A5051701038- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Diverse Music Education Insights
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research
- Advanced Thermodynamic Systems and Engines
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Transportation Safety and Impact Analysis
- Rocket and propulsion systems research
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Aerodynamics and Acoustics in Jet Flows
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Research on scale insects
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Probabilistic and Robust Engineering Design
- Bladed Disk Vibration Dynamics
University of Sussex
2015-2025
University of Leeds
2007-2024
Brighton Hospital
2020
Glenn Research Center
2000-2017
Google (United States)
2016
University of Copenhagen
2002-2014
University of Sheffield
2006-2010
The University of Sydney
2004-2008
Zoological Institute
2004
KU Leuven
2003
Close relatedness has long been considered crucial to the evolution of eusociality. However, it recently suggested that close may be a consequence, rather than cause, We tested this idea with comparative analysis female mating frequencies in 267 species eusocial bees, wasps, and ants. found single male, which maximizes relatedness, is ancestral for all eight independent lineages we investigated. Mating multiple males always derived. Furthermore, high polyandry (>2 effective mates) occurs...
The dispersal of parasites is critical for epidemiology, and the interspecific vectoring when species share resources may play an underappreciated role in parasite dispersal. One best examples such a situation shared use flowers by pollinators, but importance pollinator poorly understood frequently overlooked. Here, we experimental approach to show that during even short foraging periods 3 h, three bumblebee two honeybee were dispersed effectively onto their hosts, then vectored readily...
Significance In eusocial insect societies, such as ants and some bees wasps, phenotypes are highly plastic, generating alternative (queens workers) from the same genome. The greatest plasticity is found in simple which individuals can switch between adults. genomic, transcriptional, epigenetic underpinnings of largely unknown. contrast to complex societies honeybee, we find that lack distinct transcriptional differentiation coherently patterned DNA methylomes. Instead, defined by subtle...
Sociality can be associated with significant costs due to the increased risk of disease transmission. However, in some organisms may offset by benefits improvements defences against parasites. To examine this possible trade-off between infection and resistance, we used Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae as model system. Ants exposed parasite were found have substantially improved survival when they kept nest-mates, while cost being a group terms...
Multiple mating by females (polyandry) remains hard to explain because, while it has substantial costs, clear benefits have remained elusive. The problem is acute in the social insects because polyandry probably particularly costly for and most material of behavior are unlikely apply. It been suggested that a fitness benefit may arise from more genetically diverse worker force polyandrous queen will produce. One leading hypothesis increased genetic diversity workers improve colony's...
Abstract Multiple mating by females (polyandry) remains hard to explain because, while it has substantial costs, clear benefits have remained elusive. The problem is acute in the social insects because polyandry probably particularly costly for and most material of behavior are unlikely apply. It been suggested that a fitness benefit may arise from more genetically diverse worker force polyandrous queen will produce. One leading hypothesis increased genetic diversity workers improve colony's...
Summary Over a million commercially produced bumblebee colonies are imported annually on global scale for the pollination of greenhouse crops. After importation, they interact with other pollinators, an associated risk any parasites carry infecting and harming native bees. National supranational regulations designed to prevent this, accordingly now often sold as being parasite‐free. Here, we used molecular methods examine occurrence in that were 2011 2012 by three producers. We then...
Division of labor is fundamental to the success all societies. The most striking examples are physically polymorphic worker castes in social insects with clear morphological adaptations different roles. These have previously been thought be a classic example nongentically controlled polymorphism, being mediated entirely by environmental cues. Here we show that caste development leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior has significant genetic component. Individuals patrilines within same colony...
Many pollinator populations are declining, with large economic and ecological implications. Parasites known to be an important factor in the some of population declines honey bees bumblebees, but little is about parasites afflicting most other pollinators, or extent interspecific transmission vectoring parasites. Here we carry out a preliminary screening pollinators (honey bees, five species bumblebee, three wasp, four hoverfly genera bees) UK for We used molecular methods screen six bee...
Abstract There is growing recognition that the gut microbial community regulates a wide variety of important functions in its animal hosts, including host health. However, complex interactions between microbes and environment are still unclear. Honey bees ecologically economically pollinators core thought to be constant across populations. Here, we examined whether composition honey affected by environmental landscape exposed to. We placed bee colonies reared under identical conditions two...
The gut microbiome is recognised as playing an integral role in the health and ecology of a wide variety animal taxa. However, relationship between social behavioural traits microbial community has received little attention. Honey bees are highly workers perform different tasks colony that cause them to be exposed local environments. Here we examined whether composition worker honey associated with they perform, therefore also environment to. We set up five observation hives, which all were...
Abstract Changes in agricultural practice across Europe and North America have been associated with range contractions local extinction of bumblebees ( Bombus spp.). A number agri‐environment schemes implemented to halt reverse these declines, predominantly revolving around the provision additional forage plants. Although it has demonstrated that can attract substantial numbers foraging bumblebees, remains unclear what extent they actually increase bumblebee populations. We used standardized...
Social insects have evolved a suite of sophisticated defences against parasites. In addition to the individual physiological immune response, social also express 'social immunity' consisting group-level and behaviours that include allogrooming. Here we investigate whether response leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior reacts adaptively virulent fungal parasite, Metarhizium anisopliae. We 'immunized' mini-nests ants by exposing them twice parasite then compared their with naive had not been...
Abstract Understanding the evolution of multiple mating by females (polyandry) is an important question in behavioural ecology. Most leading explanations for polyandry social insect queens are based upon a postulated fitness benefit from increased intracolonial genetic diversity, which also arises when colonies headed (polygyny). An indirect test diversity hypotheses therefore provided relationship between and polygyny across species, should be negative if correct. Here, we conduct powerful...
Social groups are vulnerable to cheating because the reproductive interests of group members rarely identical. All cooperative systems therefore predicted involve a mix and genotypes, with frequency latter being constrained by suppressive abilities former. The most significant potential conflict in social insect colonies is over which individuals become queens rather than sterile workers. This division labor defining characteristic eusocial societies, but individual larvae will maximize...
Sexual selection is a dominant force in the evolution of many animals and can be particularly significant species that mate aerial swarms characterized by strong male–male competition. However, such mating biology, typical social insects, also quite challenging to study. Here, we investigate sexual honey bee has 2 distinct male morphs (normal sized small). Males only once females return their nest after mating, making it possible measure lifetime fitness both sexes. We allowed known numbers...
Honey bees and, more recently, bumblebees have been domesticated and are now managed commercially primarily for crop pollination, mixing with wild pollinators during foraging on shared flower resources. There is mounting evidence that honey or produced may affect the health of such as by increasing competition resources prevalence parasites in bees. Here we screened 764 from around five greenhouses either used did not, well 10 colonies placed at two sites close to far a bee apiary, Apicystis...