Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search



Professor Nicola Marples
Professor, Zoology

Biography

After reading Zoology in Somerville College, Oxford I went to the University of Wales, Cardiff to do a PhD on "Insect Colour Patterns and Avian Learning" with Prof Paul Brakefield and Dr. Richard Cowie. On completion of the thesis I went to work in the University of Leiden on a Royal Society Post-Doctoral Fellowship, studying the genetic basis for bird foraging decisions. My second post doctoral position was in the University of Sussex, funded by the AFRC investigating "Factors affecting acquisition and recall of information about food palatability in birds." This work was completed in 1996 whereupon I came to TCD as a temporary lecturer in Zoology and secured a permanent position in 2001. I was made a Fellow if the college in 2006 and a Senior lecturer in 2007.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Byrne, Andrew; Allen, Adrian; Ciuti, Simone; Gormley, Eamonn; Kelly, David; Marks, Nikki; Marples, Nicola M.; Menzies, Fraser; Montgomery, Ian; Newman, Chris; O'Hagan, Maria; Reid, Neil; Scantlebury, Mike; Stuart, Peter; Tsai, Ming-shan, Badger Ecology, Bovine Tuberculosis, and Population Management: Lessons from the Island of Ireland, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2024, (Article ID 8875146), 2024 Journal Article, 2024

Fionn Ó Marcaigh, David J Kelly, Darren P O'Connell, Kangkuso Analuddin, Adi Karya, Jennifer McCloughan, Ellen Tolan, Naomi Lawless, Nicola M Marples, Small islands and large biogeographic barriers have driven contrasting speciation patterns in Indo-Pacific sunbirds (Aves: Nectariniidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2023 Journal Article, 2023 DOI URL TARA - Full Text

Mohammad Irham, Dewi M. Prawiradilaga, Jochen K. Menner, Darren P. O'Connell, David J. Kelly, Kangkuso Analuddin, Adi Karya, Martin Meads, Nicola M. Marples, Frank E. Rheindt, A distinct new species of Zosterops white-eye from the Sulawesi region, Indonesia, Ibis, 2023 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Keith McMahon, Nicola M Marples, Lewis G Spurgin, Hannah M Rowland, Ben S Sheldon, Josh A Firth, Social network centrality predicts dietary decisions in a wild bird population , BioRxiv, 2023, p2023.08. 25.554636 Journal Article, 2023

Darren P O'Connell, David J Kelly, Panji G Akbar, Joseph Monkhouse, Seán BA Kelly, Wilf Simcox, Arini Wijayanti, Stephanie K Courtney Jones, Fionn Ó Marcaigh, Adi Karya, Niall T Keogh, Yeni Mulyani, Josh Nightingale, Kangkuso Analuddin, Nicola M Marples, Thomas E Martin , Breeding records of the birds of south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia: a collation of observations encompassing nearly 20 years of research in Wallacea , Bulletin of the British Ornithologists" Club , 142, (3), 2022, p278 - 301 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Fionn Ó Marcaigh, Darren P. O'Connell, Kangkuso Analuddin, Adi Karya, Naomi Lawless, Caroline M. McKeon, Niamh Doyle, Nicola M. Marples, David J. Kelly, Tramps in transition: genetic differentiation between populations of an iconic "supertramp" taxon in the Central Indo-Pacific, Frontiers of Biogeography, 14, (2), 2022, pe54512 Journal Article, 2022 TARA - Full Text DOI URL

Joseph A Tobias, Catherine Sheard, Alex L Pigot, Adam JM Devenish, Jingyi Yang, Ferran Sayol, Montague HC Neate-Clegg, Nico Alioravainen, Thomas L Weeks, Robert A Barber, Patrick A Walkden, Hannah EA MacGregor, Samuel EI Jones, Claire Vincent, Anna G Phillips, Nicola M Marples, Flavia A Montaño-Centellas, Victor Leandro-Silva, Santiago Claramunt, Bianca Darski, Benjamin G Freeman, Tom P Bregman, Christopher R Cooney, Emma C Hughes, Elliot JR Capp, Zoë K Varley, Nicholas R Friedman, Heiko Korntheuer, Andrea Corrales-Vargas, Christopher H Trisos, Brian C Weeks, Dagmar M Hanz, Till Töpfer, Gustavo A Bravo, Vladimír Remeš, Larissa Nowak, Lincoln S Carneiro, Beata Matysioková, Daniel T Baldassarre, Alejandra Martínez-Salinas, Jared D Wolfe, Philip M Chapman, Benjamin G Daly, Marjorie C Sorensen, Alexander Neu, Michael A Ford, Rebekah J Mayhew, Luis Fabio Silveira, David J Kelly, et al., AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds, Ecology Letters, 25, (3), 2022, p581 - 597 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

David Kelly, Nicola Marples, Rachel Byrne, Ursula Fogarty, Kevin Kenny, Henrietta Cameron, Denise Griffin and Celia V. Holland, An investigation of Mycobacterium bovis and helminth coinfection in the European badger Meles meles, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 19, 2022, p311 - 316 Journal Article, 2022

Aoibheann Gaughran, Enda Mullen, Teresa MacWhite, Peter Maher, David J Kelly, Ruth Kelly, Margaret Good, Nicola M Marples, Badger territoriality maintained despite disturbance of major road construction, PLoS ONE, 16, (9), 2021, pe0242586 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

O'Connell D.P., Martin T.E, Kelly D.J., Marples N.M., Analuddin K., Karya A. , Threats to an undescribed songbird species in Indonesia, Oryx, (55), 2021, p9 - 11 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Fionn Ó Marcaigh; David J. Kelly; Kangkuso Analuddin; Adi Karya; Naomi Lawless; Nicola M. Marples, Cryptic sexual dimorphism reveals differing selection pressures on continental islands., Biotropica, (53), 2021, p121 - 129 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Ó Marcaigh, F., Kelly, D.J., O'Connell, D.P., Dunleavy, D., Clark, A., Lawless, N., Karya, A., Analuddin, K., Marples, N.M. , Evolution in the understorey: the Sulawesi babbler Pellorneum celebense (Passeriformes: Pellorneidae) has diverged rapidly on land-bridge islands in the Wallacean biodiversity hotspot., Zoologischer Anzeiger , 293, 2021, p314 - 325 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Kelly D.J., Gaughran A., Mullen E., MacWhite T., Maher P., Good M., Marples N.M. , Extra Territorial Excursions by European badgers are not limited by age, sex or season. , Scientific Reports , 10, 2020, p1 - 12 Journal Article, 2020 URL

O'Connell DP, Kelly DJ, Analuddin K, Karya A, Marples NM, Martin TE, Adapt taxonomy to conservation goals., Science, (369(6508)), 2020, p1172 - 1172 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

O'Connell DP, Kelly DJ, Kelly SBA, Analuddin K, Karya A, Marples NM, Rheindt FE & Martin TE , An assessment of the avifauna of the Wakatobi Islands, South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia: species recorded and taxonomic considerations. , Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 68, 2020, p574 - 587 Journal Article, 2020 URL

O'Connell DP, Kelly DJ, Lawless N, Karya A, Analuddin K & Marples NM , Diversification of a 'great speciator' in the Wallacea region: differing responses by closely related resident and migratory kingfisher species (Aves: Alcedinidae: Todiramphus), Ibis, 2019 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

O'Connell D, Kelly DJ, Kelly SBA, Sealy S, Karya A, Analuddin K and Marples NM., Increased sexual dimorphism in dense populations of Olive-backed Sunbirds on small islands: morphological niche contraction in females but not males., Emu - Austral Ornithology, 2019 Journal Article, 2019 DOI URL

A Gaughran, T MacWhite, E Mullen, P Maher, DJ Kelly, M Good, NM Marples , Dispersal patterns in a medium‐density Irish badger population: Implications for understanding the dynamics of tuberculosis transmission., Ecology and Evolution, 9, (23), 2019, p13142 - 13152 Journal Article, 2019

O'Connell, D. & Ó Marcaigh, F. & O'Neill, A. & Karya, A. & Analuddin, K. & Kelly, D & Marples, N.M. , The avifauna of Muna and Wawonii Islands, with additional records from mainland South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia., Forktail, 35, 2019, p50 - 56 Journal Article, 2019

Darren P O"Connell, David J Kelly, Naomi Lawless, Katie O"Brien, Fionn Ó Marcaigh, Adi Karya, Kangkuso Analuddin, Nicola M Marples, A sympatric pair of undescribed white-eye species (Aves: Zosteropidae: Zosterops) with different origins, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 186, (3), 2019, p701 - 724 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Byrne RL, Fogarty U, Mooney A, Harris E, Good M, Marples NM, Holland CV , The helminth parasite community of European badgers (Meles meles) in Ireland. , Journal of Helminthology, 94, 2019, pe37- Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Rachel L. Byrne, Ursula Fogarty, Andrew Mooney, Nicola M. Marples and Celia V Holland, A comparison of helminth infections as assessed through coprological analysis and adult worm burdens in a wild host, International Journal of Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 7, 2018, p439 - 444 Journal Article, 2018 TARA - Full Text DOI

Martin T.E., O'Connell DP, Kelly DJ, Karya A, Analuddin K, & Marples NM, A new record of Dwarf Sparrowhawk Accipiter nanus in south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia: is it only restricted to upland forests? , BirdingASIA , (29), 2018, p103 - 104 Journal Article, 2018 URL

Monkhouse J.R., O'Connell D.P., Kelly D.J., Analuddin K., Karya A., Marples N.M. & Martin T.E. ., The avifauna of Menui Island, south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia, Forktail , 34, 2018, p42 - 47 Journal Article, 2018

Gaughran A, Kelly DJ, MacWhite T, Mullen E, Maher P, Good M, Marples, NM, Super-ranging. A new ranging strategy in European badgers., PLoS ONE , 13, (2), 2018 Journal Article, 2018 TARA - Full Text DOI

O'Connell, D. P., Sealy, S., Ó Marcaigh, F., Karya , A., Bahrun, A., Analuddin, K., Kelly, D. J. & Marples, N. M. , The avifauna of Kabaena Island, South-east Sulawesi, Indonesia, Forktail, 33, 2018 Journal Article, 2018 URL

Marples NM, Speed M, Thomas RJ , An individual-based profitability spectrum for understanding interactions between predators and their prey. , Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 125, 2018, p1 - 13 Journal Article, 2018 DOI

McMahon K. and Marples N.M, Reduced dietary conservatism in a wild bird in the presence of intraspecific competition., Journal of Avian Biology, 48, (3), 2017, p448 - 454 Journal Article, 2017 DOI

Keane C.K. and Marples N.M., The effects of zoo visitors on a group of Western Lowland Gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla before and after the birth of an infant in Dublin Zoo, International Zoo Yearbook , 2016, (50), 2016 Journal Article, 2016

O'Reilly C, Marples N.M, Kelly D.J, Harte N, YIN-bird: Improved pitch tracking for bird vocalisations, Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Speech Communication Association, INTERSPEECH, 2016, 08-12-September-2016, 2016, pp2641 - 2645 Conference Paper, 2016 DOI URL

Corner, L. A. L., Stuart, L. J., Kelly, D. J. and Marples, N. M. , Reproductive biology including evidence for superfetation in the European badger Meles meles (Carnivora: Mustelidae). , PLoS ONE , 10, (10), 2015, pe0138093- Journal Article, 2015 URL DOI TARA - Full Text

Mullen, E. M., MacWhite, T., Maher, P. K., Kelly, D. J., Marples, N. M. and Good, M. , The avoidance of farmyards by European badgers Meles meles in a medium density population., Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 171, 2015, p170-176 Journal Article, 2015 URL DOI

Keane C.K. and Marples N.M. , Zoo Playgrounds: A Source of Enrichment or Stress for a Group of Nearby Cockatoos? A case study. , Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science., 18, 2015 Journal Article, 2015 DOI

C. O'Reilly, D. J. Kelly, N. M. Marples and N. Harte , Quantifying difference in vocalizations of bird populations, Proceedings of Interspeech 2015, 2015, 2015, p3417 - 3421 Journal Article, 2015

Keith McMahon, K., Conboy, A., O'Byrne-White, E., Thomas, R.J., & Marples N.M., Dietary wariness influences the response of foraging birds to competitors, Animal Behaviour , 89, 2014, p63 - 69 Journal Article, 2014

Richards E.L., Alexander L.G., Snellgrove D., Thomas R.J., Marples N.M. & Cable J., Variation in the expression of dietary conservatism within and between fish species, Animal Behaviour , 88, 2014, p49 - 56 Journal Article, 2014

Kelly SBA, Kelly DJ, Cooper N, Bahrun A, Analuddin K, Marples NM, Molecular and Phenotypic Data Support the Recognition of the Wakatobi Flowerpecker (Dicaeum kuehni) from the Unique and Understudied Sulawesi Region, PLoS ONE, 9, (6), 2014, e98694- Journal Article, 2014 URL DOI TARA - Full Text

Harte, Naomi, Murphy, Sadhbh, Kelly, David J. and Marples, Nicola M., Identifying new bird species from differences in birdsong. , INTERSPEECH, Lyon France., 2013, pp2900-2904 Conference Paper, 2013

Mullen EM, MacWhite T, Maher PK, Kelly DJ, Marples NM, Good M, Foraging Eurasian badgers Meles meles and the presence of cattle in pastures. Do badgers avoid cattle? , Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 143, 2013, p130-137 Journal Article, 2013 DOI URL URL

MacWhite, T., Mullen, E.M., Maher, P., Kelly, D.J., Good, M., Marples, N.M., Satellite tracking study of badgers Meles meles to establish normal ranging behaviour prior to a road realignment., Irish Naturalists Journal , 32, 2013, p99 - 105 Journal Article, 2013

Kelly, D. J., Robertson, A., Murphy, D., Fitzsimons, T., Costello, E., Gormley, E., Corner, L. A. L., Marples, N. M. , Trophic enrichment factors for blood serum in the European badger (Meles meles), PLoS ONE, 7, (12), 2012, pe53071 Journal Article, 2012 TARA - Full Text DOI

David J. Kelly, Nicola M. Marples, Annual survival rate and mean life-span of Lemon-bellied White-eyes Zosterops chloris flavissimus on Kaledupa island, Wakatobi, south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia, Forktail, 28, 2012, p148 - 149 Journal Article, 2012

Siddall E.C. and Marples N.M. , Hear no evil: The effect of auditory warning signals on avian innate avoidance, learned avoidance and memory. , Current Zoology, 57, 2011, p197 - 207 Journal Article, 2011

Cleary G.P., Corner L.A.L., O'Keeffe J.& Marples N.M., Diet of the European badger (Meles meles) in the Republic of Ireland: a comparison of results from an analysis of stomach contents and rectal faeces., Mammalian Biology , 2011 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

Kelly, D. J., Corner, L. A. L., Gormley, E., Murphy, D., Costello, E., Aldwell, F. E. & Marples, N. M. , Evaluation of attractant flavours for use in oral vaccine baits for badgers (Meles meles), European Journal of Wildlife Research, 57, (4), 2011, p767 - 774 Journal Article, 2011 URL DOI

Siddall E.C. and Marples N.M. , The effect of pyrazine odor on avoidance learning and memory in wild robins Erithacus rubecula. , Current Zoology, 57, 2011, p208 - 214 Journal Article, 2011

Kelly D.J. and Marples N.M, Olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) in south eastern Sulawesi, BirdingASIA, 15, 2011, p15 - 16 Journal Article, 2011

Whilde J. and Marples N.M., The effect of a birth on the behavior of a family group of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at Dublin Zoo. , Zoo Biology , 2011 Journal Article, 2011

Marples N.M. and Mappes J. , Can the dietary conservatism of predators compensate for positive frequency dependent selection against rare, conspicuous prey? , Evolutionary Ecology, 25, 2011, p737 - 749 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

Richards E.L., Thomas R.J., Marples N.M., Snellgrove D.L., Cable J., The expression of dietary conservatism in solitary and shoaling 3-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus., Behavioral Ecology, 2011 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

Thomas R.J., King T.A., Forshaw H.E., Marples N.M., Speed M.P., & Cable J. , The response of fish to novel prey: evidence that dietary conservatism is not restricted to birds , Behavioural Ecology, 21, (4), 2010, p669 - 675 Journal Article, 2010 DOI

Kelly, D.J., Marples, N.M. & Singer, H. A. , A population of Lemon-bellied White-eye Zosterops chloris from the south-eastern peninsula of Sulawesi., Forktail, 26, 2010, p138 - 139 Journal Article, 2010 URL

Lee T, Speed, M. and Marples NM., Can dietary conservatism explain the primary evolution of aposematism? , Animal Behaviour , 79, (1), 2010, p63 - 74 Journal Article, 2010 DOI

Bird Populations of the Wakatobi in, editor(s)Clifton, J., Unsworth R. and Smith, D.J. , Marine conservation and research in the Coral Triangle: the Wakatobi Marine National Park, New York, Nova Science Publishers, 2010, pp149 - 170, [Kelly, D. J. & Marples, N. M.] Book Chapter, 2010 URL

Whilde J. and Marples N.M. , The behaviour of a zoo-housed infant orangutan following the death of its mother., Zoo Biology, 29, 2010, p1 - 7 Journal Article, 2010 DOI

Cleary, G.P., Corner, L.A.L., O'Keeffe, J., Marples, N.M. , The diet of the badger Meles meles in the Republic of Ireland. , Mammalian Biology , (74), 2009, p438 - 445 Journal Article, 2009 DOI

Siddall, E.C. & Marples, N.M. , Better to be bimodal: the interaction of color and odor on learning and memory., Behavioural Ecology , 19, 2008, p425 - 432 Journal Article, 2008

Marples, N.M., Quinlan, M., Thomas, R.J. and Kelly, D.J., Deactivation of dietary wariness through experience of novel food., Behavioral Ecology , 18, 2007, p803 - 810 Journal Article, 2007 URL DOI

Marples, N.M., Kelly, D.J. & Thomas, R.J. , Perspective: The evolution of warning coloration is not paradoxical, Evolution , 59, 2005, p933 - 940 Journal Article, 2005 DOI URL URL

Mappes, J., Marples, N.M & Endler, J. A., The Complex business of survival by aposematism., Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 20, 2005, p598 - 603 Journal Article, 2005

Multivariate Tests in, editor(s)A. B. Plowman , Zoo Research Guidelines: Statistics for typical zoo datasets, London, BIAZA, 2005, pp17 - 23, [Mellfi, V. A., Marples, N. M. & Ruxton G. D.] Book Chapter, 2005

Marples, N. M., Kelly, D. J. & Thomas, R. J., Perspective: The evolution of warning coloration is not paradoxical, Evolution, 59, 2005, p933 - 940 Journal Article, 2005 URL

Analysing activity budgets with G-tests in, editor(s)A. B. Plowman , Zoo Research Guidelines: Statistics for typical zoo datasets, London, BIAZA, 2005, pp24 - 26, [Marples, N. M, Ruxton, G. D., & Colgrave] Book Chapter, 2005

The chemical defences of an aposematic complex: A case study of two-spot and seven-spot ladybirds in, editor(s)H.van Emden and M. Rothschild , Insect and Bird Interactions, Hampshire, Intercept, 2004, pp193 - 203, [Marples, N. M.] Book Chapter, 2004

Thomas, R.J., Bartlett, L., Marples, N.M., Kelly, D.J. and Cuthill, I.C. , Prey selection by wild birds can allow novel and conspicuous colour morphs to spread in prey populations, Oikos , 106, (2), 2004, p285 - 294 Journal Article, 2004 URL DOI

Kelly, D. J., & Marples, N. M. , The effects of novel odour and colour cues on food acceptance by the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Animal Behaviour, 68, 2004, p1049 - 1054 Journal Article, 2004

Thomas, R. J., Bartlett, L., Marples, N. M., Kelly, D. J. & Cuthill, I. C., Prey selection by wild birds can allow novel and conspicuous colour morphs to spread in prey populations., Oikos, 106, 2004, p285 - 294 Journal Article, 2004

Warning colours and warning smells: how birds learn to avoid aposematic insects in, editor(s)H.van Emden and M. Rothschild , Insect and Bird Interactions , Hampshire , Intercept, 2004, pp185 - 192, [Marples, N. M. & Roper, T. J.] Book Chapter, 2004

Keane, C. & Marples, N. M., A Study on the behaviour of a Gorilla Group in Dublin Zoo, Based on the Effects of Visitors., Oral presentation given at The Primate Society of Great Britain conference, Paignton, 29th-30th March 2004, 2004 Conference Paper, 2004

Keane, C. & Marples, N., The effect of visitors on gorilla behaviour before and after the birth of a baby., Proceedings of the 5th Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, 2003, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Armstrong, S. & Marples, N., Nutrition, foraging behaviour and space use by plains zebra (Equus burchelli) housed in mixed species exhibits., Proceedings of the 5th Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, 2003, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Thomas, R.J., Drewitt, E.A., Marples, N.M., Kelly, D.J. and Semple, S. , Nocturnal playbacks reveal hidden population differences in singing behaviour, Bird Study, 50, (1), 2003, p84 - 87 Journal Article, 2003 DOI

Armstrong, S. & Marples, N, Foraging behaviour and space use by mixed species exhibits with special emphasis on zebra., Proceedings of the British Veterinary Zoological Society Spring Meeting, 2003, 55, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Thomas, R.J., Marples, N. M., Cuthill, I. C., Takahashi, M. & Gibson, E. A., Dietary conservatism may facilitate the initial evolution of aposematism, Oikos, 101, 2003, p458 - 466 Journal Article, 2003

Robinson-Dean, J.C., Willmott, K.R., Catterall, M.J., Kelly, D.J., Whittington, A., Phalan, B., Marples, N.M. and Boeadi, D.R.S. , A new subspecies of Red-backed Thrush Zoothera erythronota kabaena subsp. nov. (Muscicapidae: Turdidae) from Kabaena island, Indonesia, Forktail , 18, 2002, p1 - 10 Journal Article, 2002

Melfi V.A. & Marples N.M., Multiple-regression: a method to establish the affects of captivity on behaviour, Proceedings of the 3rd Zoo Federation Research Symposium, Chester Zoo, UK, 2001, 2001 Conference Paper, 2001

Elson H.L.G. & Marples N.M., The effects of environmental enrichment on parrots and cockatoos in captivity, Proceedings of the 5th International Conferences on Environmental Enrichment, Taronga Zoo, Australia, 2001, 2001 Conference Paper, 2001

Melfi V.A. & Marples N.M., How does captive housing and husbandry affect, Proceedings of the XVIIIth Congress of the International Primatological Society, Adelaide, Australia, 2001, 2001 Conference Paper, 2001

Elson H.L.G. & Marples N.M. , How captive parrots react to foraging enrichments, Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, North of England Zoological Society, Chester, UK, 2001, 2001 Conference Paper, 2001

Barwig, J. & Marples, N. , Parental care in a newly formed wolf pack (Canis lupus occidentalis) in captivity, Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, 2001, 2001, pp131 - 136 Conference Paper, 2001

Marples N.M. & Kelly D.J. , Neophobia and dietary conservatism: two distinct processes?, Evolutionary Ecology, 13, 2001, p641 - 653 Journal Article, 2001 DOI

Healy E. & Marples N.M, The Effect of Enclosure Complexity on Activity Levels and Stereotypic Behaviour for Three Species of the Genus Panthera at Dublin Zoo, Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, 2000, 2000, pp35 - 42 Conference Paper, 2000

Melfi V.A. & Marples N.M, How different captive environments affect Sulawesi macaque behaviour., Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, Paignton, UK. , 2000, 2000 Conference Paper, 2000

Barwig, J. & Marples, N., Pup rearing as social enrichment in Timber wolves (Canis lupus occidentalis) in captivity, Proceedings of the 17th Ethologentreffen, Utrecht, Netherlands., 2000, 2000, pp67- Conference Paper, 2000

Farrell M., Barry, E. & Marples N.M., The breeding behaviour of the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopteris chilensis) in a captive colony, Zoo Biology, 19, 2000, p227 - 237 Journal Article, 2000

Melfi V.A. & Marples N.M. , Behaviour and enclosure use by captive Sulawesi Macaques (Macaca nigra) at Marwell Zoo, Marwell Zoo Research, 2000, p38 - 45 Journal Article, 2000

Kinahan A. & Marples N.M., Behavioural studies on captive tapirs Taprius terrestrius and giraffes Giraffa camelopardis, with particular attention to feeding, Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, 2000, pp127 - 136 Conference Paper, 2000

Melfi V.A. & Marples N.M. , Behaviour and enclosure use by captive Sulawesi Macaques (Macaca nigra) at Marwell Zoo, Marwell Zoo Research, 2000, p38 - 45 Journal Article, 2000

Melfi V.A. & Marples N.M, How different captive environmental affect Sulawesi, Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Symposium on Zoo Research, Paignton, UK. , 2000 Conference Paper, 2000

Melfi, V. A. & Marples N. M., Seasonality in captive Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra)., 1st Symposium on Zoo Research, Paignton, 10th June 1999., 1999 Conference Paper, 1999

Barry, L. & Marples, N. M., The study of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) at Dublin Zoo: the effect of environmental change and enrichment on behaviour., 1st Symposium on Zoo Research, Paignton, 10th June 1999., 1999 Conference Paper, 1999

Marples, N. M., Ryan, S., McGeough, O. & McDaid, D., Enrichment, behaviour and visitor attention at Dublin Zoo, 1st Symposium on Zoo Research, Paignton, 10th June 1999, 1999 Conference Paper, 1999

Seale, E., & Marples, N. M., The effective management of captive Chilen Flamingos at Dublin Zoo, 1st Symposium on Zoo Research, Paignton, 10th June 1999, 1999 Conference Paper, 1999

Marples N.M. & Kelly D.J., Neophobia and dietary conservatism: two distinct processes? , Evolutionary Ecology , 13, (7-8), 1999, p641 - 653 Journal Article, 1999 URL DOI

Marples N.M., Roper T.J. & Harper D.G.C. , Responses of wild birds to novel prey: evidence of dietary conservatism, Oikos, 83, 1998, p161 - 165 Journal Article, 1998

Marples, N. M, McDevitt, S., Kelly, C., & Sloane, A., Big Cats in Captivity: a quantitative analysis of enrichment, The 2nd International Symposium on Physiology and Ethology of Wild and Zoo Animals , Berlin, 7-10th October 1998, 1998 Conference Paper, 1998

Barry, E. & Marples N. M., Polar bears at Dublin Zoo: the effect of enclosure modification and environmental enrichment on behaviour, The 2nd International Symposium on Physiology and Ethology of Wild and Zoo Animals , Berlin, 7-10th October 1998, 1998 Conference Paper, 1998

Farrell, M. A., Barry E. & Marples, N. M, Observations on the breeding behaviour of a captive flock of Chilean flamingos at Dublin Zoological Gardens, The 2nd International Symposium on Physiology and Ethology of Wild and Zoo Animals, Berlin, 7-10th October 1998, 1998 Conference Paper, 1998

Roper T.J. & Marples N.M. , Odour and colour as cues for taste-avoidance learning in domestic chicks, Animal Behaviour, 53, 1997, p1241 - 1250 Journal Article, 1997

Marples N.M. & Roper T.J. , Response of domestic chicks to methyl anthranilate odour, Animal Behaviour, 53, 1997, p1263 - 1270 Journal Article, 1997

Roper T.J. & Marples N.M. , 1997 Colour preferences in domestic chicks in relation to food and water presentation, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 54, 1997, p207 - 213 Journal Article, 1997 DOI

Marples N.M. & Roper T.J. , Effects of novel colour and smell on the response of naive chicks towards food and water. , Animal Behaviour, 51, 1996, p1417 - 1424 Journal Article, 1996

Marples N.M. & Brakefield P.M. , Genetic variation for the rate of recruitment of novel insect prey into the diet of a bird, Bio. J. Linn. Soc, 55, 1995, p17 - 27 Journal Article, 1995

Marples N.M., van Veelen W. & Brakefield P.M., A comparison of aposematic cues: Which protects an insect; colour, taste or smell, Animal Behaviour , 48, 1994, p967 - 997 Journal Article, 1994

Marples, N. M. de Jong P. W., Ottenheim M., Verhoog, M. D. & Brakefield, P. M., The inheritance of a wingless character in the 2 spot ladybird (Adakua bipunctata), Ent. Exp. Appl., 69, 1993, p69 - 73 Journal Article, 1993 DOI

Marples, N. M., Toxicity assays of lady birds using natural predators, Chemoecology, 4, 1993, p33 - 38 Journal Article, 1993

Marples, N. M., Is the alkaloid in two-spot lady birds (Adalia bipunctata) a defence against ant predation?, Chemoecology, 4, 1993, p29 - 32 Journal Article, 1993

Marples, N. M., Do wild birds use size to distinguish palatable and unpalatable prey types., Animal Behaviour, 46, 1993, p347 - 354 Journal Article, 1993

Marples, N. M, The Influences of Predation on Ladybird Colour Patterns, University of Wales, Cardiff, 1990 Thesis, 1990

Marples, N.M., Brakefield, P.M. & Cowie, R.J. , Differences between the 7-spot and 2-spot ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) in their toxic effects on a bird predator, Ecol. Entomol, 14, 1989, p79 - 84 Journal Article, 1989

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

David J. Kelly, Aoibheann Gaughran, Enda Mullen, Teresa MacWhite, Peter Maher, Margaret Good and Nicola M. Marples, ETE frequencies dataset, pre-publication upload, the authors, 2019 Dataset, 2019 DOI TARA - Full Text

David J. Kelly, Aoibheann Gaughran, Enda Mullen, Teresa MacWhite, Peter Maher, Margaret Good and Nicola M. Marples, ETE distances dataset, pre-publication upload, the authors, 2019 Dataset, 2019 URL TARA - Full Text

Wride M.A., Jones M., Marples M.M., Mitchell F, The light of life: can you believe your eyes?, Lightwave: ready to be illuminated?, Science Gallery, TCD, Feb 5, 2008, Science Gallery, TCD Invited Talk, 2008

Marples, N. M., Kelly, D. J. & Thomas, R. J., The paradox of aposematism., ASAB Summer Conference, Lancaster, 19th-21st July 2005., 2005 Conference Paper, 2005

Thomas, R. J., Marples, N. M. & Kelly, D. J, Can dietary conservatism aid the evolution of aposematism?, 10th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, Krakow, Poland., 15th-20th Aug. 2005., 2005 Conference Paper, 2005

Research Expertise

Description

My research interests are divided into four main themes each with a number of aspects currently under active research: 1)Avian Predatory Behaviour: Understanding of predator-prey systems particularly as they relate to avian predation on insects. ·Responses of birds to novel colour and odour cues in their prey. ·The effects of prey aggregation on learning and memory in birds. ·The stages involved in the recruitment of new prey into a birds' diet. ·Mimicry systems and their effects on predation pressures. ·The evolution of aposematic colour patterns. 2)Zoo Research: Behavioural studies leading to the effective management of captive animals in zoos. Current topics include: ·Effects of environmental enrichment on the behaviour of birds. ·Identification and alleviation of detrimental effects which visitors have on zoo animals 3) Feeding ecology and reproductive biology of badgers in Ireland. 4)I have a great interest and increasing opportunity to study bird populations in relation to biogeography and conservation in the tropical rainforests and islands of Sulawesi.

Projects

  • Title
    • Avian foraging and evolution of insects
  • Summary
    • To understand the evolutionary effects of avian foraging decisions on the defense systems of their prey. The work in the immediate future is on the plasticity of foraging strategies employed by birds, when encountering novel prey types. Individuals have a genetic propensity either to attack or to avoid new prey types, and understanding how these two strategies are expressed in differing habitats is important for understanding foraging behaviour. This work has strong implications for conservation of birds as their ranges and the ranges of their prey expand or move in response to climate change.
  • Funding Agency
    • IRCSET
  • Date From
    • 2010
  • Date To
    • 2013
  • Title
    • Ecology and behaviour of badgers
  • Summary
    • To gain a fuller understanding of ecology and behaviour of Irish badgers, with a view to facilitating their vaccination against TB. This branch of research at TCD began in 2005 and currently supports a post doctorate researcher and a post graduate.
  • Funding Agency
    • Dept of Agriculture and Fisheries
  • Date From
    • 2008
  • Title
    • Enrichment of zoo animal behaviour
  • Summary
    • To improve welfare and reintroduction success of zoo animals by a better understanding of their behaviour in captivity. The collaboration between Dublin zoo and TCD has been highly productive over more than 10 years, producing a steady stream of postgraduate research projects on the behavioural effects of enclosure design, and the effects of visitors on the welfare and behaviour of zoo held animals.
  • Funding Agency
    • Dublin Zoo, Enterprise Ireland
  • Date From
    • 1997
  • Title
    • Avian biogeography in Indonesia
  • Summary
    • Assessment of the evolutionary changes occurring in the birds of the islands of South East Sulawesi. This research takes place in the summer in collaboration with Operation Wallacea, an organization facilitating research and conservation programs all over the world. In Summer 2007 we will complete a long-term study, begun in 1999, of the birds on a group of islands off South East Sulawesi.
  • Funding Agency
    • Operation Wallacea
  • Date From
    • 1999

Keywords

Animal Behaviour; Animal Health, Welfare; Aposematism; Avian Predation; Badger; Behaviour; Biodiversity and Conservation; Chicks; Conservation and wildlife biology; Diet; Ecology; Environmental Enrichment; Evolution; Food; Food Novelty; Mimicry; Neophobia; Prey; Reproduction; Selection; Zoo Biology

Recognition

Representations

Chairman of the Education Sub-Committee of ASAB 2006 - 2008

Member of the Zoo Research Committee of the Zoo Federation of UK and Ireland. 2004- present

Member of the Research and Conservation Committee of Dublin, Fota and Belfast Zoos 2005 - present

Invited Research Supervisor to Operation Wallacea 2001 - present

Scientific advisor to Operation Wallacea, (conservation in Sulawesi) 2000 onwards

Referee for international journals including Animal Behaviour; Behavioural Ecology, Science, Behaviour, Evolution, and Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

External referee for PhD Thesis in Bristol, Leeds, and Anglia Ruskin Universities, and MSc thesis in Southampton.

Advisor to 2001 winner of Young Scientist of the Year, senior section.

Member at large of the Fellows Standing Committee

Awards and Honours

TCD Provost's Teaching Award 2002

Fellow of Trinity College Dublin 2006

Memberships

Operation Wallacea 1999 – present

Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour 1980 – present

British Trust for Ornithology 1995 – present

Earthwatch 2001 – 2002

British and Irish Association for Zoos and Aquaria 1996 – present