Dr Tom Major
- Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Animal Biotelemetry
- Christchurch House room C124
Biography
I am an ecologist and herpetologist interested in the wild behaviour of animals, especially reptiles. For my PhD at Bangor University, I conducted a detailed study into the ecology of Aesculapian snakes, a European species introduced twice to the UK. This study determined habitat preferences and seasonal movement behaviours of Welsh snakes using radio-telemetry. Additionally, we assembled a whole-genome sequence for the Aesculapian snake. Using this genome in conjunction with modern genetic analytical approaches, we determined the origins of introduced populations and the genetic health of both native and introduced populations.
My current research involves investigating the decision making and activities of animals using animal-borne sensors, including GPS transmitters and radio transmitters. I am working on projects investigating various aspects of the ecology of nightjars, eagles, and cattle, as well as native UK snakes. I am also interested in taxonomy, social behaviour of under-studied animal groups, genomics, and non-native species.
