Image of Dr Nicola Koyama

Dr Nicola Koyama

School of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Science

Email: N.F.Koyama@ljmu.ac.uk

Telephone: 0151 231 2627

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I am interested in the evolution of social behaviour. My research focuses on how group-living individuals regulate their social relationships, how they manage aggressive conflict within the context of their various relationships, individuals' roles within their social networks and network changes over time. I have explored how individuals maintain their cooperative relationships through reciprocation and interchange of valuable social services. Much of my research has been carried out with non-human primates.

My research has extended to humans to include investigations of mate preferences and sexual advertisement. I am interested in the adaptive nature of human mate preferences and their plasticity and flexibility in today’s societies. This has involved projects examining the influence of feminist attitudes on traditional mate preferences and the manipulation of female clothing in response to increased mate competition.

I am co-Director of the Research Centre for Evolutionary Anthropology & Palaeoecology and am committed to translating institutional policies for diversity and inclusion into actionable strategies for cultural change. I am our Departmental Equality Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Coordinator, a Member of the Faculty of Science EDI Panel, and the Chair of the LJMU Decolonising The Curriculum Working Group (which I initiated and established with our LJMU EDI Manager). I have been a member of our university Staff Diversity Network for over 20 years, am an LJMU LGBT+ Ally and currently co-lead the departmental Athena SWAN Submission. I am a Member of our Faculty of Science Animal Welfare & Ethical Research Group and have recently ended a term as Council Member of the Primate Society of Great Britain.

I have been lead supervisor for seven PhD students working on a broad range of topics was recently awarded "Outstanding Doctoral Supervisor". Recent PhD projects:
Ed Parker – Behavioural ecology of samango monkeys
Harriet Thatcher – Socio-ecology and anthropogenic disturbance in vervet monkeys
Isabelle Szott – Stress & coping strategies in savanna elephants
Simon Stringer – Behaviour and seed dispersal of samango monkeys
James Waterman - Intra- and inter-group relations in Sulawesi crested black macaques

Degrees

University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, PhD in Primate Behaviour
University College London, United Kingdom, BSc(Hons) Zoology

Academic appointments

Reader in Primate Behaviour, School of Biological & Environmental Sciences, LJMU, 2021 - present
Co-Director for the Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology & Palaeoecology, LJMU, 2020 - present
Senior Lecturer, School of Natural Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2004 - 2020

Highlighted publications

Thatcher H, Downs C, Koyama NF. 2020. Understanding foraging flexibility in urban vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, for the benefit of human-wildlife coexistence Urban Ecosystems, 23 :1349-1357 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Thatcher H, Downs C, Koyama NF. 2019. Positive and negative interactions with humans concurrently affect vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, ranging behavior International Journal of Primatology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Koyama NF, Aureli F. 2018. Social network changes during space restriction in zoo chimpanzees Primates, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Lawson, J , James, C , Jannson, A , Koyama NF, Hill, R . 2014. A comparison of heterosexual and homosexual mating preferences in personal advertisements (in press) Evolution & Human Behaviour, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Journal article

Thatcher H, Downs CT, Koyama N. 2024. Using social networks to explore the social flexibility of urban vervet monkeys Urban Ecosystems, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Parker E, Hill R, Koyama NF. 2022. Behavioural responses to spatial variation in perceived predation risk and resource availability in an arboreal primate Ecosphere, 13 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Thatcher H, Downs C, Koyama N. 2021. The costs of urban living: human-wildlife interactions increase parasite risk and self-directed behaviour in urban vervet monkeys Journal of Urban Ecology, 7 :1-9 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Parker E, Koyama NF, Hill RA. 2021. Habitat selection of an endangered primate, the samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi): integrating scales to prioritise habitat for wildlife management. Ecology and Evolution, 11 :8014-8026 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Koyama NF. 2020. What primates can teach us about managing arguments during lockdown The Conversation, Publisher Url Public Url

Parker E, Hill RA, Allan ATL, Howlett C, Koyama NF. 2020. Influence of food availability, plant productivity and indigenous forest use on ranging behavior of the endangered samango monkey (Cercopithecus albogularis schwarzi), in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa Integrative Zoology, 15 :385-400 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Stringer S, Hill RA, Swanepoel L, Dalrymple SE, Linden B, Koyama NF. 2020. Assessing the role of a mammalian frugivorous species on seed germination potential depends on study design: A case study using wild samango monkeys. Acta Oecologica, 106 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Thatcher H, Downs C, Koyama NF. 2020. Understanding foraging flexibility in urban vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, for the benefit of human-wildlife coexistence Urban Ecosystems, 23 :1349-1357 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Szott I, Pretorius Y, Ganswindt A, Koyama NF. 2020. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, temperature, and age affect faecal thyroid hormone concentrations in free-ranging African elephants. Conservation Physiology, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Stringer S, Hill RA, Swanepoel L, Koyama NF. 2020. Adapting methodology used on captive subjects for estimating gut passage time in wild monkeys Folia Primatologica: International Journal of Primatology, 91 :417-432 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Szott ID, Pretorius Y, Ganswindt A, Koyama NF. 2019. Physiological stress response of African elephants to wildlife tourism in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa Wildlife Research, 47 :34-43 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Thatcher H, Downs C, Koyama NF. 2019. Positive and negative interactions with humans concurrently affect vervet monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, ranging behavior International Journal of Primatology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Szott I, Pretorius Y, Koyama N. 2019. Behavioural changes in African elephants in response to wildlife tourism Journal of Zoology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Szott I, Koyama NF. 2019. Safari tourism may make elephants more aggressive – but it’s still the best tool for conservation The Conversation, Publisher Url Public Url

Thatcher H, Downs C, Koyama NF. 2018. Anthropogenic influences on the time budgets of urban vervet monkeys. Landscape and Urban Planning, 181 :38-44 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Thatcher H, Downs C, Koyama NF. 2018. Using parasitic load to measure the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on vervet monkeys EcoHealth, 15 :676-681 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Koyama NF, Aureli F. 2018. Social network changes during space restriction in zoo chimpanzees Primates, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Koyama NF, Ronkainen K, Aureli F. 2017. Durability and flexibility of chimpanzee grooming patterns during a period of dominance instability American Journal of Primatology, 79 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Koyama NF. 2016. How monkeys make friends and influence each other The Convesation, Publisher Url Public Url

Farooqi S, Koyama NF. 2016. The Occurrence of Postconflict Skills in Captive Immature Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) International Journal of Primatology, 37 :185-199 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Bethell EJ, Koyama NF. 2015. Happy hamsters? Enrichment induces positive judgement bias for mildly (but not truly) ambiguous cues to reward and punishment in Mesocricetus auratus. Royal Society Open Science, 2 :1-17 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Lawson, J , James, C , Jannson, A , Koyama NF, Hill, R . 2014. A comparison of heterosexual and homosexual mating preferences in personal advertisements (in press) Evolution & Human Behaviour, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url

Koyama NF, Caws C, Aureli F. 2012. Supply and demand predict male grooming to swollen females in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) Animal Behaviour, 84 :1419-1425 DOI Publisher Url

Majolo B, Ventura R, Koyama NF. 2009. Anxiety Level Predicts Post-Conflict Behaviour in Wild Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) ETHOLOGY, 115 :986-995 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Majolo B, Ventura R, Koyama NF. 2009. A Statistical Modelling Approach to the Occurrence and Timing of Reconciliation in Wild Japanese Macaques ETHOLOGY, 115 :152-166 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Majolo B, Ventura R, Koyama NF, Hardie SM, Jones BM, Knapp LA, Schino G. 2009. Analysing the effects of group size and food competition on Japanese macaque social relationships BEHAVIOUR, 146 :113-137 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Ventura R, Majolo B, Koyama NF, Hardie S, Schino G. 2006. Reciprocation and interchange in wild Japanese macaques: Grooming, cofeeding, and agonistic support American Journal of Primatology, 68 :1138-1149 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Koyama NF, Caws C, Aureli F. 2006. Interchange of grooming and agonistic support in chimpanzees. International Journal of Primatology, 27 :1293-1309 DOI

Majolo B, Koyama N. 2006. Seasonal effects on reconciliation in Macaca fuscata yakui INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, 27 :1383-1397 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Koyama NF, Palagi E. 2006. Managing conflict: Evidence from wild and captive primates. International Journal of Primatology, 27 :1235-1240 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Majolo B, Ventura R, Koyama NF. 2005. Sex, rank and age differences in the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata yakui) participation in inter-group encounters ETHOLOGY, 111 :455-468 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Majolo B, Ventura R, Koyama N. 2005. Postconflict behavior among male Japanese macaques INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, 26 :321-336 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Hill RA, Donovan S, Koyama NF. 2005. Female sexual advertisement reflects resource availability in twentieth-century UK society\ HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE, 16 :266-277 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Koyama NF, McGain A, Hill RA. 2004. Self-reported mate preferences and “feminist” attitudes regarding marital relations Evolution and Human Behavior, 25 :327-335 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Koyama NF. 2003. Matrilineal cohesion and social networks in Macaca fuscata INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, 24 :797-811 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Koyama NF. 2001. The long-term effects of reconciliation in Japanese macaques Macaca fuscata ETHOLOGY, 107 :975-987 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Koyama NF, Dunbar RIM. 1996. Anticipation of conflict by chimpanzees PRIMATES, 37 :79-86 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Arnon A, Koyama N, Wronski T. Vocalisation in wild-living mountain gazelles (Gazella gazella): structure and context of acoustical signals Behaviour, 161 :731-751 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Chapters

Thatcher HR, Downs CT, Koyama NF. 2023. Primates in the Urban Mosaic: Terminology, Flexibility, and Management McKinney TRACIE, Waters , Rodrigues MICHELLEA. Primates in Anthropogenic Landscapes Exploring Primate Behavioural Flexibility Across Human Contexts :121-137 Springer Nature. Cham. 9783031117367 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Nyssen PHA, Koyama NF. 2021. Chimpanzee Raiding Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science :1076-1086 Springer International Publishing 9783319196497 DOI Publisher Url

Koyama NF. 2021. R = Coefficient of Relatedness Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science :6437-6438 Springer International Publishing 9783319196497 DOI Publisher Url

Koyama NF. 2021. C < Rb Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science :861-862 Springer International Publishing 9783319196497 DOI Publisher Url

Nyssen P, Koyama NF. 2019. Chimpanzee raiding Shackelford TK, Shackelford-Weekes V. Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science :1-10 Springer. Switzerland 978-3-319-16999-6 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Koyama NF. 2000. Conflict-reduction mechanisms before feeding. Aureli F, de Waal FBM. Natural Conflict Resolution :130-132 University of California Press.. Berkley, California. 978-0520223462

Koyama NF. R = Coefficient of relatedness Shackelford TK, Weekes-Shackelford VA. Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Springer International Publishing. SpringerLink 978-3-319-16999-6 DOI Publisher Url

Koyama NF. C < Rb Shackleford TK, Weekes-Shackleford VA. Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science Springer International Publishing. Springer Link 978-3-319-16999-6 DOI Publisher Url

Other

Koyama N. 1997. Reconciliation in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) Primate Eye, 63 :37-38

Research Grants Awarded:

NERC, Urgent assessment of IUCN Red Listed Barbary macaque population health and numbers following multiple natural disasters within Morocco, Dr P. Tkaczynski, Grant value (£): 99,792, Duration of research project: 6 months. 2023

Public engagement:

Other, Public, Popular science writing, Invited author, Online, What primates can tecah us about managing arguments during lockdown (Article in The Conversation), https://theconversation.com/what-primates-can-teach-us-about-managing-arguments-during-lockdown-139436. 2020

Membership of professional bodies:

Elected Council Member (PSGB), Primate Society of Great Britain, http://psgb.org/. 2018

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