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Dr. Thomas HossieI have a special interest in amphibian conservation and predator-prey interactions. Currently, I am an NSERC postdoctoral fellow at Trent University working with Dr. Dennis Murray where I am investigating salamander ecology on Pelee Island, and investigating the factors that shape the predator's functional response.
My PhD work investigated the ecology and evolution of eye-like markings (eyespots) on butterfly and moth caterpillars. Eyespots help these caterpillars resemble dangerous snakes and protect them from insect-eating birds. This work helps us understand why some animals, and not others, evolve mimicry. In my MSc I studied the effects of structural cover on the behaviour of both predator and prey. I found that the amount of structural cover in the environment can have important effects on both the rate of predation and prey selection. Having come from a background in behavioural ecology (MSc) and shifting to a focus on evolutionary ecology during my PhD I feel that I have a developed a well-rounded understanding of the interactions among species. |
Amphibian Conservation |
I am currently leading a team of researchers studying small-mouthed salamanders (Ambystoma texanum) on Pelee Island, Ontario. This species is listed as endangered in Canada, but we know little about their ecology or abundance. Alongside the small-mouthed salamanders exists a unique variety of all-female "unisexual" salamanders, that reproduce by "stealing" sperm from sympatric males (of A. texanum or A. laterale). The intimate relationship among these three players means that I also examine the nature and consequences of their interactions. Our work combines a mark-recapture program with genetic analyses enabling us to track growth, survival, habitat use, and to estimate population size.
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Predator-Prey Interactions |
Most of my research has focused on understanding the ecology and evolution of predator-prey interactions. Broadly, I am interested in understanding the factors that influence predator kill rate, how prey protect themselves from predation, and the consequences of predation over ecological and evolutionary timescales. Specific topics that I have worked on extensively include: the ecology and evolution of eyespots, the functional response, and understanding plastic responses to predation risk.
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Current Position
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Teaching
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Education
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2010-2014: PhD Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2007-2010: MSc Environmental & Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada 2003-2007: BSc Biology (Honours), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |
Peer-reviewed Articles in Scholarly Journals
Hossie, T.J., MacFarlane, S., Clement, A., Murray, D.L. (In press - ECE-2017-08-01067) Threat of predation alters aggressive interactions among spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) larvae. Ecology and Evolution.
Chan, K., Boutin, S., Hossie, T.J., Krebs, C.J., O'Donoghue, M., Murray, D.L. (2017) Improving the assessment of predator functional responses by considering alternate prey and predator interactions. Ecology DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1828
Hossie, T.J., Landolt, K., Murray, D.L. (2017) Determinants and co-expression of anti-predator responses in amphibian tadpoles: a meta-analysis. OIKOS doi: 10.1111/oik.03305
Skelhorn, J., Holmes, G.G., Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2016) Eyespots. Current Biology 26: R52-R54.
Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2016) Spatial arrangement of prey affects the shape of ratio-dependent functional responses in strongly antagonistic predators. Ecology doi: 10.1890/15-1535
Ferreira, C., Bastille-Rousseau, G., Bennett, A., Ellington, H., Terwissen, C., Austin, C., Borlestean, A., Boudreau, M., Chan, K., Forsythe, A., Hossie, T., Landolt, K., Longhi, J., Otis, J.A., Peers, M., Rae, J., Seguin, J., Watt, C., Wehtje, M., Murray, D.L. (2016). The evolution of peer review as a basis for publication in ecology: Directional selection towards a robust discipline. Biological Reviews 91: 597-610. doi: 10.1111/brv.12185
Skelhorn, J., Holmes, G., Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2015) Multi-component deceptive signals reduce the speed at which predators learn that prey are profitable. Behavioral Ecology doi: 10.1093/beheco/arv135
Hossie, T.J., Skelhorn, J., Breinholt, J.W., Kawahara, A.Y., Sherratt, T.N. (2015) Body size affects the evolution of eyespots in caterpillars. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112: 6664-6669
Skelhorn, J., Dorrington, G., Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2014) The position of eyespots and thickened body segments influence their protective value to caterpillars. Behavioral Ecology 25: 1417-1422
Ponce, F., Breinholt, J., Hossie, T.J., Barber, J., Janzen, D., Hallwachs, W., Kawahara, A. (2014) A molecular phylogeny of Eumorpha (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) and the evolution of anti-predator larval eyespots. Systematic Entomology 40: 401-408
Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2014) Does defensive posture increase mimetic fidelity of caterpillars with eyespots to their putative snake models? Current Zoology 60: 76-89
Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2013) Defensive posture and eyespots deter avian predators from attacking caterpillar models. Animal Behaviour 86: 383-389
Nitychoruk, J.M., Gutowsky, L.F.G., Harrison, P.M., Hossie, T.J., Power, M., Cooke, S.J. (2013) Sexual and seasonal dimorphism in adult adfluvial bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 91: 480-488
Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N., Janzen, D., Hallwachs, W. (2013) An eyespot that “blinks”: an open and shut case of eye mimicry in Eumorpha caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Journal of Natural History 47: 2915-2926
Hossie, T.J., Hassall, C., Knee, W., Sherratt, T.N. (2013) Species with a chemical defence, but not chemical offence, live longer. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26: 1598-1602
*Hossie, T.J., Sherrat, T.N. (2012) Eyespots interact with body colour to protect caterpillar-like prey from avian predators. Animal Behaviour 84:167-173 *Covered by BBC Nature: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18393777
*Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2012) Assessing behavioural and morphological responses of frog tadpoles to temporal variability in predation risk. Journal of Zoology 288: 275-282 *See interview on Journal of Zoology Podcast (Episode 5) on iTunes
Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2011) Effects of structural refuge and density on foraging behaviour and mortality of hungry tadpoles subject to predation risk. Ethology 17: 1-9
Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2010) You can’t run but you can hide: refuge use in frog tadpoles elicits density-dependent predation by dragonfly larvae. Oecologia 163: 395-404
Hossie, T.J., Ferland-Raymond, B., Burness, G., Murray, D.L. (2010) Morphological and behavioural responses of frog tadpoles to perceived predation risk: A possible role for corticosterone mediation? ÉcoScience 17: 100-108.
Book Reviews
Hossie, T.J.(2012) Review of the book Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America by Wagner, D.L., Schweitzer, D.F., Sullivan, J.B., and Reardon, R.C. Entomological Society of Canada Bulletin 44: 82-83.
Hossie, T.J., MacFarlane, S., Clement, A., Murray, D.L. (In press - ECE-2017-08-01067) Threat of predation alters aggressive interactions among spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) larvae. Ecology and Evolution.
Chan, K., Boutin, S., Hossie, T.J., Krebs, C.J., O'Donoghue, M., Murray, D.L. (2017) Improving the assessment of predator functional responses by considering alternate prey and predator interactions. Ecology DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1828
Hossie, T.J., Landolt, K., Murray, D.L. (2017) Determinants and co-expression of anti-predator responses in amphibian tadpoles: a meta-analysis. OIKOS doi: 10.1111/oik.03305
Skelhorn, J., Holmes, G.G., Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2016) Eyespots. Current Biology 26: R52-R54.
Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2016) Spatial arrangement of prey affects the shape of ratio-dependent functional responses in strongly antagonistic predators. Ecology doi: 10.1890/15-1535
Ferreira, C., Bastille-Rousseau, G., Bennett, A., Ellington, H., Terwissen, C., Austin, C., Borlestean, A., Boudreau, M., Chan, K., Forsythe, A., Hossie, T., Landolt, K., Longhi, J., Otis, J.A., Peers, M., Rae, J., Seguin, J., Watt, C., Wehtje, M., Murray, D.L. (2016). The evolution of peer review as a basis for publication in ecology: Directional selection towards a robust discipline. Biological Reviews 91: 597-610. doi: 10.1111/brv.12185
Skelhorn, J., Holmes, G., Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2015) Multi-component deceptive signals reduce the speed at which predators learn that prey are profitable. Behavioral Ecology doi: 10.1093/beheco/arv135
Hossie, T.J., Skelhorn, J., Breinholt, J.W., Kawahara, A.Y., Sherratt, T.N. (2015) Body size affects the evolution of eyespots in caterpillars. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112: 6664-6669
Skelhorn, J., Dorrington, G., Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2014) The position of eyespots and thickened body segments influence their protective value to caterpillars. Behavioral Ecology 25: 1417-1422
Ponce, F., Breinholt, J., Hossie, T.J., Barber, J., Janzen, D., Hallwachs, W., Kawahara, A. (2014) A molecular phylogeny of Eumorpha (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) and the evolution of anti-predator larval eyespots. Systematic Entomology 40: 401-408
Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2014) Does defensive posture increase mimetic fidelity of caterpillars with eyespots to their putative snake models? Current Zoology 60: 76-89
Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N. (2013) Defensive posture and eyespots deter avian predators from attacking caterpillar models. Animal Behaviour 86: 383-389
Nitychoruk, J.M., Gutowsky, L.F.G., Harrison, P.M., Hossie, T.J., Power, M., Cooke, S.J. (2013) Sexual and seasonal dimorphism in adult adfluvial bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 91: 480-488
Hossie, T.J., Sherratt, T.N., Janzen, D., Hallwachs, W. (2013) An eyespot that “blinks”: an open and shut case of eye mimicry in Eumorpha caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Journal of Natural History 47: 2915-2926
Hossie, T.J., Hassall, C., Knee, W., Sherratt, T.N. (2013) Species with a chemical defence, but not chemical offence, live longer. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26: 1598-1602
*Hossie, T.J., Sherrat, T.N. (2012) Eyespots interact with body colour to protect caterpillar-like prey from avian predators. Animal Behaviour 84:167-173 *Covered by BBC Nature: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18393777
*Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2012) Assessing behavioural and morphological responses of frog tadpoles to temporal variability in predation risk. Journal of Zoology 288: 275-282 *See interview on Journal of Zoology Podcast (Episode 5) on iTunes
Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2011) Effects of structural refuge and density on foraging behaviour and mortality of hungry tadpoles subject to predation risk. Ethology 17: 1-9
Hossie, T.J., Murray, D.L. (2010) You can’t run but you can hide: refuge use in frog tadpoles elicits density-dependent predation by dragonfly larvae. Oecologia 163: 395-404
Hossie, T.J., Ferland-Raymond, B., Burness, G., Murray, D.L. (2010) Morphological and behavioural responses of frog tadpoles to perceived predation risk: A possible role for corticosterone mediation? ÉcoScience 17: 100-108.
Book Reviews
Hossie, T.J.(2012) Review of the book Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America by Wagner, D.L., Schweitzer, D.F., Sullivan, J.B., and Reardon, R.C. Entomological Society of Canada Bulletin 44: 82-83.
Contact:
Office: LHS D214
Phone: 705-748-1011 x7316
Email: thossie[at]trentu[dot]ca
Website: http://www.thomashossie.ca/
Blog: http://caterpillar-eyespots.blogspot.ca/
Office: LHS D214
Phone: 705-748-1011 x7316
Email: thossie[at]trentu[dot]ca
Website: http://www.thomashossie.ca/
Blog: http://caterpillar-eyespots.blogspot.ca/