A5056124842- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Forest ecology and management
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Forest Management and Policy
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Silkworms and Sericulture Research
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
2014-2024
The University of Sydney
2020
UCLouvain
2007-2011
University of Manchester
2005-2006
Manchester Metropolitan University
2004-2005
Studying fungal biodiversity using data generated from Illumina MiSeq sequencing platforms poses a number of bioinformatic challenges with the analysis typically involving large tools for each analytical step quality filtering to generating identified operational taxonomic unit (OTU) abundance tables.Here, we introduce PIPITS, an open-source stand-alone suite software automated processing sequences community analysis. PIPITS exploits state art applications process paired-end reads producing...
Abstract Background Butterflies are popular model organisms to study physiological mechanisms underlying variability in oogenesis and egg provisioning response environmental conditions. Nothing is known, however, about; the developmental governing butterfly oogenesis, how polarity oocyte established, or which particular maternal effect genes regulate early embryogenesis. To gain insights into these identify conserved divergent aspects of we analysed a de novo ovarian transcriptome Speckled...
Gene duplications within the conserved Hox cluster are rare in animal evolution, but Lepidoptera an array of divergent Hox-related genes (Shx genes) has been reported between pb and zen. Here, we use genome sequencing five lepidopteran species (Polygonia c-album, Pararge aegeria, Callimorpha dominula, Cameraria ohridella, Hepialus sylvina) plus a caddisfly outgroup (Glyphotaelius pellucidus) to trace evolution Shx genes. We demonstrate that originated by tandem duplication zen early large...
Abstract Tree health declines can be caused by interactions between pests and pathogens many studies have shown a reduction in their damage mixed species forests compared to monocultures. Yet few authors considered tree diversity effects on both groups simultaneously. Moreover, it is unclear whether are robust changes abiotic conditions, such as drought. We addressed foliar insect herbivory, oak powdery mildew interaction under contrasting water regimes large-scale experiment SW France....
We examined whether dispersal was associated with body and wing morphology individual quality, such an association sex-specific, in the Glanville fritillary butterfly Melitaea cinxia (L.) Paldiski on north coast of Estonia.Body weight, size shape both fore-and hindwing, aspect ratio loading were used as measures morphology.Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) a measure quality.Males females did not differ rates, despite large differences overall FA.Females had significantly higher ratio, but lower FA...
A small number of free-living viruses have been found to be obligately vertically transmitted, but it remains uncertain how widespread transmitted are and quickly they can spread through host populations. Recent metagenomic studies several insects infected with sigma ( Rhabdoviridae ). Here, we report that infect Mediterranean fruit flies Ceratitis capitata ), Drosophila immigrans , speckled wood butterflies Pararge aegeria ) all transmitted. We find patterns vertical transmission consistent...
In insects, the outcome of intraspecific competition for food during development depends primarily upon larval density and sex, but effects will also depend on particular trait under consideration species study. Experimental manipulations densities a Madeiran population speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria confirmed that affected growth. As increased P. adults were smaller periods longer. Sexes responded differently to rearing density. Females more adversely by high than males, resulting...
As a result of increased habitat fragmentation in anthropogenic landscapes, flying insects may be required to travel over larger distances search resources such as suitable host plants for oviposition. The oögenesis–flight syndrome hypothesis predicts that physiological constraints caused by an overlap the used thoracic muscles during flight and oögenesis (e.g. carbohydrates, lipids water) resource trade-off, with any no longer available reproduction. Increased costs could therefore...
Disruption of species interactions is a key issue in climate change biology. Interactions involving forest trees may be particularly vulnerable due to evolutionary rate limitations imposed by long generation times. One mitigation strategy for such impacts Climate matching - the augmentation local native tree populations input from nonlocal currently experiencing predicted future climates. This controversial because potential cascading on locally adapted animal communities. We explored these...
Abstract Background Maternal condition can generate resource-related maternal effects through differential egg provisioning, and greatly affect offspring performance. In the present study, speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria (L.) was used to investigate whether (after controlling for size) age, increased flight during oviposition period, resulted in changes provisioning this contributed variation performance, i) early development (egg stage post-hatching development), ii) later larval...
Once mated, the optimal strategy for females of monandrous butterfly, Pararge aegeria, is to avoid male contact and devote as much time possible ovipositing, there little advantage engage in multiple matings. In other butterfly species presence males during egg laying has been shown affect aspects oviposition behavior it suggested that repeated interference from potential reduce reproductive output. The aim this study was assess effects on output a population P. aegeria obtained Madeira...
The symposium and workshop ‘ Organisms on the move : ecology evolution of dispersal ’, held in Ghent (Belgium), 14–18 September 2009, brought together a wide range researchers using empirical modelling approaches to examine process. This meeting provided an opportunity assess how much cross-fertilization there has been between empiricists theoreticians, present novel insights patterns plants, animals micro-organisms measure progress made examining causes consequences dispersal.
Abstract With global climate change, rainfall is becoming more variable. Predicting the responses of species to changing levels difficult because, for example in herbivorous species, these effects may be mediated indirectly through changes host plant quality. Furthermore, result from a simultaneous interaction between and other environmental variables such as anthropogenic land use or habitat In this eco‐evolutionary study, we examined how male female Pararge aegeria (L.) woodland...
In insects, the outcome of intraspecific competition for food during development depends primarily upon larval density and sex, but effects will also depend on particular trait under consideration species study. Experimental manipulations densities a Madeiran population speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria confirmed that affected growth. As increased P. adults were smaller periods longer. Sexes responded differently to rearing density. Females more adversely by high than males, resulting...
Butterfly distribution and abundance is known to be influenced by temperature rainfall. What not clear, however, how life history flight morphological traits are affected changes in local weather conditions. During the period 1989–1999, we explored effects of ambient rainfall during larval development on adult phenotypic (body mass, forewing loading, surface area length) a Swedish population speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria. As different seasonal cohorts correspond developmental...
Abstract Behavioural stresses such as crowding are thought to incur a metabolic cost insect larvae, and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) has been shown be possible indicator of this stress. A study Madeiran population the butterfly Pararge aegeria L. (Lepidoptera: Satyrinae) shows that larval affects development growth, with female larvae being more adversely affected than males. It was predicted if increases FA, male P. adults may show different responses The FA five wing pattern elements on...