Angelo PernettaUniversity of Brighton · School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Angelo Pernetta
BSc, MSc, PhD
About
33
Publications
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374
Citations
Citations since 2017
Publications
Publications (33)
Human-induced alteration of natural habitats has the potential to impact on the genetic structuring of remnant populations at multiple spatial scales. Species from higher trophic levels, such as snakes, are expected to be particularly susceptible to land-use changes. We examined fine-scale population structure and looked for evidence of sex-biased...
House Geckos in the genus Hemidactylus are highly successful colonizers of regions beyond their native range, often resulting in displacement of native gecko species through competitive interactions for daytime refuge (crevices) and prey resources. We report on data collected from night time surveys undertaken in April-May 2014 on Barbados, West In...
Poaching fuelled by international trade in horn caused the deaths of over 1000 African rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum and Diceros bicornis) per year between 2013 and 2017. Deterrents, which act to establish avoidance behaviours in animals, have the potential to aid anti-poaching efforts by moving at-risk rhinos away from areas of danger (e.g. near...
The marine ornamental fish trade generates over USD1.5 billion annually and continues to increase. However, only 35 fish species are thought to be commercially produced for sale currently, a small proportion of the 1800 species recorded within this trade. The limiting factor in marine ornamental fish production is the requirement for appropriately...
In many social species physical attributes correlate with dominance rankings and influence the outcomes of dyadic interactions. We investigated the processes that affect white rhinoceros’ social behaviour in response to a reduction in horn size asymmetries within a group of subadult individuals. We monitored agonistic social
interactions and the or...
The white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is experiencing unsustainable poaching losses fuelled by a demand for horn. Increasingly, private and state reserves are dehorning their rhinoceros populations in an attempt to reduce poaching pressure. Rhinoceroses use their horns in social interactions as well as during resource access and so its partial...
We currently face significant, anthropogenic, global environmental challenges and the role of ecologists in mitigating these challenges is arguably more important than ever. Consequently there is an urgent need to recruit and train future generations of ecolo- gists, both those whose main area is ecology, but also those involved in the geological,...
Island endemic reptiles face many threats that potentially have a negative effect on their conservation status, such as habitat loss, interactions with introduced predators and competitors, and stochastic environmental events. Since confirmation of the continued existence of the Barbados Leaf Toed gecko (Phyllodactylus pulcher) on the island of Bar...
Increasing global concern with respect to the levels of bioavailable microplastic (<5 mm) contamination in marine environments has led to many studies examining the physiological impacts of microplastic consumption on a range of species. The copepod, Temora longicornis (Müller, 1785), is a common inhabitant of the upper epipelagic zone of gulf and...
Island endemic reptiles face many threats that potentially have a negative effect on their conservation status, such as habitat loss, interactions with introduced predators and competitors, and stochastic environmental events. Since confirmation of the continued existence of the Barbados Leaf Toed gecko (Phyllodactylus pulcher) on the island of Bar...
Plants of the order Brassicaceae have evolved a chemical defence against herbivory: the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. Mechanical damage to plant tissues, such as grazing, initiates the production of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a compound toxic to invertebrates. Mechanical damage caused during biofumigation and the harvesting and washing of...
We report for the first time detailed information on natural history, geographic range and distribution, morphology, population size, and conservation status for the Barbados leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus pulcher), a single-island endemic from Barbados, West Indies. Data from night-time surveys during 2012–14 show that these geckos are predominan...
Reaching a ‘tipping point’ is probably an overused phrase in the context of biodiversity conservation, running the risk of diluting its impact. Nonetheless, having recently returned from a wildlife reserve in South Africa’ s Bushveld, I believe that the global population of southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum , Figure 1 ) is rapidl...
Coronella austriaca is the United Kingdom’s rarest snake, being confined to the lowland
heathlands of Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey. As a result, it remains the least understood;
despite being listed as a key biodiversity action plan species. Substantial loss and
fragmentation of its primary UK habitat - lowland heathland - has occurred in recent
ti...
K. F. Smith et al. 's Policy Forum (“Reducing the risks of the wildlife trade,” 1 May, p. [594][1]) aptly proposes the need for a priori restrictions to be placed on newly traded wildlife species to predetermine their environmental, health, and economic impacts. The need for such restrictions is
We report the capture of two smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) with mel- anistic colouration from a site in Dorset. These two individuals constitute the second published report of melanism in smooth snakes from the United Kingdom.
The study of chemoreception by squamate reptiles has become integral to understanding many aspects of their behaviour. However, previous studies of snakes have concentrated on its importance in prey choice and few studies have examined its role in kin discrimination. We examined the role of chemoreception not only in prey selection by ingestively n...
Previous research has shown particular monitor lizard species to be the subject of intense exploitation for the global trade in reptile skins. However, to date there has not been a review of the CITES - declared trade in live monitor lizards. This paper examines the dynamics of the trade in live monitor lizards between 1975 and 2005, based on CITES...
In the recent Editorial highlighting the issues faced by young academics in securing funding for their own research (“Just give them grants,” 16 May, p. [849][1]), A. I. Leshner touches on an important point: the subversion of personal research interests during postdoctoral training periods. As
The Gongylomorphus skinks are an endemic genus of Mauritius and comprise two described species. Following the recent discovery of a third putative species, endemic to Flat Island, 11 km off the coast of Mauritius, this study was conducted to examine morphometrics and the pattern of microhabitat use by the species in an effort to provide effective c...
The annual life cycle of pond breeding amphibians is characterized by periodical migrations between three critical habitats: breeding, post breeding - feeding - and hibernating. The breeding season starts with the migration of the reproductive adults toward the breeding site and is characterized by intense manifestations in behavior and development...
The successful eradication of introduced rodents from islets off the coast of Mauritius has led to local conservation bodies investigating the possibility of translocation as a measure of safeguarding endemic reptile populations. The present study was the first to determine the habitat and microhabitat requirements of Telfair's skinks (Leiolopisma...
Projects
Projects (4)
The goal of this project is to provide information that will help to conserve and manage white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) in South Africa. Our aims are (1) to provide information to rhino owners on the behavioural and welfare implications of dehorning; (2) to provide supporting evidence on land management practices that may help to identify and reduce poaching risk; (3) to demonstrate how rhinos support biodiversity and ecosystem functions, hence provide further evidence of their inherent value in ecosystem support.
