Senior Lecturer
Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Contact details
ORCID 
0000-0002-7715-1259
Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Ecology studying host-parasite systems.
Now Recruiting for a PhD studentship in host-parasite interactions
Biography:
PhD - University of Cambridge (2003)
BA - University of Cambridge (1999)
My research focuses predominantly on host-parasite evolutionary ecology, it spans controlled laboratory systems, through to natural field ecology. Most of my work studies insects, but I also investigate other invertebrates , as well as amphibians.
Key topics:
Immune system evolution, Drosophila, entomopathogenic fungi, genetic variation in pathogen defence, host-parasite coevolution, senescence, bumblebee ecology, insect sex ratios, ladybirds, invasive species, ecological impacts of ionizing radiation, sustainable crop pest control with biopesticides.
Now Recruiting for a PhD studentship in host-parasite interactions. See here for details:
You can find out more about our biopesticide work here: https://enhancingdiversity.wixsite.com/endorse.
And our horticultural whitefly work here: https://enhancingdiversity.wixsite.com/endorse/tomato
In 2020 we will be recruiting for a BBSRC-funded PDRA to work on a GWAS project investigating the genomic determinats of fungal pathogen resistance. Please get in touch if you are interested.
Lab members:
Jess Burrows is a PhD student studying the effects of ionizing radiation on immune defence in bumblebees.
Rosie Mangan is a Post-doc funded by BBSRC investingating novel methods of pest control using entomopathogenic fungi to combat insecticide resistance evolution.
Mia Graham is a technician funded by our BBSRC project "Assessing the market potential of a novel resistance management framework for fungal biopesticides in UK glasshouse horticulture"
Alumni
Kat Raines finished her PhD in 2018 studying the impact of radiological contamination on bumblebees, work that is centred on the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Kat is now a NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow based at Stirling.
Katie Murray finished her PhD in 2018. She studied the ecology of parasitism in the invasive harlequin ladybird. She is now a Scottish Government statistician.
Craig Anderson was a post-doc investigating the impact of chronic radiation exposure in the Chernobyl exclusion zone on the evolution of Drosophila melanogaster. He is now a research fellow at the MRC Human Gentics Unit, University of Edinburgh.
Marco Kubiak finished his MPhil thesis in 2017 studying immune senescence in Drosophila.
Jess Scriven finished her PhD in 2016 investigating the comparative ecology of closely related cryptic bumblebee species, she is now a statistician for the Scottish Government.
Sumayia Bashir finished her PhD in 2014. She used Drosophila to study interactions between immune defence, metabolism and mitochondrial function.
Danielle Mackenzie finished her Phd in 2014 investigating the mechanisms of immune senescence in Drosophila.
Penelope Whitehorn finished her PhD in 2011, which focused on the impact of inbreeding on bumblebees and which I co-supervised. Penelope spent some time as a post doc fellow at Stirling investigating the negative effects of insecticides on non-target insects and is now carrying on this work at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany.
Andy Dobson is a post-doc who was worked alongside my group for a number of years as an independent research fellow. Amongst other topics, he researches the ecology of tick populations as vectors for Lyme disease and other infections of humans and wildlife; he is now based at Edinburgh University.
Article
Towards solving a scientific controversy - The effects of ionising radiation on the environment
Beresford NA, Horemans N, Copplestone D, Raines KE, Orizaola G, Wood MD, Laanen P, Whitehead HC, Burrows JE, Tinsley MC, Smith JT, Bonzom J, Gagnaire B, Adam-Guillermin C & Gashchak S (2019) Towards solving a scientific controversy - The effects of ionising radiation on the environment. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106033
Article
Sex-specific routes to immune senescence in Drosophila melanogaster
Kubiak M & Tinsley MC (2017) Sex-specific routes to immune senescence in Drosophila melanogaster. Scientific Reports, 7, Art. No.: 10417. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11021-6
Article
Tracing ancient evolutionary divergence in parasites
Tinsley RC & Tinsley MC (2016) Tracing ancient evolutionary divergence in parasites. Parasitology, 143 (14), pp. 1902-1916. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182016001347
Article
Sex as a strategy against rapidly evolving parasites
Auld SKJR, Tinkler SK & Tinsley MC (2016) Sex as a strategy against rapidly evolving parasites [Sex as a weapon against parasitism]. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 (1845), Art. No.: 20162226. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2226
Article
Scriven JJ, Whitehorn PR, Goulson D & Tinsley MC (2016) Bergmann’s Body Size Rule Operates in Facultatively Endothermic Insects: Evidence from a Complex of Cryptic Bumblebee Species. PLoS ONE, 11 (10), Art. No.: e0163307. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163307
Article
The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis: global perspectives on invasion history and ecology
Murray KM, Brown PMJ, Adriaens T, Berkvens N, Borges I, Clusella-Trullas S, Comont RF, De Clercq P, Eschen R, Estoup A, Evans EW, Facon B, Gardiner MM, Roy HE & Tinsley MC (2016) The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis: global perspectives on invasion history and ecology. Biological Invasions, 18 (4), pp. 977-1044. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-016-1077-6
Article
Niche partitioning in a sympatric cryptic species complex
Scriven JJ, Whitehorn PR, Goulson D & Tinsley MC (2016) Niche partitioning in a sympatric cryptic species complex. Ecology and Evolution, 6 (5), pp. 1328-1339. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1965
Article
Extinction of an introduced warm-climate alien species, Xenopus laevis, by extreme weather events
Tinsley RC, Stott LC, Viney M, Mabel B & Tinsley MC (2015) Extinction of an introduced warm-climate alien species, Xenopus laevis, by extreme weather events. Biological Invasions, 17 (11), pp. 3183-3195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-015-0944-x
Commentary
Dobson A, Auld S & Tinsley MC (2015) Insufficient evidence of infection-induced phototactic behaviour in Spodoptera exigua: a comment on van Houte et al. (2014). Commentary on: van Houte S, van Oers MM, Han Y, Vlak JM, Ros VID. 2014 Baculovirus infection triggers a positive phototactic response in caterpillars to induce ‘treetop’ disease. Biol. Lett. 10, 20140680. (doi:10.1098/rsbl.2014.0680). Biology Letters, 11, Art. No.: 20150132. http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/11/10/20150132; https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0132
Article
Sex differences in the effects of juvenile and adult diet on age-dependent reproductive effort
Houslay T, Hunt J, Tinsley MC & Bussiere L (2015) Sex differences in the effects of juvenile and adult diet on age-dependent reproductive effort. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 28 (5), pp. 1067-1079. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12630
Article
Tinsley RC, Coxhead PG, Stott LC, Tinsley MC, Piccinni MZ & Guille MJ (2015) Chytrid fungus infections in laboratory and introduced Xenopus laevis populations: assessing the risks for U.K. native amphibians. Biological Conservation, 184, pp. 380-388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.01.034
Article
Revealing the hidden niches of cryptic bumblebees in Great Britain: implications for conservation
Scriven JJ, Woodall L, Tinsley MC, Knight ME, Williams PH, Carolan J, Brown MJF & Goulson D (2015) Revealing the hidden niches of cryptic bumblebees in Great Britain: implications for conservation. Biological Conservation, 182, pp. 126-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.11.027
Article
The evolutionary ecology of complex lifecycle parasites: linking phenomena with mechanisms
Auld S & Tinsley MC (2015) The evolutionary ecology of complex lifecycle parasites: linking phenomena with mechanisms. Heredity, 114 (2), pp. 125-132. https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.2014.84
Article
Ariani C, Juneja P, Smith S, Tinsley MC & Jiggins FM (2015) Vector competence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for filarial nematodes is affected by age and nutrient limitation. Experimental Gerontology, 61, pp. 47-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2014.11.001
Article
Bashir-Tanoli S & Tinsley MC (2014) Immune response costs are associated with changes in resource acquisition and not resource reallocation. Functional Ecology, 28 (4), pp. 1011-1019. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12236
Article
Genetic diversity and parasite prevalence in two species of bumblebee
Whitehorn PR, Tinsley MC, Brown MJF, Darvill B & Goulson D (2014) Genetic diversity and parasite prevalence in two species of bumblebee. Journal of Insect Conservation, 18 (4), pp. 667-673. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-014-9673-1
Article
Whitehorn PR, Tinsley MC, Brown MJF & Goulson D (2013) Investigating the impact of deploying commercial Bombus terrestris for crop pollination on pathogen dynamics in wild bumble bees. Journal of Apicultural Research, 52 (3), pp. 149-157. https://doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.52.3.06
Article
Social learning drives handedness in nectar-robbing bumblebees
Goulson D, Park K, Tinsley MC, Bussiere L & Vallejo-Marin M (2013) Social learning drives handedness in nectar-robbing bumblebees. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 67 (7), pp. 1141-1150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-013-1539-0
Commentary
Bussiere L, Tinsley MC & Laugen A (2013) Female preferences for facial masculinity are probably not adaptations for securing good immunocompetence genes. Commentary on: Scott IML, Clark AP, Boothroyd LG, Penton-Voak IS. 2012. Do men’s faces really signal heritable immunocompetence? Behav Ecol. 24:579–589.. Behavioral Ecology, 24 (3), pp. 593-594. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars097
Article
Tinsley RC, Stott LC, York JE, Everard ALE, Chapple SJ, Jackson J, Viney M & Tinsley MC (2012) Acquired immunity protects against helminth infection in a natural host population: Long-term field and laboratory evidence. International Journal for Parasitology, 42 (10), pp. 931-938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.07.006
Article
Senescence of the cellular immune response in Drosophila melanogaster
Mackenzie DK, Bussiere L & Tinsley MC (2011) Senescence of the cellular immune response in Drosophila melanogaster. Experimental Gerontology, 46 (11), pp. 853-859. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/05315565; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2011.07.004
Article
Tinsley RC, York JE, Everard ALE, Stott LC, Chapple SJ & Tinsley MC (2011) Environmental constraints influencing survival of an African parasite in a north temperate habitat: effects of temperature on egg development. Parasitology, 138 (8), pp. 1029-1038. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182011000461
Article
Tinsley RC, York JE, Stott LC, Everard ALE, Chapple SJ & Tinsley MC (2011) Environmental constraints influencing survival of an African parasite in a north temperate habitat: effects of temperature on development within the host. Parasitology, 138 (8), pp. 1039-1052. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182011000424
Article
Genetic diversity, parasite prevalence and immunity in wild bumblebees
Whitehorn PR, Tinsley MC, Brown MJF, Darvill B & Goulson D (2011) Genetic diversity, parasite prevalence and immunity in wild bumblebees. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 278 (1709), pp. 1195-1202. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.1550
Article
Kin recognition and inbreeding reluctance in bumblebees
Whitehorn PR, Tinsley MC & Goulson D (2009) Kin recognition and inbreeding reluctance in bumblebees [Reconnaissance de la parentèle et mécanismes pour éviter la consanguinité chez les bourdons; Verwandtschaftserkennung und Inzuchtvermeidung bei Hummeln]. Apidologie, 40 (6), pp. 627-633. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009050
Article
Goulson D, McGuire K, Munro EE, Adamson S, Colliar L, Park K, Tinsley MC & Gilburn A (2009) Functional significance of the dark central floret of Daucus carota (Apiaceae) L.; is it an insect mimic?. Plant Species Biology, 24 (2), pp. 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-1984.2009.00240.x
Article
Impacts of inbreeding on bumblebee colony fitness under field conditions
Whitehorn PR, Tinsley MC, Brown MJF, Darvill B & Goulson D (2009) Impacts of inbreeding on bumblebee colony fitness under field conditions. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 9 (1), p. 152. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/9/152; https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-9-152
Article
Weinert LA, Tinsley MC, Temperley M & Jiggins FM (2007) Are we underestimating the diversity and incidence of insect bacterial symbionts? A case study in ladybird beetles. Biology Letters, 3 (6), pp. 678-681. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2007.0373
Article
Small steps or giant leaps for male-killers? Phylogenetic constraints to male-killer host shifts
Tinsley MC & Majerus MEN (2007) Small steps or giant leaps for male-killers? Phylogenetic constraints to male-killer host shifts. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 7 (1), p. 238. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/7/238; https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-7-238
Article
Goulson D, Cruise JL, Sparrow KR, Harris AJ, Park K, Tinsley MC & Gilburn A (2007) Choosing rewarding flowers; perceptual limitations and innate preferences influence decision making in bumblebees and honeybees. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 61 (10), pp. 1523-1529. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0384-4
Article
Webberley M, Tinsley MC, Sloggett J, Majerus MEN & Hurst G (2006) Spatial variation in the incidence of a sexually transmitted parasite of the ladybird beetle Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). European Journal of Entomology, 103 (4), pp. 793-797. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2006.108
Article
Tinsley MC & Majerus MEN (2006) A new male-killing parasitism: Spiroplasma bacteria infect the ladybird beetle Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Parasitology, 132 (6), pp. 757-765. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182005009789
Article
Genetic variation in Drosophila melanogaster pathogen susceptibility
Tinsley MC, Blanford S & Jiggins FM (2006) Genetic variation in Drosophila melanogaster pathogen susceptibility. Parasitology, 132 (6), pp. 767-773. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182006009929
Article
Jiggins FM & Tinsley MC (2005) An ancient mitochondrial polymorphism in Adalia bipunctata linked to a sex-ratio-distorting bacterium. Genetics, 171 (3), pp. 1115-1124. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.105.046342
Article
Pollen deposition in moss polsters from Northeast Greenland
Linskens HF & Tinsley MC (2002) Pollen deposition in moss polsters from Northeast Greenland [Linskens, H. F. and Tinsley, M.C.]. Circumpolar Journal, 17, pp. 17-24.
Article
Tinsley MC & Reilly S (2002) Reproductive ecology of the saltmarsh-dwelling marine ectoparasite Paragnathia formica (Crustacea : Isopoda). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 82 (1), pp. 79-84. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315402005192
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