A5027860164- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Plant and animal studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Metalloenzymes and iron-sulfur proteins
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
University of East Anglia
2016-2025
University of Seychelles
2016-2025
Norwich Research Park
2015-2024
University of Groningen
2004-2023
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2023
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
2021
University of Bristol
2021
Bristol Zoological Society
2021
Island Conservation Society
2015-2016
Wellcome Sanger Institute
2009
Abstract We describe the development and initial application of a semiautomated parentage testing system in Seychelles warbler ( Acrocephalus sechellensis ). This used fluorescently labelled primers for 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci two multiplex loading groups to genotype efficiently over 96% population on Cousin island. When conjunction with program cervus , this provided sufficient power assign maternity paternity within warbler, despite complications associated its cooperative...
Inferring the parentage of a sample individuals is often prerequisite for many types analysis in molecular ecology, evolutionary biology and quantitative genetics. In all but few cases, method assignment divorced from methods used to estimate parameters primary interest, such as mate choice or heritability. Here we present Bayesian approach that simultaneously estimates wide range population-level which are interested. We show joint estimation increases power assignment, reduces bias...
Abstract Explaining variation in life expectancy between individuals of the same age is fundamental to our understanding population ecology and history evolution. Variation length rate loss protective telomere chromosome caps has been linked cellular lifespan. Yet, extent which dynamics predict organismal lifespan nature still contentious. Using longitudinal samples taken from a closed Acrocephalus sechellensis (Seychelles warblers) studied for over 20 years, we describe first study into...
The existence and nature of indirect genetic benefits to mate choice remain contentious. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which play a vital role in determining pathogen resistance vertebrates, may be the link between inheritance vigour offspring. Studies have shown that MHC-dependent can occur mammal fish species, but little work has focused on MHC birds. We tested for mating patterns Seychelles warbler ( Acrocephalus sechellensis ). There was no influence class I exon 3...
Abstract Lower visibility of female scientists, compared to male is a potential reason for the under‐representation women among senior academic ranks. Visibility in scientific community stems partly from presenting research as an invited speaker at organized meetings. We analysed sex ratio presenters E uropean S ociety volutionary B iology ( ESEB ) C ongress 2011, where all abstract submissions were accepted presentation. Women under‐represented speakers symposia (15% women) (46%), regular...
Females should prefer to be fertilized by males that increase the genetic quality of their offspring. In vertebrates, genes major histocompatibility complex (MHC) play a key role in acquired immune response and have been shown affect mating preferences. They are therefore important candidates for link between mate choice indirect benefits. Higher MHC diversity may advantageous because this allows wider range pathogens detected combated. Furthermore, individuals harbouring rare alleles might...
Cryptic female choice may enable polyandrous females to avoid inbreeding or bias offspring variability at key loci after mating. However, the role of these genetic benefits in cryptic remains poorly understood. Female red junglefowl, Gallus gallus, sperm use favour unrelated males. Here, we experimentally investigate whether this is driven by relatedness per se, similarity major histocompatibility complex (MHC), genes central vertebrate acquired immunity, where polymorphism critical an...
Abstract Discerning the relative roles of adaptive and nonadaptive processes in generating differences among populations species, as well how these interact, is a fundamental aim biology. Both genetic phenotypic divergence across can be product limited dispersal gradual drift (isolation by distance), colonization history founder effects colonization) or adaptation to different environments preventing migration between adaptation). Here, we attempt differentiate using island B erthelot's...
Abstract Understanding individual‐level variation in response to the environment is fundamental understanding life‐history evolution and population dynamics. Telomeres, protective caps at ends of chromosomes, shorten oxidative stress, telomere shortening correlated with reduced survival life span. Investigating dynamics may help us quantify individual costs experienced from social ecological factors, enhance our natural populations. Here, we study spatio‐temporal lifelong Seychelles warbler,...
Abstract Helping by group members is predicted to lead delayed senescence affecting the trade-off between current reproduction and future survival for dominant breeders. Here we investigate this prediction in Seychelles warbler, Acrocephalus sechellensis , which mainly female subordinate helpers (both co-breeders non-breeding helpers) often help dominants raise offspring. We find that late-life decline usually observed species greatly reduced when a helper present. Female with show telomere...
The vertebrate gut microbiome (GM) can vary substantially across individuals within the same natural population. Although there is evidence linking GM to health in captive animals, very little known about consequences of variation for host fitness wild. Here, we explore relationship between faecal diversity, body condition, and survival using data from long-term study a discrete population Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis) on Cousin Island. To our knowledge, this first time that...
The gut microbiome (GM) can influence many biological processes in the host, impacting its health and survival, but GM also be influenced by host's traits. In vertebrates, Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role combatting pathogens are thought to shape GM. Despite this-and documented importance of both MHC variation individual fitness-few studies have investigated association between wild.
Abstract.— Inclusive fitness benefits have been suggested to be a major selective force behind the evolution of cooperative breeding. We investigated selecting for breeding in Seychelles warbler, Acrocephalus sechellensis. A microsatellite-based genotyping method was used determine relatedness subordinates group offspring an isolated population warblers. The indirect and direct accruing individual were then calculated every successful event over three-year period. show that female frequently...
The Seychelles Warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis is a rare island endemic which, from 1920 to 1988, occurred only on Cousin Island (29 ha) in the Seychelles. Despite saturated nature of this population and possibility obtaining higher reproductive success new nearby islands, inter‐island dispersal by Warblers extremely (0.10%). We test hypothesis that show an adaptation typical for birds: low‐cost reduced‐size flight apparatus. compared anatomy apparatus (wing shape, wing loading, skeletal...
1. Variation in survival, a major determinant of fitness, may be caused by individual or environmental characteristics. Furthermore, interactions between individuals influence survival through the negative feedback effects density dependence. Compared to species temperate regions, we have little knowledge about population processes and variation fitness tropical bird species. 2. To investigate whether could explained size climatic variables used capture-recapture models conjunction with...
Abstract Population bottlenecks can restrict variation at functional genes, reducing the ability of populations to adapt new and changing environments. Understanding how generate adaptive genetic following is therefore central evolutionary biology. Genes major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are ideal models for studying due their role in pathogen recognition. While de novo MHC sequence generated by point mutation, gene conversion haplotypes transferring sections DNA within across...
Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) form a vital part vertebrate immune system and play role in pathogen resistance. The extremely high levels polymorphism observed at MHC are hypothesised to be driven by pathogen-mediated selection. Although exact nature selection remains unclear, three main hypotheses have been put forward; heterozygote advantage, negative frequency-dependence fluctuating Here, we report effects genotype on survival cohort semi-natural red junglefowl...
In principle, widespread polyandry (female promiscuity) creates potential for sexual selection in males both before and after copulation. However, the way affects pre- postcopulatory episodes of remains little understood. Resolving this fundamental question has been difficult because it requires extensive information on mating behavior as well paternity whole male population. Here we show that replicate seminatural groups red junglefowl, Gallus gallus , eroded variance success, which...
Abstract Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain the evolution of senescence. One leading hypotheses, disposable soma hypothesis, predicts a trade‐off, whereby early‐life investment in reproduction leads late‐life declines survival (survival senescence). Testing this hypothesis natural populations is challenging, but important for understanding We used long‐term data set from contained, predator‐free population individually marked S eychelles warblers ( A crocephalus sechellensis...