Professor Tom Tregenza

About me:

I am interested in how evolution shapes the biodiversity and behaviour of animals. I use insects and other terrestrial and marine model systems to understand questions about the life histories of animals and how they adapt to their environments.

Interests:

Natural and Sexual selection in nature – My ‘WildCrickets’ project combines video monitoring with genotyping of all individuals in a natural population of the field cricket Gryllus campestris. I aim to provide insights into adaptation and evolution, including the maintenance of genetic variation and local adaptation.

Changes in crab abundance on the Cornish coast – I am interested in understanding the huge changes in the relative abundance of crab species in our area.

Understanding responses to climate in wild ectotherms – Animals can use behaviour to modify the thermal environment that they experience. I am using my ‘WildCrickets’ project to understand how much potential this provides for ectotherms to adjust to changes in climate by changing their behaviour.

Ageing in wild insects – I am exploiting WildCrickets to examine senescent declines in traits in their natural context to understand fundamental questions about ageing in nature.

Genetic benefits of multiple mates - Examining Predominantly empirical approach using insect model systems, including the field cricket G. bimaculatus the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus.

Speciation - Using insect model systems (particularly European Orthoptera) to examine patterns of divergence and pre- and post-mating isolation between populations.

Sexual selection – The potential role of sexual selection in adaptation, the evolution of polyandry and genetic benefits to polyandrous females, particularly in relation to genetic compatibility between mates, conflicts of interest between males and females.

Citizen Science – Integrating the public into research is increasingly feasible and valuable. My http://cricket-tales.exeter.ac.uk/ platform involves the public in data collection and provides lesson plans for school teachers.

Qualifications:

1991-1994 PhD (Liverpool) Thesis: 'On the ideal free distribution'
1988-1991 BSc Zoology (Bristol)

Career:

2009-present Professor of Evolutionary Ecology
2001-2009 Royal Society University Research Fellow
1998-2001 NERC postdoctoral fellow: University of Leeds. Genetic benefits of multiple mates - Examining the evolution of polyandry and genetic benefits to polyandrous females.
1997-1998 Royal Society travelling fellow: University of Melbourne. Chemical communication and co-evolution between Lycaenid butterflies and ants.
1994-1997 NERC postdoctoral researcher: University of Leeds. Testing competing hypotheses for the origins of reproductive isolation.