A5080295011- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Insect Utilization and Effects
Rothamsted Research
2015-2024
Keele University
2024
University of Oxford
2002-2015
Cardiff University
2007-2012
University of Warwick
2005-2011
Warwick Hospital
2005-2006
University of Surrey
2001-2003
University of Roehampton
2001-2002
Manchester Metropolitan University
2000-2001
Wilmington University
1984
Abstract Recent changes in the seasonal timing (phenology) of familiar biological events have been one most conspicuous signs climate change. However, lack a standardized approach to analysing change has hampered assessment consistency such among different taxa and trophic levels across freshwater, terrestrial marine environments. We present 25 532 rates phenological for 726 UK terrestrial, freshwater taxa. The majority spring summer advanced, more rapidly than previously documented. Such is...
Advances in phenology (the annual timing of species' life-cycles) response to climate change are generally viewed as bioindicators change, but have not been considered predictors range expansions. Here, we show that advances combine with the number reproductive cycles per year (voltinism) shape abundance and distribution trends 130 species British Lepidoptera, ~0.5 °C spring-temperature warming between 1995 2014. Early adult emergence warm years resulted increased within- between-year...
Summary Trait‐based approaches are increasingly being used to test mechanisms underlying species assemblages and biotic interactions across a wide range of organisms including terrestrial arthropods investigate consequences for ecosystem processes. Such an approach relies on the standardized measurement functional traits that can be applied taxa regions. Currently, however, unified methods trait measurements lacking related macroinvertebrates (terrestrial invertebrates hereafter). Here, we...
Abstract Predation by generalist predators is difficult to study in the field because of complex effects positive and negative interactions within between predator species guilds. can be monitored molecular means, through identification prey DNA predators. However, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification from cannot discriminate primary secondary predation (hyperpredation), which one feeds on another that has recently eaten target prey. Here we quantify, for first time, potential error...
Summary Aphids represent a significant challenge to food production. The Rothamsted Insect Survey ( RIS ) runs network of 12·2‐m suction‐traps throughout the year collect migrating aphids. In 2014, celebrated its 50th anniversary. This paper marks that achievement with an extensive spatiotemporal analysis and provision first British annotated checklist aphids since 1964. Our main aim was elucidate mechanisms advance aphid phenology under climate change explain these using life‐history...
Little is known of the population dynamics long-range insect migrants, and it has been suggested that annual journeys billions nonhardy insects to exploit temperate zones during summer represent a sink from which future generations seldom return (the “Pied Piper” effect). We combine data entomological radars ground-based light traps show migrations are highly adaptive in noctuid moth Autographa gamma (silver Y), major agricultural pest. estimate 10–240 million immigrants reach United Kingdom...
The carabid beetle Pterostichus melanarius is a major natural enemy of pests, such as aphids and slugs in agricultural systems. Earthworms are dominant non-pest component the diet P. which help sustain beetles during periods when pest population low or absent. In this study we wanted to test whether predator exercises prey choice among different earthworm species ecological groups. High levels genetic diversity within morphological necessitated development primers that were specific not just...
Although we have known anecdotally that insects been declining in Great Britain for more than 100 years, insect declines only statistically estimated over the last 20 years. Estimation of rate those is still hotly debated, fuelled by a lack standardised, systematically collected data.More 24 million individual moths and aphids from 112 light traps 25 12.2 m suction-traps, respectively, were analysed using mixed models. Our objective was to estimate long-term trends both groups based on...
Abstract Null models provide a valuable baseline against which fundamental ecological hypotheses can be tested and foraging choices that cannot explained by neutral processes or sampling biases highlighted. In this way, null advance our understanding beyond simplistic dietary descriptions to identify drivers of interactions. This method, however, requires estimates resource availability, are generally imperfect representations highly dynamic systems. Optimising method selection is crucial...
Insect parasitoids play a major role in terrestrial food webs as they are highly diverse, exploit wide range of niches and capable affecting host population dynamics. Formidable difficulties encountered when attempting to quantify host-parasitoid parasitoid-parasitoid trophic links diverse parasitoid communities. Here we present DNA-based approach effectively track interactions within an aphid-parasitoid web, targeting, for the first time, whole community hyperparasitods associated with...
Abstract Generalist predators and parasitoids are considered to be important regulators of aphids. The former not only feed on these pests, but might also consume at all stages development. This direct or coincidental interference affects the natural control aphids, scale which is largely unknown, it has rarely been examined under conditions. Here, molecular diagnostics were used track trophic interactions in an aphid-parasitoid-generalist predator community during build-up a cereal aphid...
Summary Predators can provide a valuable ecosystem service by suppressing crop pests. However, intraguild predation, where predators compete for the same prey resource whilst consuming each other, may destabilize population dynamics and increase risk of pest outbreaks. Very little is known about predation in open fields or strengths trophic links between which negatively affect control. We tested null hypothesis that epigeal predator Pterostichus melanarius (Coleoptera: Carabidae) on...
Reliable assessment of extinction risk is a key factor in the preparation Red Lists and prioritizing biodiversity conservation. Temporal population trends can provide important evidence for such assessments, but imperfect sampling (observation errors) short-term stochastic variation levels caused by environmental variability (process reduce reliability lead to incorrect quantification risk. The insect taxa likely be particularly prone these problems, due highly dynamic nature many...
Climate change has had well‐documented impacts on the distribution and phenology of species across many taxa, but species’ abundance, which relates closely to extinction risk ecosystem function, have not been assessed taxa. In most comprehensive multi‐taxa comparison date, we modelled variation in national population indices 501 mammal, bird, aphid, butterfly moth as a function annual weather variables, through time allowed us identify component growth that can be associated with post‐1970s...
Abstract Insect populations are declining in many parts of the world, but a lack long‐term monitoring data is impeding our ability to understand and mitigate causes insect biodiversity loss. Whilst high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches, such as DNA metabarcoding, have potential revolutionize biomonitoring through rapid scalable identification, it unclear what extent HTS can be applied stored samples. Archived samples could inform forecasting provide valuable information regarding past...
A consequence of climate change has been an advance in the timing seasonal events. Differences rate between trophic levels may result predators becoming mismatched with prey availability, reducing fitness and potentially driving population declines. Such "trophic asynchrony" is hypothesized to have contributed recent declines long-distance migratory birds particular. Using spatially extensive survey data from 1983 2010 estimate variation spring phenology 280 plant insect species egg-laying...
Dispersal plays a crucial role in many aspects of species' life histories, yet is often difficult to measure directly. This particularly true for insects, especially nocturnal species (e.g. moths) that cannot be easily observed under natural field conditions. Consequently, over the past five decades, laboratory tethered flight techniques have been developed as means measuring insect duration and speed. However, these previous designs tended focus on single (typically migrant pests), here we...
Abstract Global warming has advanced the timing of biological events, potentially leading to disruption across trophic levels. The potential importance phenological change as a driver population trends been suggested. To fully understand possible impacts, there is need quantify scale these changes spatially and according habitat type. We studied relationship between trends, space type 1965 2012 using an extensive UK dataset comprising 269 aphid, bird, butterfly moth species. modelled...
Money spiders (Linyphiidae) are an important component of conservation biological control in cereal crops, but they rely on alternative prey when pests not abundant, such as between cropping cycles. To optimally benefit from these generalist predators, choice dynamics must first be understood. and their locally available were collected crops 2 weeks pre‐ post‐harvest. Spider gut DNA was amplified with two novel metabarcoding primer pairs designed for spider dietary analysis, sequenced. The...
Advancing spring phenology is a well documented consequence of anthropogenic climate change, but it not understood how change will affect the variability year to year. Species' phenological timings reflect adaptation broad suite abiotic needs (e.g., thermal energy) and biotic interactions predation pollination), changes in patterns may disrupt those adaptations interactions. Here, we present geographically taxonomically analysis shifts, temperature sensitivity, interannual encompassing...