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
Reposted by PEC Exeter
New paper out!
Early-life social instability increases aggression in chickens, but does not affect response inhibition 🐤
We discuss what this means for developmental links between social environments, cognition, and social behaviour, highlighting strong context dependence
Full text: rdcu.be/eYOzC
Early-life social instability increases aggression in chickens, but does not affect response inhibition 🐤
We discuss what this means for developmental links between social environments, cognition, and social behaviour, highlighting strong context dependence
Full text: rdcu.be/eYOzC
January 13, 2026 at 2:37 PM
New paper out!
Early-life social instability increases aggression in chickens, but does not affect response inhibition 🐤
We discuss what this means for developmental links between social environments, cognition, and social behaviour, highlighting strong context dependence
Full text: rdcu.be/eYOzC
Early-life social instability increases aggression in chickens, but does not affect response inhibition 🐤
We discuss what this means for developmental links between social environments, cognition, and social behaviour, highlighting strong context dependence
Full text: rdcu.be/eYOzC
Reposted by PEC Exeter
I'm recruiting a PhD student to study how predation shapes animal cognition and the conservation opportunities of animal cognition. Lots of fun field work in beautiful places : )
Please share !!
www.eifwooster.org/opportunities
Please share !!
www.eifwooster.org/opportunities
Opportunities — Eamonn I.F Wooster
www.eifwooster.org
December 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I'm recruiting a PhD student to study how predation shapes animal cognition and the conservation opportunities of animal cognition. Lots of fun field work in beautiful places : )
Please share !!
www.eifwooster.org/opportunities
Please share !!
www.eifwooster.org/opportunities
Reposted by PEC Exeter
🐦 EcoBird is hiring a Postdoc in animal cognition!
Join us + @themanybirds.bsky.social to investigate innovation & problem-solving in birds.
📅 Start: as early as Jan 2026
🌍 Funded through UGent’s international mobility scheme
More info & how to apply ↓
www.ugent.be/en/work/scie...
Join us + @themanybirds.bsky.social to investigate innovation & problem-solving in birds.
📅 Start: as early as Jan 2026
🌍 Funded through UGent’s international mobility scheme
More info & how to apply ↓
www.ugent.be/en/work/scie...
Postdoctoral fellow
www.ugent.be
November 13, 2025 at 2:23 PM
🐦 EcoBird is hiring a Postdoc in animal cognition!
Join us + @themanybirds.bsky.social to investigate innovation & problem-solving in birds.
📅 Start: as early as Jan 2026
🌍 Funded through UGent’s international mobility scheme
More info & how to apply ↓
www.ugent.be/en/work/scie...
Join us + @themanybirds.bsky.social to investigate innovation & problem-solving in birds.
📅 Start: as early as Jan 2026
🌍 Funded through UGent’s international mobility scheme
More info & how to apply ↓
www.ugent.be/en/work/scie...
Almost pheasants! A new review that we've contributed to looking at causes and consequences of ranging behaviour in reared chickens, led by @birgitszabo.bsky.social
Many chickens don't seem to want to use the additional space that they are offered. Can we change this?
Many chickens don't seem to want to use the additional space that they are offered. Can we change this?
It took almost a year to write this review on causes and consequences of ranging in chicken 🐔! This was a huge collaborative effort by @ecobird.bsky.social @pec-exeter.bsky.social and @vitorhbf.bsky.social ! I am very proud of the outcome. You can check out the preprint here: doi.org/10.32942/X22...
Understanding individual range use in free-range chickens - a systematic review
doi.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Almost pheasants! A new review that we've contributed to looking at causes and consequences of ranging behaviour in reared chickens, led by @birgitszabo.bsky.social
Many chickens don't seem to want to use the additional space that they are offered. Can we change this?
Many chickens don't seem to want to use the additional space that they are offered. Can we change this?
Reposted by PEC Exeter
Less than a week left to apply!
⭐PhD position available!⭐
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Analysis of communication and collective behavior in animal groups
imprs-qbee.mpg.de
October 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Less than a week left to apply!
Rather feels like reading my obituary! 😬
But thanks Jen and Sophia for putting that together👍 I really enjoyed working with the ASAB team and recommend any AB folk consider joining and contributing. Looking forward to Edinburgh for the winter meeting. See you there.
But thanks Jen and Sophia for putting that together👍 I really enjoyed working with the ASAB team and recommend any AB folk consider joining and contributing. Looking forward to Edinburgh for the winter meeting. See you there.
Our inaugural #MeetASAB features someone you've all seen if you've been to a meeting in the last 7 years: Joah Madden (@pec-exeter.bsky.social)
Our former Meetings Secretary just finished a very long term, seeing us through the turbulence of lockdown to the first Behaviour mtg outside Europe... 1/
Our former Meetings Secretary just finished a very long term, seeing us through the turbulence of lockdown to the first Behaviour mtg outside Europe... 1/
October 20, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Rather feels like reading my obituary! 😬
But thanks Jen and Sophia for putting that together👍 I really enjoyed working with the ASAB team and recommend any AB folk consider joining and contributing. Looking forward to Edinburgh for the winter meeting. See you there.
But thanks Jen and Sophia for putting that together👍 I really enjoyed working with the ASAB team and recommend any AB folk consider joining and contributing. Looking forward to Edinburgh for the winter meeting. See you there.
Reposted by PEC Exeter
The origins and functions of bowers in the Bowerbirds: a review and synthesis | doi.org/10.1080/0158... | Emu | #ornithology 🪶
October 7, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The origins and functions of bowers in the Bowerbirds: a review and synthesis | doi.org/10.1080/0158... | Emu | #ornithology 🪶
Reposted by PEC Exeter
🚨 Calling researchers, students, technicians in cognition 🚨
We’re running a 10-min anonymous survey on how animal cognition is defined and studied across disciplines (from ecology, ethology, psychology, neurology, etc). 🧠✨
Scan the QR code & share widely
#AnimalCognition #ResearchSurvey #Science
We’re running a 10-min anonymous survey on how animal cognition is defined and studied across disciplines (from ecology, ethology, psychology, neurology, etc). 🧠✨
Scan the QR code & share widely
#AnimalCognition #ResearchSurvey #Science
September 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
🚨 Calling researchers, students, technicians in cognition 🚨
We’re running a 10-min anonymous survey on how animal cognition is defined and studied across disciplines (from ecology, ethology, psychology, neurology, etc). 🧠✨
Scan the QR code & share widely
#AnimalCognition #ResearchSurvey #Science
We’re running a 10-min anonymous survey on how animal cognition is defined and studied across disciplines (from ecology, ethology, psychology, neurology, etc). 🧠✨
Scan the QR code & share widely
#AnimalCognition #ResearchSurvey #Science
Reposted by PEC Exeter
It may be 9am on Day 5, but of course nobody couldn’t miss @samellisq.bsky.social’s fascinating plenary on menopause in whales! 😍👵🐳 #Behaviour2025
August 29, 2025 at 3:37 AM
It may be 9am on Day 5, but of course nobody couldn’t miss @samellisq.bsky.social’s fascinating plenary on menopause in whales! 😍👵🐳 #Behaviour2025
Reposted by PEC Exeter
Out last week - our #evidence review and assessment for @jncc.bsky.social of the #data and methods for assessing #sustainability of wild waterbird #harvest from recreational #hunting in the United Kingdom #wildlife #people led by @jomadden.bsky.social with Matt Ellis & myself #ecology #policy
New report reviews whether current data collection on hunting bags can reliably determine whether shooting of legally-huntable waterbird species is sustainable in the UK bit.ly/45gaCkT
This evidence will support the UK's obligation towards African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
This evidence will support the UK's obligation towards African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
August 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Out last week - our #evidence review and assessment for @jncc.bsky.social of the #data and methods for assessing #sustainability of wild waterbird #harvest from recreational #hunting in the United Kingdom #wildlife #people led by @jomadden.bsky.social with Matt Ellis & myself #ecology #policy
How robust is current hunting bag data, and can we rely on it to manage sustainable harvest of UK waterbirds?
For most species, it's pretty good, but released mallard🦆🦆can confuse the picture
Recent collaboration with @ecoevoenviro.bsky.social and Matt Ellis
For most species, it's pretty good, but released mallard🦆🦆can confuse the picture
Recent collaboration with @ecoevoenviro.bsky.social and Matt Ellis
New report reviews whether current data collection on hunting bags can reliably determine whether shooting of legally-huntable waterbird species is sustainable in the UK bit.ly/45gaCkT
This evidence will support the UK's obligation towards African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
This evidence will support the UK's obligation towards African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)
August 13, 2025 at 11:09 AM
How robust is current hunting bag data, and can we rely on it to manage sustainable harvest of UK waterbirds?
For most species, it's pretty good, but released mallard🦆🦆can confuse the picture
Recent collaboration with @ecoevoenviro.bsky.social and Matt Ellis
For most species, it's pretty good, but released mallard🦆🦆can confuse the picture
Recent collaboration with @ecoevoenviro.bsky.social and Matt Ellis
Reposted by PEC Exeter
Come join us at the @asab.org Winter Conference 2025: how sensory info affects behaviour.
15th & 16th Dec, abstracts due end Aug. More info and registration asabwinter.github.io/2025
Co-hosted with @jtroscianko.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
15th & 16th Dec, abstracts due end Aug. More info and registration asabwinter.github.io/2025
Co-hosted with @jtroscianko.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
July 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Come join us at the @asab.org Winter Conference 2025: how sensory info affects behaviour.
15th & 16th Dec, abstracts due end Aug. More info and registration asabwinter.github.io/2025
Co-hosted with @jtroscianko.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
15th & 16th Dec, abstracts due end Aug. More info and registration asabwinter.github.io/2025
Co-hosted with @jtroscianko.bsky.social and Innes Cuthill
Reposted by PEC Exeter
Publication alert! ✨ Our recent paper in Ecology & Evolution addresses how to make conferences more inclusive. We collected observational and experimental data during Q&A sessions at the Behaviour 2023 congress hosted by Bielefeld University, and circulated a survey among conference attendees [1/4]
July 14, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Publication alert! ✨ Our recent paper in Ecology & Evolution addresses how to make conferences more inclusive. We collected observational and experimental data during Q&A sessions at the Behaviour 2023 congress hosted by Bielefeld University, and circulated a survey among conference attendees [1/4]
Reposted by PEC Exeter
🚨JOB alert🚨 Full-time Managing Editor role for @asab.org journal Animal Behaviour. Applicants must have animal #behaviour background; previous editorial experience would be ideal.
Apply by 31st July 2025.
#publishing #editor #job
More details: www.asab.org/opportunities
PLEASE share widely.
Apply by 31st July 2025.
#publishing #editor #job
More details: www.asab.org/opportunities
PLEASE share widely.
Opportunities — ASAB
www.asab.org
July 7, 2025 at 7:03 AM
🚨JOB alert🚨 Full-time Managing Editor role for @asab.org journal Animal Behaviour. Applicants must have animal #behaviour background; previous editorial experience would be ideal.
Apply by 31st July 2025.
#publishing #editor #job
More details: www.asab.org/opportunities
PLEASE share widely.
Apply by 31st July 2025.
#publishing #editor #job
More details: www.asab.org/opportunities
PLEASE share widely.
Reposted by PEC Exeter
We are seeking a full-time Managing Editor for our journal Animal Behaviour. This editor will be involved in all stages of the publication process & must have a general understanding of the topics covered. Position starts Oct 1, application deadline July 31.
More details:
www.asab.org/opportunities
More details:
www.asab.org/opportunities
Opportunities — ASAB
www.asab.org
July 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
We are seeking a full-time Managing Editor for our journal Animal Behaviour. This editor will be involved in all stages of the publication process & must have a general understanding of the topics covered. Position starts Oct 1, application deadline July 31.
More details:
www.asab.org/opportunities
More details:
www.asab.org/opportunities
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/...
Reposted by PEC Exeter
The survival of the smartest? Assessing how cognition shapes fitness in animals. A really fun collaboration to be part of—thread below! 👇
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 5:17 PM
The survival of the smartest? Assessing how cognition shapes fitness in animals. A really fun collaboration to be part of—thread below! 👇
Reposted by PEC Exeter
Selection Shapes Diverse Animal Minds: our special issue of @royalsocietypublishing.org Phil Trans B on the diverse evolutionary processes underlying cognitive evolution is out today. Thanks to all our contributors! royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/202...
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences: Vol 380, No 1929
royalsocietypublishing.org
June 26, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Selection Shapes Diverse Animal Minds: our special issue of @royalsocietypublishing.org Phil Trans B on the diverse evolutionary processes underlying cognitive evolution is out today. Thanks to all our contributors! royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/202...
It forms part of an exciting Special Issue of Phil Trans, "Selection shapes diverse animal minds", edited by @ellileadbeater.bsky.social & @cornishjackdaws.bsky.social
Co-authors include @ecobird.bsky.social @samellisq.bsky.social
royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/202...
Co-authors include @ecobird.bsky.social @samellisq.bsky.social
royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/202...
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences: Vol 380, No 1929
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royalsocietypublishing.org
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
It forms part of an exciting Special Issue of Phil Trans, "Selection shapes diverse animal minds", edited by @ellileadbeater.bsky.social & @cornishjackdaws.bsky.social
Co-authors include @ecobird.bsky.social @samellisq.bsky.social
royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/202...
Co-authors include @ecobird.bsky.social @samellisq.bsky.social
royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/202...
The paper is Open Access royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
How does cognition determine an individual’s fitness? A systematic review of the links between cognition, behaviour and fitness in non-human animals | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Recent efforts to understand the evolution of cognition have adopted a within-species approach where cognitive performance, and its effects on behaviour, is correlated with fitness benefits and, if related, is assumed to be selected for. We reviewed 45 ...
royalsocietypublishing.org
June 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
The paper is Open Access 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)