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Dr Laura Kelley

Dr Laura Kelley

Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow

 01326 253740

 Daphne du Maurier 3038

 

Daphne du Maurier Building, University of Exeter,  Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK

Overview

I am interested in how animals experience the world, and my research focuses on animal perception, cognition and behaviour. For up to date information, please visit my website www.laurakelleyresearch.com.

My research uses birds, insects and humans to ask questions about the production and perception of visual and acoustic signals. My current research investigates how animals can exploit sensory systems by creating visual illusions in mate choice and predator-prey interactions.

I am also a member of the Behaviour research group.

Office hours: Monday 3-4pm, Friday 3-4pm

Qualifications

2010: PhD University of Edinburgh,
2003: BSc (Hons) Zoology, University of Edinburgh

Career

2017: Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow
2016: Lecturer in animal perception and behaviour
2013-2015: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow, University of Cambridge, UK
2012-2013: Senior Lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University, UK
2010-2012: Research Fellow, Deakin University, Australia

Links

Research

Research interests

Production and perception of animal signals

Research projects

My research broadly focuses on how animals use their senses to interpret the world and how this shapes the production, perception and evolution of signals. I am interested in how sensory systems process information and the role of the brain in perception. My current research investigates how animals can exploit sensory systems in mate choice and predator-prey interactions, focusing on birds, insects and humans.

Current topics of research include:

  • The perception of visual illusions created by animals in nature
  • Examining the behavioural and cognitive basis of a forced perspective illusion created by bowerbirds
  • The evolution of anti-predator patterning during movement

Grants/Funding:

2013-2015: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship

Publications

Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year

Key publications

Kelley LA, Kelley JL (2013). Animal visual illusion and confusion: the importance of a perceptual perspective. Behavioral Ecology, 25(3), 450-463.
Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Illusions Promote Mating Success in Great Bowerbirds. Science, 335(6066), 335-338.
Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Male great bowerbirds create forced perspective illusions with consistently different individual quality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(51), 20980-20985.

Publications by category

Journal articles

Kelley LA (In Press). California scrub-jays reduce visual cues available to potential pilferers by matching food colour to caching substrate. Biology Letters Full text.
Kelley LA (In Press). How do great bowerbirds construct perspective illusions?. Royal Society Open Science Full text.
Kelley LA, Kelley JL (2014). Perceptual biases and animal illusions: a response to comments on Kelley and Kelley. Behavioral Ecology, 25(3), 468-469.
Endler JA, Gaburro J, Kelley LA (2014). Visual effects in great bowerbird sexual displays and their implications for signal design. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281(1783), 20140235-20140235.
Endler JA, Gaburro J, Kelley LA (2014). Visual effects in great bowerbird sexual displays and their implications for signal design (vol 281, 20140235, 2014). PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 281(1785). Author URL.
Kelley LA, Kelley JL (2013). Animal visual illusion and confusion: the importance of a perceptual perspective. Behavioral Ecology, 25(3), 450-463.
Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Illusions Promote Mating Success in Great Bowerbirds. Science, 335(6066), 335-338.
Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Male great bowerbirds create forced perspective illusions with consistently different individual quality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(51), 20980-20985.
Endler JA, Mielke PW, Kelley LA (2012). Response to Comment on "Illusions Promote Mating Success in Great Bowerbirds". Science, 337(6092), 292-292.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2012). Vocal mimicry in spotted bowerbirds is associated with an alarming context. Journal of Avian Biology, 43(6), 525-530.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2011). The mimetic repertoire of the spotted bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus maculatus. Naturwissenschaften, 98(6), 501-507.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2011). Vocal mimicry. Current Biology, 21(1), R9-R10.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2010). Vocal mimicry in male bowerbirds: who learns from whom?. Biology Letters, 6(5), 626-629.
Healy S, Bacon I, Haggis O, Harris A, Kelley L (2009). Explanations for variation in cognitive ability: Behavioural ecology meets comparative cognition. Behavioural Processes, 80(3), 288-294.
Kelley LA, Coe RL, Madden JR, Healy SD (2008). Vocal mimicry in songbirds. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 76, 521-528. Author URL.

Publications by year

In Press

Kelley LA (In Press). California scrub-jays reduce visual cues available to potential pilferers by matching food colour to caching substrate. Biology Letters Full text.
Kelley LA (In Press). How do great bowerbirds construct perspective illusions?. Royal Society Open Science Full text.

2014

Kelley LA, Kelley JL (2014). Perceptual biases and animal illusions: a response to comments on Kelley and Kelley. Behavioral Ecology, 25(3), 468-469.
Endler JA, Gaburro J, Kelley LA (2014). Visual effects in great bowerbird sexual displays and their implications for signal design. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281(1783), 20140235-20140235.
Endler JA, Gaburro J, Kelley LA (2014). Visual effects in great bowerbird sexual displays and their implications for signal design (vol 281, 20140235, 2014). PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 281(1785). Author URL.

2013

Kelley LA, Kelley JL (2013). Animal visual illusion and confusion: the importance of a perceptual perspective. Behavioral Ecology, 25(3), 450-463.

2012

Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Illusions Promote Mating Success in Great Bowerbirds. Science, 335(6066), 335-338.
Kelley LA, Endler JA (2012). Male great bowerbirds create forced perspective illusions with consistently different individual quality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(51), 20980-20985.
Endler JA, Mielke PW, Kelley LA (2012). Response to Comment on "Illusions Promote Mating Success in Great Bowerbirds". Science, 337(6092), 292-292.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2012). Vocal mimicry in spotted bowerbirds is associated with an alarming context. Journal of Avian Biology, 43(6), 525-530.

2011

Kelley LA, Healy SD (2011). The mimetic repertoire of the spotted bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus maculatus. Naturwissenschaften, 98(6), 501-507.
Kelley LA, Healy SD (2011). Vocal mimicry. Current Biology, 21(1), R9-R10.

2010

Kelley LA, Healy SD (2010). Vocal mimicry in male bowerbirds: who learns from whom?. Biology Letters, 6(5), 626-629.

2009

Healy S, Bacon I, Haggis O, Harris A, Kelley L (2009). Explanations for variation in cognitive ability: Behavioural ecology meets comparative cognition. Behavioural Processes, 80(3), 288-294.

2008

Kelley LA, Coe RL, Madden JR, Healy SD (2008). Vocal mimicry in songbirds. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 76, 521-528. Author URL.

Laura_Kelley Details from cache as at 2019-09-18 12:22:42

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External Engagement and Impact

Invited lectures

Invited seminars: Christopher Barnard for Outstanding Contributions by a New Investigator plenary, LIverpool, UK (2017), University of Jyväskylä, Finland (2015), University of Liverpool (2014), University of St Andrews, UK (2013), University of Cambridge, UK (2013), University of Exeter, UK (2013)

Invited symposium talks:

Behaviour 2015: “Colour in nature: Conceptual and methodological challenges and emerging solutions”, Cairns, Australia (2015)

The Royal Society Theo Murphy international scientific meeting ‘When senses take flight: the evolution, development, mechanisms and function of avian senses’, Chicheley Hall, (2014)

International Ethological Conference ‘Celebrating 150 years of mimicry research’, Newcastle, UK (2013)


Media Coverage

My research has been covered by BBC news online, The Guardian, New York Times, The Independent on Sunday, National Geographic, Discover Magazine, The Australian, The Age, Cosmos Magazine, Scientific American Mind,The Scotsman, The Herald, NERC Planet Earth, interviewed for BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Three Counties, CBC Radio (Canada)

Teaching

  • BIO2439 Biology of Birds

Supervision / Group

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