Ecology and Conservation

Dr Laura Kelley

Dr Laura Kelley

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow

 L.A.Kelley@exeter.ac.uk

 01326 253740

 Stella Turk Building L08

 

University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE

Overview

My research broadly focuses on how animals use their senses to interpret the world and how this shapes the production, perception and evolution of signals. My current research investigates how animal signals can exploit sensory processes during mate choice and predator-prey interactions, focusing on birds, fishes, insects and humans. For up to date information, please visit my website www.laurakelleyresearch.com.

I am also a member of the Exeter Visual Ecology Group and the Behaviour research group.

Qualifications

2010: PhD University of Edinburgh,
2003: BSc (Hons) Zoology, University of Edinburgh

Career

2017: Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow
2016: Lecturer in animal perception and behaviour, University of Exeter, UK
2013-2015: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, UK
2012-2013: Senior Lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University, UK
2010-2012: Research Fellow, Deakin University, Australia

Links

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Research

Research interests

Production and perception of animal signals

Research projects

My research broadly focuses on how animals use their senses to interpret the world and how this shapes the production, perception and evolution of signals. I am interested in how sensory systems process information and the role of the brain in perception. My current research investigates how animals can exploit sensory systems in mate choice and predator-prey interactions, focusing on birds, insects and humans.

Current topics of research include:

  • The perception of visual illusions created by animals in nature
  • The role of sensory processing in size assessment during mate choice
  • Examining the behavioural and cognitive basis of a forced perspective illusion created by bowerbirds
  • The evolution of anti-predator patterning during movement

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Publications

Journal articles

Kelley L (In Press). 3D animal camouflage. Trends in Ecology and Evolution Abstract.
Caves E, Troscianko J, Kelley L (In Press). A customizable, low-cost optomotor apparatus: a powerful tool for behaviourally measuring visual capability. Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Kelley LA (In Press). California scrub-jays reduce visual cues available to potential pilferers by matching food colour to caching substrate. Biology Letters
Firkins J, Kelley L (In Press). Does shading on great argus Argusianus argus feathers create a 3D illusion?. Biology Letters Abstract.
Galloway J, Green SD, Stevens M, Kelley L (In Press). Finding a signal hidden among noise: how can predators overcome camouflage strategies?. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Goumas M, Kelley L, Boogert N (In Press). Herring gull aversion to gaze in urban and rural human settlements. Animal Behaviour
Kelley LA (In Press). How do great bowerbirds construct perspective illusions?. Royal Society Open Science
Inzani E, Kelley L, Boogert N (In Press). Object neophilia in wild herring gulls in urban and rural locations. Journal of Avian Biology Abstract.
Caves E, Kelley L (In Press). Proportional processing of a visual mate choice signal in the green swordtail, Xiphophorus hellerii. Ecology Letters Abstract.
Kelley L, Caves E (In Press). Sex differences in behavioural and anatomical estimates of visual acuity in the green swordtail Xiphophorus helleri. Journal of Experimental Biology Abstract.
Van Berkel M, Thornton A, Kelley L (In Press). The effect of building ability and object availability on the construction of bower courts in great bowerbirds. Animal Behaviour
Kelley L, Troscianko J (In Press). The evolution of patterning during movement in a large-scale citizen science game. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Goumas M, Boogert N, Kelley L (In Press). Urban herring gulls use human behavioural cues to locate food. Royal Society Open Science
Caves EM, Fernández-Juricic E, Kelley LA (2024). Ecological and morphological correlates of visual acuity in birds. J Exp Biol, 227(2). Abstract.  Author URL.
Kelley JL, Jessop A-L, Kelley LA, Troscianko J (2023). The role of pictorial cues and contrast for camouflage. Evolutionary Ecology, 37(6), 909-925. Abstract.
Bullough K, Kuijper A, Caves E, Kelley L (2023). Weber's Law. Current Biology
Firkins JME, Kelley LA (2022). Does shading on great argus. <i>Argusianus argus</i>. feathers create a three-dimensional illusion?. Biology Letters, 18(11). Abstract.
Goumas M, Boogert NJ, Kelley LA, Holding T (2022). Predator or provider? How wild animals respond to mixed messages from humans. Royal Society Open Science, 9(3). Abstract.
Goumas M, Lee VE, Boogert NJ, Kelley LA, Thornton A (2020). The Role of Animal Cognition in Human-Wildlife Interactions. Frontiers in Psychology, 11
Goumas M, Burns I, Kelley LA, Boogert NJ (2019). Herring gulls respond to human gaze direction. Biol Lett, 15(8). Abstract.  Author URL.
Kelley LA, Kelley JL (2014). Perceptual biases and animal illusions: a response to comments on Kelley and Kelley. Behavioral Ecology, 25(3), 468-469.
Endler JA, Gaburro J, Kelley LA (2014). Visual effects in great bowerbird sexual displays and their implications for signal design. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281(1783), 20140235-20140235. Abstract.
Endler JA, Gaburro J, Kelley LA (2014). Visual effects in great bowerbird sexual displays and their implications for signal design (vol 281, 20140235, 2014). PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 281(1785).  Author URL.
Kelley LA, Kelley JL (2013). Animal visual illusion and confusion: the importance of a perceptual perspective. Behavioral Ecology, 25(3), 450-463.
Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Illusions Promote Mating Success in Great Bowerbirds. Science, 335(6066), 335-338. Abstract.
Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Male great bowerbirds create forced perspective illusions with consistently different individual quality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(51), 20980-20985. Abstract.
Endler JA, Mielke PW, Kelley LA (2012). Response to Comment on “Illusions Promote Mating Success in Great Bowerbirds”. Science, 337(6092), 292-292. Abstract.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2012). Vocal mimicry in spotted bowerbirds is associated with an alarming context. Journal of Avian Biology, 43(6), 525-530. Abstract.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2011). The mimetic repertoire of the spotted bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus maculatus. Naturwissenschaften, 98(6), 501-507.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2011). Vocal mimicry. Current Biology, 21(1), R9-R10.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2010). Vocal mimicry in male bowerbirds: who learns from whom?. Biology Letters, 6(5), 626-629. Abstract.
Kelley LA (2009). Bowerbirds. IBIS, 151(1), 218-218.  Author URL.
Healy SD, Bacon IE, Haggis O, Harris AP, Kelley LA (2009). Explanations for variation in cognitive ability: Behavioural ecology meets comparative cognition. Behavioural Processes, 80(3), 288-294.
Kelley LA, Coe RL, Madden JR, Healy SD (2008). Vocal mimicry in songbirds. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 76, 521-528.  Author URL.

Chapters

Kelley LA (2022). Bowerbirds. In  (Ed) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior, Springer Nature, 883-888.
Kelley LA (2017). Bowerbirds. In  (Ed) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior, Springer Nature, 1-6.

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External Engagement and Impact

Invited lectures

Invited seminars: Univeristy of Vienna (2018), Christopher Barnard for Outstanding Contributions by a New Investigator plenary, LIverpool, UK (2017), University of Jyväskylä, Finland (2015), University of Liverpool (2014), University of St Andrews, UK (2013), University of Cambridge, UK (2013), University of Exeter, UK (2013)

Invited symposium talks:

Behaviour 2015: “Colour in nature: Conceptual and methodological challenges and emerging solutions”, Cairns, Australia (2015)

The Royal Society Theo Murphy international scientific meeting ‘When senses take flight: the evolution, development, mechanisms and function of avian senses’, Chicheley Hall, (2014)

International Ethological Conference ‘Celebrating 150 years of mimicry research’, Newcastle, UK (2013)


Media Coverage

My research has been covered by BBC news online, The Guardian, New York Times, The Independent on Sunday, National Geographic, Discover Magazine, The Australian, The Age, Cosmos Magazine, Scientific American Mind,The Scotsman, The Herald, NERC Planet Earth, interviewed for BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Three Counties, CBC Radio (Canada)

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Teaching

I welcome enquiries from undergraduate project students or potential postgraduate students interested in joining the research group.

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Supervision / Group

Postdoctoral researchers

  • Eleanor Caves Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow

Postgraduate researchers

  • Kathryn Bullough
  • Caitlin Evans
  • Menno Van Berkel

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Office Hours:

Office hours: Tuesday 2-3pm, Thursday 2-3pm

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