A5039221698- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
University of Exeter
2019-2023
Zoological Society of London
2017-2019
Cardiff University
2017
Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging of conservation concern in eastern North America. Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the causative agent SFD, has been isolated from over 30 species wild snakes six families Whilst O. ophiodiicola captive outside America, pathogen not reported elsewhere. We screened 33 carcasses and 303 moulted skins collected 2010-2016 Great Britain Czech Republic for presence macroscopic skin lesions ophiodiicola. The fungus was detected using real-time PCR 26 (8.6%)...
In 1977, a sample of diseased adult honeybees (Apis mellifera) from Egypt was found to contain large amounts previously unknown virus, bee which subsequently shown be serologically related deformed wing virus (DWV). By sequencing the original isolate, we demonstrate that is in fact fourth unique, major variant DWV (DWV-D): more closely DWV-C than either DWV-A or DWV-B. and DWV-B are most common variants worldwide due their close relationship transmission by Varroa destructor. However, could...
Insects are under pressure from agricultural intensification. To protect pollinators, conservation measures such as the EU agri-environment schemes (AES) promote planting wildflowers along fields. However, this can potentially alter disease ecology by serving transmission hubs or diluting infections. We tested measuring plant–pollinator interactions and virus infections (DWV-A, DWV-B ABPV) across pollinator communities in landscapes over a year. AES had direct effect on DWV-B, reducing...
Reports of severe disease outbreaks in amphibian communities mainland Europe due to strains the common midwife toad virus (CMTV)-like clade Ranavirus are increasing and have created concern their considerable population impacts. In Great Britain, viruses another Ranavirus-frog 3 (FV3)-like-have caused marked declines frog (Rana temporaria) populations following likely recent introductions. The British public has been reporting mortality incidents a citizen science project since 1992, with...
Whether an infectious disease threat to wildlife arises from pathogen introduction or the increased incidence of already-present agent informs mitigation policy and actions. The prior absence a can be difficult establish, particularly in free-living wildlife. Subsequent epidemic emergence fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), mainland Europe 2010 its detection captive amphibians United Kingdom (UK), we tested archived skin swabs using Bsal-specific qPCR. These samples had been...
In addition to sugars, nectar contains multiple nutrient compounds in varying concentrations, yet little is known of their effect on the reward properties and resulting implications for insect behaviour. We examined pre-ingestive responses honeybees sucrose solutions containing a mix pollen compounds, amino acids proline or phenylalanine, distasteful substances, quinine salt. predicted that taste learning assays, bees would respond positively presence solution. However, bees' proboscis...