PEC Exeter
@pec-exeter.bsky.social
Working on: the consequences of release and management of gamebirds; the evolution of cognition, using the genius of the bird world - pheasants; and occasionally messing with chickens, ravens, beavers and moths. Tweets by Jo Madden
Cognitive Level
Specificity of Entities
Structure of Cognition
Specificity of Entities
Structure of Cognition
June 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Cognitive Level
Specificity of Entities
Structure of Cognition
Specificity of Entities
Structure of Cognition
Cognition
Cognitive Entity
Cognitive Performance
Cognitive Entity
Cognitive Performance
June 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Cognition
Cognitive Entity
Cognitive Performance
Cognitive Entity
Cognitive Performance
What are we talking about when we're talking about "cognition"?
Terminology in this field has become confused and confusing. While writing our recent review, we tried to structure terms for our own sanity, and provide a template in a Glossary
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Terminology in this field has become confused and confusing. While writing our recent review, we tried to structure terms for our own sanity, and provide a template in a Glossary
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
June 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
What are we talking about when we're talking about "cognition"?
Terminology in this field has become confused and confusing. While writing our recent review, we tried to structure terms for our own sanity, and provide a template in a Glossary
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Terminology in this field has become confused and confusing. While writing our recent review, we tried to structure terms for our own sanity, and provide a template in a Glossary
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Why is the apparent link between cognition and fitness so weak?
Could it be that our proposed causal link between cognition, behaviour and fitness/selection is too simplistic and linear? We discuss possible alternative models
Could it be that our proposed causal link between cognition, behaviour and fitness/selection is too simplistic and linear? We discuss possible alternative models
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Why is the apparent link between cognition and fitness so weak?
Could it be that our proposed causal link between cognition, behaviour and fitness/selection is too simplistic and linear? We discuss possible alternative models
Could it be that our proposed causal link between cognition, behaviour and fitness/selection is too simplistic and linear? We discuss possible alternative models
Studies that measured fitness as "survival" (survival to next season, mass gain, foraging success etc) were more likely to report sig relationships than those measuring "reproductive" fitness (attractiveness, provisioning levels, offspring production etc)
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Studies that measured fitness as "survival" (survival to next season, mass gain, foraging success etc) were more likely to report sig relationships than those measuring "reproductive" fitness (attractiveness, provisioning levels, offspring production etc)
Studies that measured "broad" forms of cognition (innovation, problem solving) were more likely to report sig relationships than those measuring more "specific", defined forms (reversal learning, spatial memory etc)
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Studies that measured "broad" forms of cognition (innovation, problem solving) were more likely to report sig relationships than those measuring more "specific", defined forms (reversal learning, spatial memory etc)
Studies using larger sample sizes were LESS likely to report a significant relationship
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Studies using larger sample sizes were LESS likely to report a significant relationship
Positive relationships (‘smarter is better’) outnumbered negative ones (‘dumber is better’) among the significant results, but these still comprised >20%
Selection might reduce cognitive performance as well as enhance it
Selection might reduce cognitive performance as well as enhance it
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Positive relationships (‘smarter is better’) outnumbered negative ones (‘dumber is better’) among the significant results, but these still comprised >20%
Selection might reduce cognitive performance as well as enhance it
Selection might reduce cognitive performance as well as enhance it
We found generally weak support for a relationship between cognition & fitness, with >70% of raw PUBLISHED relationships being statistically non-significant, with an even smaller likelihood once co-variates were accounted for
(what if any publication bias were accounted for?)
(what if any publication bias were accounted for?)
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
We found generally weak support for a relationship between cognition & fitness, with >70% of raw PUBLISHED relationships being statistically non-significant, with an even smaller likelihood once co-variates were accounted for
(what if any publication bias were accounted for?)
(what if any publication bias were accounted for?)
We reviewed 45 studies that adopted a within-species approach where cognitive performance is correlated with fitness benefits and assumed to be selected for
Included 26 species & 211 relationships between behavioural measures of cognition & fitness
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Included 26 species & 211 relationships between behavioural measures of cognition & fitness
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
We reviewed 45 studies that adopted a within-species approach where cognitive performance is correlated with fitness benefits and assumed to be selected for
Included 26 species & 211 relationships between behavioural measures of cognition & fitness
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
Included 26 species & 211 relationships between behavioural measures of cognition & fitness
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
NEW PAPER🎺
How does cognition determine an individual’s fitness? A systematic review of the links between cognition, behaviour and fitness in non-human animals
Lots of studies try to explain how cognition might evolve, by taking a behavioural ecology approach
Has this approach made any progress?🧵
How does cognition determine an individual’s fitness? A systematic review of the links between cognition, behaviour and fitness in non-human animals
Lots of studies try to explain how cognition might evolve, by taking a behavioural ecology approach
Has this approach made any progress?🧵
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
NEW PAPER🎺
How does cognition determine an individual’s fitness? A systematic review of the links between cognition, behaviour and fitness in non-human animals
Lots of studies try to explain how cognition might evolve, by taking a behavioural ecology approach
Has this approach made any progress?🧵
How does cognition determine an individual’s fitness? A systematic review of the links between cognition, behaviour and fitness in non-human animals
Lots of studies try to explain how cognition might evolve, by taking a behavioural ecology approach
Has this approach made any progress?🧵
I really enjoyed talking with the Shoothub team about our work on rearing better gamebirds, the economics & ecology of game release, and my progression from bowerbirds to pheasants.
Well worth a listen if you want to understand more about game rearing open.spotify.com/episode/6ktj...
Well worth a listen if you want to understand more about game rearing open.spotify.com/episode/6ktj...
June 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I really enjoyed talking with the Shoothub team about our work on rearing better gamebirds, the economics & ecology of game release, and my progression from bowerbirds to pheasants.
Well worth a listen if you want to understand more about game rearing open.spotify.com/episode/6ktj...
Well worth a listen if you want to understand more about game rearing open.spotify.com/episode/6ktj...
The short story by Saki - "Reginald on House Parties" - outlines when it might not be acceptable....
americanliterature.com/author/hh-mu...
americanliterature.com/author/hh-mu...
May 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The short story by Saki - "Reginald on House Parties" - outlines when it might not be acceptable....
americanliterature.com/author/hh-mu...
americanliterature.com/author/hh-mu...
These differences between the two sites may reflect different optimal foraging strategies driven by different lengths of occupation by beavers in the vicinity, perhaps due to changed forage availability
May 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
These differences between the two sites may reflect different optimal foraging strategies driven by different lengths of occupation by beavers in the vicinity, perhaps due to changed forage availability
We asked how their choice of the size of tree, species and distance from the river differed between one site where beavers were recent occupants (River Otter, Devon) and one site where they had lived for centauries (River Gjov, Norway)
May 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
We asked how their choice of the size of tree, species and distance from the river differed between one site where beavers were recent occupants (River Otter, Devon) and one site where they had lived for centauries (River Gjov, Norway)
In another life, I'm the River Warden for ~6 miles of the beautiful River Taw, in Devon. About 4 years ago, beavers "appeared" on our beat and I started to get interested in their behaviour
A keen Norwegian MSc student, Are Vaeroyvik, set out to look at what they were gnawing
A keen Norwegian MSc student, Are Vaeroyvik, set out to look at what they were gnawing
May 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
In another life, I'm the River Warden for ~6 miles of the beautiful River Taw, in Devon. About 4 years ago, beavers "appeared" on our beat and I started to get interested in their behaviour
A keen Norwegian MSc student, Are Vaeroyvik, set out to look at what they were gnawing
A keen Norwegian MSc student, Are Vaeroyvik, set out to look at what they were gnawing
And now for something completely different...
**BEAVERS**
Our new paper on the foraging behaviour of Devon and Norwegian beavers is now out - Open Access
A short 🧵
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
**BEAVERS**
Our new paper on the foraging behaviour of Devon and Norwegian beavers is now out - Open Access
A short 🧵
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
May 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
And now for something completely different...
**BEAVERS**
Our new paper on the foraging behaviour of Devon and Norwegian beavers is now out - Open Access
A short 🧵
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
**BEAVERS**
Our new paper on the foraging behaviour of Devon and Norwegian beavers is now out - Open Access
A short 🧵
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Shiny Happy Pheasants🎵
Looking for someone with decent Shiny App skills to put together app for conservation managers to explore pheasant movement data. All backend analytical code is completed. Now needs GUI frontend developed
~1-2 months work (paid!), can be remote
Interested? Reply/DM
Pls RT
Looking for someone with decent Shiny App skills to put together app for conservation managers to explore pheasant movement data. All backend analytical code is completed. Now needs GUI frontend developed
~1-2 months work (paid!), can be remote
Interested? Reply/DM
Pls RT
February 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Shiny Happy Pheasants🎵
Looking for someone with decent Shiny App skills to put together app for conservation managers to explore pheasant movement data. All backend analytical code is completed. Now needs GUI frontend developed
~1-2 months work (paid!), can be remote
Interested? Reply/DM
Pls RT
Looking for someone with decent Shiny App skills to put together app for conservation managers to explore pheasant movement data. All backend analytical code is completed. Now needs GUI frontend developed
~1-2 months work (paid!), can be remote
Interested? Reply/DM
Pls RT
The #asabwinter2024 venue. Rather like the Tardis. Cosy on the outside, huge on the inside
All ready for a days sciencing🙂
All ready for a days sciencing🙂
December 12, 2024 at 9:06 AM
The #asabwinter2024 venue. Rather like the Tardis. Cosy on the outside, huge on the inside
All ready for a days sciencing🙂
All ready for a days sciencing🙂
Arrived in Edinburgh for #ASABWinter2024 via a picturesque (and on time!) Train ride. Really looking forward to a couple of days full of science examining biases in studies of animal behaviour
December 11, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Arrived in Edinburgh for #ASABWinter2024 via a picturesque (and on time!) Train ride. Really looking forward to a couple of days full of science examining biases in studies of animal behaviour
If you're interested in taking on the ASAB Meetings Sec role, DM me
See role description below
See role description below
December 6, 2024 at 2:48 PM
If you're interested in taking on the ASAB Meetings Sec role, DM me
See role description below
See role description below
Several PhD's available on gamebirds & hunting in the UK
If you're interested in studying & informing best practice & policy in an activity covering much of UK with important social, economic & ecological implications, get applying!
1st - with me & Natural England
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKT505/p...
If you're interested in studying & informing best practice & policy in an activity covering much of UK with important social, economic & ecological implications, get applying!
1st - with me & Natural England
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKT505/p...
December 2, 2024 at 9:04 AM
Several PhD's available on gamebirds & hunting in the UK
If you're interested in studying & informing best practice & policy in an activity covering much of UK with important social, economic & ecological implications, get applying!
1st - with me & Natural England
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKT505/p...
If you're interested in studying & informing best practice & policy in an activity covering much of UK with important social, economic & ecological implications, get applying!
1st - with me & Natural England
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKT505/p...
🎺PhD available🎺
How does gamebird release and management affect the population stability and recovery of UK bird species?
Fieldwork, SEMs, big data and policy!
Working with @NaturalEngland and others
Apply by 13 Jan
DM to discuss more. Pls RT
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
How does gamebird release and management affect the population stability and recovery of UK bird species?
Fieldwork, SEMs, big data and policy!
Working with @NaturalEngland and others
Apply by 13 Jan
DM to discuss more. Pls RT
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
November 20, 2024 at 9:11 AM
🎺PhD available🎺
How does gamebird release and management affect the population stability and recovery of UK bird species?
Fieldwork, SEMs, big data and policy!
Working with @NaturalEngland and others
Apply by 13 Jan
DM to discuss more. Pls RT
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
How does gamebird release and management affect the population stability and recovery of UK bird species?
Fieldwork, SEMs, big data and policy!
Working with @NaturalEngland and others
Apply by 13 Jan
DM to discuss more. Pls RT
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...