Dr. Melanie Gibbs

My research uses an integrated approach to gain a mechanistic understanding of how anthropogenic change, and mitigation strategies, impact the evolutionary ecology of insect populations and communities. I work across all levels of organisation ranging from molecular mechanisms to community level effects in managed terrestrial environments (e.g. agricultural, forestry). My current research has three main focuses: 1) Developing methods and genomic tools for measuring pesticide sensitivity in Lepidoptera, with Stephen Short (UKCEH), David Buckingham (RSPB) and Nigel Bourn (Butterfly Conservation) 2) Examining synergistic effects of pesticide mixtures on model terrestrial arable communities to understand ecosystem-level impacts, with Dave Spurgeon and Ben Woodcock (UKCEH), and 3) Assessing the effects of anthropogenic stressors and pesticides on butterflies in agricultural ecosystems, with Casper Breuker (Oxford Brookes University).

I co-lead Butterflies Under Pressure: Teaching resources for the KS1/2 primary school curriculum topic "Living things and their habitats" (with Casper Breuker, Oxford Brookes University)

2021-        : Higher Scientific Officer (full-time)

2010-2021: Higher Scientific Officer/ Local Safety Advisor, (UKCEH, Wallingford)

2007-2009: Postdoctoral researcher at Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium, with Prof. Hans Van Dyck

2004-2006: Postdoctoral research assistant at the University of Manchester, with Dr. Paula Kover

2001-2004: Research assistant and PhD student at the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, with Prof Allen Moore

PhD Supervision

2022 Ivy Ng'iru: Testing the effectiveness of field margins in preventing spray drift from reaching non-target Lepidopterna larvae, with co-supervisors Stephen Short (UKCEH), Dave Spurgeon (UKCEH), Pete Kille (Cardiff University), David Buckingham (RSPB)

2021 Jay Hands: Long-term effects of pesticides on environmental health - how does exposure of a female egg-laying insect to pesticides affect subsequent generations? Co-supervised with Casper Breuker (Lead PI), Andrew Jones (both, Oxford Brookes University)

2017 Elsa Field: Impacts of tree diversity and drought on forest resilience to pathogens: a theoretical and experimental synthesis. Co-supervised with Andy Hector (Lead PI, University of Oxford), Karsten Schonrogge (UKCEH), Nadia Barsoum (Forest Research).

2015 Shyamali Roy: Evaluating the impact of emergent disease on microbial and insect populations in the tree ecosystem. Co-supervised with Robert Jackson (Lead PI, University of Reading), Karsten Schonrogge (UKCEH), Richard Harrison (East Malling Research).

2015 Nora Braak: How does a butterfly embryo cope with environmental stress? Co-supervised with Casper Breuker (Lead PI), Andrew Jones (both, Oxford Brookes University)

2013 Luca Livraghi: Evo-devo of Shx genes in the Speckled Wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria. Co-supervised with Casper Breuker (Lead PI, Oxford Brookes University), Peter Holland (University of Oxford)

2011 Jean-Michel Carter: Examining the developmental genetic regulation underlying oogenesis in the Speckled Wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria. Co-supervised with Casper Breuker (Lead PI, Oxford Brookes University).