Population Ecology

CEH has previously carried out a great deal of research into the population processes in a wide variety of systems such as Atlantic Salmon, plant/virus systems, predator/prey and parasitoid/host interactions mainly among terrestrial insects. Many of our studies have underpinned efforts in the conservation of rare and endangered species including Maculinea or Large Blue butterflies, Microdon hoverflies, Atlantic Salmon and Smooth Snakes.

It is important to understand the population processes of species associated with target species, in order to develop efficient management strategies, as well as study the impact that management has on the wider community via direct or indirect interactions. For this, molecular and chemical methods are used, in conjunction with models and more traditional ecological methodology.

Beyond conservation aspects, CEH has aimed to address fundamental questions about population and community aspects of biological invasions (plant/virus interactions in Himalayan Balsam and Cynipid gall wasps); the structure and its determinants of insect communities (Cynipid gall wasps); and macro-ecological patterns such as world extinction rates, and the impact of climate change on species and communities.

Read more about CEH's current Biodiversity research highlights.

Related Publications

Barbero, F., Thomas, J.A., Bonelli, S., Balletto, E., Schönrogge, K. (2008) Queen ants Make distinctive sounds that are mimicked by a butterfly social parasite. Science, 323, 782 - 785.

Schönrogge, K., Napper, E.K.V., Birkett, M.A., Woodcock, C.M., Pickett, J.A., Wadhams, L.J., & Thomas, J.A. (2008) Host recognition by the specialist hoverfly Microdon mutabilis, a social parasite of the ant Formica lemani. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 34, 168-178.

Gardner, M.G., Schönrogge, K., Elmes, G.W., & Thomas, J.A. (2007) Increased genetic diversity as a defence against parasites is undermined by social parasites: Microdon mutabilis hoverflies infesting Formica lemani ant colonies. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 274, 103-110.

Schönrogge, K., Gardner, M.G., Elmes, G.W., Napper, E.K.V., Simcox, D.J., Wardlaw, J.C., Breen, J., Barr, B., Knapp, J.J., Pickett, J.A., & Thomas, J.A. (2006) Host propagation permits extreme local adaptation in a social parasite of ants. Ecology Letters, 9, 1032-1040.

Thomas, J.A., Schönrogge, K., & Elmes, G.W. (2005). Specializations and host associations of social parasites of ants. In Insect Evolutionary Ecology (ed. by M.D.E. Fellowes, G.J. Holloway & J. Rolff), pp. 479 - 518. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.

Schönrogge, K., Wardlaw, J.C., Peters, A.J., Everett, S., Thomas, J.A., & Elmes, G.W. (2004) Changes in chemical signature and host specificity from larval retrieval to full social integration in the myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea rebeli. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30, 91-107.

Schönrogge, K., Barr, B., Wardlaw, J.C., Napper, E., Gardner, M.G., Breen, J., Elmes, G.W., & Thomas, J.A. (2002) When rare species become endangered: cryptic speciation in myrmecophilous hoverflies. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 75, 291-300.

Akino, T., Knapp, J.J., Thomas, J.A., & Elmes, G.W. (1999) Chemical mimicry and host specificity in the butterfly Maculinea rebeli, a social parasite of Myrmica ant colonies. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences, 266, 1419-1426.