BSc (Ahmadu Bello, Nigeria), MSc (Jos, Nigeria)

From childhood, Simon has always interacted with animals. Birds were his favourites because of their vocalization, colouration, and presence in diverse habitats, including the suburbs. By following birds in the bush and his local neighbourhood, Simon often encountered many colourful species. This early fascination with birds would later reappear during his postgraduate studies. 

Simon's research interest is in how the environment influences the life history traits, behaviour, and physiology of animals. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Zoology in 2016 and a master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, Jos, Nigeria, in 2021. His master’s thesis, supervised by Prof. Shiiwua Manu, Dr Chima Nwaogu, and Dr Taiwo Omotoriogun investigated the consequences of environmental change on the body condition of birds via experimental manipulation of one of the crucial components of their environment (diet) using the omnivorous Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus. The study concluded that environmental changes capable of altering the availability of different food types (especially insects) can affect the maintenance of body condition and other physiological processes in omnivores due to their complex diet combination. 

Simon is now pursuing his PhD, continuing his investigation of the role of diet and seasonal environmental change in modulating the physiology of birds, under the supervision of Dr Chima Nwaogu, Prof. Claire Spottiswoode, Dr Mark Gillingham, and Prof. Irene Tieleman.  Specifically, he will investigate the effect of diet, diet shift, and seasonal changes on the gut microbiome, immune function, energy expenditure, and body maintenance by looking at features such as body mass and moult in birds, specifically the omnivorous Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus. 

Thesis title: How the gut microbiome links diet and immune function

Publications

Abiem, I., Barde Elisha, E., Akawu Jacob, J., Pev Apezan, T., Ojodomo Godday, S., & Manu, S. (2025). Tree species composition and above-ground biomass of a preserved woodland in an agricultural landscape of Southern Nigeria. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 1–8 https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2025.2506423

Jarrett, C., Simon, O. G., Tchana, C. N., Pev, T. A., Meigang Kamkeng, M. F., Wandji, A. C., ... & Nwaogu, C. J. (2024). Differences in phenology across three trophic levels between two Afrotropical sites separated by four degrees latitude. Ecology and Evolution, 14(9),  https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70274.

Simon, O. G., Manu, S. A., Nwaogu, C. J., & Omotoriogun, T. C. (2023). Supplementing a grain diet with insects instead of fruits sustains the body condition of an omnivorous bird. Ecology and Evolution, 13(5), https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10141.