Research Interests

Our lab seeks to characterise how organisms detect, repair and stabilize the cellular and molecular damage induced by environmental stress; the magnitude and limitations of these responses, and their impact upon fitness and species ecology.

Work in the group addresses rapid, seasonal and long term (evolutionary) adaptations to environmental change using temperate, polar and tropical terrestrial invertebrate species. The group currently has four areas of research.

1. Environmentally adaptive dormancies - insect diapause: Insect diapause represents the main strategy evolved by temperate insects to: a) coordinate their growth, development and reproduction (phenology) with annual cycles of changing environmental conditions; and b) survive seasonally recurring chronic forms of environmental stress.

We seek to identify key mechanisms underpinning diapause and its enhanced stress tolerance phenotype, the potential impact of climate change on diapause, and how this might disrupt the synchrony between insect species and their environment.

This work has direct relevance to enhancing food security and we collaborate with industry partners involved in the commercial production of insects for both pollination and biocontrol.

2. Molecular mechanisms underpinning multi-stressor responses: Using a range of insect model systems, we employ state-of-the-art post-genomic, reverse genetic, metabolomic and lipidomic approaches to identify the molecular mechanisms that underpin temperature stress adaptation and how this can be disrupted by other stressors.

3. Life in extreme environments: Through a long-standing collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), our group investigates ecophysiological strategies employed by polar terrestrial invertebrates to cope with extreme environmental conditions. We also examine the threat of climate change and invasive species to polar ecosystems, as well as the biogeography and evolutionary biology of polar insects.

4. Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) Free Air Carbon Enrichment (FACE) Facility: BIFoR FACE is a 10 year experiment examining the effect of elevated CO2 on mature temperate woodland ecosystems. Our group is spearheading insect research at this facility, documenting changing patterns of biodiversity, abundance and phenology, as well as plant-insect interactions with select herbivore and pollinator species.

Scientific Inspiration

My inspiration to become a biologist was David Attenborough – cheesy, but true – watching the documentary series “Life on Earth” started me on this path.

There are many scientists who are an inspiration for different reasons – Professor David Saunders (Emeritus - Edinburgh University) for introducing me to insect biology; Professor David Denlinger (Emeritus – Ohio State University) for the way he runs his lab; Professor Pete Convey (British Antarctic Survey) for a prolific ability to write; Professor Andrew Cossins (Emeritus -Liverpool University) for never being afraid to try new things.