A5041539533- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Myxozoan Parasites in Aquatic Species
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine and fisheries research
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Helminth infection and control
Cawthron Institute
2023-2024
Manx National Heritage
2008-2019
Queen's University Belfast
1997-2012
St. John's University
2012
Government Laboratory
2009
Amsterdam Museum
2005
University of Amsterdam
2005
Atomic Energy (Canada)
1978
Summary Predictions of the identities and ecological impacts invasive alien species are critical for risk assessment, but presently we lack universal standardized metrics that reliably predict likelihood degree impact such invaders (i.e. measurable changes in populations affected species). This need is especially pressing emerging potential future have no invasion history. Such a metric would also ideally apply across diverse taxonomic trophic groups. We derive new invader blends: (i)...
ABSTRACT Gammarus spp. are widespread throughout a diverse range of freshwater habitats and can be the dominant part many benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages, in terms both numbers and/or biomass. Although vast majority studies have emphasized herbivorous nature their ‘shredder’ functional feeding group (FFG) classification, we show that far wider food base is exploited than has been previously acknowledged. This ‘plasticity’ as herbivore/predator linked to success persisting...
The ‘killer shrimp’, Dikerogammarus villosus, has been recognised as one of the 100 worst alien species in Europe, terms negative impacts on biodiversity and functioning invaded ecosystems. During last twenty years, this Ponto-Caspian amphipod crustacean rapidly spread throughout Europe’s freshwaters its invasion continued range expansion represents a major conservation management problem. Although great deal research focussed almost ‘perfect’ invader damaging impacts, realised potential,...
ABSTRACT Gammarus spp. (Crustacea: Amphipoda) are widespread throughout a diverse range of marine, freshwater and estuarine/brackish habitats, often dominating benthic macroinvertebrate communities in terms both numbers and/or biomass. the dominant prey items many fish, whether as seasonal food source or year‐round staple. Selective predation by fish on is linked to parasitism body size prey. populations under increasing threat from pollution replacement/displacement introduced species. Loss...
Parasites can structure biological communities directly through population regulation and indirectly by processes such as apparent competition. However, the role of parasites in process invasion is less well understood mechanisms parasite mediation predation among hosts are unclear. Mutual between native invading species an important factor determining outcome invasions freshwater amphipod communities. Here, we show that mediate mutual intraguild may thereby facilitate process. We find...
The Ponto-Caspian amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus was found both in the margins and open water areas of Grafham Water, a large reservoir Cambridgeshire, U.K., September 2010. Both adults juveniles were present numbers most frequent boulder/cobble dominating reservoir. Precopula pairs also evident, as egg bearing females.
Summary 1. Water quality monitoring data from 10 watercourses and laboratory mesocosm studies were used to assess the potential impacts of crustacean amphipod invader Dikerogammarus villosus on resident macroinvertebrate assemblage structure in Central European fresh waters. 2. The presence D. was associated with a decline prevalence many native species, pollution sensitive as well tolerant, changes biotic indices, despite trends improved water coinciding invasion period. A general increase...
Summary The ability to predict the likely ecological impacts of invasive species in fresh waters is a pressing research requirement. Whilst comparisons traits and considerations invasion history have some efficacy this respect, we require robust methods that can compare effects native species. Here, utilise comparative functional responses prey selectivity experiments understand impact an invader as compared native. We predatory emerging Europe, ‘killer shrimp’, Dikerogammarus villosus ,...
Abstract Predation between invading and native species can produce patterns of exclusion coexistence. Dikerogammarus villosus , a Ponto‐Caspian amphipod species, has invaded many central European freshwaters in the past decade, replacing Gammarus species. For instance, arrival D. Holland been accompanied by decline duebeni G. tigrinus populations within systems. This study examined what may happen when eventually encounters Dutch pulex how factors such as microhabitat food resource...
ABSTRACT Assessing the effects of invading species on native community structure is often confounded by environmental factors and weakened lack replicated, long‐term pre‐ post‐invasion monitoring. Here, we uncouple a freshwater amphipod invader from differences. In Irish rivers, introduced Gammarus pulex replaces duebeni celticus . However, River Lissan in Northern Ireland dissected weir that has slowed upstream invasion G. This allowed us 2000 to sample three contiguous 150‐m reaches were...
Invasive species may threaten the fundamental role played by native macroinvertebrate shredders in determining energy flow and trophic dynamics of freshwater ecosystems. Functionally, amphipods have long been regarded as mainly shredders, but they are increasingly recognized major predators other taxa. Furthermore, intraguild predation (IGP) between invasive underlies many displacements. We used laboratory mesocosms to investigate what might happen leaf-litter processing water bodies invaded...
SUMMARY 1. Assessing the effects on communities of invasive species is often confounded by environmental factors. In Irish rivers, introduced amphipod Gammarus pulex replaces native G. duebeni celticus in lowland stretches. The two amphipods are associated with different macroinvertebrate communities, which may part be result natural longitudinal physicochemical change. However, this hinders assessment any direct community impacts as compared species. Here, we report a fortuitous...
Abstract The amphipod Gammarus pulex is an intermediate host to the acanthocephalan fish parasite Echinorhynchus truttae . has a wide trophic repertoire, feeding as herbivore, detritivore and predator. In this study examination was made of effects E. parasitism on components G. diet: stream‐conditioned leaves, dead chironomids live juvenile isopods Asellus aquaticus Over 21 days, had no effect daily rates or wet weights fed leaves chironomids. Parasitism significant number A. killed by ,...
We assessed the extent to which an invader, Gammarus pulex (Crustacea: Amphipoda), has replaced a native, duebeni celticus, over 13-year period in European river system and some of abiotic biotic factors that could account for this. Between 1988 2001, 56% mixed-species sites had become invader-only sites, whereas no mixed native only again. The dominated areas higher dissolved oxygen water quality, with reciprocal true invader. Field transplant experiments revealed survivorship was lower...
Spatial (river site) and temporal (seasonal/diel) variations in the relative abundance of native introduced Gammarus spp. (amphipods) compared to all other macroinvertebrates benthos, drift gut contents resident salmonids, were investigated eight Northern Ireland rivers. Despite marked seasonal diel changes salmonid diets, was a minor prey item, representing <5 % items stomachs at 7 sites dominated by species duebeni celticus. In these sites, larval Baetis (Ephemeroptera) Chironomidae...
Cannibalism and intraguild predation (IGP) are common amongst freshwater amphipod crustacean as- wsemblages, particularly between individuals of different body size, with IGP smaller by larger species. The decline Gammarus tigrinus populations in mainland Europe has been accompanied the arrival Ponto- Caspian invader Dikerogammarus villosus previous studies have implicated G. D. villosus, as principal driving force this replacement. We examined how factors such microhabitat size may mediate...
Abstract Metaphor, defined as the linguistic substitution of one phenomenon for another, is ubiquitous in environmental science and policy. In science, when used well, metaphors help to make complex abstract ideas familiar relatable, while also helping people orient ethically natural world. freshwater structure many aspects scientific lay understanding. Yet, are often advocacy, there a need join up our currently diffuse understandings about how can achieve social transformation...