Research within the Piertney-Lab focuses on the interplay between evolutionary and ecological dynamics in natural populations. From an eco-to-evo perspective, I examine how different ecological, environmental and behavioural processes drive microevolution, adaptation and speciation. Then from an evo-to-eco perspective, I link how genetic diversity affects individual fitness, population dynamics, ecosystem function and population persistence.
Studies have either a gene-centric focus, examining candidate genes of known ecological importance and adaptive significance (e.g. MHC, MC1R, IFN), or exploit next-generation 'omics technologies to gain a more holistic understanding of adaptation and genome-wide responses to environmental and ecological change.
Current Research
Piezophilic adaptation in deep-ocean amphipods (NERC).
The genomic landscape of speciation and adaptive variation in the intertidal isopod Jaera albifrons (NERC).
Emergence, spread and persistence of maine invasive non-native species (with Marine Scotland Science, and South Atlantic Environment Research Institute).
Genome-wide responses to demographic perturbation in insular populations of water voles (BBSRC)
PolyExESS - Extreme environment simulation system for experimental evolution (NERC).
The ecology, evolution and epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens in fragmented multi-host populations (BBSRC).
The epigenomic landscape of maternal effects in the soil mite Sancassania berlesei (NERC).
Impacts of climate, host and landscape factors on Culicoides species in Scotland
Purse, B. V., Falconer, D., Sullivan, M. J., Carpenter, S., Mellor, P. S., Piertney, S. B., Mordue (Luntz), A. J., Albon, S., Gunn, G. J., Blackwell, A.
Medical and Veterinary Entomology, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 168-177
