Dr Martin Jones

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.

Academic and professional qualifications

1977 BSc (Hons) Zoology (U of Manchester , UK)
1979 MSc (U of Manchester)
1985 PhD (U of Manchester) - Aspects of the Ecology and Behaviour of Black-headed and Common Gulls on Urban Grassland

Other academic service (administration and management)

Programme Leader (25 years), MSc courses in Conservation Biology, Bird Conservation, Conservation Genetics, Animal Behaviour and Zoo Conservation Biology

'International Lead' for Department of Natural Sciences

Why study Conservation biology/wildlife biology?

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 

Undergraduate courses

Course units/modules in Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, Vertebreate Evolution, Invertbrate Biology, Conservation Biology and Diversity. I organise a  final year field course to Tanzania

Postgraduate teaching

Units in Biodiversity Conservation, Practical Techniques and Analysis, Avian Biology and Conservation and a field course to East Africa. From September 2022 we are launching  we are launching an MSc in African Willdife Ecology and Conservation in collaboration with the College of African Wildlife Management and the course will be taught in Tanzania.

Postgraduate supervision (completed/in progress)

32 completed PhD supervsions, 21 as the Principal Supervisor. Currently supervising PhDs on the conservation of black rhinos in Kenya and Tanzaniai, ecology and distribution of snow leopards, behaviour and translocation of African wild dogs 

External examiner roles

External examining for The Durrell Willdife Conservation Trust/University of Kent and University of Derby.

PhD examinations - 18 internal, 4 external

Research expertise

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. I am interested in the biological, biogeographical and human impact factors which promote extinction risk. This involves cross species analysis mainly on birds and mammals and the development of new techniques of analysing such data

Academic collaborations

MMU is working with the Chester Zoo, the Kenya Wildlife Service and the College of African Wildlife Management in Tanzania

Publications

• Journal articles

  J. Norrey, M. Jones, P. Oliveira, WE. Harris (2021). Habitat association and population size of the Madeira Firecrest (Regulus madeirensis). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 132(4), pp.881-889.

  R. Stanbrook, J. Norrey, AW. Kisingo, M. Jones (2021). Dung Beetle Diversity and Community Composition Along a Land Use Gradient in a Savannah Ecosystem of North Western Tanzania. Tropical Conservation Science. 14, pp.194008292110087-194008292110087.

  KL. Edwards, J. Trotter, M. Jones, JL. Brown, HW. Steinmetz, et al. SL. Walker. (2016). Investigating temporary acyclicity in a captive group of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus): Relationship between management, adrenal activity and social factors. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 225, pp.104-116.

  L. Lush, M. Mulama, M. Jones (2015). Predicting the habitat usage of African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) using random forest models. African Journal of Ecology. 53(3), pp.346-354.

  NL. WINARNI, M. JONES (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.

  DWS. Challender, NV. Thai, M. Jones, L. May (2012). Time-budgets and activity patterns of captive Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica). Zoo Biol. 31(2), pp.206-218.

  F. Patton, M. Jones (2010). Determining the suitability of using eye wrinkle patterns for the accurate identification of individual black rhinos. PACHYDERM. 48(48), pp.18-23.

  F. Patton, M. Jones (2008). Errors that occur when using photo-identification to identify individual black rhinos. PACHYDERM. 44(44), pp.35-44.

  MB. Rice, M. Jones (2006). Characteristics of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) bedding sites. African Journal of Ecology. 44(4), pp.452-457.

  P. Oliveira, D. Menezes, M. Jones, M. Nogales (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.

  MJ. Jones, A. Fielding, M. Sullivan (2006). Analysing extinction risk in parrots using decision trees. Biodiversity and Conservation. 15(6), pp.1993-2007.

  MS. Sullivan, MJ. Jones, DC. Lee, SJ. Marsden, AH. Fielding, et al. EV. Young. (2006). A comparison of predictive methods in extinction risk studies: Contrasts and decision trees. Biodiversity and Conservation. 15(6), pp.1977-1991.

  M. Gibbs, LA. Lace, MJ. Jones, AJ. Moore (2006). Multiple host-plant use may arise from gender-specific fitness effects. Journal of Insect Science. 6,

  M. Gibbs, LA. Lace, MJ. Jones, AJ. Moore (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.

  M. Gibbs, LA. Lace, MJ. Jones, AJ. Moore (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,

  M. Gibbs, LA. Lace, MJ. Jones, AJ. Moore (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,

  M. Gibbs, LA. Lace, MJ. Jones, AJ. Moore (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),

  MJ. Jones, SJ. Marsden, MD. Linsley (2003). Effects of habitat change and geographical variation on the bird communities of two Indonesian islands. Biodiversity and Conservation. 12(5), pp.1013-1032.

  M. JONES (2001). Correlates of extinction risk of birds from two Indonesian islands. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 73(1), pp.65-79.

  P. Oliveira, M. Jones (2001). Madeira Laurel Pigeon. BWP Update. 3(2), pp.111-117.

  MJ. Jones, MS. Sullivan, SJ. Marsden, MD. Linsley (2001). Correlates of extinction risk of birds from two Indonesian islands. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 73(1), pp.65-79.

  MS. Sullivan, F. Gilbert, G. Rotheray, S. Croasdale, M. Jones (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.

  MS. Sullivan, F. Gilbert, G. Rotheray, S. Croasdale, M. Jones (2000). Comparative analyses of correlates ofRed data bookstatus: a case study using European hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). Animal Conservation. 3(2), pp.91-95.

  P. Oliveira, M. Jones, D. Caires, D. Menezes (1999). Population trends and status of the Madeira Laurel Pigeon Columba trocaz. Bird Conservation International. 9(4), pp.387-395.

  MJ. Jones, LA. Lace, EC. Harrison, B. Stevens‐Wood (1998). Territorial behavior in the speckled wood butterflies Pararge xiphia and P. aegeria of Madeira: a mechanism for interspecific competition. Ecography. 21(3), pp.297-305.

  MD. Linsley, MJ. Jones, SJ. Marsden (1998). A review of the Sumba avifauna. Kukila. 10, pp.60-90.

  SJ. Marsden, MJ. Jones (1997). The nesting requirements of the parrots and hornbill of Sumba, Indonesia. Biological Conservation. 82(3), pp.279-287.

  SJ. Marsden, MJ. Jones, MD. Linsley, C. Mead, MV. Hounsome (1997). The conservation status of the restricted-range lowland birds of Buru, Indonesia. Bird Conservation International. 7(3), pp.213-233.

  MJ. Jones, MD. Linsley, SJ. Marsden (1995). Population sizes, status and habitat associations of the restricted-range bird species of Sumba, Indonesia. Bird Conservation International. 5(1), pp.21-52.

  CA. Smith, MM. Dawson, MB. Head, MJ. Jones (1994). Using 'miniposters' to reinforce the teaching of structure and function of biological molecules. Biochemical Education. 22(1), pp.16-18.

  CA. Smith, MM. Dawson, MB. Head, MJ. Jones (1994). The use of ‘miniposters’ in teaching the structure of biological molecules. Biochemical Education. 22(1), pp.13-13.

  MJ. JONES, LA. LACE (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.

  MJ. JONES, LA. LACE, MV. HOUNSOME, K. HAMER (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.