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Professor Jonathan Blount
Professor of Animal Ecophysiology / Faculty (ESE) Director of Postgraduate Research
j.d.blount@exeter.ac.uk
01326 371877
SERSF
Science and Engineering Research Support Facility (SERSF):, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
Overview
Broad research specialisms
My research focusses on studies of mechanism and function in animal ecology. I have three main interests: (1) behavioural and evolutionary ecology of animal signalling; (2) nutrition ecology; and (3) oxidative stress and the biology of ageing. Some of the work carried out in my group addresses these topics in isolation. For example, we study predator-prey interactions in relation to aposematic (warning) signals, mimicry and chemical defences. In other work we study the mechanistic basis of ageing. However, there are interesting linkages between animal signalling, nutrition and oxidative stress at the physiological level. As such, many of our current projects are highly integrative and include studies of behaviour and underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms. Much of my work focuses on basic research, but I am also interested in how an understanding of mechanism and function can help tackle applied questions in conservation biology. I work on a broad range of species in the field and the lab. I am a member of the Behaviour research group.
Qualifications
1994 BSc (Hons) Rural Resources Management (University of Plymouth; First Class)
1998 MSc Ecology (University of Wales, Bangor; Distinction)
2002 PhD in Ecophysiology (University of Glasgow)
2011 Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice / Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Career
2018- Professor - University of Exeter
2015-2018 Associate Professor - University of Exeter
2012-2014 Senior Lecturer - University of Exeter
2005-2012 Royal Society Research Fellow - University of Exeter
2004-2005 Royal Society Research Fellow - University of Glasgow
2002-2004 NERC-funded post-doc - University of Glasgow
1994-1997 Curator of Animals - Newquay Zoo
Office hours: I am available to meet students at the following times (no appointment necessary): Tuesdays 1-2pm; Fridays 9.30-10.30am
Links
Research group links
Research
Research interests
- ecophysiology
- behavioural ecology
- animal signals
- chemical defences
- oxidative stress
- evolution of life histories
- intergenerational effects
- ageing
Research projects
Current�research projects:
Transgenerational costs of reproduction and the evolution of life histories
The assumption that investment in reproduction reduces lifespan is a cornerstone of life history theory. Oxidative damage has been proposed as a mechanism underlying the cost of reproduction, but tests of this idea have proved equivocal. We have suggested that previous results can be explained if oxidative damage has impacts not only on an individual breeder's fitness, but also on the fitness of their developing offspring (Blount et al. 2016 Biol. Rev. 91, 483-497; Vitikainen et al. & Blount 2016 Front. Ecol. Evol. 4, 58). Such trans-generational costs of reproduction could have a profound influence on life history evolution, but there is currently little theory or data to evaluate this hypothesis. We are currently developing a new theoretical framework to incorporate trans-generational impacts of oxidative damage into life history theory, and testing the assumptions and predictions of our models in a tractable wild mammal system - our long-term study population of banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) in Uganda. This work is funded by a NERC standard grant to JD Blount, MA Cant and RA Johnstone.
Evolutionary ecology of aposematism
Many prey species use conspicuous warning signals to advertise the fact that they are defended (i.e. aposematism).�We are interested�in�the mechanisms which underpin variation in aposematic signals and chemical defences. Currently funded projects in my group focus on the developmental ecology of aposematic traits in green and black poison dart frogs; honest�signalling in ladybird beetles; and the costs of chemical defences in monarch butterflies.
The price of defence - fitness consequences of intraguild predation amongst ladybirds
The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is an alien invader in Europe, and being highly competitive and polyphagous, it poses a serious threat to other aphidophagous insects. Native/naturalised ladybird species may deter harlequins from preying on their eggs and larvae by investing in chemical defences, but such investment could carry serious costs. One possibility which this project is investigating is that individuals face a trade-off in the allocation of resources to the production of well-defended offspring versus the maximisation of offspring number per se.
Interested in joining us?
Underpinning these interests I have analytical expertise in the use of HPLC, LC-MS and GC-MS techniques, for example to assay biological pigments, toxins, and nutrients. Please contact me with any queries about facilities available in our Metabolomics Lab.
I am always keen to hear from students or postdocs who are interested in research that combines studies of behaviour and physiological mechanisms. If you are interested in joining my research group, please get in touch by email (j.d.blount@exeter.ac.uk).
Research grants
- 2016 NERC
Transgenerational costs of reproduction and the evolution of life histories - 2012 NERC
PhD studentship: The price of defence - fitness consequences of intraguild predation amongst ladybirds - 2010 Royal Society
Royal Society URF extension - 2009 NERC
Standard grant: Social influences on aging in a wild cooperative mammal - 2009 NERC
PhD studentship: Load-lightening, oxidative balance and the evolution of cooperative societies - 2009 Panamanian Government
PhD studentship: Phenotypic plasticity in aposematism in the green and black poison dart frog - 2009 Royal Society
Research grant: Maternal workload-lightening and oxidative stress in cooperative societies - 2009 Cayman Island Turtle Farm
Contract research grant: An investigation into the causes of hatching failure in farmed green turtles - 2009 NERC
Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facility grant: Environmental modulation of investment in egg production in green turtles - 2007 NERC
PhD studentship: Consequences of trade-offs during growth and development in pheasants Phasianus colchicus - 2007 NERC
Open CASE PhD studentship: Effects of over-winter dietary provisioning on health and productivity of garden birds - 2006 European Social fund
Research grant: The Impact of Environmental Stresses on Cornwall's Biological Resources - 2006 NERC
PhD studentship: Carotenoids and Costs of Egg Production in Green Turtles Chelonia mydas - 2004 Royal Society University Research Fellowship
Royal Society URF - 2004 NERC
Standard grant: Dietary antioxidants, Lifespan and Mate Attraction in Fish - 2004 Research Council of Norway
Standard grant: Effects of Environmental Variation on the Importance of Carotenoids for Offspring Production in Atlantic Salmon - 2003 European Commission
TARI grant: Two-Spotted Gobies as a Model System for Studies of Quality Signalling and Reproductive Costs in Fish - 2002 European Commission
TARI grant: Carotenoids and Quality Signalling in Fish: Integrating Biochemical and Behavioural Analyses - 2001 Research Council of Norway
Standard grant: Carotenoids and Reproductive Performance in Fish: Gobies as a Model System
Publications
Journal articles
Chapters
External Engagement and Impact
Committee/panel activities
Scientific duties
2012-2019: Royal Society Newton International Fellowships - panel member
2012-ongoing: NERC Peer Review College
Postgrad examinations
2018: PhD thesis (external examiner), Magali Meniri (University of Neuchatel)
2017: PhD thesis (external examiner), Rute Mendonca (University of Neuchatel / University of Pretoria)
2017: PhD thesis (internal examiner), Dimas Gianuca (University of Exeter)
2016: PhD thesis (external examiner), Liu Yu (Queen Mary College, University of London) 'Biogeography of secondary sexual coloration of barn swallows in China'
2014: PhD thesis (external examiner), Aqeel H. T. Al Jothery (University of Aberdeen) 'Lactation and oxidative stress in small mammals'
2013: PhD thesis (external examiner), Lyndsey A. E. Stewart (University of Glasgow) 'Dietary effects on adult performance and oxidative stress status in three-spined sticklebacks’
2013: PhD thesis (internal examiner), Wendi K. Wolfram (University of Exeter) 'Scent-marking: investigating chemosensory signals in wolf urine'
2012: PhD thesis (internal examiner), Lucy I. Wright (University of Exeter) 'Insights into the mating systems of green turtles based on molecular parentage analyses'
2011: MPhil thesis (external examiner), Jessica A. Haines (University of Aberdeen) 'Female ornamentation in red grouse and its potential role in sexual selection'
Editorial responsibilities
Associate Editor: Functional Ecology (2007-2015)
Manuscript reviewing: Am. Nat; Anim. Behav; Avian Sci; Aust. J. Zool; Behav. Ecol; Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol; Biol. Lett; Comp. Biochem. Physiol; Condor; Ecol. Lett; Evol; Front. Zool; Funct. Ecol; Ibis; J. Anim. Ecol; J. Appl. Ecol; J. Avian Biol; J. Comp. Physiol. B; J. Exp. Biol; J. Evol. Biol; J. Field Ornithol; J. Fish Biol; Nature; Naturwissenshaften; Physiol. Biochem. Zool; PLoS; Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA; Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B; Trends Ecol. Evol.
Grant reviewing: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); The Royal Society; National Science Foundation (NSF), European Research Council (ERC); German Research Foundation; University of Cambridge Junior Research Fellowships
Invited lectures
Invited conference / symposium presentations:
Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Global Working Group; Workshop on the maternal environment. University of Chicago 2016
International Congress of Comparative Physiology & Biochemistry (ICCPB, sympsium); Krakow, 2015
The Rank Prize Funds (symposium); Oxidative stress, does it play a role in life histories and ageing? Cumbria 2014
European Conference on Behavioural Biology (ECBB, symposium); Ferrara 2010
International Symposium on Carotenoids (International Carotenoid Society), Edinburgh; 2005
Gordon Research Conference on Carotenoids (International Carotenoid Society), California; 2004
Institute of Zoology, London; 2003
Invited seminars:
Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh; 2011
Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg; 2009
School of Psychology, University of Exeter; 2009
Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth; 2008
Department of Zoology, University of Bern; 2007
Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter; 2007
Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld; 2005
School of Animal & Microbial Sciences, University of Reading; 2005
Edward Grey Institute for Field Ornithology, University of Oxford; 2005
School of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield; 2004
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge; 2004
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Banchory; 2003
XXVII International Ethological Conference, Tubingen, Germany; 2001
Media Coverage
My work has featured in over 50 newspaper articles (eg The Daily Telegraph; The Independent; The Guardian; The Scotsman; The Herald; The New York Times, Die Welt), popular science magazines (New Scientist; National Geographic), research council publications (NERC's Planet Earth), and also BBC1 TV and various radio broadcasts.
Teaching
Year 1- Physiology (BIO1420), module co-ordinator
Year 2
- Animal Ecophysiology (BIO2427)
Modules
2024/25
Information not currently available
Supervision / Group
Postdoctoral researchers
Postgraduate researchers
- Chris Beirne PhD student, 2011- with Andy Young (University of Exeter) and Dez Delahay (FERA)
- Graham Birch PhD student, 2020- with Michael Cant University of Exeter) and Andy Radford (University of Bristol)
- Emmanuelle Briolat PhD student, 2013- with Martin Stevens (University of Exeter)
- Louise Christensen PhD student, 2012- with Colin Selman (University of Glasgow) and Dan Nussey (University of Edinburgh)
- Jamie Cranston PhD student, 2016 with Dr Regan Early (University of Exeter)
- Hannah (Cee) Heyworth PhD student, 2019- with Hannah Rowland (Max Planck)
- Sarah Lane PhD student, 2012- with Clarissa House (University of Exeter)
- Sarah Paul PhD student, 2012- with Martin Stevens (University of Exeter), Judy Pell (J.K. Pell Consulting) and Jason Baverstock (Rothamsted Research)
- Miranda Walter MbyRes student, 2014-
Research Technicians
Alumni
- Dr Chris Beirne
- Dr Dom Cram PhD completed 2013. Now a Postdoc in Tim Clutton-Brock's group at the University of Cambridge
- Dr Eric Flores PhD completed 2013. Now in Panama and working in ecology research and conservation
- Shona Jack Mbytes
- Dr Sarah Lane PhD completed 2015. Now doing a postdoc at the University of Plymouth.
- Chris Mitchell Research Technician 2009-2013. Now a technician at the University of Western Sydney
- Josie Orledge PhD completed 2011. Now a Lecturer at the University of Exeter
- Sarah Paul
- Dr Tom Pike NERC-funded Postdoc 2004-2007. Now a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln
- Dr Kate Plummer PhD completed 2011. Now a Research Officer at the BTO.
- Dr Andreas Svensson PhD completed 2006. Now an Associate Professor at Linnaeus University.
- Emma Vitikainen NERC-funded Postdoc 2009-2012. Now an ERC-funded Postdoc with Mike Cant
- Dr Sam Weber PhD completed 2010. Winner of ZSL's Huxley-Marsh Prize 2010 for 'best zoology thesis in UK'. Now doing turtle research and conservation at Ascension Island.