Dr Selvino de Kort
Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour
My profile
Biography
External examiner roles
External examiner for PhD viva, Cambridge University, Queen Mary University, Bangor University
Editorial Board membership
I am an editor for the journal Animal Behaviour https://www.journals.elsevier.com/animal-behaviour
Membership of professional associations
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)
Teaching
How I’ll teach you
BSc Year 1
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology
Year 2:
Sex & Survival
Brain & Behaviour
Year 3:
Animal Behaviour & Conservation
The Social Life of Animals
MSc
Practical Techniques
Field course
Behavioural Biology
Avian Biology and Conservation
Supervision
Current MSc students:
Jennifer Anne Johnston: Airports and birds during lockdown
Prajakta Rao: Individual recognition of Indian leopard calls
Jack Taylor: Individual recognition of Jaguar calls
Bethany Shackleton: Blue tit song and reproductive success
Current Postgraduate students
Rosaria Santoro: Felid vocalizations and their role in ex situ welfare and in situ conservation
Rebecca Lewis: The evolution of birdsong during ex situ management and the implications of vocal behaviour for conservation programmes. (University of Manchester/Chester zoo)
Zoe Sweetman: Improving ex-situ conservation breeding and management of Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)
Former
Dr Andrew Wolfenden: The effects of aircraft noise on avian communication and communities (in Collaboration with Manchester Airport)
Dr Giada Porcedda: The impact of Urban Noise on bird fertility and distribution (in collaboration with the BTO and Ian Hartley, Lancaster University)
Dr Sarah Scott: Using social network analysis to aid conservation management of white rhinoceros ( in Collaboration with Knowsley Safari)
Dr Javier Sierro: The role of vocal consistency in bird communication – a case study in the blue tit (University of Lancaster)
Research outputs
I am a behavioural ecologist interested, among other things, in bioacoustics and conservation. I study the impact of humans on wildlife, both in the UK and Tanzania and the Philippines.
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Chapters in books
De Kort, S.R., Botero, C.A. (2013) 'Learned signals and consistency of delivery: a case against receiver manipulation in animal communication.' In Stegmann, U. (ed.) Animal Communication Theory. Cambridge University Press, pp. 281-296.
de Kort, S.R., Clayton, N.S., Emery, N.J. (2012) 'Corvid caching: The role of cognition.' In Zentall, T.R., Wasserman, E.A. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Cognition. Oxford University Press, pp. 390-406.
de Kort, S.R., Tebbich, S., Dally, J.M., Emery, N.J., Calyton, N.S. (2006) 'Comparative Cognition of Caching.' In Wasserman, E.A., Zentall, T.R. (ed.) Comparative Cognition. Experimental Explorations of Animal Intelligence. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 602-618.
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Journal articles
Lewis, R.N., Williams, L.J., de Kort, S.R., Tucker Gilman, R. (2024) 'Assessing the effect of zoo closure on the soundscape using multiple acoustic indicators.' Ecological Indicators, 158
Collins, S.A., Croft, S., Jeffs, C., Brown, S., de Kort, S.R. (2024) 'Recovery of cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus, song diversity after translocation.' Conservation Science and Practice,
Sierro, J., de Kort, S.R., Hartley, I.R. (2024) 'Differential impact of anthropogenic noise during the acoustic development of begging calls in Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus).' Ibis,
Lewis, R.N., Kwong, A., Soma, M., De Kort, S.R., Gilman, R.T. (2023) 'Inheritance of temporal song features in Java sparrows.' Animal Behaviour, 206pp. 61-74.
Sierro, J., de Kort, S.R., Hartley, I.R. (2023) 'A limit to sustained performance constrains trill length in birdsong.' iScience, 26(11) pp. 108206-108206.
Sierro, J., De Kort, S.R., Hartley, I.R. (2023) 'Sound properties affect measurement of vocal consistency in birdsong: validation of the spectrogram cross correlation method (SPCC).' The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 154(2) pp. 699-708.
Sierro, J., de Kort, S.R., Hartley, I.R. (2023) 'Sexual selection for both diversity and repetition in birdsong.' Nature Communications, 14(1) pp. 3600-3600.
Scott, S.E., Cain, B., de Kort, S.R., Johnson, B., Khayale, C., Versteege, L., Bettridge, C.M. (2023) 'Group composition impacts reproductive output and population viability in captive white rhinoceros.' Animal Conservation,
Sierro, J., de Kort, S.R., Riebel, K., Hartley, I.R. (2022) 'Female blue tits sing frequently: a sex comparison of occurrence, context, and structure of song.' Behavioral Ecology, 33(5) pp. 912-925.
Byrne, B., de Kort, S.R., Pedley, S.M. (2022) 'Leafcutter ants adjust foraging behaviours when exposed to noise disturbance.' PLoS One, 17(6) pp. e0269517-e0269517.
Lewis, R.N., Soma, M., de Kort, S.R., Gilman, R.T. (2021) 'Like Father Like Son: Cultural and Genetic Contributions to Song Inheritance in an Estrildid Finch.' Frontiers in Psychology, 12
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.
Wolfenden, A., Slabbekoorn, H., Kluk, K., De Kort, S. (2019) 'Aircraft sound exposure leads to song frequency decline and elevated aggression in wild chiffchaffs.' Journal of Animal Ecology, 88(11) pp. 1720-1731.
Bettridge, C.M., Kenworthy, S.P., Butynski, T.M., De Jong, Y.A., De Kort, S.R. (2019) 'Vocal Repertoire and Intraspecific Variation within Two Loud Calls of the Small-Eared Greater Galago (Otolemur garnettii) in Tanzania and Kenya.' Folia Primatologica: international journal of primatology, 90(5) pp. 319-335.
Fox, G., Preziosi, R., Antwis, R.E., Benavides-Serrato, M., Combe, F.J., Harris, W.E., Hartley, I.R., Kitchener, A.C., De Kort, S., Nekaris, A.I., Rowntree, J.K. (2019) 'Multi-individual Microsatellite identification: a multiple genome approach to microsatellite design (MiMi).' Molecular Ecology Resources, 19(6) pp. 1672-1680.
Wheeldon, A., Mossman, H.L., Sullivan, M.J.P., Mathenge, J., de Kort, S.R. (2019) 'Comparison of acoustic and traditional point count methods to assess bird diversity and composition in the Aberdare National Park, Kenya.' African Journal of Ecology, 57(2) pp. 168-176.
Vehrencamp, S.L., de Kort, S.R., Illes, A.E. (2017) 'Response to Kroodsma's critique of banded wren song performance research.' Animal Behaviour, 125pp. 25-28.
Law, S.J., De Kort, S.R., van Weerd, M. (2016) 'Morphology, Activity Area, and Movement Patterns of the frugivorous monitor lizard Varanus bitatawa.' Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 11(3)
de Kort, S.R., Wolfenden, A. (2016) 'The effect of aircraft noise on bird song.' Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 140(4_Supplement) pp. 3074-3074.
Leedale, A.E., Collins, S.A., de Kort, S.R. (2015) 'Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) increase the whistle part of their song in response to simulated territorial intrusion.' Ethology, 121(4) pp. 403-409.
Tranmer, M., Marcum, C.S., Morton, F.B., Croft, D.P., de Kort, S.R. (2015) 'Using the relational event model (REM) to investigate the temporal dynamics of animal social networks.' Animal Behaviour, 101pp. 99-105.
Wolfenden, A., Jones, C.G., Tatayah, V., Züel, N., de Kort, S.R. (2015) 'Endangered pink pigeons treat calls of the ubiquitous Madagascan turtle dove as conspecific.' Animal Behaviour, 99pp. 83-88.
Lowney, A.M., Van Weerd, M., De Kort, S.R. (2015) 'Species rank of Isabela Oriole Oriolus isabellae and White-lored Oriole O. albiloris reinforced by song playback responses.' Forktail, pp. 113-116.
Smith, T.B., Harrigan, R.J., Kirschel, A.N.G., Buermann, W., Saatchi, S., Blumstein, D.T., de Kort, S.R., Slabbekoorn, H. (2013) 'Predicting bird song from space.' Evolutionary Applications, 6(6) pp. 865-874.
Vehrencamp, S.L., Yantachka, J., Hall, M.L., de Kort, S.R. (2012) 'Trill performance components vary with age, season, and motivation in the banded wren.' Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, pp. 1-11.
Kirschel, A.N.G., Slabbekoorn, H., Blumstein, D.T., Cohen, R.E., de Kort, S.R., Buermann, W., Smith, T.B. (2011) 'Testing alternative hypotheses for evolutionary diversification in an African songbird: rainforest refugia versus ecological gradients..' Evolution, 65(11) pp. 3162-3174.
Collins, S.A., de Kort, S.R., Pérez-Tris, J., Tellería, J.L. (2011) 'Divergent sexual selection on birdsong: A reply to Byers.' Animal Behaviour, 82(5)
Cramer, E.R.A., Hall, M.L., de Kort, S.R., Lovette, I.J., Vehrencamp, S.L. (2011) 'INFREQUENT EXTRA-PAIR PATERNITY IN THE BANDED WREN, A SYNCHRONOUSLY BREEDING TROPICAL PASSERINE.' CONDOR, 113(3) pp. 637-645.
de Kort, S.R., Eldermire, E.R.B., Valderrama, S., Botero, C.A., Vehrencamp, S.L. (2009) 'Trill consistency is an age-related assessment signal in banded wrens..' Proc Biol Sci, 276(1665) pp. 2315-2321.
Botero, C.A., Rossman, R.J., Caro, L.M., Stenzler, L.M., Lovette, I.J., De Kort, S.R., Vehrencamp, S.L. (2009) 'Syllable Type Consistency is Related to Age, Social Status, and Reproductive Success in the Tropical Mockingbird..' Anim Behav, 77(3) pp. 701-706.
de Kort, S.R., Eldermire, E.R.B., Cramer, E.R.A., Vehrencamp, S.L. (2009) 'The deterrent effect of bird song in territory defense..' Behav Ecol, 20(1) pp. 200-206.
Collins, S.A., de Kort, S.R., Pérez-Tris, J., Tellería, J.L. (2009) 'Migration strategy and divergent sexual selection on bird song..' Proc Biol Sci, 276(1656) pp. 585-590.
de Kort, S.R., Correia, S.P.C., Alexis, D.M., Dickinson, A., Clayton, N.S. (2007) 'The control of food-caching behavior by Western scrub-jays (Aphelocoma californica)..' J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process, 33(4) pp. 361-370.
Fuisz, T.I., de Kort, S.R. (2007) 'Habitat-dependent call divergence in the common cuckoo: is it a potential signal for assortative mating?.' Proc Biol Sci, 274(1622) pp. 2093-2097.
Von Bayern, A.M.P., De Kort, S.R., Clayton, N.S., Emery, N.J. (2007) 'The role of food- and object-sharing in the development of social bonds in juvenile jackdaws (Corvus monedula).' Behaviour, 144(6) pp. 711-733.
Den Hartog, P.M., De Kort, S.R., Ten Cate, C. (2007) 'Hybrid vocalizations are effective within, but not outside, an avian hybrid zone.' Behavioral Ecology, 18(3) pp. 608-614.
de Kort, S.R., Emery, N.J., Clayton, N.S. (2006) 'Food sharing in jackdaws, Corvus monedula: what, why and with whom?.' Animal Behaviour, 72(2) pp. 297-304.
de Kort, S.R., Clayton, N.S. (2006) 'An evolutionary perspective on caching by corvids..' Proc Biol Sci, 273(1585) pp. 417-423.
Pravosudov, V.V., de Kort, S.R. (2005) 'Is the western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) really an underdog among food-caching corvids when it comes to hippocampal volume and food caching propensity?.' Brain Behav Evol, 67(1) pp. 1-9.
Francis, R.C., Healy, S.D., De Kort, S.R., Clayton, N.S. (2005) 'It's a puzzle all right: The hippocampus and food hoarding [2] (multiple letters).' Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 20(9) pp. 476-477.
Healy, S.D., de Kort, S.R., Clayton, N.S. (2005) 'The hippocampus, spatial memory and food hoarding: a puzzle revisited..' Trends Ecol Evol, 20(1) pp. 17-22.
de Kort, S.R., Dickinson, A., Clayton, N.S. (2005) 'Retrospective cognition by food-caching western scrub-jays.' Learning and Motivation, 36(2 SPEC. ISS.) pp. 159-176.
Lucas, J.R., Brodin, A., de Kort, S.R., Clayton, N.S. (2004) 'Does hippocampal size correlate with the degree of caching specialization?.' Proc Biol Sci, 271(1556) pp. 2423-2429.
De Kort, S.R., Ten Cate, C. (2004) 'Repeated decrease in vocal repertoire size in Streptopelia doves.' Animal Behaviour, 67(3) pp. 549-557.
de Kort, S.R., Emery, N.J., Clayton, N.S. (2003) 'Food offering in jackdaws ( Corvus monedula)..' Naturwissenschaften, 90(5) pp. 238-240.
De Kort, S.R., Den Hartog, P.M., Ten Cate, C. (2002) 'Diverge or merge? The effect of sympatric occurrence on the territorial vocalizations of the vinaceous dove Streptopelia vinacea and the ring-necked dove S. capicola.' Journal of Avian Biology, 33(2) pp. 150-158.
De Kort, S.R., Den Hartog, P.M., Ten Cate, C. (2002) 'Vocal signals, isolation and hybridization in the vinaceous dove (Streptopelia vinacea) and the ring-necked dove (S. capicola).' Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 51(4) pp. 378-385.
Johnson, K.P., de Kort, S., Dinwoodey, K., Mateman, A.C., ten Cate, C., Lessells, C.M., Clayton, D.H., Sheldon, F. (2001) 'A Molecular Phylogeny of the Dove Genera Streptopelia and Columba.' The Auk, 118(4) pp. 874-887.
Wright, J., Berg, E., De Kort, S.R., Khazin, V., Maklakov, A.A. (2001) 'Cooperative sentinel behaviour in the Arabian babbler.' Animal Behaviour, 62(5) pp. 973-979.
de Kort, S.R., ten Cate, C. (2001) 'Response to interspecific vocalizations is affected by degree of phylogenetic relatedness in Streptopelia doves..' Anim Behav, 61(1) pp. 239-247.
Wright, J., Berg, E., de Kort, S.R., Khazin, V., Maklakov, A.A. (2001) 'Safe selfish sentinels in a cooperative bird.' Journal of Animal Ecology, 70(6) pp. 1070-1079.
Johnson, K.P., De Kort, S., Dinwoodey, K., Mateman, A.C., Ten Cate, C., Lessells, C.M., Clayton, D.H. (2001) 'A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba.' Auk, 118(4) pp. 874-887.
Scholte, P., de Kort, S., van Weerd, M. (2000) 'Floodplain rehabilitation in Far North Cameroon: Expected impact on bird life.' Ostrich, 71(1-2) pp. 112-117.
Slabbekoorn, H., De Kort, S., Ten Cate, C. (1999) 'Comparative analysis of perch-coo vocalizations in Streptopelia doves.' Auk, 116(3) pp. 737-748.
Career history
2002
Postdoctoral research associate - Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge
2006
Postdoctoral research associate - Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University