Dr Simon T Segar

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Dr Simon T Segar

ssegar@harper-adams.ac.uk

Agriculture and Environment, Harper Adams University

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Research interests currently pursue two major research programmes:

The evolution of host use and chemical ecology of insect herbivores (Segar et al., 2017a; Volf et al., 2018).
Population genomics and speciation in figs and their pollinating wasps along the slopes of a tropical mountain (Segar et al., 2017b; Souto-Vilaros, 2018).

He also conducts research relating to arthropod phylogeny (Segar et al., 2012), community phylogenetics (Segar et al., 2013) and mutualism stability (Dunn et al., 2008). More generally is driven by a desire to understand plant and insect diversity, and the processes responsible for generating it. This goal necessarily requires a multi-disciplinary approach because extant diversity is a result of both evolutionary and ecological dynamics, and selection on myriad traits responsible for mediating ecological interactions.

Other Research projects

Speciation Genomics in an Obligate Fig Pollination Mutualism

Scientific Inspiration

Alfred Russell Wallace. Somewhat of an underdog, dedicated to an idea and unafraid to pursue it relentlessly. Not motivated by prestige, but through curiosity to understand the natural world. Alfred Russell Wallace was also an early advocate of conservation biology and social justice.

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, student-centred and goal-driven.

Provision of Training

I take on a limited number of students and emphasise quality over quantity when it comes to research and training. I will be with you throughout the journey but aim for a transition where student becomes teacher in the final year. I am happiest when my students eventually know more than me and become independent researchers. I emphasise work-life balance and the need for formative experience during a PhD project (e.g., a stimulating stay overseas or mastery of a new method through intensive training).

Progression Monitoring and Management

I meet students at least once a month to discuss progress but typically the frequency of meetings is higher (the yearly average is twice a month), especially during planning and write up stages. Harper Adams University has a solid reporting structure but I encourage monthly summaries and take a genuine interest in results and findings. I am happy to manage the majority of the more ‘routine’ sides of the work so that the student can focus on research, but do introduce budget management and give students a chance to help teach on my MSc modules. Management style often depends on the needs of the student, where training is required and what level of input they are happy with.

Communication

I am in contact during working hours as a rule by WhatsApp, email or Teams. In exceptional circumstances and when it is required (e.g., during field work) I will be available on the weekends and in the evenings, but I encourage students to make up for these intensive periods by taking sufficient leave. In general, I advocate a healthy work-life balance and try to manage the groups time so that the evenings and weekends are free.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once a fortnight

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once a fortnight

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once a fortnight

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once a fortnight

These meetings will be a mixture of face to face, via video chat or telephone, and I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Pattern

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Primary supervisor for:

Drivers of chemical diversity, niche-partitioning and insect resistance in cultivated and wild species of Coffee

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Drivers of chemical diversity, niche-partitioning and insect resistance in cultivated and wild species of Coffee

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Ed Harris, Dr Ben Clunie, Professor Simon Edwards, Dr Heather Campbell

University of Registration: Harper Adams University

BBSRC Research Themes:

Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Plant and Crop Science)
Understanding the Rules of Health (Plant Science)

Project Outline

Why are there so many species on our planet? This deceptively simple question requires inquiry into how organisms adapt to each other and their environment over ecological and evolutionary time. It also forces us to think about how and why niche occupancy varies. We combine basic and applied research, for example, an understanding of what shapes pollinator and herbivore specificity can have widespread implications for gene flow and speciation as well as crop pollination and food security. Here we outline one of two potential fields of study:

Drivers of chemical diversity, niche-partitioning and insect resistance in cultivated and wild species of Coffee (co-I’s Harris, Edwards, Campbell and Clunie)

Background

While cultivating coffee is a multibillion-dollar international industry it relies largely on two species of Coffea. Climate change is not only influencing where we can grow coffee, but where its pests and pollinators can persist¹. Yield efficiency and cup quality in coffee requires insect pollination, and herbivorous insects have a large impact on yearly production.

Aims and Methods

The proposed project will initially focus on a selection of the 122 ‘wild’ coffee species (potentially with field work in Kenya) to gather baseline data on flower visitor and herbivore communities as well as collecting flower volatile and leaf chemistry data. We will genotype and chemotype will coffee species. These new occurrence matrices and existing records will be used to design experiments relating to pollinator functional ecology, herbivore host preference and performance and the chemical cues used by both groups of insects. Fundamentally, we will test the prediction that chemical diversity predicts functional diversity, from an applied perspective we will identify emerging pests, pollinators and natural enemies. Our approach will combine chemical traits, insect community structure and molecular diversity into a predictive framework² which will be tested using field experiments.

References

1 Davis, A. P. et al. Nat. Plants 7, 413–418 (2021).

2 Segar, S. T. et al. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 284, 20171803 (2017).

Processing of specialised secondary metabolites by an extremely polyphagous weevil: implications for plant protection

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Processing of specialised secondary metabolites by an extremely polyphagous weevil: implications for plant protection

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Joe Roberts, Dr Tom Pope

University of Registration: Harper Adams University

BBSRC Research Themes:

Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Plant and Crop Science)
Understanding the Rules of Life (Plant Science)

Project Outline

Processing of specialised secondary metabolites by an extremely polyphagous weevil: implications for plant protection (co-I’s Roberts and Pope).

Background

The vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus an extremely polyphagous beetle that can tolerate (or process, it is unknown) a wide range of toxic compounds¹. It is known for its ability to feed on chemically distinct hosts (including yew, hemlock and rhododendron). These plant hosts are phylogenetically distant and contain diverse groups of secondary metabolites. The vine weevil is a serious pest in the horticultural and soft fruit industries (where it feeds on strawberry). Intriguingly, vine weevils are also a model system for clonal reproduction and Wolbachia infection dynamics, with the microbe potentially mediating parthenogenic reproduction and ensuring normal egg development². The role of Wolbachia and other endosymbionts for secondary metabolite detoxification (and the ability to feed) in vine weevils also requires exploration.

Aims and Methods

Here we seek to explore the potential for controlling vine weevils in agricultural settings through microbiome manipulation. This will require experiments to explore the role of symbionts on its ability to detoxify host plant chemicals. We will also explore alternative methods for detoxification through experimental manipulation of insect diet³. To complement our experimental approach, we will extend to additional Otiorhynchus species as needed, comparing host identity, chemical composition and the potential for phylogenetically informed models to understand host use in the genus⁴. The work will include field, laboratory and comparative phylogenetic approaches.

References

1. Pope, T. W. et al. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 67, 221–238 (2022).

2. Son, Y. et al. Agric. For. Entomol. 10, 147–155 (2008).

3. Fontanilla, A. M. et al. J. Chem. Ecol. 1–12 (2022).

4. Segar, S. T. et al. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 284, 20171803 (2017).