Outputs (87)

Insights from measuring pollen deposition: quantifying the pre-eminence of bees as flower visitors and effective pollinators (2017)
Journal Article
Willmer, P. G., Cunnold, H., & Ballantyne, G. (2017). Insights from measuring pollen deposition: quantifying the pre-eminence of bees as flower visitors and effective pollinators. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 11(3), 411-425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-017-9528-2

Using our accumulated datasets from Kenyan savanna, Mediterranean garigue, UK gardens and heathland, involving 76 plants from 30 families, we present detailed data to quantify the superiority of bees as pollinators of most flowering plants when compa... Read More about Insights from measuring pollen deposition: quantifying the pre-eminence of bees as flower visitors and effective pollinators.

Biased escorts: offspring sex, not relatedness explains alloparental care patterns in a cooperative breeder (2017)
Journal Article
Vitikainen, E. I. K., Marshall, H. H., Thompson, F. J., Sanderson, J. L., Bell, M. B. V., Gilchrist, J. S., Hodge, S. J., Nichols, H. J., & Cant, M. A. (2017). Biased escorts: offspring sex, not relatedness explains alloparental care patterns in a cooperative breeder. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284(1854), 20162384. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2384

Kin selection theory predicts that animals should direct costly care where inclusive fitness gains are highest. Individuals may achieve this by directing care at closer relatives, yet evidence for such discrimination in vertebrates is equivocal. We i... Read More about Biased escorts: offspring sex, not relatedness explains alloparental care patterns in a cooperative breeder.

Explaining negative kin discrimination in a cooperative mammal society (2017)
Journal Article
Thompson, F. J., Cant, M. A., Marshall, H. H., Vitikainen, E. I. K., Sanderson, J. L., Nichols, H. J., Gilchrist, J. S., Bell, M. B. V., Young, A. J., Hodge, S. J., & Johnstone, R. A. (2017). Explaining negative kin discrimination in a cooperative mammal society. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(20), 5207-5212. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1612235114

Kin selection theory predicts that, where kin discrimination is possible, animals should typically act more favorably toward closer genetic relatives and direct aggression toward less closely related individuals. Contrary to this prediction, we prese... Read More about Explaining negative kin discrimination in a cooperative mammal society.

In defence of the grey squirrel, Britain’s most unpopular invader (2017)
Newspaper / Magazine
Gilchrist, J. (2017). In defence of the grey squirrel, Britain’s most unpopular invader. https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-the-grey-squirrel-britains-most-unpopular-invader-73983

Effects of Dry and Wet Sieving of Soil on Identification and Interpretation of Microbial Community Composition (2016)
Book Chapter
Blaud, A., Menon, M., van der Zaan, B., Lair, G., & Banwart, S. (2017). Effects of Dry and Wet Sieving of Soil on Identification and Interpretation of Microbial Community Composition. In D. Sparks, & S. Banwart (Eds.), Quantifying and Managing Soil Functions in Earth's Critical Zone - Combining Experimentation and Mathematical Modelling (119-142). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2016.10.006

Soil aggregates are microhabitats for microorganisms, and directly influence microorganisms that live within and are influenced by microorganisms in return. Two methods are used to isolate soil aggregates by their size: dry sieving (sieving air-dried... Read More about Effects of Dry and Wet Sieving of Soil on Identification and Interpretation of Microbial Community Composition.

Technological support for citizen science in global ecology (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Davison, B., Begossi, A., Roques, K., Pandeya, B., & August, T. (2016, August). Technological support for citizen science in global ecology. Presented at 5th International EcoSummit: Ecological Sustainability - Engineering Change, Montpelier, France

The contribution of volunteers in ecology is undeniable. With developments in mobile technology and social media, many predict their contribution to become even more significant. However, economic disparities across the world challenge this vision. T... Read More about Technological support for citizen science in global ecology.

Evaluating, predicting and mapping belowground carbon stores in Kenyan mangroves (2016)
Journal Article
Gress, S. K., Huxham, M., Kairo, J. G., Mugi, L. M., & Briers, R. A. (2017). Evaluating, predicting and mapping belowground carbon stores in Kenyan mangroves. Global Change Biology, 23(1), 224-234. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13438

Despite covering only approximately 138,000 km2, mangroves are globally important carbon sinks with carbon density values 3 to 4 times that of terrestrial forests. A key challenge in evaluating the carbon benefits from mangrove forest conservation is... Read More about Evaluating, predicting and mapping belowground carbon stores in Kenyan mangroves.

Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes (2016)
Journal Article
Hill, M. J., Biggs, J., Thornhill, I., Briers, R. A., Gledhill, D. G., White, J. C., Wood, P. J., & Hassall, C. (2017). Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes. Global Change Biology, 23(3), 986-999. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13401

Urbanization is a global process contributing to the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats. Many studies have focused on the biological response of terrestrial taxa and habitats to urbanization. However, little is known regarding the consequence... Read More about Urban ponds as an aquatic biodiversity resource in modified landscapes.

Ecological status and sources of anthropogenic contaminants in mangroves of the Wouri River Estuary (Cameroon) (2016)
Journal Article
Fusi, M., Beone, G. M., Suciu, N. A., Sacchi, A., Trevisan, M., Capri, E., Daffonchio, D., Din, N., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., & Cannicci, S. (2016). Ecological status and sources of anthropogenic contaminants in mangroves of the Wouri River Estuary (Cameroon). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 109(2), 723-733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.104

Mangroves are critically threatened by human activities, despite the important ecosystem functions and services they provide. Mangroves in Cameroon represent no exception to the worldwide trend of mangrove destruction, especially around Douala, on th... Read More about Ecological status and sources of anthropogenic contaminants in mangroves of the Wouri River Estuary (Cameroon).

biotic: Calculation of Freshwater Biotic Indices. R package version 0.1.2 (2016)
Digital Artefact
Briers, R. (2016). biotic: Calculation of Freshwater Biotic Indices. R package version 0.1.2. [digital]. https://github.com/robbriers/biotic

The biotic package calculates a range of commonly used UK freshwater invertebrate biotic indices, based on family level identification. Indices that can be calculated are BMWP (and associated N-Taxa and ASPT), Whalley revised BWMP, habitat-specific... Read More about biotic: Calculation of Freshwater Biotic Indices. R package version 0.1.2.

Analysing the effect of soil organic matter on bacterial communities using T-RFLP fingerprinting: different methods, different stories? (2015)
Journal Article
Blaud, A., Diouf, F., Herrmann, A. M., & Lerch, T. Z. (2015). Analysing the effect of soil organic matter on bacterial communities using T-RFLP fingerprinting: different methods, different stories?. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 51(8), 959-971. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-015-1041-0

Soil microbial ecology needs robust tools to elucidate ecological questions, such as the impact of fertilisation on soil microbial communities. However, the methods and data analysis used can directly affect the biological conclusions. In this study,... Read More about Analysing the effect of soil organic matter on bacterial communities using T-RFLP fingerprinting: different methods, different stories?.

Eurasian lynx natal den site and maternal home-range selection in multi-use landscapes of Norway: Habitat selection by denning Eurasian lynx (2015)
Journal Article
White, S., Briers, R. A., Bouyer, Y., Odden, J., & Linnell, J. D. C. (2015). Eurasian lynx natal den site and maternal home-range selection in multi-use landscapes of Norway: Habitat selection by denning Eurasian lynx. Journal of Zoology, 297(2), 87-98. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12260

In carnivores, securing suitable den sites with associated early maternal home ranges is important for successful reproduction, and understanding natal den site selection is essential to ensure that these habitats are protected from human disturbance... Read More about Eurasian lynx natal den site and maternal home-range selection in multi-use landscapes of Norway: Habitat selection by denning Eurasian lynx.

Structural and functional indices show similar performance in marine ecosystem quality assessment (2014)
Journal Article
Culhane, F. E., Briers, R. A., Tett, P., & Fernandes, T. F. (2014). Structural and functional indices show similar performance in marine ecosystem quality assessment. Ecological Indicators, 43, 271-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.03.009

Reliable ecosystem quality assessment of marine environments is increasingly important due to mounting pressures attributable to human activities. Biotic indices are widely used in studies to describe communities and indicate the ecological state of... Read More about Structural and functional indices show similar performance in marine ecosystem quality assessment.

A method for deriving time-variable avian re-nesting probability functions for use in seasonal productivity models (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
White, P. (2013, April). A method for deriving time-variable avian re-nesting probability functions for use in seasonal productivity models. Presented at BOU Annual Conference. From populations to policy impact: avian demography in a changing world

The demographic parameters productivity, survival and migration ultimately determine local avian population trends. Their measurement is essential in bird conservation, for diagnosing proximate causes of population declines and for testing responses... Read More about A method for deriving time-variable avian re-nesting probability functions for use in seasonal productivity models.

Why flower visitation is a poor proxy for pollination: measuring single-visit pollen deposition, with implications for pollination networks and conservation (2013)
Journal Article
King, C., Ballantyne, G., & Willmer, P. G. (2013). Why flower visitation is a poor proxy for pollination: measuring single-visit pollen deposition, with implications for pollination networks and conservation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 4(9), 811-818. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.12074

Summary
The relative importance of specialized and generalized plant-pollinator relationships is contentious, yet analyses usually avoid direct measures of pollinator quality (effectiveness), citing difficulties in collecting such data in the field... Read More about Why flower visitation is a poor proxy for pollination: measuring single-visit pollen deposition, with implications for pollination networks and conservation.

Phytoplankton and bacterial distribution and productivity on and around Jones Bank in the Celtic Sea (2013)
Journal Article
Davidson, K., Gilpin, L. C., Pete, R., Brennan, D., McNeill, S., Moschonas, G., & Sharples, J. (2013). Phytoplankton and bacterial distribution and productivity on and around Jones Bank in the Celtic Sea. Progress in Oceanography, 117, 48-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2013.04.001

The abundance and productivity of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton in the region of Jones Bank (Cel-tic Sea) were assessed in relation to potential physical and chemical drivers of the marine microbial community during July 2008 on RRS James Cook c... Read More about Phytoplankton and bacterial distribution and productivity on and around Jones Bank in the Celtic Sea.

Floral visitors and ant scent marks: noticed but not used? (2012)
Journal Article
Ballantyne, G., & Willmer, P. (2012). Floral visitors and ant scent marks: noticed but not used?. Ecological Entomology, 37(5), 402-409. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2311.2012.01378.x

1. Bee behaviour when visiting flowers is mediated by diverse chemical cues and signals, from the flower itself and from previous visitors to the flower. Flowers recently visited by bees and hoverflies may be rejected for a period of time by subseque... Read More about Floral visitors and ant scent marks: noticed but not used?.

Nectar Theft and Floral Ant-Repellence: A Link between Nectar Volume and Ant-Repellent Traits? (2012)
Journal Article
Ballantyne, G., & Willmer, P. (2012). Nectar Theft and Floral Ant-Repellence: A Link between Nectar Volume and Ant-Repellent Traits?. PLOS ONE, 7(8), Article e43869. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043869

As flower visitors, ants rarely benefit a plant. They are poor pollinators, and can also disrupt pollination by deterring other flower visitors, or by stealing nectar. Some plant species therefore possess floral ant-repelling traits. But why do parti... Read More about Nectar Theft and Floral Ant-Repellence: A Link between Nectar Volume and Ant-Repellent Traits?.

Dynamics of bacterial communities in relation to soil aggregate formation during the decomposition of 13C-labelled rice straw (2011)
Journal Article
Blaud, A., Lerch, T., Chevallier, T., Nunan, N., Chenu, C., & Brauman, A. (2012). Dynamics of bacterial communities in relation to soil aggregate formation during the decomposition of 13C-labelled rice straw. Applied Soil Ecology, 53, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2011.11.005

The addition of fresh organic matter is known to modify both microbial community structure and soil aggregation. The objective of this study was to understand the relationship between the dynamics of the soil microbial community structure in relation... Read More about Dynamics of bacterial communities in relation to soil aggregate formation during the decomposition of 13C-labelled rice straw.

Resightings of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters over spans of 10-32 years: Site fidelity, sex ratios, calving rates, female demographics, and the dynamics of social and behavioral roles of individuals (2010)
Journal Article
Herman, L. M., Pack, A. A., Rose, K., Craig, A., Herman, E. Y. K., Hakala, S., & Milette, A. (2011). Resightings of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters over spans of 10-32 years: Site fidelity, sex ratios, calving rates, female demographics, and the dynamics of social and behavioral roles of individuals. Marine Mammal Science, 27(4), 736-768. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2010.00441.x

From a database of approximately 5,000 Hawaiian humpback whales identified photographically between 1976 and 2010, we extracted 71 males and 39 females having resighting spans of 10 or more years, from first to most recent sighting. Findings include... Read More about Resightings of humpback whales in Hawaiian waters over spans of 10-32 years: Site fidelity, sex ratios, calving rates, female demographics, and the dynamics of social and behavioral roles of individuals.