Michael D. Jennions
Papers
9
Total Citations
287
H-Index
7
About
Michael D. Jennions is a behavioral ecologist whose research centers on sexual selection, mate choice, and animal communication, with a particular focus on fiddler crabs as a model system. He is perhaps best known for his innovative use of robotic crab models to dissect the mechanisms underlying female mating preferences and courtship dynamics. His 2008 work using robotic fiddler crabs to explain synchronized courtship has accumulated 84 citations, demonstrating the power of experimental robotics in behavioral research. Jennions has made significant contributions to understanding how mate choice is shaped by context: his research reveals that female preferences are neither fixed nor absolute, but shift seasonally, vary with operational sex ratio, and are sensitive to the attractiveness of neighboring males — findings that challenge traditional models of mate choice. His 2010 study on seasonal shifts in mating preferences (69 citations) underscores that the costs and benefits of choosiness fluctuate across time and space. By combining field experiments with robotic technology, Jennions has advanced our understanding of how dynamic male displays, social context, and environmental conditions collectively shape sexual selection, leaving a lasting methodological and conceptual imprint on behavioral ecology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Experiments with robots explain synchronized courtship in fiddler crabs84 citations · 2008
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- 3Female choice over short and long distances: neighbour effects34 citations · 2011
- 4Weapons or mating signals? Claw shape and mate choice in a fiddler crab28 citations · 2013
- 5Experimental evidence that immediate neighbors affect male attractiveness25 citations · 2012
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