A5006479858- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
University of Oxford
2015-2025
Rudjer Boskovic Institute
2022
National Research Council
2022
University of Helsinki
2022
Water Research Institute
2022
Finnish Museum of Natural History
2022
Oxford Brookes University
2022
Universitat de les Illes Balears
2019
University of Gloucestershire
2017
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
2009-2014
Biologically inspired design is attracting increasing interest since it offers access to a huge biological repository of well proven principles that can be used for developing new and innovative products. Biological phenomena inspire product innovation in as diverse areas mechanical engineering, medical nanotechnology, photonics, environmental protection agriculture. However, major obstacle the wider use biologically knowledge barrier exist between application engineers have insight into how...
We currently face significant, anthropogenic, global environmental challenges and the role of ecologists in mitigating these is arguably more important than ever. Consequently there an urgent need to recruit train future generations ecologists, both those whose main area ecology, but also involved geological, biological sciences. Here we present results a horizon scanning exercise that identified current facing teaching through surveys teachers, students employers ecologists. Key were...
Abstract Species traits are an essential currency in ecology, evolution, biogeography, and conservation biology. However, trait databases unavailable for most organisms, especially those living difficult-to-access habitats such as caves other subterranean ecosystems. We compiled expert-curated database spiders Europe using both literature data (including grey published many different languages) direct morphological measurements whenever specimens were available to us. started by updating the...
The Aegean islands are a known hotspot for herpetofauna and have been extensively studied in this area. However, there still numerous that lack research. This includes the uninhabited islet of Despotiko found Paros archipelago, Cyclades. It is its importance archaeology, which turn attracts tourism. not yet complete understanding on presence there, with last published records written 1977. In an effort to address this, combination past ad-hoc sightings visual surveys were carried out during...
The peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata), a significant polyphagous pest, poses considerable threat to crops across its expanding range. Although climate change significantly impacts pest populations, effects on B. zonata remain understudied. This research examined population dynamics two distinct Egyptian ecological zones (Sohag and Ismailia Governorates) from 2013–2023 using pheromone traps data. Results revealed spatial temporal variations in abundance patterns. Both regions displayed...
ABSTRACT The European cave spider ( Meta menardi ) builds orb webs in the entrance and twilight zone of caves. However, scarcity flying prey inside caves means that only about half its diet consists insects, with walking making up remaining half. capture non‐flying is not generally known from aboveground web building spiders, which exclusively their webs. It currently a mystery how manages to on wall. A number hypotheses have been suggested, including leaves completely off‐web hunting...
The Aegean Islands are a known hotspot for herpetofauna and have been extensively studied in this area. However, there still numerous islands that lack research. This includes the uninhabited islet of Despotiko found Paros Archipelago, Cyclades. It is its importance archaeology, which, turn, attracts tourism. not yet complete understanding presence there, with last published records written 1977. In an effort to address this, combination past ad-hoc sightings visual surveys was carried out...
Subterranean habitats in general and caves particular harbour a unique set of organisms that are adapted to the dark nutrient-limited environment. The high selection pressure limited geneflow between semi-isolated have generally resulted level endemicity among depauperate cave fauna. fauna is vulnerable range anthropogenic factors including mining excessive usage as show caves. awareness need for conservation this has been growing recent years, but not uniformly. In paper, we use Web Science...
Abstract The first orb web built by newly hatched spiders resembles the adult in its overall form and structure. However, many details show ontogenetic changes. One possible explanation for these changes is that tiny early‐instar with their minute brains will make more mistakes build less ‘perfect’ webs than older larger juveniles adults. To test this hypothesis, known as size limitation I analysed from three developmental stages, spiderlings, females, two neotropical orb‐web spiders,...
SUMMARY Silk cocoons, constructed by silkmoths (Lepidoptera), are protective structural composites. Some cocoons appear to have evolved towards and material optimisation in order sustain impact strikes from predators hinder parasite ingress. This study investigates the properties of silk with different morphologies evaluating their resistance damage tolerance. Finite element analysis was used analyse empirical observations quasi-static response evaluate separate benefits structures materials...
Turning behaviour in the fruit fly Drosophila depends on several factors including not only feedback from sensory organs and muscular control of wing motion, but also mass moments inertia frictional damping coefficient rotating body. In present study we evaluate significance body friction for yaw turning thus limits visually mediated flight Drosophila, by scoring tethered flies flying a simulator their ability to compensate bias moving object visual background panorama at different simulated...
Abstract Pollutants in an environment can have long-term implications for the species living there, resulting local adaptations with their genetic structure. Heavy metal pollutants infiltrate soils and groundwater, bioaccumulate food webs, negatively impact biota. In this study, we investigated degree to which structure variability of slender green-winged grasshopper (Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)) were impacted by heavy pollution distance. We used random amplified...
Butterflies are important pollinators and indicators of environmental health. Habitat destruction fragmentation caused by developmental activities poor natural resource management the main reasons for drastic decline butterfly populations throughout world, prompt need effective conservation management. We assessed diversity, richness, seasonal distribution priorities butterflies in an inner-city parkland habitat (University Dhaka, Bangladesh) investigated biotic, abiotic factors affecting...
Abstract Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up spotlight traditional social media. We compiled expert-curated global database on online newspaper coverage human-spider encounters over past ten years (2010–2020). This includes information about location each encounter reported news article a quantitative characterisation content—location, presence photographs...
Abstract Specialized subterranean species are iconic examples of convergent evolution driven by environmental constraints, representing an ideal model system for eco-evolutionary studies. However, scientific research on the behavioural adaptations organisms has lagged and is biased mostly towards a few species. Through systematic literature review, we aimed to assess quantitatively whether congruent traits among exists. We considered four types behaviours (exploratory, feeding, social...