Dr Markus Gusset
Alumni
Originally from Switzerland, I conducted most of my research on the behaviour, ecology and conservation of carnivores throughout southern and eastern Africa. My work inter alia included a PhD study on the reintroduction of African wild dogs in South Africa and a postdoctoral study on the large carnivore guild in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Until 2013, I was a Research Associate at the University of Oxford, continuing my work on African carnivores.
My research interests included, but were not limited to, applying theory from behavioural ecology to conservation practice, reintroduction biology and human–wildlife conflict issues.
Selected Publications
Gusset, M., Ryan, S.J., Hofmeyr, M., Van Dyk, G., Davies-Mostert, H.T., Graf, J.A., Owen, C., Szykman, M., Macdonald, D.W., Monfort, S.L., Wildt, D.E., Maddock, A.H., Mills, M.G.L., Slotow, R. & Somers, M.J. (2008) Efforts going to the dogs? Evaluating attempts to re-introduce endangered wild dogs in South Africa. Journal of Applied Ecology 45: 100–108.
Rasmussen, G.S.A., Gusset, M., Courchamp, F. & Macdonald, D.W. (2008) Achilles’ heel of sociality revealed by energetic poverty trap in cursorial hunters. American Naturalist 172: 508–518.
Gusset, M., Jakoby, O., Müller, M.S., Somers, M.J., Slotow, R. & Grimm, V. (2009) Dogs on the catwalk: modelling re-introduction and translocation of endangered wild dogs in South Africa. Biological Conservation 142: 2774–2781.
Somers, M.J., Graf, J.A., Szykman, M., Slotow, R. & Gusset, M. (2008) Dynamics of a small re-introduced population of wild dogs over 25 years: Allee effects and the implications of sociality for endangered species’ recovery. Oecologia 158: 239–247.
Gusset, M. & Macdonald, D.W. (2010) Group size effects in cooperatively breeding African wild dogs. Animal Behaviour 79: 425–428.
Graf, J.A., Gusset, M., Reid, C., Janse van Rensburg, S., Slotow, R. & Somers, M.J. (2006) Evolutionary ecology meets wildlife management: artificial group augmentation in the re-introduction of endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). Animal Conservation 9: 398–403.
McNutt, J.W. & Gusset, M. (2012) Declining body size in an endangered large mammal. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 105: 8–12.
Boast, L.K., Houser, A.M., Good, K. & Gusset, M. (2013) Regional variation in body size of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Journal of Mammalogy 94: 1293–1297.
Gusset, M., Maddock, A.H., Gunther, G.J., Szykman, M., Slotow, R., Walters, M. & Somers, M.J. (2008) Conflicting human interests over the re-introduction of endangered wild dogs in South Africa. Biodiversity and Conservation 17: 83–101.
Gusset, M., Slotow, R. & Somers, M.J. (2006) Divided we fail: the importance of social integration for the re-introduction of endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). Journal of Zoology, London 270: 502–511.
Gusset, M., Swarner, M.J., Mponwane, L., Keletile, K. & McNutt, J.W. (2009) Human–wildlife conflict in northern Botswana: livestock predation by endangered African wild dog Lycaon pictus and other carnivores. Oryx 43: 67–72.
Gusset, M., Stewart, G.B., Bowler, D.E. & Pullin, A.S. (2010) Wild dog reintroductions in South Africa: a systematic review and cross-validation of an endangered species recovery programme. Journal for Nature Conservation 18: 230–234.
Lagendijk, D.D.G. & Gusset, M. (2008) Human–carnivore coexistence on communal land bordering the Greater Kruger Area, South Africa. Environmental Management 42: 971–976.
Bauer, D., Schiess-Meier, M., Mills, D. R. & Gusset, M. (2014) Using spoor and prey counts to determine temporal and spatial variation in lion (Panthera leo) density. Canadian Journal of Zoology 92: 97–104.
Bruche, S., Gusset, M., Lippold, S., Barnett, R., Eulenberger, K., Junhold, J., Driscoll, C.A. & Hofreiter, M. (2013) A genetically distinct lion (Panthera leo) population from Ethiopia. European Journal of Wildlife Research 59: 215–225.
Weilenmann, M., Gusset, M., Mills, D.R., Gabanapelo, T. & Schiess-Meier, M. (2010) Is translocation of stock-raiding leopards into a protected area with resident conspecifics an effective management tool? Wildlife Research 37: 702–707.
Kerth, G., Gusset, M., Garbely, J., König, B., Gabanapelo, T. & Schiess-Meier, M. (2013) Genetic sexing of stock-raiding leopards: not only males to blame. Conservation Genetics Resources 5: 1101–1105.