Associate Professor

Assoc. Prof. Peter G. Ryan BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD (Cape Town) Tel:+27 (0)21 650 2966 Fax: +27 (0)21 650 3295 John Day Building: 2.02 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. He has wide-ranging interests in avian biology, and during the last few years has been working on population structure in birds (primarily species limits in polytypic taxa) and seabird-fishery interactions (primarily the impacts of longline bycatches on albatross and petrel populations). He is also a Conservation Officer at Tristan da Cunha and secretary of the advisory committee managing the Gough Island World Heritage Site. During 1999/2000 he spent six months at Tristan, continuing his work on the islands' endemic buntings as well as conducting surveys of threatened bids and alien plants. He is an avid birder and strongly believes in the importance of promoting amateur involvement in ornithology.

Research programmes

Current students

Post-doctoral

PhD

Genevieve Jones: Individual variability in albatross reproductive success (Supervisor: Peter Ryan).

Marta Ponte Machado: Food supplementation, population growth and impacts of Great White Pelicans on breeding seabirds (Supervisor: 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)).

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

CB MSc

Deo Kujirakwinja: The status and conservation of hippopotamuses in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (Supervisors: Andrew Plumptre, Peter Ryan)

Michael Marais: Fine scale demography of Sociable Weavers (Supervisors: Rita Covas, Res Altwegg, Peter Ryan)

Christina Moseley: Body condition and foraging ecology of Cape Gannets in South Africa (Supervisors: David Grémmilet, Lorien Pichegru, Peter Ryan)

Recent publications

2010

Jones, M.G.W. & Ryan, P.G. 2010. Evidence of mouse attacks on albatross chicks on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Antarctic Science IP.

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.

Petersen, S.L., Phillips, R., Ryan, P.G. & Underhill, L.G. in press. Albatross overlap with fisheries in the Benguela Upwelling System: implications for conservation and management. Endang. Species Res.

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

Ryan, P. 2010. Bridging the Rift: birding Rwanda. Africa Birds & Birding 15(1):30-37.

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

2009

Best, P.B., Glass, J.P., Ryan, P.G. & Dalebout, M.L. 2009. Cetacean records from Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 89:1023-1032.

Bester, M.N., Ryan, P.G. and Visagie, J. 2009. Summer survey of fur seals at Prince Edward Island, southern Indian Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science 2009, 31(3): 451–455.

Converse, S.J., Kendall, W.L. Doherty, P.F., Jr., & Ryan, P.R. 2009 Multistate models for estimation of survival and reproduction in the Grey-headed Albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) The Auk 126(1):77–88.

Cooper, J., Bester, M.N., Chown, S.L., Crawford, R.J.M., Daly, R., Heyns, E., Lamont, T., Ryan, P.G. & Shaw, J.D. 2009. Biological survey of the Prince Edward Islands, December 2008. South African Journal of Science 105:317-320.

Cooper, J., Bester, M.N., Chown, S.L., Crawford, R.J.M., Daly, R., Heyns, E., Lamont, T., Ryan, P.G. & Shaw, J.D. 2009. Biological survey of the Prince Edward Islands, December 2008. South African Journal of Science 105:317-320.

Crawford, R.J.M., Ryan, P.G., Dyer, B.M. and Upfold, L. 2009. Recent trends in numbers of Crozet shags breeding at the Prince Edward Islands. African Journal of Marine Science 2009 31(3): 427–430.

Crawford, R.J.M., Whittington, P.A., Upfold, L., Ryan, P.G., Petersen, S.L., Dyer, B.M. and J Cooper, J. 2009. Recent trends in numbers of four species of penguins at the Prince Edward Islands. African Journal of Marine Science 2009 31(3): 419–426.

Cuthbert, R., Cooper, J., Burle, M., Glass, C.J., Glass, J.P., Glass, S., Glass, T., Hilton, G.M., Sommer, E.S., Wanless R.M. & Ryan, P.J. 2009. Population trends and conservation status of the Northern Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi at Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island. Bird Conservation International 19:109-120.

Hampton, S.L., Ryan, P.G. & Underhill, L.G. 2009. The effect of flipper banding on the breeding success of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus at Boulders Beach, South Africa. Ostrich 80:77-80.

Jones, M.G.W. & Ryan, P.G. 2009. Evidence of mouse attacks on albatross chicks on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Antarctic Science IP.

Maphisa, D.H., Donald, P.F., Buchanan, G.M. & Ryan, P.G. 2009. Habitat use, distribution and breeding ecology of the globally threatened Rudd’s Lark and Botha’s Lark in eastern South Africa. Ostrich 80(1): 19–28.

Petersen, S.L., Phillips, R., Ryan, P.G. & Underhill, L.G. in press. Albatross overlap with fisheries in the Benguela Upwelling System: implications for conservation and management. Endang. Species Res.

Petersen. SL., Honig, M.B., Ryan, P.G., Underhill, L.G. 2009. Seabird bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery off southern Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 31:191-204

Petersen SL, Honig MB, Nel R, Ryan PG, Underhill LG 2009. Turtle bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery off southern Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 31:87-96

Petersen, S.L.; Honig, M.B.; Ryan, P.G.; Underhill, L.G.; Compagno, L.J.V. 2009. Pelagic shark bycatch in the tuna- and swordfish-directed longline fishery off southern Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 31:215-225

Petersen, S.L., Honig, M.B., Ryan, P.G., Underhill, L.G., Goren, M., 2009. Seabird bycatch in the demersal longline fishery off southern Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 31:205-214

Pichegru, L. & Ryan, P. 2009. Teetering on the brink. Africa Birds & Birding 14(3):42-53.

Pichegru, L., Ryan, P.G., Crawford, R.J.M., van der Lingen, C.D. & Grémillet, D. 2009. Behavioural inertia places a top marine predator at risk from environmental change in the Benguela upwelling system. Marine Biology IP

Pichegru, L., Ryan, P. G., Le Bohec, C., van der Lingen, C. D., Navarro, R., Petersen, S., Lewis, S., van der Westhuizen, J. & Grémillet, D. 2009 Overlap between vulnerable top predators and fisheries in the Benguela upwelling system: implications for marine protected areas. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 391:199-208..

Ropert-Coudert, Y., Daunt, F., Kato, A., Ryan, P.G., Lewis, S., Kobayashi, K., Mori, Y., Grémillet, D. & Wanless, S. 2009. Underwater wing beats extend depth and duration of plunge dives in northern gannets Morus bassanus. Journal of Avian Biology 40:380-387.

Ryan, P. 2009. Marine Litter in the eastern Africa Region: contributor to the report for South Africa. Nairobi: UNEP Regional Seas Programme, 2008. 60p.

Ryan, P. 2009. Juvenile plumage of the Socotra Bunting Emberiza socotrana. Sandgrouse 31:109-111.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. Home-ground advantage: working your patch. Africa Birds & Birding 14(1):16-18.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. Token gesture: Researcher Peter Ryan comments. Africa Birds & Birding 14(2):8.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. Cliff-Chats in West Africa: Peter Ryan, co-author of the fieldguide replies. Africa Birds & Birding 14(2):10.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. The world of birds: Sixth albatross species breeding on Prince Edward Island. Africa Birds & Birding 14(2):14.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. The world of birds: A strange twist for New Zealand’s Yellow-Eyed Penguin. Africa Birds & Birding 14(2):15.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. Tried & tested. Zeiss DC4 camera eyepiece. Africa Birds & Birding 14(2):18-19.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. Playing in the big league. Africa Birds & Birding 14(4):20.

Ryan, P.G. 2009. Book Review: Birds of Ethiopia & Eritrea and Birds of the Horn of Africa. Africa Birds & Birding 14(5):16-17.

Ryan, P. 2009. The seabirds of the Conrad Rise, Southern Ocean. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 16:67-77.

Ryan, P. 2009. Amethyst Sunbird breeding in Newlands. Promerops 277:9.

Ryan, P. 2009. Book Review: Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: an atlas of distribution by John Ash and John Atkins, A&C Black, 2009. Ostrich 80:125.

Ryan, P., Hockey, P. & Benson, P. 2009. Hartlaub’s Gulls inland in the Overberg. Promerops 277:12.

Ryan, P.G., Jones, M.G.W., Dyer, B.M., Upfold, L. and Crawford, R.J.M. 2009. Recent population estimates and trends in numbers of albatrosses and giant petrels breeding at the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. African Journal of Marine Science 2009, 31(3): 409–417.

Ryan, P.G., Moore, C.J., van Franeker, J.A. & Moloney, C.L. 2009. Monitoring the abundance of plastic debris in the marine environment. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 364:1999-2012.

Ryan, P.G., Whittington, P.A. and Crawford, R.J.M. 2009. A tale of two islands: contrasting fortunes for Subantarctic skuas at the Prince Edward Islands. African Journal of Marine Science 2009, 31(3): 431–437.

Sinclair, I. & Ryan, P.G. 2009. Complete Photographic Field Guide: Birds of Southern Africa. Struik Nature, Cape Town. 432 pp. (Also in Afrikaans)

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. 2009. Speciation and phylogeography of giant petrels Macronectes Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 13 September 2009 doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.09.005.

Techow, N.M.S.M., Ryan, P.G. & O’Ryan, C. 2009. Phylogeography and taxonomy of White-chinned and Spectacled Petrels. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52:25-33.

Van Rooyen, C., Froneman, A. & Ryan, P.G. 2009. Showtime: Carmine Bee-eaters. Africa Birds & Birding 14(4):39-45.

Visser, P., Louw, H., Cuthbert, R. & Ryan, P. 2009. Salvin’s Albatross Thalassarche salvini on Gough Island, South Atlantic. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 16:215-216.

Wanless, R.M., Ryan, P.G., Altwegg, R., Angel, A., Cooper, J., Cuthbert, R. and Hilton, G.M. 2009. From both sides: dire demographic consequences of carnivorous mice and longlining for the critical endangered Tristan albatrosses on Gough Island. Biological Conservation 142:1710-1718.

Whittington, P.A., Crawford, R.J.M., Dyer, B.M. and Ryan, P.G. 2009. Estimates of numbers of kelp gulls and Kerguelen and Antarctic terns breeding at the Prince Edward Islands, 1996/1997–2008/2009. African Journal of Marine Science 2009, 31(3): 439–444.2010

2008

Cooper J, Ryan PG, Glass JP 2006. Eradicating invasive species in the United Kingdom Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha. Aliens 23:1-3.

Cunningham, GB; Strauss, V; Ryan, PG 2008. African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) can detect dimethyl sulphide, a prey-related odour. Journal of Experimental Biology 211(19):3123-3127.

De Hierro, M.D.G.L. & Ryan. PG. 2008. Nest defence and egg rejection in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) as protection against conspecific brood parasitism. Behaviour 145: 949-964

Grémillet, D., Pichegru, L., Kuntz, G., Woakes, A.G., Wilkinson,S., Crawford, R.J.M. and Ryan, P.G. 2008. A junk-food hypothesis for gannets feeding on fishery waste. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B275:1149-1156.

Petersen S.L., Phillips R., Ryan P.G., Underhill L.G. 2008. Albatross overlap with fisheries in the Benguela Upwelling System: implications for conservation and management. Endangered Species Research 5:117–127.

Ryan PG 2008 Taxonomic and conservation implications of ecological speciation in Nesospiza buntings on Tristan da Cunha. Bird Conservation International 18: 20-29.

Ryan, P.G. 2008. Seabirds indicate changes in the composition of plastic litter in the Atlantic and south-western Indian Oceans. Marine Pollution Bulletin 56:1406-1409.

Ryan, P.G. 2008. Birds recorded at the Prince Edward Islands. In The Prince Edward Islands: land-sea interactions in a changing ecosystem edited by S.L. Chown & P.W. Froneman. SUN Press, Stellenbosch. 435-437.

Ryan, P.G. & Bester, M.N. 2008. Pelagic predators. In The Prince Edward Islands: land-sea interactions in a changing ecosystem edited by S.L. Chown & P.W. Froneman. SUN Press, Stellenbosch. 121-164.

Ryan, P. G. & Cuthbert, R. J. (2008). The biology and conservation status of Gough Bunting Rowettia goughensis. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, 128 (4), 242-253.

Ryan, P.G., Sommer, E. & Breytenbach, E. 2008. Giant petrels Macronectes hunting Northern Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes moseleyi at sea. Ardea 96:129-134.

Ryan, P.G. & Visagie, J. 2008. African Black Oystercatchers feeding in a terrestrial habitat. Ostrich 79(2):243.

Ryan, P.G. and Watkins, B.P. 2008. Response: Estimating seabird bycatch by fisheries and its impact on seabird populations. Animal Conservation 11:260-262.

Wanless, R.M., Fisher, P., Cooper, J., Parkes, J., Ryan, P.G. & Slabber, M. Bait acceptance by house mice: an island field trial. Wildlife Research 35:806-811.

This list includes only recent peer-reviewed publications. For a more comprehensive list go to Fitz Publications. Reprints can be obtained from the librarian.