Outputs (27)

Mapping the adaptive landscape of Batesian mimicry using 3D-printed stimuli (2025)
Journal Article
Taylor, C. H., Watson, D. J. G., Skelhorn, J., Bell, D., Burdett, S., Codyre, A., Cooley, K., Davies, J. R., Dawson, J. J., D’Cruz, T., Gandhi, S. R., Jackson, H. J., Lowe, R., Ogilvie, E., Pond, A. L., Rees, H., Richardson, J., Sains, J., Short, F., Brignell, C., …Reader, T. (2025). Mapping the adaptive landscape of Batesian mimicry using 3D-printed stimuli. Nature, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09216-3

In a classic example of adaptation, harmless Batesian mimics gain protection from predators through resemblance to one or more unpalatable models. Mimics vary greatly in accuracy, and explaining the persistence of inaccurate mimics is an ongoing chal... Read More about Mapping the adaptive landscape of Batesian mimicry using 3D-printed stimuli.

How does viewing angle affect the perceived accuracy of Batesian mimicry in hoverflies? (2024)
Journal Article
Baker, L., Taylor, C., Gilbert, F., & Reader, T. (2024). How does viewing angle affect the perceived accuracy of Batesian mimicry in hoverflies?. Behavioral Ecology, 35(5), Article arae054. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arae054

Despite Batesian mimicry often eliciting predator avoidance, many Batesian mimics, such as some species of hoverfly (Syrphidae), are considered to have an “imperfect” resemblance to their model. One possible explanation for the persistence of apparen... Read More about How does viewing angle affect the perceived accuracy of Batesian mimicry in hoverflies?.

The evolution and ecology of multiple antipredator defences (2023)
Journal Article
Kikuchi, D. W., Allen, W. L., Arbuckle, K., Aubier, T. G., Briolat, E. S., Burdfield-Steel, E. R., Cheney, K. L., Daňková, K., Elias, M., Hämäläinen, L., Herberstein, M. E., Hossie, T. J., Joron, M., Kunte, K., Leavell, B. C., Lindstedt, C., Lorioux‐Chevalier, U., McClure, M., McLellan, C. F., Medina, I., …Exnerová, A. (2023). The evolution and ecology of multiple antipredator defences. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 36(7), 975-991. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.14192

Prey seldom rely on a single type of antipredator defence, often using multiple defences to avoid predation. In many cases, selection in different contexts may favour the evolution of multiple defences in a prey. However, a prey may use multiple defe... Read More about The evolution and ecology of multiple antipredator defences.

Distribution models calibrated with independent field data predict two million ancient and veteran trees in England (2022)
Journal Article
Nolan, V., Gilbert, F., Reed, T., & Reader, T. (2022). Distribution models calibrated with independent field data predict two million ancient and veteran trees in England. Ecological Applications, 32(8), Article e2695. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2695

Large, citizen-science species databases are powerful resources for predictive species distribution modeling (SDM), yet they are often subject to sampling bias. Many methods have been proposed to correct for this, but there exists little consensus as... Read More about Distribution models calibrated with independent field data predict two million ancient and veteran trees in England.

The effect of agri-environment schemes on Bombus terrestris colony success (2022)
Journal Article
Crowther, L. I., Reader, T., & Gilbert, F. (2022). The effect of agri-environment schemes on Bombus terrestris colony success. Ecological Entomology, 47(5), 911-914. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13155

As with other species linked to agricultural environments, many bumblebee species are exhibiting significant population declines. This study assesses the success of colonies of Bombus terrestris audax on farms differing in conservation inputs via agr... Read More about The effect of agri-environment schemes on Bombus terrestris colony success.

Solving sampling bias problems in presence–absence or presence-only species data using zero-inflated models (2021)
Journal Article
Nolan, V., Gilbert, F., & Reader, T. (2022). Solving sampling bias problems in presence–absence or presence-only species data using zero-inflated models. Journal of Biogeography, 49(1), 215-232. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14268

Aim: Large databases of species records such as those generated through citizen science projects, archives or museum collections are being used with increasing frequency in species distribution modelling (SDM) for conservation and land management. De... Read More about Solving sampling bias problems in presence–absence or presence-only species data using zero-inflated models.

Mapping the evolution of accurate Batesian mimicry of social wasps in hoverflies (2021)
Journal Article
Leavey, A., Taylor, C. H., Symonds, M. R. E., Gilbert, F., & Reader, T. (2021). Mapping the evolution of accurate Batesian mimicry of social wasps in hoverflies. Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14336

Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) provide an excellent opportunity to study the evolution of Batesian mimicry, where defenseless prey avoid predation by evolving to resemble defended “model” species. Although some hoverflies beautifully resemble their... Read More about Mapping the evolution of accurate Batesian mimicry of social wasps in hoverflies.

Historical maps confirm the accuracy of zero‐inflated model predictions of ancient tree abundance in English wood‐pastures (2021)
Journal Article
Nolan, V., Reader, T., Gilbert, F., & Atkinson, N. (2021). Historical maps confirm the accuracy of zero‐inflated model predictions of ancient tree abundance in English wood‐pastures. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58(11), 2661-2672. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13996

Ancient trees have important ecological, historical and social connections, and are a key source of dead and decaying wood, a globally declining resource. Wood-pastures, which combine livestock grazing, open spaces and scattered trees, are significan... Read More about Historical maps confirm the accuracy of zero‐inflated model predictions of ancient tree abundance in English wood‐pastures.

Seasonal patterns in habitat use by the harvest mouse (𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑦𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑠) and other small mammals (2021)
Journal Article
Occhiuto, F., Mohallal, E., Gilfillan, G. D., Lowe, A., & Reader, T. (2021). Seasonal patterns in habitat use by the harvest mouse (𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑦𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑠) and other small mammals. Mammalia, 85(4), 325-335. https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2020-0095

The ecology of the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is poorly understood, partly because it is a difficult species to monitor. It is commonly associated with reedbeds, where evidence suggests that it experiences strong seasonal fluctuations in abunda... Read More about Seasonal patterns in habitat use by the harvest mouse (𝑀𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑦𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑠) and other small mammals.

Growth impacts in a changing ocean: insights from two coral reef fishes in an extreme environment (2021)
Journal Article
D'Agostino, D., Burt, J. A., Santinelli, V., Vaughan, G. O., Fowler, A., Reader, T., Taylor, B. M., Hoey, A. S., Cavalcante, G. H., Bauman, A. G., & Feary, D. A. (2021). Growth impacts in a changing ocean: insights from two coral reef fishes in an extreme environment. Coral Reefs, 40(2), 433–446. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02061-6

Determining the life history consequences for fishes living in extreme and variable environments will be vital in predicting the likely impacts of ongoing climate change on reef fish demography. Here, we compare size-at-age and maximum body size of t... Read More about Growth impacts in a changing ocean: insights from two coral reef fishes in an extreme environment.