A5041649130- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant and animal studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
- Gut microbiota and health
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
University of Sheffield
2017-2025
NERC Environmental Omics Facility
2024
Beijing Normal University
2022
University of Bath
2017-2022
University of Liverpool
2021
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway
2013
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.
Adult sex ratio (ASR) is a central concept in population biology and key factor sexual selection, but why do most demographic models ignore biases? Vital rates often vary between the sexes across life history, their relative contributions to ASR variation remain poorly understood-an essential step evaluate theories wild inform conservation. Here, we combine structured two-sex with individual-based mark-recapture data from an intensively monitored polygamous of snowy plovers. We show that...
Forced copulation is common, presumably because it can increase male reproductive success. extra-pair (FEPC) occurs in birds, even though most species lack a penis and are widely thought to require female cooperation for fertilization. How FEPC persists, despite presumed of siring success likely non-negligible costs the male, unknown. Using jackdaw (Corvus monedula) as case study, we use SNPs quantify paternity rate through evaluate explanations persistence without penis. We then collate...
Sexual selection may act as a promotor of speciation since divergent mate choice and competition for mates can rapidly lead to reproductive isolation. Alternatively, sexual also retard polygamous individuals access additional by increased breeding dispersal. High dispersal should hence increase gene flow reduce diversification in species. Here, we test how polygamy predicts shorebirds using genetic differentiation subspecies richness proxies population divergence. Examining microsatellite...
This metabarcoding protocol is for generating amplicon sequences from multiple samples in preparation Illumina Next Generation Sequencing. Amplicons are generated each sample (PCR1) then cleaned using magnetic beads. Unique identifying tag attached to (PCR2), pooled, again and finally quantified qPCR.
In mammals, sexual size dimorphism often reflects the intensity of selection, yet its connection to genomic evolution remains unexplored. Gene family can reflect shifts in relative importance different molecular functions. Here, we investigate associate between brain development gene repertoire using 124 mammalian species. We reveal significant changes associations with dimorphism. High levels correlate an expansion families enriched olfactory sensory perception and a contraction associated...
Extra‐pair paternity is a common reproductive strategy in many bird species. However, it remains unclear why extra‐pair occurs and varies among species populations. Plovers ( Charadrius spp.) exhibit considerable variation behaviour ecology, making them excellent models to investigate the evolution of social genetic mating systems. We investigated inter‐ intra‐specific patterns parentage evaluated three major hypotheses explaining using comparative approach based on microsatellite genotypes...
ABSTRACT A species' demographic history gives important context to contemporary population genetics and a possible insight into past responses climate change; with an individual's genome providing window the evolutionary of populations. Pairwise sequentially Markovian coalescent (PSMC) analysis uses information from single derive fluctuations in effective size change over last ~5 million years. Here, we apply PSMC two European nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus ) genomes, sampled Northwest...
Understanding how incipient species are maintained with gene flow is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Whole genome sequencing of multiple individuals holds great potential to illustrate patterns genomic differentiation as well the associated histories. Kentish (Charadrius alexandrinus) and white-faced (C. dealbatus) plovers, which differ their phenotype, ecology behaviour, two parapatrically distributed East Asia. Previous studies show evidence genetic diversification between...
Many bird species are vulnerable to environmental change, so knowledge of their diet and its variation can help understand population status flexibility respond change. Insectivorous predicted have a flexible within between individuals, which naturally fluctuating prey abundance, thus allowing opportunistic exploitation available resources. We analysed the nocturnal, aerial insectivore, European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus , using high‐throughput metabarcoding. quantified diversity...
Pollination is an ecosystem process that crucial to maintain biodiversity and function. Bats are important pollinators in the tropics integral part of complex plant-pollinator interaction networks. However, network analysis-based approaches still scarce at plant species bat community levels. We used metabarcoding identify taxa present pollen from fur faecal samples collected across 1 year three nectar-feeding roosts central Mexico. calculated frequency occurrence assembled a zoocentric...
Abstract Males and females often exhibit differences in behaviour, life histories, ecology, many of which are typically reflected their brains. Neuronal protection maintenance include complex processes led by the microglia, also interacts with metabolites such as hormones or immune components. Despite increasing interest sex-specific brain function laboratory animals, significance activation wild animals along variables that could affect it is widely lacking. Here, we use Kentish plover (...
Abstract Delineating conservation units is a complex and often controversial process that particularly challenging for highly vagile species. Here, we reassess population genetic structure identify those populations of highest value in the threatened snowy plover ( Charadrius nivosus, Cassin, 1858), partial migrant shorebird endemic to Americas. We use four categories data—mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), microsatellites, Z-linked autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—to: (1) assess...
Abstract Restoring and maintaining soil biodiversity is important for the sustainability of our food systems, particularly as health agricultural soils continues to degrade at alarming rates. Earthworms are key components provide many benefits functioning, but effective standardised approaches monitor their populations lacking. In this study, feasibility using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding surveying earthworm in agroecosystems was explored. Soil samples were collected from arable...
Abstract Background: 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. However, despite this - documented importance of both MHC variation individual fitness few studies have investigated association between wild. Results: We characterised class I (MHC-I), II...
ABSTRACT Adult sex ratio (ASR) is a central concept in population biology and key factor sexual selection, yet why do most demographic models ignore sex-biases? Vital rates often vary between the sexes across life history, but their relative contributions to ASR variation remain poorly understood—an essential step evaluate theories wild inform conservation. Here we combine structured two-sex with individual-based mark-recapture data from an intensively monitored polygamous of snowy plovers....
Abstract Understanding how incipient species are maintained with gene flow is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Whole genome sequencing of multiple individuals holds great potential to illustrate patterns genomic differentiation as well the associated histories. Kentish ( Charadrius alexandrinus ) and white-faced C. dealbatus plovers, which differ their phenotype, ecology behaviour, two parapatrically distributed East Asia. Previous studies show evidence genetic diversification...
This protocol describes a procedure for sequencing the Spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 using short amplicons (146-208bp) with Oxford Nanopore technology (R9.4.1 MinION/GridION Flow Cell). The method has proved to be successful both clinical RNA samples and degraded wastewater samples. primers are unique SubARTIC method. library prep been heavily adapted from ncov-2019 v3 (ARTIC) by Josh Quick (https://www.protocols.io/view/ncov-2019-sequencing-protocol-v3-locost-bh42j8ye) "low cost" NEOF Liverpool...