Fitz boasts 100 papers for 2013

For the first time Fitz CoE staff and students have published over 100 scientific papers in subsidy earning journals during one calendar year. The Institute’s proud record of research, teaching and public awareness of science has been built up over the last 50 years, and what a better way to bring up a century in scientific papers for 2013 than an article in Science (342: 1452-53; doi: 10.1126/science.1247758). Congratulations to Claire Spottiswoode, a Fitz Honorary Research Associate based at Cambridge University, who wrote a Perspective on how defending their nests against brood parasites has promoted the evolution of co-operative breeding behaviour in birds. Her article was illustrated by two photos of Black-collared Barbets defending their nest against a Lesser Honeyguide submitted by Jim Cambray to the BirdLife South Africa magazine African Birdlife. The full story about the barbets’ life and death struggle with the honeyguide is published in the latest edition of African Birdlife (Jan-Feb 2014).