Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Dr Andy McGowan

Dr Andy McGowan

Associate Professor in Zoology

 A.McGowan@exeter.ac.uk

 01326 254190

 Stella Turk Building B046-127

 

University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE

Overview

My research interests include:

  • thermal ecology,
  • avian nest building,
  • avian nest site selection,
  • distribution and abundance of harvest mice (a UK BAP species),
  • breeding success of blue tits utilizing nest boxes

Qualifications

2003 PDRA University of California, Berkeley (Feb-Oct)
2003 PhD University of Sheffield, UK (Thesis The fitness benefits of cooperative breeding in Long-tailed tits Aegithalos caudatus )
1998 BSc (Hons) University of Glasgow

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Research

Research interests

Principally, I am field based behavioural ecologist who uses avian models to test evolutionary theories. To date my research has centred on: family group living; cooperative breeding; mechanisms of kin recognition; the alternative strategies of individuals in cooperative groups and their fitness consequences; and the influence of relatedness and nepotism on delayed dispersal.

Research projects

My conservation related research has been primarily concerned with the monitoring of the status of marine turtle populations and has recently diversified into tropical seabird populations. 

Research networks

Brendan Godley, Annette Broderick, Kevin Gaston, Ben Hatchwell, Stu Sharp, and Matthew Evans

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Publications

Journal articles

Vaquero-Alba I, McGowan A, Pincheira-Donoso D, Evans MR, Dall SRX (2016). A quantitative analysis of objective feather color assessment: measurements in the lab do not reflect true plumage color. Auk: a quarterly journal of ornithology, 133, 325-337.
Colman LP, Patrício ARC, McGowan A, Santos AJB, Marcovaldi MÂ, Bellini C, Godley BJ (2016). Long-term growth and survival dynamics of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at an isolated tropical archipelago in Brazil. Marine Biology, 162(1), 111-122. Abstract.
Haskell PJ, McGowan A, Westling A, Méndez-Jiménez A, Rohner CA, Collins K, Rosero-Caicedo M, Salmond J, Monadjem A, Marshall AD, et al (2015). Monitoring the effects of tourism on whale shark Rhincodon typus behaviour in Mozambique. ORYX, 49(3), 492-499. Abstract.
Hawkes LA, Mcgowan A, Broderick AC, Gore S, Wheatley D, White J, Witt MJ, Godley BJ (2014). High rates of growth recorded for hawksbill sea turtles in Anegada, British Virgin Islands. Ecology and Evolution, 4(8), 1255-1266. Abstract.
Colman LP, Patrício ARC, McGowan A, Santos AJB, Marcovaldi MÂ, Bellini C, Godley BJ (2014). Long-term growth and survival dynamics of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at an isolated tropical archipelago in Brazil. Marine Biology
Haskell PJ, McGowan A, Westling A, Méndez-Jiménez A, Rohner CA, Collins K, Rosero-Caicedo M, Salmond J, Monadjem A, Marshall AD, et al (2014). Monitoring the effects of tourism on whale shark Rhincodon typus behaviour in Mozambique. ORYX Abstract.
Napper CJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Simeoni M, Hatchwell BJ (2013). Dominance, not kinship, determines individual position within the communal roosts of a cooperatively breeding bird. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 1-11.
Napper CJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Simeoni M, Hatchwell BJ (2013). Dominance, not kinship, determines individual position within the communal roosts of a cooperatively breeding bird. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 67(12), 2029-2039. Abstract.
Hawkes LA, McGowan A, Godley BJ, Gore S, Lange A, Tyler CR, Wheatley D, White J, Witt MJ, Broderick AC, et al (2013). Estimating sex ratios in Caribbean hawksbill turtles: Testosterone levels and climate effects. Aquatic Biology, 18(1), 9-19. Abstract.
Wright LI, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ, McGowan A, Tregenza T, Broderick AC (2013). No benefits of polyandry to female green turtles. Behavioral Ecology, 24(4), 1022-1029. Abstract.
Evans KL, Newton J, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Hatchwell BJ (2012). Colonisation of urban environments is associated with reduced migratory behaviour, facilitating divergence from ancestral populations. Oikos, 121(4), 634-640. Abstract.
Dor R, Safran RJ, Vortman Y, Lotem A, McGowan A, Evans MR, Lovette IJ (2012). Population Genetics and Morphological Comparisons of Migratory European (<i>Hirundo rustica rustica</i>) and Sedentary East-Mediterranean (<i>Hirundo rustica transitiva</i>) Barn Swallows. JOURNAL OF HEREDITY, 103(1), 55-63.  Author URL.
Wright LI, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ, McGowan A, Tregenza T, Broderick AC (2012). Reconstruction of paternal genotypes over multiple breeding seasons reveals male green turtles do not breed annually. Molecular Ecology, 21(14), 3625-3635. Abstract.
Wright LI, Stokes KL, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ, McGowan A, Snape R, Tregenza T, Broderick AC (2012). Turtle mating patterns buffer against disruptive effects of climate change. Proc Biol Sci, 279(1736), 2122-2127. Abstract.  Author URL.
Dor R, Lovette IJ, Safran RJ, Billerman SM, Huber GH, Vortman Y, Lotem A, McGowan A, Evans MR, Cooper CB, et al (2011). Low variation in the polymorphic Clock gene poly-Q region despite population genetic structure across Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) populations. PLoS ONE, 6(12). Abstract.
Sharp SP, Simeoni M, McGowan A, Nam KB, Hatchwell BJ (2011). Patterns of recruitment, relatedness and cooperative breeding in two populations of long-tailed tits. Animal Behaviour, 81(4), 843-849. Abstract.
Price ARG, Harris A, McGowan A, Venkatachalam AJ, Sheppard CRC (2010). Chagos feels the pinch: Assessment of holothurian (sea cucumber) abundance, illegal harvesting and conservation prospects in British Indian Ocean Territory. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 20(1), 117-126. Abstract.
Witt MJ, McGowan A, Blumenthal JM, Broderick AC, Gore S, Wheatley D, White J, Godley BJ (2010). Inferring vertical and horizontal movements of juvenile marine turtles from time-depth recorders. AQUATIC BIOLOGY, 8(2), 169-177.  Author URL.
Campbell LM, Silver JJ, Gray NJ, Ranger S, Broderick AC, Fisher T, Godfrey MH, Gore S, Hodge KVD, Jeffers J, et al (2009). Co-management of sea turtle fisheries: Biogeography versus geopolitics. Marine Policy, 33, 137-145.
Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Simeoni M, Hatchwell BJ (2009). Effects of urbanisation on disease prevalence and age structure in blackbird Turdus merula populations. Oikos, 118(5), 774-782. Abstract.
Hatchwell BJ, Sharp SP, Simeoni M, McGowan A (2009). Factors influencing overnight loss of body mass in the communal roosts of a social bird. Functional Ecology, 23(2), 367-372. Abstract.
Pintus KJ, Godley BJ, McGowan A, Broderick AC (2009). Impact of clutch relocation on green turtle offspring. Journal of Wildlife Management, 73(7), 1151-1157. Abstract.
Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Frantz AC, Simeoni M, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Dawson DA, Walasz K, Partecke J, Burke T, et al (2009). Independent colonization of multiple urban centres by a formerly forest specialist bird species. Proc Biol Sci, 276(1666), 2403-2410. Abstract.  Author URL.
Evans KL, Gaston KJ, Sharp SP, McGowan A, Hatchwell BJ (2009). The effect of urbanisation on avian morphology and latitudinal gradients in body size. Oikos, 118(2), 251-259. Abstract.
Broderick, A.C. Frett, G. Gore, S. (2008). Down But Not Out: Marine Turtles of the British Virgin Islands. Animal Conservation
Gan C-H, Tee S-M, Tang P-C, Yang JM-C, Freire F, McGowan A, Narriman J, Mohammed MS, Hsieh H-L, Chen C-P, et al (2008). Isolation and characteristics of 10 microsatellite markers from the endangered coconut crab (Birgus latro). Mol Ecol Resour, 8(6), 1448-1450. Abstract.  Author URL.
Mcgowan A, Broderick, A.C. Godley, B.J. (2008). Seabird populations of the Chagos Archipelago: an evaluation of IBA sites and a need for monitoring. Oryx
McGowan A, Woodfield NK, Hilton G, Broderick AC, Godley BJ (2007). A rigorous assessment of the Avifauna of a small Caribbean Island: a case study in Anegada, British Virgin Islands. Caribbean Journal of Science, 43(1), 99-116. Abstract.
McGowan A, Wright LI, Hunt J (2007). Inbreeding and population dynamics: implications for conservation strategies. Animal Conservation, 10, 284-285.
Mcgowan A, Fowlie MK, Ross DJ, Hatchwell BJ (2007). Social organization of co-operatively breeding Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus: Flock composition and kinship. Ibis, 149(1), 170-174.
Broderick, A.C. Gore, S. Hilton, G. (2006). Breeding seabirds in the British Virgin Islands. Endangered Species Research, 3, 1-6.  Author URL.
McGowan A, Sharp SP, Simeoni M & Hatchwell BJ (2006). Competing for position in the communal roosts of long-tailed tits. Animal Behaviour, 76, 1035-1043.
Sharp SP, McGowan A, Wood MJ & Hatchwell BJ (2005). Learned kin recognition cues in a social bird. Nature, 434, 1127-1130.
Dickinson JL & McGowan A (2005). Winter resource wealth drives delayed dispersal and family-group living in western bluebirds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 272, 2423-2428.
Hatchwell BJ, Russell AF, MacColl ADC, Ross DJ, Fowlie MK, McGowan A (2004). Helpers increase long-term but not short-term productivity in cooperatively breeding long-tailed tits. Behavioral Ecology, 15, 1-10.
McGowan A, Sharp SP & Hatchwell BJ (2004). The structure and function of nests of long-tailed tits <em>Aegithalos caudatus</em>. Functional Ecology, 18, 578-583.
McGowan A, Hatchwell BJ & Woodburn RJW (2003). The effect of helping behaviour on the survival of juvenile and adult long-tailed tits (<em>Aegithalo caudatus</em>). Journal of Animal Ecology, 72, 491-499.
McGowan A, Cresswell W & Ruxton GD (2002). The effects of daily weather variation on foraging and responsiveness to disturbance in over-wintering Red Knot (<em>Calidris canutus</em>). Ardea, 90, 229-237.
Broderick, A.C. Deeming, J. Godley, B.J. (2001). Dipteran infestation of loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and green (Chelonia mydas), sea turtle nests in northern Cyprus. Journal of natural History, 35, 573-581.
Hatchwell BJ, Ross DJ, Fowlie MK & McGowan A (2001). Kin discrimination in cooperatively breeding long-tailed tits. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 268, 885-890.
McGowan A, Rowe, L.V. Broderick, A.C. Godley, B.J. (2001). Nest factors predisposing loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) clutches to infestation by dipteran larvae on northern Cyprus. Copeia, 2001(3), 808-812.

Reports

Broderick AC, Godley BJ, Kelly a & McGowan A (1997). Glasgow University Turtle Conservation Expedition 1997: Expedition Report.  Marine Turtle Research Group, Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow.

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards/Honorary fellowships

Senior Fellowship Higher Education Authority

ASPIRE Senior Fellowship


Committee/panel activities

I am a regular reviewer of research grants for BBSRC; French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV); South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP)

Member of the Society of Biology

Member of the British Trust of Ornithology ringing scheme

Outreach

Science in the Square


Editorial responsibilities

I am a  regular reviewer for Annals Zool. Fennica; Auk; Anim Behav, Behav Ecol, Behav Ecol & Socio; Bio & Cons; Can J. Zool; Copeia; End Spec Res; Ethology; Ibis; Israel J. Zoo; J Anim Ecol; J Avian Biol; J Evol Biol; J Nat Hist; J Mar. Biol. Assoc; Mammal Biol; Mar Poll Bull; Nat’schaften; Wilson Bull; Wilson J Ornothol; Zool. Mid East.


Research funding

2003 PDRA University of California, Berkeley, USA

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Teaching

Undergraduate

Module co-ordinator for:

Instructor for:

  • BIO3136 Research Project

Postgraduate

Module co-ordinator for:

  • BIOM4009 Research Projects

I am the Exams and Moderation Officer for Centre of Ecology & Conservation.

I am a Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy.

Modules

2024/25


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Office Hours:

Please note that i work condensed hours and i am not available on alternate Wednesdays and every Thursday afternoon from 14:15 onwards.

Weeks Commencing Monday 29th April - 31st May 2024:

Mondays 11:00-12:00

Tuesdays 11:00-12:00

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