The seminar, delivered by Dr Roan Plotz, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Director: Innovation (Research Engagement) at Deakin University in Australia, drew on data from his own research alongside findings from more than a decade of work in Africa, Australia, and South Asia.
Dr Plotz’s talk examined human–wildlife interactions, behavioural ecology, and the integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems with contemporary science.
He traced the development of his research from his PhD work on black rhinos in KwaZulu-Natal to current comparative studies involving Australian marsupials and nocturnal mammals monitored using thermal technologies.
Central to his presentation was the unexpected discovery that red-billed oxpeckers act as effective sentinels for black rhinos, alerting them to approaching threats well before the rhinos would ordinarily detect danger.
This finding emerged during his PhD research at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, where he investigated rhino behaviour and the long-debated relationship between rhinos and oxpeckers.
“Initially, my work was driven by questions about whether oxpeckers were primarily parasitic or mutualistic,” he explained.
“What we didn’t anticipate was the degree to which their behaviour could influence a rhino’s ability to detect danger.”
Through months of tracking rhinos on foot and via telemetry, Dr Plotz observed that oxpeckers consistently gave alarm calls when humans approached.
The observations prompted structured field experiments measuring rhinos’ responses.
“What we found was striking. Rhinos with oxpeckers detected us 100 per cent of the time. Rhinos without oxpeckers only detected about 23 per cent of the approaches. The difference was too large to ignore.”
He noted that although oxpeckers feed extensively on rhino lesions – behaviour that can irritate the animal – their presence appears to confer a behavioural advantage.
“There is clearly a trade-off. The feeding behaviour may be uncomfortable, but the early-warning system is evidently valuable. It helps rhinos orient themselves, move downwind, and make better decisions about whether to retreat.”
Dr Plotz added that while the sentinel behaviour had been mentioned in anecdotal accounts for decades, it had rarely been tested scientifically.
His work represents some of the first quantitative evidence that oxpeckers can enhance rhino vigilance in high-risk landscapes. He suggested the findings could inform future conservation strategies, including reintroducing oxpeckers to areas where they have been lost.
“If oxpeckers can increase detection rates, particularly in regions affected by poaching, their presence could have meaningful conservation implications.”
Understanding Flight Initiation Distances
Dr Plotz also shared his current research in Australia, where he examines flight initiation distances (FIDs) – the point at which an animal chooses to flee from an approaching threat.
His team utilises thermal scopes and nocturnal surveys to record precise measurements of animal movements in response to human activities, artificial light, and environmental factors.
“One of the key questions is how different species perceive risk,” he said. “Mammals, birds, and marsupials don’t all treat humans the same way. Some animals view us as predators, while others regard us as neutral features of the landscape. That difference tells us a great deal about their evolutionary histories.”
A consistent pattern in his data is that Australian marsupials show markedly reduced responsiveness to humans compared with African mammals.
“Many marsupials have not had the same long-term exposure to humans as African species. Their escape responses tend to be shorter and less urgent. This is a product of their evolutionary trajectory and predator histories,” he explained.
His comparative work includes studies on possums in both urban and rural environments. The research showed that urban possums initiate flight at much closer distances, indicating a higher tolerance of human presence.
“Urban environments reshape behaviour. Animals in cities become habituated to noise, artificial light, and human movement. Understanding those changes helps us make better decisions about urban planning and biodiversity protection.”
He further highlighted research involving species such as bandicoots and European rabbits, illustrating that predator responses are not always explained by current ecological pressures alone. In one study, rabbits in Australia and England showed similar vigilance levels despite differing predator regimes.
“It shows that behaviour can be deeply ingrained and influenced by ancestral histories,” he noted.
Integrating Knowledge Systems for Environmental Insight
A recurring theme throughout Dr Plotz’s seminar was the importance of integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems with scientific approaches. Drawing on his earlier work at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, where he led a multinational programme developing climate tools informed by Indigenous forecasting, he argued that collaboration across knowledge systems is essential for responding effectively to contemporary environmental challenges.
“We cannot rely solely on modern science,” he said. “Indigenous communities have developed detailed environmental knowledge over centuries. If we want to address climate resilience, resource management, or wildlife conservation in a truly effective way, we must create space for both knowledge systems to work together.”
The seminar concluded with discussions about potential collaborations between UMP and Deakin University, including opportunities for co-supervision of honours and master’s students, joint field projects, and co-authored research outputs.
Story and pictures by Cleopatra Makhaga. Copyright © UMP