My research is aimed at using novel methods for the analysis of ecological and evolutionary data. A key research focus has been investigating realistic statistical models for understanding large scale ecological processes, particularly of extinction and invasion among bird populations. My research has led to significant advances in the discipline of global change biology and has directly elucidated the traits of exotic species influencing the successful transition of phases through the invasion pathway.

‘Avian Invasions: The Ecology and Evolution of Exotic Birds’, co-authored with Tim Blackburn and Julie Lockwood, was published in June 2009 . For details click here.

In 2007 I was awarded a fellowship to attend the Crucible programme, funded by the UK National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, for mid-career researchers interested in interdisciplinary collaborative research. My current research is supported by a Human Frontier Science Program Young Investigator Grant and a Leverhulme Trust Research Grant.

As well as my ongoing research into the influences of global processes on changes in biodiversity, my laboratory is studying the variation in eggshell architecture among bird species. Our aim is to deconstruct eggshell traits into their component biochemical, physical and ecological parts using robust evolutionary models. This project is an exciting multidisciplinary collaboration in the study of avian phylogenetics, reproductive physiology, structural biomolecular analysis, and biomineralization.

Recent publications

Cassey, P., Blackburn, T.M., Sol, D., Duncan, R.P., and Lockwood, J.L. (2004) Global patterns of Introduction Effort and Establishment Success in Birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 271, S405-408.

Cassey, P., Honza, M., Grim, T., and Hauber, M.E. (2008) The modelling of avian visual perception predicts behavioural rejection responses to foreign egg colours. Biology Letters, 4, 515-517.

Cassey, P., Lockwood, J.L., and Fenn, K.H. (2007) Using long-term occupancy information to inform the management of Cape Sable seaside sparrows in the Everglades. Biological Conservation, 139, 139-149.

Duncan, R.P., Cassey, P., and Blackburn, T.M. (2009) Does climate constrain species’ distributions? A manipulative test using dung beetle introductions. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 276, 1449-1457.

Lockwood, J.L., Cassey, P., and Blackburn, T.M. (2005) Is propagule pressure the ‘missing link’ in predicting invasions? Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 20, 223-228.

Reynolds, S.J., Martin, G.R., and Cassey, P. (2009) Is sexual selection blurring the functional significance of eggshell coloration hypotheses? Animal Behaviour,78: 209-215.

Video