A5068696599- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Malaria Research and Control
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
University of Oxford
2016-2025
Martin University
2021
Natural History Museum
2016
National Museums Scotland
2016
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
2015
Imperial College London
2000-2010
Coconut Research Institute
2010
Natural Environment Research Council
1999-2006
CAB International
1986
Commonwealth Education Trust
1985
1. A quantitative parasitoid web was constructed describing the trophic relationships between community of aphids, parasitoids and secondary in an abandoned field southern England. Root aphids were omitted associated with rather than primary parasitoids. All links expressed same units (m −2 ). Over a 2‐year period, separate webs for every month that active field. 2. Twenty‐six species plants attacked by 25 aphid which parasitized 18 The 28 parasitoids, directly still living...
Abstract Homing endonuclease genes (HEGs) encode proteins that in the heterozygous state cause double-strand breaks homologous chromosome at precise position opposite HEG. If break is repaired using chromosome, HEG becomes homozygous, and this represents a powerful genetic drive mechanism might be used as tool managing vector or pest populations. HEGs may to decrease population fitness down densities (possibly causing local extinction) or, disease vectors, knock out gene required for...
The need for policy makers to understand science and scientists processes is widely recognised. However, the science-policy relationship sometimes difficult occasionally dysfunctional; it also increasingly visible, because must deal with contentious issues, or itself becomes a matter of public controversy, both. We suggest that identifying key unanswered questions on between will catalyse focus research in this field. To identify these questions, collaborative procedure was employed 52...
Drosophila melanogaster can be artificially selected for increased resistance against parasitoid wasps that attack the larvae. Lines greater are poorer larval competitors under conditions of resource scarcity. Here we investigated mechanistic basis this apparent trade-off. We found resistant lines have approximately twice density haemocytes (blood cells) than controls. Haemocytes involved in encapsulation, chief cellular immune defence parasitoids. previously shown feed more slowly controls...
Costs of resistance are widely assumed to be important in the evolution parasite and pathogen defence animals, but they have been demonstrated experimentally on very few occasions. Endoparasitoids insects whose larvae develop inside bodies other where defend themselves from attack by their hosts' immune systems (especially cellular encapsulation). Working with Drosophila melanogaster its endoparasitoid Leptopilina boulardi, we selected for increased four replicate populations flies. The...
Many insects are attacked by internal parasitoids against which they mount a largely cellular immunological defense. The resistance of host and the virulence parasitoid determine species survives after parasitism. Drosophila is parasitized several hymenopterous parasitoids, especially those in genera Asobara Leptopilina. Geographic patterns have been found resistance, clearest cline tabida from north (low) to south (high) Europe. melanogaster highest central‐southern Europe lower elsewhere....
Wolbachia form a group of intracellular bacteria that alter reproduction in their arthropod hosts. Two major phylogenetic subdivisions (A and B) occur. Using polymerase chain reaction assay we surveyed for the A B 82 insect species from two temperate host-parasitoid communities (food webs) general collection Lepidoptera caught at light trap. One community was based around leaf-mining Lepidoptera, other Aphids. We found that: (i) 22.0% insects sampled were infected with Wolbachia; (ii)...
Abstract Background Parasitoids are insect parasites whose larvae develop in the bodies of other insects. The main immune defense against parasitoids is encapsulation foreign body by blood cells, which subsequently often melanize. capsule sequesters and kills parasite. molecular processes involved still poorly understood, especially compared with humoral immunity. Results We explored transcriptional response to parasitoid attack Drosophila at nine time points following parasitism,...
1 Most communities of insect herbivores are unlikely to be structured by resource competition, but they may apparent competition mediated shared natural enemies. 2 The potential three guilds enemies (parasitoids, fungal entomopathogens and predators) influence aphid community structure through indirect interactions is assessed. Based on the biology, we predicted that scope for would greatest predator least parasitoid guilds. 3 Separate fully quantitative food webs were constructed years...
Aphids possess several facultative bacterial symbionts that have important effects on their hosts' biology. These been most closely studied in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), a species feeds multiple host plants. Whether secondary influence plant utilization is unclear. We report fitness consequences of introducing different strains symbiont Hamiltonella defensa into three clones collected Lathyrus pratensis naturally lack symbionts, and removing from 20 natural aphid-bacterial...
Fungal diseases are major threats to the most important crops upon which humanity depends. Were there be a epidemic that severely reduced yields, its effects would spread throughout globalized food system. To explore these ramifications, we use partial equilibrium economic model of global system (IMPACT) study hypothetical severe but short-lived reduces rice yields in countries affected by 80%. We modelled succession scenarios increasing severity, starting with disease single country...
Livestock is known to contribute significantly climate change and negatively impact global nitrogen cycles biodiversity. However, there has been little research on economically efficient policies for regulating meat production consumption. In the absence of first-best policy instruments livestock sector, second-best consumption taxes can address multiple environmental externalities simultaneously as well improve diet-related public health. this article, we review empirical evidence social...
1. The population dynamics of colonies nettle aphids (Microlophium carnosum Buckton) were studied on potted plants placed beside plots grass some which outbreaks (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) had been induced by fertilizer application. 2. Nettle aphid adjacent to concentration suffered an earlier decline, and produced fewer alate dispersers, than control colonies. 3. reduced performance in the vicinity was due increased predation Coccinellidae, attracted into area large concentrations aphids....
A coevolutionary model is developed of the interaction between a host and an internal parasitoid, where outcome parasitism depends upon extent to which individual hosts invest in resistance mechanisms parasitoids countermeasures (virulence). The parasitoid are assumed have coupled population dynamics (of Nicholson–Bailey form) be composed series asexual clones with different levels virulence. Investment virulence costly. has two main outcomes. First, if relatively costly compared virulence,...
Abstract Males of haplodiploid species develop from unfertilized eggs. An unmated female, or a female in some other way prevented fertilising eggs, is thus still able to produce male offspring. The presence females constrained only progeny distorts the population sex ratio and leads selection on unconstrained daughter‐biased ratio. With panmictic mating, response maintains equality. In populations with strong local mate competition, has minor affect females. If modulate their all‐male...