Habitat preferences by individual humpback whale mothers in the Hawaiian breeding grounds vary with the age and size of their calves (2017)
Journal Article
Pack, A. A., Herman, L. M., Craig, A. S., Spitz, S. S., Waterman, J. O., Herman, E. Y., Deakos, M. H., Hakala, S., & Lowe, C. (2017). Habitat preferences by individual humpback whale mothers in the Hawaiian breeding grounds vary with the age and size of their calves. Animal Behaviour, 133, 131-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.09.012

We investigated whether calf age and calf size influence habitat choice by humpback whale motherecalf pairs in their breeding grounds. During 1997e2008, we conducted focal follows of motherecalf pairs in Hawaiian waters. Tail-fluke identification pho... Read More about Habitat preferences by individual humpback whale mothers in the Hawaiian breeding grounds vary with the age and size of their calves.

The effect of pasture restriction on dry matter intake by foraging donkeys in the UK. (2012)
Book Chapter
Wood, S. J., Smith, D., Morriss, C. J., & Cuddeford, D. (2012). The effect of pasture restriction on dry matter intake by foraging donkeys in the UK. In M. Saastamoinen, M. J. Fradinho, A. S. Santos, & N. Miraglia (Eds.), Forages and grazing in horse nutrition (163-176). Wageningen Academic Publishers. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-755-4_17

Good pasture management on equine operations is essential to maintaining the productivity and value of the pasture as well as providing the proper nutrients and environment to grow a healthy horse. The objective of this paper is to provide an overvie... Read More about The effect of pasture restriction on dry matter intake by foraging donkeys in the UK..

Resightings of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters over spans of 10-32 years: Site fidelity, sex ratios, calving rates, female demographics, and the dynamics of social and behavioral roles of individuals (2010)
Journal Article
Herman, L. M., Pack, A. A., Rose, K., Craig, A., Herman, E. Y. K., Hakala, S., & Milette, A. (2011). Resightings of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters over spans of 10-32 years: Site fidelity, sex ratios, calving rates, female demographics, and the dynamics of social and behavioral roles of individuals. Marine Mammal Science, 27(4), 736-768. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00441.x

From a database of approximately 5,000 Hawaiian humpback whales identified photographically between 1976 and 2010, we extracted 71 males and 39 females having resighting spans of 10 or more years, from first to most recent sighting. Findings include... Read More about Resightings of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters over spans of 10-32 years: Site fidelity, sex ratios, calving rates, female demographics, and the dynamics of social and behavioral roles of individuals.

Study to learn secrets of equine couch potatoes (2010)
Journal Article
Smith, D. (2010). Study to learn secrets of equine couch potatoes. Horsetalk.co.nz,

It is hoped the Big Brother tactics will deliver results useful in tackling growing levels of equine obesity.

Researchers hope the study will help them discover exactly what makes the equine equivalent of a couch potato.

One in three horses i... Read More about Study to learn secrets of equine couch potatoes.

The Mathematical Dog. (2008)
Digital Artefact
Smith, D. (2008). The Mathematical Dog

Extraordinary Animals Season 2 Episode 1 S2E1

Maggie is a seven-year-old Jack Russell that can do simple mathematical calculations by tapping correct answers using her paw. Animal experts travel to her Florida home to assess the claims for themse... Read More about The Mathematical Dog..

Mongrels 'smarter than their pedigree chums'. (2008)
Newspaper / Magazine
Smith, D. (2008). Mongrels 'smarter than their pedigree chums'

Mongrels are cleverer than pedigree dogs, according to research.


A study by Dr David Smith of Aberdeen University's department of animal sciences shows that crossbred dogs have better spatial awareness and problem-solving abilities than pedigree... Read More about Mongrels 'smarter than their pedigree chums'..

Why a mongrel will always trump the pedigree chump (2008)
Journal Article
Smith, D. (2008). Why a mongrel will always trump the pedigree chump. The Mail,

With a pedigree as long as his tail, you might expect the pure-bred pooch to trounce his mongrel cousin in an IQ test.

But it seems that all that breeding may be for nothing. For when it comes to intelligence, scientists say the crossbreed wins, p... Read More about Why a mongrel will always trump the pedigree chump.

Cooperative behaviour in cooperative breeders: Costs, benefits, and communal breeding. (2007)
Journal Article
Gilchrist, J. (2007). Cooperative behaviour in cooperative breeders: Costs, benefits, and communal breeding. Behavioural Processes, 76, 100-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2006.12.013

[Critical review of: R. Bergmüller, R. Johnstone, A. Russell and R. Bshary, Integrating cooperative breeding into theoretical concepts of cooperation, Behav. Process. 76 (2) 2007: 61-72.] In this issue, Bergmüller et al., 2007 ... have provided a val... Read More about Cooperative behaviour in cooperative breeders: Costs, benefits, and communal breeding..

Episode 30 - Dog intelligence. (2006)
Digital Artefact
Smith, D. (2006). Episode 30 - Dog intelligence

Are you a fan of pedigrees or do you prefer crossbreeds? Opinions on this area can be very heartfelt, and the issue is clouded in myth. Which is more intelligent though, a pure pedigree or a mixed up mutt?

At Aberdeen University in Scotland, Dr D... Read More about Episode 30 - Dog intelligence..

Uni takes lead in dog IQ testing. (2006)
Digital Artefact
Smith, D. (2006). Uni takes lead in dog IQ testing. [BBC News channel]

Scottish scientists are trying to prove intelligence is not just down to good breeding - at least for dogs.
Aberdeen University is running IQ tests on pedigree and crossbreeds to see which ones are smarter.

Researchers hope the tests, mostly in... Read More about Uni takes lead in dog IQ testing..

Why chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) mothers are less gregarious than nonmothers and males: the infant safety hypothesis (2005)
Journal Article
Otali, E., & Gilchrist, J. (2006). Why chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) mothers are less gregarious than nonmothers and males: the infant safety hypothesis. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 59(4), 561-570. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-005-0081-0

Socialization of young is an important component of maternal care in social mammals. It is therefore perplexing that female chimpanzees with dependent offspring spend more time alone than females without dependent offspring, and than males. We propos... Read More about Why chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) mothers are less gregarious than nonmothers and males: the infant safety hypothesis.

Pup escorting in the communal breeding banded mongoose: behavior, benefits and maintenance. (2004)
Journal Article
Gilchrist, J. (2004). Pup escorting in the communal breeding banded mongoose: behavior, benefits and maintenance. Behavioral ecology official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology, 15, 952-960. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arh071

In cooperatively breeding species, helpers typically provide food to offspring, and distribute food throughout the brood or litter. However, in the communal breeding banded mongoose (Mungos mungo), some group members escort individual pups during the... Read More about Pup escorting in the communal breeding banded mongoose: behavior, benefits and maintenance..

Inter-population dispersal by adult stoneflies detected by stable isotope enrichment (2004)
Journal Article
Briers, R. A., Gee, J. H. R., Cariss, H. M., & Geoghegan, R. (2004). Inter-population dispersal by adult stoneflies detected by stable isotope enrichment. Freshwater Biology, 49(4), 425-431. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2004.01198.x

1. Dispersal of adult stream insects may be of considerable importance in regional population dynamics and colonisation of new sites, but quantifying the rate and extent of dispersal is difficult.

2. We used stable isotope (15N) enrichment to mark... Read More about Inter-population dispersal by adult stoneflies detected by stable isotope enrichment.

Migratory timing of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the central North Pacific varies with age, sex and reproductive status. (2003)
Journal Article
Craig, A. S., Herman, L. M., Gabriele, C. M., & Pack, A. A. (2003). Migratory timing of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the central North Pacific varies with age, sex and reproductive status. Behaviour, 140, 981-1000. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853903322589605

Humpback whales migrate seasonally between high-latitude summer feeding grounds and low-latitude winter breeding grounds. Identification photographs of humpback whales were collected in the Hawaiian Islands between 1977 and 1995, and sighting histori... Read More about Migratory timing of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the central North Pacific varies with age, sex and reproductive status..

Fishing behavior in a giant tailess whip spider. (2003)
Journal Article
Ladle, R. J., & Velander, K. (2003). Fishing behavior in a giant tailess whip spider. Journal of Arachnology, 31, 154-156

Whip spiders (Amblypygi) are a small and understudied group of arachnids characterised by long antenniform legs and raptorial pedipalps. Due to their nocturnal habits, secretive nature and geographical distribution there have been very few studies o... Read More about Fishing behavior in a giant tailess whip spider..

Male mate choice and male-male competition coexist in the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). (2002)
Journal Article
Craig, A. S., Herman, L. M., & Pack, A. A. (2002). Male mate choice and male-male competition coexist in the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80(4), 745-755. https://doi.org/10.1139/z02-050

Male humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) outnumber females on the winter grounds and compete physically for proximity to females. Analyses of identification photographs collected in Hawai¢i from 1976 through
1995 and scan samples collected in 1... Read More about Male mate choice and male-male competition coexist in the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)..