Endosymbiont infections In influencing communities of beneficial Arachnids in agriculture systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
Dispersal plays a key role in shaping important biological and ecological processes such as the spatial structure of populations and their response to temporal changes in the environment. We have studied endosymbiont infections in linyphiid spiders from agricultural environments, which are important predators of agricultural pest species. We find that particular endosymbiotic bacteria appear to increase the sensitivity of their spider host to commonly applied commercial insecticides, a factor that may be important in determining the likelihood of infections persisting in agricultural settings. Will we use molecular genetic (next generation sequencing) and behavioural experimental approaches in order to characterise the genomes of endosymbionts infecting beneficial spider species, and study the relationships between endosymbionts, their spider host and sensitivity commercial insecticides. This is necessary in order to manage the pest-controlling function of these beneficial species.
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/10/2024 | |||
| 1644909 | Studentship | BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 |
| Description | Cascade fund |
| Amount | £1,817 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | IRCA Award |
| Amount | £1,200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 06/2018 |
| Description | Endosymbionts and Behaviour |
| Organisation | Masaryk University |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Visiting student to Masaryk University to design and implement a collaborative project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise and equipment. |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Endosymbionts, insecticides and behaviour |
| Organisation | Crop Research Institute |
| Department | Division of Crop Protection and Plant Health |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | grant application, molecular services, data analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | behavioural work, identification, experimental design |
| Impact | | animal behaviour, molecular genetics, host metabolism |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | On the shoulders of giants: Whip spiders host a diverse mycobiome on their cuticle |
| Organisation | Macquarie University |
| Department | Department of Biological Sciences |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Molecular biology services provided for a manuscript / writing of manucript |
| Collaborator Contribution | SEM imaging / manuscript writing / similar experiments carried out by colloborators |
| Impact | Understanding of microbe interactions with arthropods. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | On the shoulders of giants: Whip spiders host a diverse mycobiome on their cuticle |
| Organisation | University of Kiel |
| Department | Functional Morphology and Biomechanics |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Molecular biology services provided for a manuscript / writing of manucript |
| Collaborator Contribution | SEM imaging / manuscript writing / similar experiments carried out by colloborators |
| Impact | Understanding of microbe interactions with arthropods. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | On the shoulders of giants: Whip spiders host a diverse mycobiome on their cuticle |
| Organisation | University of Melbourne |
| Department | School of BioScience |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Molecular biology services provided for a manuscript / writing of manucript |
| Collaborator Contribution | SEM imaging / manuscript writing / similar experiments carried out by colloborators |
| Impact | Understanding of microbe interactions with arthropods. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | On the shoulders of giants: Whip spiders host a diverse mycobiome on their cuticle |
| Organisation | University of Vienna |
| Department | Department of Integrative Zoology |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Molecular biology services provided for a manuscript / writing of manucript |
| Collaborator Contribution | SEM imaging / manuscript writing / similar experiments carried out by colloborators |
| Impact | Understanding of microbe interactions with arthropods. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | 25 Genome winner |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Interacted with school children via a live chat to convince them that the endangered fen raft spider is worth winning the competition to sequence the genome. Change of attitude towards people and also important for conservation, venom, and material science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://flourishing25.imascientist.org.uk/2017/12/13/thank-you-from-the-flourishing-zone-winner-fen-... |
| Description | ArachNotts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Creation of a website for the lab https://www.arachnotts.com/. Has led to students, work experience, and media coverage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| URL | https://www.arachnotts.com/ |
| Description | BBC Radio Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talked on the radio about arachnids. Questions related to opinions and fears. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Open Days/ Tours of the Lab |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | General open days and visits to the lab; including work experience, visits from other universities, school children, companies, and internal staff. Talk about research, overcoming fears and provide some hands-on activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Pint of Science Event Organiser |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International Pint of Science Festival; engaging hundreds of people with science at Nottingham and in the local area |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Spider School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | SpiderLab researchers visited a primary school (they had applied for Royal Society money) to talk about arachnids, show them some organisms and do some techniques which they had learned about in the classroom. School is continuing with this program and using spiders to educate a range of STEM and humanities subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-derbyshire-40436916/derbyshire-pupils-experience-uk-s-first-... |