Dr John Skelhorn
Senior Lecturer
- Email: john.skelhorn@ncl.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 5142
- Address: Centre for Behaviour and Evolution
Biosciences Institute
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Newcastle University
Henry Wellcome Building
Framlington Place,
NE2 4HH
Background
Introduction
I studied Zoology at the University of Nottingham, and then went on to do a PhD on animal cognition at Newcastle University. After two post-doctoral positions and a Lloyds Tercentenary Foundation Fellowship, I took up a lectureship in Animal Behaviour at the University of Exeter. I then returned to Newcastle in 2013 as a Lecturer in Animal Cognition. In 2012 I was given the Christopher Barnard Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Investigator by the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Area of expertise
The role of animal cognition in the evolution of prey defences
SCOPUS: Click here.
Research
My Research
The overarching theme of my research is how the sensory and cognitive processes of predators influence the evolution of their prey. My main questions are: how do predators decide what to eat when faced with a number of different prey types? What is the adaptive value of this behaviour? And how does this behaviour influence the evolution of prey defences? My work can be divided into two main areas: how predaor psychology influences the evolution of (1) defended prey; and (2) masquerading prey.
Predator psychology and the evolution of defended prey
Many toxic prey species advertise their chemical defences to potential predators using conspicuous aposematic colouration. My work investigates how predator psychology influences the evolution of preys’ chemical defences and their chemical and visual signals. I take a holistic approach to avian cognition, using tightly controlled laboratory experiments to investigate how birds perceive both taste and toxicity, how defence chemicals influence aversion learning, and how educated birds use information about prey quality to make strategic-decisions about when to eat toxic prey.
Predator psychology and the evolution of masquerade
Masquerading prey appear to mimic the visual appearance of inanimate objects such as twigs, leaves, stones and bird droppings. My research in this area aims: to understand both the evolutionary function, and the evolutionary dynamics of masquerade; to demonstrate that prey show behavioural adaptations that enhance the efficacy of masquerade; and to understand predators’ decisions to attack masquerading prey in an optimal foraging context.
Publications
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Articles
- Penacchio O, Halpin CG, Cuthill IC, Lovell PG, Wheelwright M, Skelhorn J, Rowe C, Harris JM. A computational neuroscience framework for quantifying warning signals. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 2024, 15(1), 103-116.
- Sherratt TN, Dewan I, Skelhorn J. The optimal time to approach an unfamiliar object: a Bayesian model. Behavioral Ecology 2023, 34(5), 840–849.
- Rowland HM, Saccheri IJ, Skelhorn J. The peppered moth Biston betularia. Current Biology 2022, 32(10), R447-R448.
- Skelhorn J, Rowland HM. Eyespot configuration and predator approach direction affect the antipredator efficacy of eyespots. Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution 2022, 10, 951967.
- Troscianko J, Nokelainen O, Skelhorn J, Stevens M. Variable crab camouflage patterns defeat search image formation. Communications Biology 2021, 4, 287.
- Heyworth HC, Skelhorn J, Rowland HM. Dietary wariness. Current Biology 2021, 31(21), R1403–R1423.
- Rowland HM, Burriss RP, Skelhorn J. The antipredator benefits of postural camouflage in peppered moth caterpillars. Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 21654.
- Halpin CG, Penacchio O, Lovell PG, Cuthill IC, Harris JM, Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Pattern contrast influences wariness in naïve predators towards aposematic patterns. Scientific Reports 2020, 10, 9246 (2020).
- Holmes GG, Delferriere E, Rowe C, Troscianko J, Skelhorn J. Testing the feasibility of the startle-first route to deimatism. Scientific Reports 2018, 8, 10737.
- Skelhorn J. Prey mistake masquerading predators for the innocuous items they resemble. Current Biology 2018, 28(14), R780-R781.
- Troscianko J, Skelhorn J, Stevens M. Camouflage strategies interfere differently with observer search images. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B 2018, 285, 20181386.
- Skelhorn J. Avoiding death by feigning death. Current Biology 2018, 28(19), R1135–R1136.
- Halpin CG, Skelhorn J, Rowe C, Ruxton GD, Higginson AD. The Impact of Detoxification Costs and Predation Risk on Foraging: Implications for Mimicry Dynamics. PLoS One 2017, 12(1), e0169043.
- Troscianko J, Skelhorn J, Stevens M. Quantifying camouflage: how to predict detectability from appearance. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2017, 17(7).
- Skelhorn J, Holmes GG, Hossie TJ, Sherratt TN. Multicomponent deceptive signals reduce the speed at which predators learn that prey are profitable. Behavioral Ecology 2016, 27(1), 141-147.
- Skelhorn J. Bitter tastes can influence birds' dietary expansion strategies. Behavioral Ecology 2016, 27(3), 725-730.
- Hossie TJ, Skelhorn J, Breinholt JW, Kawahara AY, Sherratt TN. Body size affects the evolution of eyespots in caterpillars. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2015, 112(21), 6664-6669.
- Skelhorn J, Ruxton GD. Viewing distance affects how the presence of inedible models influence the benefit of masquerade. Evolutionary Ecology 2014, 28(3), 441-455.
- Skelhorn J, Dorrington G, Hossie TJ, Sherratt TN. The position of eyespots and thickened segments influence their protective value to caterpillars. Behavioral Ecology 2014, 25(6), 1417-1422.
- Halpin CG, Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Increased predation of nutrient-enriched aposematic prey. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2014, 281(1781), 20133255.
- Skelhorn J, Ruxton GD. Size-dependent microhabitat selection by masquerading prey. Behavioral Ecology 2013, 24(1), 89–97.
- Halpin CG, Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Predators' decisions to eat defended prey depend on the size of undefended prey. Animal Behaviour 2013, 85(6), 1315-1321.
- Rowland HM, Ruxton GD, Skelhorn J. Bitter taste enhances predatory biases against aggregations of prey with warning colouration. Behavioral Ecology 2013, 24(4), 942–948.
- Halpin CG, Skelhorn J, Rowe C. The relationship between sympatric defended species depends upon predators’ discriminatory behaviour. PLoS One 2012, 7(9), e44895.
- Barnett CA, Skelhorn J, Bateson M, Rowe C. Educated predators make strategic decisions to eat defended prey according to their toxin content. Behavioral Ecology 2012, 23(2), 418-424.
- Skelhorn J, Ruxton GD. Mimicking multiple models: polyphenetic masqueraders gain additional benefits from crypsis. Behavioral Ecology 2011, 22(1), 60-65.
- Skelhorn J, Rowland HM, Delf J, Speed MP, Ruxton GD. Density-dependent predation influences the evolution and behavior of masquerading prey. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2011, 108(16), 6532-6536.
- Skelhorn J, Ruxton GD. Context-dependent misclassification of masquerading prey. Evolutionary Ecology 2011, 25(4), 751–761.
- Skelhorn J. Colour biases are a question of conspecifics' taste. Animal Behaviour 2011, 81(4), 825-829.
- Higginson AD, Ruxton GD, Skelhorn J. The impact of flower-dwelling predators on host plant reproductive success. Oecologia 2010, 164(2), 411-421.
- Skelhorn J, Rowland HM, Ruxton GD. The evolution and ecology of masquerade. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 2010, 99(1), 1-8.
- Skelhorn J, Rowland HM, Speed MP, DeWert L, Quinn L, Delf J, Ruxton GD. Size-dependent misclassification of masquerading prey. Behavioral Ecology 2010, 21(6), 1344–1348.
- Skelhorn J, Ruxton GD. Predators are less likely to misclassify masquerading prey when their models are present. Biology Letters 2010, 6(5), 597-599.
- Skelhorn J, Rowland HM, Speed MP, Ruxton GD. Masquerade: camouflage without crypsis. Science 2010, 327(5961), 51.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Birds learn to use distastefulness as a signal of toxicity. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2010, 277(1688), 1729-1734.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Distastefulness as an antipredator defence strategy. Animal Behaviour 2009, 78(3), 761-766.
- Halpin CG, Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Naïve predators and selection for rare conspicuous defended prey: the initial evolution of aposematism revisited. Animal Behaviour 2008, 75(3), 771-781.
- Skelhorn J, Ruxton GD. Ecological factors influencing the evolution of insects' chemical defenses. Behavioral Ecology 2008, 19(1), 146-153.
- Skelhorn J, Griksaitis D, Rowe C. Colour biases are more than a question of taste. Animal Behaviour 2008, 75(3), 827-835.
- Halpin CG, Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Being conspicuous and defended: Selective benefits for the individual. Behavioral Ecology 2008, 19(5), 1012-1017.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Predators' Toxin Burdens Influence Their Strategic Decisions to Eat Toxic Prey. Current Biology 2007, 17(17), 1479-1483.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Automimic frequency influences the foraging decisions of avian predators on aposematic prey. Animal Behaviour 2007, 74(5), 1563-1572.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Taste-rejection by predators and the evolution of unpalatability in prey. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 2006, 60(4), 550-555.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Prey palatability influences predator learning and memory. Animal Behaviour 2006, 71(5), 1111-1118.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Predator avoidance learning of prey with secreted or stored defences and the evolution of insect defences. Animal Behaviour 2006, 72(4), 827-834.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Do the multiple defense chemicals of visually distinct species enhance predator learning?. Behavioral Ecology 2006, 17(6), 947-951.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Avian predators taste-reject aposematic prey on the basis of their chemical defence. Biology Letters 2006, 2(3), 348-350.
- Skelhorn J, Ruxton GD. Avian predators attack aposematic prey more forcefully when they are part of an aggregation. Biology Letters 2006, 2(4), 488-490.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Tasting the difference: Do multiple defence chemicals interact in Müllerian mimicry?. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2005, 272(1560), 339-345.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Frequency-dependent taste-rejection by avian predation may select for defence chemical polymorphisms in aposematic prey. Biology Letters 2005, 1(4), 500-503.
- Rowe C, Skelhorn J. Colour biases are a question of taste. Animal Behaviour 2005, 69(3), 587-594.
- Rowe C, Skelhorn J. Colour biases are a question of taste. Animal Behaviour 2005, 69, 587-594.
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Editorials
- Skelhorn J. Distaste and disgust responses. Current Biology 2019, 29(17), R822-R823.
- Skelhorn J, Halpin CG, Rowe C. What do predators do? A response to comments on Skelhorn et al. Behavioral Ecology 2016, 27(4), 968-968.
- Skelhorn J, Holmes GG, Hossie TJ, Sherratt TN. Eyespots. Current Biology 2016, 26(2), R52-R54.
- Skelhorn J, Holmes GG, Rowe C. Deimatic or aposematic?. Animal Behaviour 2016, 113, e1-e3.
- Skelhorn J. Masquerade. Current Biology 2015, 25(15), R643-R644.
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Reviews
- Kikuchi DW, Allen WL, Arbuckle K, Aubier TG, Briolat ES, Burdfield-Steel ER, Cheney KL, Dankova K, Elias M, Hamalainen L, Herberstein ME, Hossie TJ, Joron M, Kunte K, Leavell BC, Lindstedt C, Lorioux-Chevalier U, McClure M, McLellan CF, Medina I, Nawge V, Paez E, Pal A, Pekar S, Penacchio O, Raska J, Reader T, Rojas B, Ronka KH, Rossler DC, Rowe C, Rowland HM, Roy A, Schaal KA, Sherratt TN, Skelhorn J, Smart HR, Stankowich T, Stefan AM, Summers K, Taylor CH, Thorogood R, Umbers K, Winters AE, Yeager J, Exnerova A. The evolution and ecology of multiple antipredator defences. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 2023, 36(7), 975-991.
- Drinkwater E, Allen WL, Endler JA, Hanlon RT, Holmes G, Homziak NT, Kang C, Leavell BC, Lehtonen J, Loeffler-Henry K, Ratcliffe JM, Rowe C, Ruxton GD, Sherratt TN, Skelhorn J, Skojec C, Smart HR, White TE, Yack JE, Young CM, Umbers KDL. A synthesis of deimatic behaviour. Biological Reviews 2022, 97(6), 2237-2267.
- Cuthill IC, Allen WL, Arbuckle K, Caspers B, Chaplin G, Hauber ME, Hill GE, Jablonski NG, Jiggins CD, Kelber A, Mappes J, Marshall J, Merrill R, Osorio D, Prum R, Roberts NW, Roulin A, Rowland HM, Sherratt TN, Skelhorn J, Speed MP, Stevens M, Stoddard MC. The biology of color. Science 2017, 357(6350), eaan0221.
- Skelhorn J, Halpin CG, Rowe C. Learning about aposematic prey. Behavioral Ecology 2016, 27(4), 955-964.
- Skelhorn J, Rowe C. Cognition and the evolution of camouflage. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2016, 283(1825).
- Rowe C, Skelhorn J. Avian psychology and communication. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2004, 271(1547), 1435-1442.