School of Biosciences

Research Overview

I am interested in the dynamics of predator-prey interactions and how predators make choices between competing prey species. Most of our work has been on invertebrates in arable crops centred upon two trophic interactions: carabid beetles vs. slugs, and linyphiid spiders vs. aphids. A major interest has been in how non-pest prey affect predator-target prey interactions. Current work uses a combination of network analyses, SADIE and Monte Carlo simulations to examine the temporal and spatial interactions between predators and many different prey simultaneously. This work has been facilitated by the development of PCR-based system for detecting prey DNA in predators. Other related work includes phlogenetics (earthworms, molluscs, planthoppers), intraguild predation, scavenging, vertebrate diets (snakes, storm petrels), microarthropods predating nematodes and spider responses to insect vibrational communication signals.

Research Division

Organisms and Environment