I am essentially interested in how animals utilise the environment around them and the many ways in which environmental or social factors influence individual foraging and reproductive decisions.  Much of this research is focused on mustelid (e.g. otter, polecat and American mink), rodent (e.g. water vole) and bird (e.g. moorhen, coot and tree sparrow) species as study organisms.

Selected Publications

Garcia de Leaniz, G., Forman, D.W., Davies, S. & A.Thomson. (in press). Non-intrusive monitoring of otters (Lutra lutra) using infrared technology. Journal of Zoology.

Forman, D.W. & Brain, P.F. (2006). Agonistic Behavior and Bite Wound Patterns in Wild Water Voles (Arvicola terrestris L.). Aggressive Behavior. 32, 1-5.

Forman, D.W. (2005). An assessment of the local impact of native predators on an established British water vole population. Journal of Zoology. 266, 221-226.

Forman, D.W. & Williamson, K. (2005). An alternative method for handling and marking small carnivores without the need for sedation. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 33, 313-316.

Forman, D.W. (2005).  Laying plasticity in an avian brood parasite.  Auk.  122, 566-570.

Forman, D.W., Liles, G. & Barber, P. (2004). Evidence of lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) predation by otter (Lutra lutra) in a Welsh cave system. Lutra. 47(1): 53-55.

Forman, D.W. & Brain, P.F. (2004).  Reproductive strategies used by Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) colonising an artificial wetland habitat in South Wales.  Journal of Natural History.

Lee, P.L.M., Brain, P.F., Forman, D.W., Bradbury, R.B. & Griffiths, R. (2002).  Sex and death: CHD1Z associated with high mortality in moorhens.  Evolution, 56: 2548-2553.