s been quite a while since my last blog and with the rapid approach of the end of 2016, and the looming menace of “new year’s resolutions”, I will endeavour to blog more frequently. I originally intended to provide some discussion on various aspects of animal behaviour. However, I have decided to digress and take a more casual approach to blogging. 

I’ll start by re-introducing myself and giving some background. I am Dr Tasmin Rymer, currently employed as a lecturer at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. But that’s a story for another blog. My animal behaviour journey began when I first studied a Bachelor of Science at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits; Fig. 1) in Johannesburg, South Africa. I completed a double major in Zoology and Ecology, Environment and Conservation and, during this time, conducted numerous mini-research projects, including a study of con- and inter-specific interactions of captive raptors at the Johannesburg Zoo (conveniently titled “Do raptors in captivity have friends?”).

Fig. 1. Great Hall, University of the Witwatersrand

 

I went on to complete my honours in Zoology under the supervision of Associate Professor Martin Whiting, now at Macquarie University in Sydney. I spent a lot of time watching Kalahari tree skinks Trachylepis spilogaster (Fig. 2) on sociable weaver Philetairus socius (Fig. 3) nests in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. I got distracted for a few years (12 to be exact!) before the paper was published (see my list of publications)!

Fig. 2. Kalahari tree skink Trachlepis spilogaster (Photo: A. Dreyer; http://www.ispotnature.org/node/662576)

Fig. 3. Sociable weaver Philetairus socius nest (Photo: R. L. Thomson)

I then moved to the University of Pretoria, South Africa, to undertake a Master of Science in Mammalogy, at the Mammal Research Institute. My research project focused on modelling eland Tragelaphus oryx population dynamics in the Pilanesberg National Park, where I found that lions Panthera leo were driving eland population numbers down.

Fig. 4. Eland Tragelaphus oryx (Photo: T. Junik)

I then returned to Wits to study a PhD in Animal Behaviour, focusing on paternal care behaviour of African striped mice Rhabdomys pumilio (Fig. 5 and 6) under the supervision of Prof. Neville Pillay. During this period, I developed an inordinate fondness for rodents. While I learned a considerable amount about paternal care, I also learned that, just when you think you have your head around how mice will behave, they surprise you! This continues to this day.

Fig. 5. African striped mouse Rhabdomys pumiiio (Photo: E. Yuen; www. striped mouse.com)

Fig. 6. African striped mouse (Photo: Photo: E. Yuen; www. striped mouse.com)

If you’re interested, check out some of my publications. You can also find me on ResearchGate or the James Cook University website.