Contributions by role
Contributions by subject area
Nigel C Bennett
Summary
Prof Bennett is professor of Zoology in the Department of Zoology and Entomology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. He holds the Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Research Chair in Mammalian Behavioural Ecology and Physiology, as well as the Austin Roberts Chair of African Mammalogy.
Professor Bennett has an active research programme investigating ecophysiology in mammals from the Arabian Peninsula and holds a visiting professorship at the King Saud University where he is a member of the Mammals Research Chair.
The focus of his research is primarily animal physiology and behaviour, and he uses the African mole-rat as model animal. With his co-workers he has investigated the ecological and physiological factors that affect the control of reproduction and the evolution of sociality. His investigation into cooperative breeding in mammals is conducted from a variety of perspectives. The strength of this multi-faceted approach is that it has led to an integrated understanding of reproductive suppression in mole-rats at a level of understanding that has not been achieved for any other taxon. His research has set the benchmark for our understanding of the phylogenetic and ecological constraints that regulate reproductive success and social evolution in mammalian species.