Phil gave a research talk in Oxford on 'Carnivores, prey and macroecology', based on ongoing collaborations with Chris Carbone.  The seminar focused on the use of simple models to try to explain observed relationships between carnivore abundances and those of their prey, and to explain the energetic limits to carnivore rarity.  Treated to very fine hospitality by Tim Coulson, and lively discussions over dinner with various members of the department, he was left feeling like Harry Potter after a night staying in the rarified surrounds of Jesus College.

Photo source: http://gertjanvandenbosch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/instrument-rated-next-step-mccajfc.html

Phil gave a research talk at Stirling University, enjoying the fine hospitality and Canadian cuisine of his host, Luc Bussiere.  Postgrads and postdocs were interactive and enthusiastic about their work, which is always stimulating.  The talk focused on what we can learn about mammal behaviour, ecology and macroecology, from data not collected for purpose.  The conclusion was that we can learn a lot, but such data almost always frustrate attempts to attribute causality.  The mammalian ecology research community needs to consider new approaches to collecting data in a way that rivals the long-term, large-scale data sets on birds and butterflies, for example.

Photo: Stirling Council