Dr Marion Valeix
Research Associates
I am a wildlife biologist and I completed my D.Phil. at the University of Paris 6 in 2006. After several years as a WildCRU post-doctorate, I now hold a permanent researcher position at the French CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) – Laboratory of Biometry and Evolutionary Biology (LBBE). The core of my research is based on a strong collaboration with Andrew Loveridge and David Macdonald from WildCRU.
Fields: behavioural ecology, spatial ecology, community ecology, trophic ecology, functional ecology, conservation ecology.
Study species: large African mammals
Main research themes: I am interested in the processes determining the spatio-temporal dynamics of the behavioural ecology of predator-prey interactions in large mammals. In particular, I study the mechanisms underlying habitat selection, movements and foraging strategies of large herbivores and carnivores. In this context, I am particularly interested in the link between animal behaviour and the functioning of populations and communities. Ultimately, I am aiming at taking into account the effects of predator-predator interactions and the composition of prey community in the foraging strategies, space use and movements of animals. A conceptual challenge is to conceive a realistic and dynamic functional response for carnivores. An applied challenge is to provide predictions of the spatial distribution of large mammals; an important information for conservation and for a better understanding of human-wildlife interactions. My research relies on behavioural observations, GPS collars, field experiments, and data analysis.
Main study site: Most of my research activities are carried out in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, both a CNRS Long-term Ecological Research site (LTER – Zone Atelier CNRS) and the ecosystem where the Hwange Lion Research Project directed by Andrew Loveridge and David Macdonald is run since 1999.
Other research themes:
• Mechanisms structuring large mammal communities
• Impact of high elephant population abundance on other large herbivores and ecosystems
• Functioning of savanna ecosystems
• Ecological determinants of human-wildlife conflicts in the surrounding of protected areas
Selected Publications
Courbin N, Loveridge AJ, Macdonald DW, Fritz H, Valeix M, Makuwe ET & Chamaillé-Jammes S (2016) Reactive responses of zebras to lion encounters shape their predator-prey space game at large scale. Oikos 125: 829-838.
Périquet S, Valeix M, Claypole J, Drouet-Hoguet N, Salnicki J, Revilla E & Fritz H (2015) Spotted hyaenas switch their foraging strategy as a response to changes in intraguild interactions with lions. Journal of Zoology 297: 245-254.
Oriol-Cotterill A, Valeix M, Frank LG, Riginos C & Macdonald DW (2015) Landscapes of coexistence for terrestrial carnivores: the ecological consequences of being downgraded from ultimate to penultimate predators by humans. Oikos 124: 1263-1273.
Oriol-Cotterill A, Macdonald DW, Valeix M, Ekwanga S & Frank LG (2015) Spatio-temporal patterns of lion space use in a human-dominated landscape. Animal Behaviour 101: 27-39.
Grange S, Barnier F, Duncan P, Gaillard J-M, Valeix M, Ncube H, Périquet S & Fritz H (2015) Demography of plains zebras (Equus quagga) under heavy predation. Population Ecology 57: 201-214.
Barnier F, Valeix M, Duncan P, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Barre P, Loveridge AJ, Macdonald DW & Fritz H (2014) Diet quality in a wild grazer declines under the threat of an ambush predator. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 281: 20140446.
Elliot NB, Valeix M, Macdonald DW & Loveridge AJ (2014) Social relationships affect dispersal timing revealing a delayed infanticide in African lions. Oikos 123: 1049-1056.
Benhamou S, Valeix M, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Macdonald DW & Loveridge AJ (2014) Movement-based analysis of interactions in African lions. Animal Behaviour 90: 171-180.
Davidson Z, Valeix M, Van Kesteren F, Loveridge AJ, Hunt JE, Murindagomo F & Macdonald DW (2013) Seasonal diet and prey preference of the African lion in a waterhole-driven semi-arid savanna. PLoS ONE 8(2): e55182.
Broekhuis F, Cozzi G, Valeix M, McNutt JW & Macdonald DW (2013) Risk avoidance in sympatric large carnivores: reactive or predictive? Journal of Animal Ecology 82: 1098-1105.
Valeix M, Loveridge AJ & Macdonald DW (2012) “Influence of prey dispersion on territory and group size of African lions: a test of the resource dispersion hypothesis” Ecology 93: 2490-2496.
Valeix M, Hemson G, Loveridge AJ, Mills MGL & Macdonald DW (2012) “Behavioural adjustments of a large carnivore to access secondary prey in a human-dominated landscape” Journal of Applied Ecology 49: 73-81.
Crosmary WG, Valeix M, Fritz H, Madzikanda H & Côté SD (2012) “African ungulates and their drinking problems: hunting and predation risks constrain access to water” Animal Behaviour 83: 145-153.
Davidson Z, Valeix M, Loveridge AJ, Hunt JE, Johnson PJ, Madzikanda H & Macdonald DW (2012) “Environmental determinants of habitat and kill site selection in a large carnivore: scale matters” Journal of Mammalogy 93: 667-685.
Pays O, Blanchard P, Valeix M, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Duncan P, Périquet S, Lombard M, Ncube G, Tarakini T, Makuwe E & Fritz H (2012) “Detecting predators and locating competitors while foraging: an experimental study of a medium-sized herbivore in an African savanna” Oecologia 169: 419-430.
Périquet S, Todd-Jones L, Valeix M, Stapelkamp B, Elliot N, Wijers M, Pays O, Fortin D, Madzikanda H, Fritz H, Macdonald DW & Loveridge AJ (2012) “Influence of immediate predation risk by lions on the vigilance of prey of different body size” Behavioral Ecology 23: 970-976.
Valeix M, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Loveridge AJ, Davidson Z, Hunt JE, Madzikanda H & Macdonald DW (2011) “Understanding patch departure rules for large carnivores: lion movements support a patch-disturbance hypothesis” The American Naturalist 178: 269-275.
Valeix M, Fritz H, Sabatier R, Murindagomo F, Cumming D & Duncan P (2011) “Elephant-induced structural changes in the vegetation and habitat selection by large herbivores in an African savanna” Biological Conservation 144: 902-912.
Valeix M (2011) “Temporal dynamics of dry-season water-hole use by large African herbivores in two years of contrasting rainfall in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe” Journal of Tropical Ecology 27: 163-170.
Davidson Z, Valeix M, Loveridge AJ, Madzikanda H & Macdonald DW (2011) “Socio-spatial behaviour of an African lion population following perturbation by sport hunting” Biological Conservation 144: 114-121.
Fritz H, Loreau M, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Valeix M & Clobert J (2011) “A food web perspective on large herbivore community limitation” Ecography 34: 196-202.
Valeix M, Loveridge AJ, Davidson Z, Madzikanda H, Fritz H & Macdonald DW (2010) “How key habitat features influence large terrestrial carnivore movements: waterholes and African lions in semi-arid savanna of north-western Zimbabwe” Landscape Ecology 25: 337-351.
Périquet S, Valeix M, Loveridge AJ, Madzikanda H, Macdonald DW & Fritz H (2010) “Individual vigilance of African herbivores while drinking: the role of immediate predation risk and context” Animal Behaviour 79: 665-671.
Valeix M, Loveridge AJ, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Davidson Z, Murindagomo F, Fritz H & Macdonald DW (2009) “Behavioral adjustments of African herbivores to predation risk by lions: spatiotemporal variations influence habitat use” Ecology 90: 23-30.
Valeix M, Fritz H, Loveridge AJ, Davidson Z, Hunt JE, Murindagomo F & Macdonald DW (2009) “Does the risk of encountering lions influence African herbivore behaviour at waterholes?” Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 63: 1483-1494.
Valeix M, Fritz H, Canévet V, Le Bel S & Madzikanda H (2009) “Do elephants prevent other African herbivores from using waterholes in the dry season?” Biodiversity and Conservation 18: 569-576.
Loveridge AJ, Valeix M, Davidson Z, Murindagomo F, Fritz H & Macdonald DW (2009) “Changes in home range size of African lions in relation to pride size and prey biomass in a semi-arid savanna” Ecography 32: 953-962.
Chamaillé-Jammes S, Valeix M, Bourgarel M, Murindagomo F & Fritz H (2009) “Seasonal density estimates of common large herbivores in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe” African Journal of Ecology 47: 804-808.
Valeix M, Fritz H, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Bourgarel M & Murindagomo F (2008) “Fluctuations in abundance of large herbivore populations: insights into the influence of dry season rainfall and elephant numbers from long-term data” Animal Conservation 11: 391-400.
Valeix M, Fritz H, Matsika R, Matsvimbo F & Madzikanda H (2008) “The role of water abundance, thermoregulation, perceived predation risk, and interference competition in water access by African herbivores” African Journal of Ecology 46: 402-410.
Chamaillé-Jammes S, Fritz H, Valeix M, Murindagomo F & Clobert J (2008) “Resource variability, aggregation and direct density dependence in an open context: the local regulation of an African elephant population” Journal of Animal Ecology 77: 135-144.
Valeix M, Chamaillé-Jammes S & Fritz H (2007) “Interference competition and temporal niche shifts: elephants and herbivore communities at waterholes” Oecologia 153: 739-748.
Valeix M, Fritz H, Dubois S, Kanengoni K, Alleaume S & Saïd S (2007) “Vegetation structure and ungulate abundance over a period of increasing elephant abundance in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe” Journal of Tropical Ecology 23: 87-93.
Chamaillé-Jammes S, Valeix M & Fritz H (2007) “Managing heterogeneity in elephant distribution: interactions between elephant population density and surface-water availability” Journal of Applied Ecology 44: 625-633.
Chamaillé-Jammes S, Valeix M & Fritz H (2007) “Elephant management: why can’t we throw out the babies with the artificial bathwater?” Diversity and Distributions 13: 663-665.
Poisbleau M, Fritz H, Valeix M, Perroi PY, Dalloyau S & Lambrechts MM (2006) “Social dominance correlates and family status in wintering dark-bellied brent geese, Branta bernicla bernicla” Animal Behaviour 71: 1351-1358.
