Dr Martin Jones
Dr Martin Jones
Principal Lecturer in Ecology
My profile
Biography
External examiner roles
Previously external examiner for The Durrell Willdife Conservation Trust/University of Kent and University of Derby, currently for MSc Island Ecology and Conservation JICAS/University of Exeter.
PhD examinations - 20 internal, 5 external
Teaching
How I’ll teach you
My teach interests are quite wide and include aspects of willdife biology and conservation biology, the impacts of laterality in animal behaviour, African ecology and conservation and the evolution of birds. On field courses I also teach techniques in population estimation and long term monitoring. I take part in a first year field course in the UK, covering techniques used to monitor mammal populations and in a second year field course in Portugal covering aspects of mate choice in frogs and behavioural interactions in butterflies.
Why study…
The Earth’s biota is under serious threat from a varirty of human impacts including habitat and climate change. We are currently in the 6th mass extinction event (the first 5 were natural!) and we need scientists and practcal managers to help us conserve and enhance the world’s biodiversity. Succesful preservation of our natural ecosystems will mitigate against climate change, promote food security and sustainable development and provide a source of wonder for forthcoming generations
Postgraduate teaching
Modules in Biodiversity Conservation, Practical Techniques and Analysis, Avian Biology and Conservation and I am the organiser of a two week field course in East Africa for BSc and MSc students.
Subject areas
Conservation biology/wildlife biology/animal behaviour
Supervision
32 completed PhD supervsions, 21 as the Principal Supervisor. Currently supervising PhDs on the conservation of black rhinos in Kenya and Tanzania, behaviour and translocation of African wild dogs
Research outputs
My main research interest is currently in ecology and conservation in East Africa. We are interested in factors which underpin the variation in reproductive success of black rhino. Also in Kenya, we are looking at elephant population densities and habitat distribution in Northern Kenya and the impact of fencing on the elephants of the Aberdares and Mount Kenya. In Tanzania we have a teaching/research project on anthropogenic changes to savannah habitats and the impact upon a range of groups such as birds, dung beetles and primates. The main focus of my research at the moment is the ecology and conservation of the Ngorongoro black rhino population, in collaboration with the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, the College of African Wildlife Management and funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Journal articles
Borges, J., Symeonakis, E., Higginbottom, T.P., Jones, M., Cain, B., Kisingo, A., Maige, D., Oliver, O., Lobora, A.L. (2024) 'Assessing habitat suitability: the case of black rhino in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.' Remote Sensing, 16(15)
Sandri, T., Prettejohn, M., Omengo, F., Cain, B., Jones, M., Harris, W.E. (2024) 'Population monitoring of a Critically Endangered antelope, the mountain bongo, using camera traps and a novel identification scheme.' Oryx, 58(4) pp. 514-521.
Sandri, T., Bunge, D., Omengo, F., Cain, B., Jones, M., Harris, W.E. (2023) 'Rapid development of individual identification and presence systems for a critically endangered antelope, the Mountain bongo.' African Journal of Ecology, 61(4) pp. 980-988.
Ellison, G., Jones, M., Cain, B., Bettridge, C.M. (2023) 'Activity Budget and Sociality of the Northern Lesser Galago, Galago senegalensis.' International Journal of Primatology,
Borges, J., Higginbottom, T.P., Cain, B., Gadiye, D.E., Kisingo, A., Jones, M., Symeonakis, E. (2022) 'Landsat time series reveal forest loss and woody encroachment in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.' Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 8(6) pp. 808-826.
Morrison, J., Omengo, F., Jones, M., Symeonakis, E., Walker, S.L., Cain, B. (2022) 'Estimating elephant density using motion-sensitive cameras: challenges, opportunities, and parameters for consideration.' Journal of Wildlife Management, 86(4) pp. e22203-e22203.
Reuleaux, A., Collar, N.J., Jones, M.J., Limu, R.N.D., Mardiastuti, A., Pinto, P., Siregar, B.A., Marsden, S.J. (2022) 'Correlates of persistence in remnant populations of two Critically Endangered cockatoos.' Animal Conservation, 25(6) pp. 811-824.
Ellison, G., Jones, M., Cain, B., Bettridge, C.M. (2021) 'Taxonomic and geographic bias in 50 years of research on the behaviour and ecology of galagids.' PLoS One, 16(12 December)
Biddle, R., Solis-Ponce, I., Jones, M., Marsden, S., Pilgrim, M., Devenish, C. (2021) 'The value of local community knowledge in species distribution modelling for a threatened Neotropical parrot.' Biodiversity and Conservation, 30(6) pp. 1803-1823.
Stanbrook, R., Norrey, J., Kisingo, A.W., Jones, M. (2021) 'Dung Beetle Diversity and Community Composition Along a Land Use Gradient in a Savannah Ecosystem of North Western Tanzania.' Tropical Conservation Science, 14
Harris, W.E., De Kort, S., Bettridge, C., Borges, J., Cain, B., Dulle, H., Fyumagwa, R., Gadiye, D., Jones, M., Kahana, L., Kibebe, J., Kideghesho, J.R., Kimario, F.F., Kisingo, A., Makari, F., Martin, E., Martin, A., Masuruli, M.B., Melubo, K., Mossman, H., Munishi, L., Mwaya, R., Nasi, R., Nyakunga, O., Price, E., Shoo, R.A., Strange, E.F., Symeonakis, E., Fa, J. (2021) 'A Learning Networks approach to resolve conservation challenges in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.' African Journal of Ecology, 59(1) pp. 326-331.
Stanbrook, R.A., Harris, W.E., Wheater, C.P., Jones, M. (2021) 'Evidence of phenotypic plasticity along an altitudinal gradient in the dung beetle Onthophagus proteus.' PeerJ, 9
Stanbrook, R., Harris, E., Jones, M., Wheater, C.P. (2021) 'The effect of dung beetle size on soil nutrient mobilization in an afrotropical forest.' Insects, 12(2)
Wagner, S., Jassogne, L., Price, E., Jones, M., Preziosi, R. (2021) 'Impact of Climate Change on the Production of Coffea arabica at Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.' Agriculture, 11(1) pp. 53-53.
Biddle, R., Solis-Ponce, I., Jones, M., Pilgrim, M., Marsden, S. (2021) 'Parrot ownership and capture in coastal ecuador: Developing a trapping pressure index.' Diversity, 13(1) pp. 1-13.
Stanbrook, R., Wheater, C.P., Harris, W.E., Jones, M. (2021) 'Habitat type and altitude work in tandem to drive the community structure of dung beetles in Afromontane forest.' Journal of Insect Conservation: an international journal devoted to the conservation of insects and related invertebrates, 25(1) pp. 159-173.
Norrey, J., Jones, M., Oliveira, P., Harris, W.E. (2020) 'Habitat association and population size of the Madeira Firecrest (Regulus madeirensis).' Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 132(4) pp. 881-889.
Borges, J., Higginbottom, T.P., Symeonakis, E., Jones, M. (2020) 'Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Data for Savannah Land Cover Mapping: Optimising the Combination of Sensors and Seasons.' Remote Sensing, 12(23) pp. 3862-3862.
Reuleaux, A., Siregar, B.A., Collar, N.J., Panggur, M.R., Mardiastuti, A., Jones, M.J., Marsden, S.J. (2020) 'Protected by dragons: Density surface modeling confirms large population of the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo on Komodo Island.' Condor: an international journal of avian biology, 122(4)
Biddle, R., Solis Ponce, I., Cun, P., Tollington, S., Jones, M., Marsden, S., Devenish, C., Horstman, E., Berg, K., Pilgrim, M. (2020) 'Conservation status of the recently described Ecuadorian Amazon parrot Amazona lilacina.' Bird Conservation International, 30(4) pp. 586-598.
Wagner, S., Rigal, C., Liebig, T., Mremi, R., Hemp, A., Jones, M., Price, E., Preziosi, R. (2019) 'Ecosystem Services and Importance of Common Tree Species in Coffee-Agroforestry Systems: Local Knowledge of Small-Scale Farmers at Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.' Forests, 10(11)
Ellison, G., Wolfenden, A., Kahana, L., Kisingo, A., Jamieson, J., Jones, M., Bettridge, C.M. (2019) 'Sleeping Site Selection in the Nocturnal Northern Lesser Galago (Galago senegalensis) Supports Antipredator and Thermoregulatory Hypotheses.' International Journal of Primatology, 40(2) pp. 276-296.
Morrison, J., Higginbottom, T.P., Symeonakis, E., Jones, M.J., Omengo, F., Walker, S.L., Cain, B. (2018) 'Detecting vegetation change in response to confining elephants in forests using MODIS time-series and BFAST.' Remote Sensing, 10(7)
Combe, F.J., Taylor-Cox, E., Fox, G., Sandri, T., Davis, N., Jones, M.J., Cain, B., Mallon, D., Harris, W.E. (2018) 'Rapid isolation and characterization of microsatellites in the critically endangered mountain bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci).' Journal of Genetics, 97(2) pp. 549-553.
Galanaki, , Kominos, T., Jones, M.J. (2017) 'Assessing the importance of High Nature Value farmlands for the conservation of Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni.' European Journal of Ecology, 3(2) pp. 33-46.
Lewis, K., Descovich, K., Jones, M. (2017) 'Enclosure utilisation and activity budgets of disabled Malayan sun bears ( Helarctos malayanus ).' Behavioural Processes, 145pp. 65-72.
Galanaki, A., Kominos, T., Jones, M.J. (2017) 'Lesser Kestrel Foraging Habitats in Special Protection Areas in Agro-ecosystems.' Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A, 7(7) pp. 479-492.
Edwards, K.L., Trotter, J., Jones, M., Brown, J.L., Steinmetz, H.W., Walker, S.L. (2016) 'Investigating temporary acyclicity in a captive group of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus): Relationship between management, adrenal activity and social factors.' General and Comparative Endocrinology, 225pp. 104-116.
Lush, L., Mulama, M., Jones, M. (2015) 'Predicting the habitat usage of African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) using random forest models.' African Journal of Ecology, 53(3) pp. 346-354.
Winarni, N.L., Jones, M. (2012) 'Effect of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance and habitat occupancy of two endemic hornbill species in Buton island, Sulawesi.' Bird Conservation International, 22(2) pp. 222-233.
Challender, D.W.S., Thai, N.V., Jones, M., May, L. (2012) 'Time-budgets and activity patterns of captive Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica).' Zoo Biology, 31(2) pp. 206-218.
Patton, F., Jones, M. (2010) 'Determining the suitability of using eye wrinkle patterns for the accurate identification of individual black rhinos.' Pachyderm, 48(1) pp. 18-23.
Patton, F., Jones, M. (2008) 'Errors that occur when using photo-identification to identify individual black rhinos.' Pachyderm, 44(1) pp. 35-44.
Rice, M.B., Jones, M. (2006) 'Characteristics of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) bedding sites.' African Journal of Ecology, 44(4) pp. 452-457.
Oliveira, P., Menezes, D., Jones, M., Nogales, M. (2006) 'The influence of fruit abundance on the use of forest and cultivated field habitats by the endemic Madeira laurel pigeon Columba trocaz: Implications for conservation.' Biological Conservation, 130(4) pp. 538-548.
Sullivan, M.S., Jones, M.J., Lee, D.C., Marsden, S.J., Fielding, A.H., Young, E.V. (2006) 'A comparison of predictive methods in extinction risk studies: Contrasts and decision trees.' Biodiversity and Conservation, 15(6) pp. 1977-1991.
Jones, M.J., Fielding, A., Sullivan, M. (2006) 'Analysing extinction risk in parrots using decision trees.' Biodiversity and Conservation, 15(6) pp. 1993-2007.
Gibbs, M., Lace, L.A., Jones, M.J., Moore, A.J. (2006) 'Multiple host-plant use may arise from gender-specific fitness effects.' Journal of Insect Science, 6
Gibbs, M., Lace, L.A., Jones, M.J., Moore, A.J. (2005) 'Egg size-number trade-off and a decline in oviposition site choice quality: female Pararge aegeria butterflies pay a cost of having males present at oviposition..' Journal of Insect Science, 5(1) pp. 39-39.
Gibbs, M., Lace, L.A., Jones, M.J., Moore, A.J. (2005) 'Egg size-number trade-off and a decline in oviposition site choice quality: female Pararge aegeria butterflies pay a cost of having males present at oviposition..' Journal of insect science (Online), 5
Gibbs, M., Lace, L.A., Jones, M.J., Moore, A.J. (2004) 'Intraspecific competition in the speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria: Effect of rearing density and gender on larval life history.' Journal of Insect Science, 4
Gibbs, M., Lace, L.A., Jones, M.J., Moore, A.J. (2004) 'Intraspecific competition in the speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria: effect of rearing density and gender on larval life history..' Journal of Insect Science, 4(1)
Jones, M.J., Marsden, S.J., Linsley, M.D. (2003) 'Effects of habitat change and geographical variation on the bird communities of two Indonesian islands.' Biodiversity and Conservation, 12(5) pp. 1013-1032.
JONES, M. (2001) 'Correlates of extinction risk of birds from two Indonesian islands.' Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 73(1) pp. 65-79.
Oliveira, P., Jones, M. (2001) 'Madeira Laurel Pigeon.' BWP Update, 3(2) pp. 111-117.
Jones, M.J., Sullivan, M.S., Marsden, S.J., Linsley, M.D. (2001) 'Correlates of extinction risk of birds from two Indonesian islands.' Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 73(1) pp. 65-79.
Sullivan, M.S., Gilbert, F., Rotheray, G., Croasdale, S., Jones, M. (2000) 'Comparative analyses of correlates of Red data book status: a case study using European hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae).' Animal Conservation, 3(2) pp. 91-95.
Sullivan, M.S., Gilbert, F., Rotheray, G., Croasdale, S., Jones, M. (2000) 'Comparative analyses of correlates of Red data book status: A case study using European hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae).' Animal Conservation, 3(2) pp. 91-95.
Oliveira, P., Jones, M., Caires, D., Menezes, D. (1999) 'Population trends and status of the Madeira Laurel Pigeon Columba trocaz.' Bird Conservation International, 9(4) pp. 387-395.
Jones, M.J., Lace, L.A., Harrison, E.C., Stevens-Wood, B. (1998) 'Territorial behaviour in the speckled wood butterflies Pararge xiphia and P. aegeria of Madeira: A mechanism for interspecific competition.' Ecography, 21(3) pp. 297-305.
Linsley, M.D., Jones, M.J., Marsden, S.J. (1998) 'A review of the Sumba avifauna.' Kukila, 10pp. 60-90.
Marsden, S.J., Jones, M.J. (1997) 'The nesting requirements of the parrots and hornbill of Sumba, Indonesia.' Biological Conservation, 82(3) pp. 279-287.
Marsden, S.J., Jones, M.J., Linsley, M.D., Mead, C., Hounsome, M.V. (1997) 'The conservation status of the restricted-range lowland birds of Buru, Indonesia.' Bird Conservation International, 7(3) pp. 213-233.
Jones, M.J., Linsley, M.D., Marsden, S.J. (1995) 'Population sizes, status and habitat associations of the restricted-range bird species of Sumba, Indonesia.' Bird Conservation International, 5(1) pp. 21-52.
Smith, C.A., Dawson, M.M., Head, M.B., Jones, M.J. (1994) 'The use of ‘miniposters’ in teaching the structure of biological molecules.' Biochemical Education, 22(1) pp. 13-13.
Smith, C.A., Dawson, M.M., Head, M.B., Jones, M.J. (1994) 'Using 'miniposters' to reinforce the teaching of structure and function of biological molecules.' Biochemical Education, 22(1) pp. 16-18.
JONES, M.J., LACE, L.A. (1992) 'The speckled wood butterflies Pararge xiphia and P. aegeria (Satyridae) on Madeira: distribution, territorial behaviour and possible competition.' Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 46(1-2) pp. 77-89.
JONES, M.J., LACE, L.A., HOUNSOME, M.V., HAMER, K. (1987) 'The butterflies and birds of Madeira and La Gomera: taxon cycles and human influence.' Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 31(2) pp. 95-111.