Claire Spottiswoode is South African evolutionary ecologist, studying birds in Africa. Her research asks how interactions between different species influence the evolution of both genetic and cultural biodiversity, working in close collaboration with communities in Zambia and Mozambique.
She studies both antagonism and cooperation. Her work on brood-parasitic birds has shown how coevolutionary arms races drive identity signals encoded by markings on host eggs (signatures) and parasitic eggs (forgeries) and how, in turn, selection for mimicry has shaped ancient diversification within parasite species. Her work on honeyguides (wax-eating birds that cooperate with people to access bees’ nests) has helped to show how learnt communication between species facilitates mutual benefits, and how interspecies cooperation both influences and depends on ecology and culture.
Claire is Co-Director of the Max Planck–University of Cape Town Centre for Behaviour and Coevolution. She has received several awards for her work together with her colleagues, including the Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London, Bessel Research Award of the Humboldt Foundation, and Gill Memorial Medal of BirdLife South Africa.
Professional position
- Pola Pasvolsky Chair in Conservation Biology, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town
- Visiting Research Associate, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
