Acting Director

Assoc. Prof. Peter G. Ryan BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD (Cape Town) John Day Building: 2.06 Tel:+27 (0)21 650 2966 Fax: +27 (0)21 650 3295 Email: peter.ryan@uct.ac.za

Activities and research interests

Academic Course Coordinator for the Institute's MSc Course in Conservation Biology, general ornithology, seabird-fishery interactions, evolutionary ecology (focusing on resolving closely-related species complexes), marine debris, solid waste management, the biology of oceanic islands.

Peter Ryan graduated from the University of Cape Town, researching the impacts of ingested plastic on seabirds (MSc) and the evolutionary ecology of buntings in the Tristan archipelago (PhD). After a post-doc at the University of California he was appointed academic Coordinator of the Masters Programme in Conservation Biology at the Fitztitute in 1993. Although he mostly works on seabirds and their conservation, he has wide-ranging interests in avian biology, and still maintains an interest in plastic pollution, especially in marine systems. He is the President of BirdLife South Africa and an associate editor of Antarctic Science and Bird Conservation International. He has been an honorary Conservation Officer at Tristan da Cunha since 1989, and is a member of Tristan’s Biodiversity Advisory Group. He has spent more than a year Inaccessible Island, studying the island's endemic buntings as well as conducting surveys of threatened birds and conducting control programmes against alien plants. He is a keen birder and believes in the importance of promoting amateur involvement in ornithology. He has written several books about birds and their identification, and is scientific to African Birdlife, a popular magazine about birds produced by BirdLife South Africa.

Research programmes

Current students

Post-doctoral

Doctoral

Davide Gaglio: Link between population dynamics, foraging behaviour and food abundance and distribution in the Swift Tern Thalasseus bergii (Supervisors: Timothée Cook, Richard Sherley and Peter Ryan).

Alistair McInnes: At-sea behavioural responses of African Penguins in relation to small-scale variability in prey distribution: implications for Marine Protected Areas (Supervisors: Lorien Pichegru & Peter Ryan).

Lisa Nupen: Comparative Conservation Genetics and Evolutionary History of threatened, endemic southern African Seabirds in the Benguela Current Upwelling Ecosystem: Range-wide phylogeography, gene flow and population genetics based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (Supervisors: Peter Ryan, Rauri Bowie (UCLA, Berkeley) and Jacqui Bishop (UCT, Zoology)).

Dominic Rollinson: Reducing seabird bycatch from the longline fishing industry (Supervisors: Peter Ryan and Ross Wanless)

Jessica Shaw: Conservation biology of Ludwig’s Bustard (Supervisors: Peter Ryan & Andrew Jenkins).

Masters

Philna Botha: Testing the food-shortage hypothesis on the long-term population dynamics of the endangered Bank Cormorant (Supervisors: Timothée Cook, Richard Sherley, Les Underhill and Peter Ryan).

Mia Cerfonteyn: The population status of the Subantarctic Skua Catharacta antarctica lönnbergi two decades after the Feral Cat Felis catus eradication on Marion Island (Supervisor: Peter Ryan).

Corlia Meyer: Testing the influence of heat-stress on the breeding success of an endangered species: the Bank Cormorant (Supervisors: Timothée Cook, Richard Sherley, Les Underhill and Peter Ryan).

John Pallett: Collisions of large birds, especially bustards, with power lines in Namibia: significance and possible solutions (Supervisors: Peter Ryan & Ann Scott).

Noelle Tubbs: Heat tolerance in the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) in the face of climate change (Supervisors: Lorien Pichegru, Peter Ryan and Jonathan Green (University of Liverpool UK)).

Otto Whitehead: Foraging ecology and diving behaviour of crested penguins at Marion Island (Supervisors: Peter Ryan and Yan Ropert-Coudert).

Conservation Biology Masters

Lea Cohen: Environmental conditions, foraging effort, and chick growth in Cape Gannets: insight from a long-term study (Supervisor: Peter Ryan)

Craig Harding: Tracking post-breeding African Penguins (Supervisors: Peter Ryan and Ross Wanless)

Heinz Ortmann: Population size and biology of the endangered Wilkins’ Bunting (Supervisor: Peter Ryan)

Ed Rice: Rory lines: A silver lining for seabirds (Supervisors: Peter Ryan & Ross Wanless).

Recent peer-reviewed publications

2013 / In press

Abad, F.X., Busquets, N., Sánchez, A., Ryan, P.G., Majó, N. & González-Solís, J. (in press) Serological and virological surveys of Influenza A virus in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins. Antarctic Science IP. IF 1.556

Cuthbert, R.J., Louw, H., Lurling, J., Parker, G., Rexer-Huber, K., Sommer, E., Visser, P. & Ryan, P.G. 2013. Low burrow occupancy and breeding success of burrowing petrels at Gough Island: a consequence of mouse predation. Bird Conservation International IP. IF 1.25

Dilley, B.J., Davies, D., Connan, M., Cooper, J., de Villiers, M., Swart, L., Vandenabeele, S., Ropert-Coudert, Y. & Ryan, P.G. 2013. Giant petrels as predators of albatross chicks. Polar Biology IP. IF 1.659

García-López de Hierro, L., Moleón, M. & Ryan, P.G. 2013. Is carrying feathers a sexually selected trait in House Sparrows? Ethology IP. IF 2.008

Ryan, P.G. 2013. Medium-term changes in coastal bird communities in the Western Cape, South Africa. Austral Ecology IP. IF 1.824

Ryan, P.G. 2013. A simple technique for counting marine debris at sea reveals steep litter gradients between the Straits of Malacca and the Bay of Bengal. Marine Pollution Bulletin IP. IF 2.503

Ryan, P.G., Bouwman, H., Moloney, C.L., Yuyama, M. & Takada, H. 2012. Long-term decreases in persistent organic pollutants in South African coastal waters detected from beached polyethylene pellets. Marine Pollution Bulletin IP. IF 2.503

2012

Chown, S.L., Lee, J.E., Hughes, K.A., Barnes, J., Barrett, P.J., Bergstrom, D.M., Convey, P., Cowan, D.A., Crosbie, K., Dyer, G., Frenot, Y., Grant, S.M., Herr, D., Kennicutt II, M.C., Lamers, M., Murray, A., Possingham, H.P., Reid, K., Riddle, M.J., Ryan, P.G., Sanson, L., Shaw, J.D., Sparrow, M.D., Summerhayes, C., Terauds, A. & Wall, D.H. 2012. Challenges to the Future Conservation of the Antarctic. Science 337:158-159. IF 32.452

Cook, T.R., Hamann, M., Pichegru, L., Bonadonna, F., Grémillet, D. & Ryan, P.G. 2012. GPS and time-depth loggers reveal underwater foraging plasticity in a flying diver, the Cape Cormorant. Marine Biology 159:373-387. IF 2.276

Hamann, M., Grémillet, D., Ryan, P.G., Bonadonna, F., van der Lingen, C.D. & Pichegru, L. 2012. A hard-knock life: the foraging ecology of Cape cormorants amidst shifting prey resources and industrial fishing pressure. African Journal of Marine Science 34:233-240. IF 0.98

Jansen van Rensburg, A., Bloomer, P., Ryan, P.G. & Bengt Hansson, B. 2012. Genetic variation at the major histocompatibility complex (MHCIIbeta) in Nesospiza buntings: Effects of genetic drift and shared ancestral polymorphism. BMC Evolutionary Biology 12:e143. IF 3.521

Jones, M.G.W., Techow, N.M.S.M. & Ryan, P.G. 2012. Dalliances and doubtful dads: what determines extra-pair paternity in socially monogamous wandering albatrosses? Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 66:1213-1224. IF 3.179

Moseley, C., Grémillet, D., Connan, M., Ryan, P.G., Mullers, R.H.E., der Lingen, C.D, Miller, T.W., Coetzee, J.C., Crawford, R.M., Sabarros, P., McQuaid, C.D. & Pichegru, L. 2012. Foraging ecology and ecophysiology of Cape gannets from colonies in contrasting feeding environments. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 422–423:29–38. IF 1.91

Parker, G.C., Rexer-Huber, K., Parker, K.A., Ryan, P.G., Techow, N.M.S.M. & Cuthbert, R.J. (in press). Morphometric and genetic sexing in the Gough Moorhen Gallinula comeri. Ringing & Migration IP. No IF

Pichegru, L., Ryan, P.G., van Eeden, R., Reid, T., Grémillet, D. & Wanless, R. 2012. Industrial fishing, no-take zones and endangered penguins. Biological Conservation IP. IF 4.115

Rexer-Huber, K., Parker, G.C., Ryan, P.G. & Cuthbert, R.J. 2012. Ringing injuries in the Gough Moorhen Gallinula comeri. Ringing & Migration IP. No IF

Ryan, P.G. 2012. Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica feeding at sea. Malimbus 34:43-45. No IF

Ryan, P.G. & Branch, G.M. 2012. The November 2011 irruption of buoy barnacles Dosima fascicularis in the Western Cape, South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science 34:157-162. IF 0.98

Ryan, P.G., Dilley, B.J. & Jones, M.G.W. 2012. The distribution and abundance of white-chinned petrels (Procellaria aequinoctialis) breeding at the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. Polar Biology IP. IF 1.659

Ryan, P.G. & Kerr, J. in press. Is fur seal predation driving the decrease in Northern Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes moseleyi at Gough Island? Marine Ornithology IP. No IF

Ryan, P.G., Edwards, L. & Pichegru, L. 2012. African Penguins Spheniscus demersus, bait balls and the allee effect. Ardea 100:89-94. IF 0.592

Ryan, P.G. 2012. Medium-term changes in coastal bird communities in the Western Cape, South Africa. Austral Ecology IP. IF 1.824

Taylor, F.E., Ryan, P.G., Makhado, A.B., de Bruyn, P.J.N. & Weimerskirch, H. 2012. The seasonal distribution and habitat use of marine top predators in the southern Indian Ocean. In: Habitat of marine top predators. Southern Indian Ocean Regional Workshop to Facilitate the Description of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) 30 July - 3 August 2012 - Flic en Flac, Mauritius.

Wanless, R.M., Ratcliffe, N., Angel, A., Bowie, B.C., Cita, K., Hilton, G.M., Kritzinger, P., Ryan, P.G. & Slabber, M. 2012. Predation of Atlantic Petrel chicks by house mice on Gough Island. Animal Conservation IP.

2011

Cooper, J., Cuthbert, R.J., N.J.M. Gremmen, N.J.M., Ryan, P.G. & Shaw, J.D. 2011. Earth, fire and water: applying novel techniques to eradicate the invasive plant, procumbent pearlwort Sagina procumbens, on Gough Island, a World Heritage Site in the South Atlantic. In Veitch, C. R.; Clout, M. N. and Towns, D. R. (eds.). 2011. Proceedings of the Conference on Island invasives: eradication and management. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Pp. 162-165. No IF

Crawford, R.J.M., Altwegg, R., Barham, B.J., Barham, P.J., Durant, J.M., Dyer, B.M., Geldenhuys, D., Makhado, A.B., Pichegru, L., Ryan, P.G.,Underhill, L.G., Upfold, L., Visagie, J.,Waller, L.J. & Whittington, P.A. 2011. Collapse of South Africa’s penguins in the early 21st century. African Journal of Marine Science 2011 33:139-156. IF 0.98

Crawford, R.J.M. & Ryan, P.G. 2011. Seabirds: sentinels of southern Africa’s seas. In Zietsman, L. (ed.) Observations on environmental change in South Africa. SUN Press, Stellenbosch. Pp. 247-257. No IF

Cuthbert, R.J., Visser, P., Louw, H., Rexer-Huber, K., Parker, G., & Ryan, P.G. 2011. Preparations for the eradication of mice from Gough Island: results of bait acceptance trials above ground and around cave systems. In Veitch, C. R.; Clout, M. N. and Towns, D. R. (eds.). 2011. Proceedings of the Conference on Island invasives: eradication and management. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. pp. 47-50. No IF

Cuthbert, R.J., Visser, P., Louw. H. & Ryan, P.G. 2011. Palatability and efficacy of rodent baits for eradicating house mice (Mus musculus) from Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha. Wildlife Research 38:196-203. IF 1.323

Jenkins, A.R., Shaw, J.M., Smallie, J.J., Gibbons, B., Visagie, R. & Ryan, P.G. 2011. Estimating the impacts of power line collisions on Ludwig’s Bustards Neotis ludwigii. Bird Conservation International 21:303-310. IF 1.25

Pichegru, L., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Kato, A., Takahashi, A., Dyer, B.M. & Ryan, P.G. 2011. Diving patterns of female macaroni penguins breeding on Marion Island, South Africa. Polar Biology 34:945-954. IF 1.659

Robson, B., Glass, T., Glass, N., Glass, J., Green, J., Repetto, C., Rodgers, G., Ronconi, R.A., Ryan, P.G., Swain, G. & Cuthbert, R.J. 2011. Revised population estimate and trends for the Endangered Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi at Tristan da Cunha. Bird Conservation International 21:454-459. IF 1.25

Ryan, P.G. & Ronconi, R.A. 2011. Continued increase in numbers of Spectacled Petrels Procellaria conspicillata. Antarctic Science 23:332-336. IF 1.556

Ryan, P.G., Glass, N. & Ronconi, R.A. 2011. The plants and birds of Stoltenhoff and Middle Islands, Tristan da Cunha. Polar Record 47:86-89. IF 0.962

Wright, K.L.B., Pichegru, L. & Ryan, P.G. 2011. Penguins are attracted to dimethyl sulphide at sea. Journal of Experimental Biology 214:2509-2511. IF 2.996

2010

Cohen, C., Ryan, P., Claasen, M. & Ntoyinka, C. 2010. Birding Rwanda - in search of Red-collared Babbler Kupeornis rufocinctus, Albertine Rift endemics and more. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 17:229-237. No IF

Grémillet, D., Mullers, R.H.E., Moseley, C., Pichegru, L., Coetzee, J.C., Sabarros, P.S., van der Lingen, C.D., Ryan, P.G., Kato, A. & Ropert-Coudert, Y. 2010. Seabirds, fisheries, and cameras. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 8: 401-402. IF 6.922

Jones, M.G.W. & Ryan, P.G. 2010 Evidence of mouse attacks on albatross chicks on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Antarctic Science 22:39-42. IF 1.496

Mwema, M.M., de Ponte Machado, M. & Ryan, P.G. 2010. Breeding seabirds at Dassen Island, South Africa: chances of surviving great white pelican predation. Endangered Species Research 9:125-131.

Pichegru, L., Ryan, P.G., Crawford, R.J.M., van der Lingen, C.D. & Grémillet, D. 2010. Behavioural inertia places a top marine predator at risk from environmental change in the Benguela upwelling system. Marine Biology 157: 537-544. IF 1.999

Pichegru, L., Grémillet, D., Crawford, R.J.M. & Ryan, P.G. 2010. Marine no-take zone rapidly benefits endangered penguin. Biology Letters 6:498-501. IF 3.521

Ronconi, R.A., Ryan, P.G. & Ropert-Coudert, Y. 2010. Diving of Great Shearwaters (Puffinus gravis) in cold and warm water regions of the South Atlantic Ocean. Plos One 5:e15508. IF 4.351

Ryan, P.G. 2010. First record of Chilean Skua Catharacta chilensis for the African region. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 17:217-219. No IF

Ryan, P.G., Nupen, L., Rose, B. & Suleiman, A.S. 2010. Geographic variation in Socotra Sparrows Passer insularis. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 130:75-82. No IF

Ryan, P.G., Pichegru, L., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Grémillet, D. & Kato, A. 2010. On a wing and a prayer: the foraging ecology of breeding Cape cormorants. Journal of Zoology 280:25-32. IF1.545

Ryan, P.G. & Ronconi, R.A. 2010. The Tristan Thrush Nesocichla eremita as seabird predator. Ardea 98:247-250. IF 0.836

Shaw, J.M., Jenkins, A.R., Smallie, J.J. & Ryan, P.G. 2010. Modelling power-line collision risk for the Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus in South Africa. Ibis 152:590-599. IF 2.123

Shaw, J.M., Jenkins, A.R., Ryan, P.G. & Smallie. 2010. A preliminary survey of avian mortality on power lines in the Overberg, South Africa. Ostrich 81:109-113. IF 0.254

Techow, N.M.S.M., O’Ryan, C., Phillips, R.A., Gales, R., Marin, M., Patterson-Fraser, D., Quintana, F., Ritz, M.S., Thompson, D.R., Wanless, R.M., Weimerskirch, H. & Ryan, P.G. 2010. Speciation and phylogeography of giant petrels Macronectes Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 54:472-487. IF 3.556

Wanless, R.M., Cooper, J., Slabber, M.J. & Ryan, P.G. 2010. Risk assessment of birds foraging terrestrially at Marion and Gough Islands to primary and secondary poisoning by rodenticides. Wildlife Research 37:524-530. IF 1.5

Wilson, J.W., Burle, M.-H., Cuthbert, R., Stirnemann, R.L. & Ryan, P.G. 2010. Breeding success of Northern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes moseleyi) at Gough Island, South Atlantic Ocean. Emu 110:137-141. IF 0.803