Dr Stuart Piertney
Reader in Molecular Ecology and Evolution; Head of Ecology Research Theme
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Personal Details
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Research Interests
Research within the Piertney-Lab centres on the development and application of molecular markers to provide novel insight into the ecology, population biology, conservation and taxonomy of a range of invertebrate and vertebrate groups.
Ongoing studies span the complete evolutionary hierarchy - from resolving phylogenetic relationships between taxa, determining patterns of phylogeographic and population genetic structure within species, determining the genetic relatedness among individuals within populations, to the dynamics of individual gene regions.
A recurrent research theme is in understanding the effects of different ecological, behavioural and microevolutionary processes on levels of neutral and adaptive genetic diversity in natural populations, and how spatio-temporal variation in the levels of genetic diversity influences individual fitness, population dynamics and long-term population viability.
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Research Grants
2010 - 2013: Reverse engineering the genotype-phenotype map for parasite resistance in natural populations of red grouse. NERC funded.
2010 - 2013: Multidisciplinary investigations of the deepest scavengers on Earth - Phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships in hadal amphipods.TOTAL funded project in collaboration with A. Jamieson (U. Aberdeen).
2008 - 2009: An assessment of the presence, distribution and abundance of Culicoides midges in Scotland. RERAD funded project in collaboration with A. Blackwell (U. Edinburgh) and S. Carpenter (IAH Pirbright).
2007 - 2010: Overcoming the compensatory response of an invasive predator. NERC funded project in collaboration with X. Lambin (U. Aberdeen).
2006-2009: A lifetime of attrition: post-genomic analyses of ecological and evolutionary processes in nematode-vertebrate systems. NERC funded project in collaboration with S. Paterson (U. Liverpool), J. Slate (U. Sheffield), P. Diggle (U. Lancaster), M. Viney (U. Bristol) and J. Pemberton (U. Edinburgh).
2005-2008: Harvesting and environmental variability: the causes and consequences of evolution in ecological time. NERC funded project in collaboration with T. Benton (U. Leeds).
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The Piertney Group
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Dr Marianne James (Post-doctoral research assistant). Reverse engineering the genotype-phenotype map for parasite burden in natural populations of red grouse. |
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Dr Matt Oliver (Post-doctoral research assistant). Overcoming the compensatory response of an invasive predator. MHC variation in water voles (Arvicola terrestris). |
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Freda Marshall (Research technician). Harvesting and enviornmental variability: the causes and consequences of evolution in ecological time. |
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Hollie Taylor (NERC PhD student). Phylogenetic and phylogeographic structure in hadal amphipods. |
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Gill Murray-Dickson (Carnegie Trust PhD student). Context dependent MHC-based mate choice in palmate newts. |
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Ruth Fernández-García (EU Marie Curie PhD student). Population genetic structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from NW Spain. |
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Roseanne Miller (NERC PhD student). Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) variation in sea trout. |
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Dan Mifsud (NERC PhD student). Mechanisms of speciation and adaptive radiation in the Jaera albifrons species complex. |
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Marius Wenzel (Nuffield Foundation Research Assistant). Patterns of genetic structure and dispersal among UK chough populations (In collaboration with Jane Reid).
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Recently completed projects
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Dr Lucy Webster (Post-doctoral research assistant) A lifetime of attrition: post-genomic analyses of ecological and evolutionary processes in nematode-vertebrate systems. |
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Dr Jane DeGabriel (Post-doctoral research assistant) An assessment of the presence, distribution and abundance of Culicoides midges in Scotland, and their potential as vectors of pathogens of animal diseases. |
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Dr Jan Schwenkenbecher (Post-doctoral research assistant) Culicoides midges in relation to vector competence for Bluetongue in the UK (In collaboration with Jennifer Mordue). |
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Selected publications (2000 - present)
Wenzel MA, Webster LMI, Segelbacher G, Reid JM, Piertney SB (2011) Isolation and characterisation of 17 microsatellite loci for the red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). Conservation Genetics Resources 3, 737-740.
Purse BV, Falconer D, Sullivan MJ, Carpenter S, Mellor PS, Piertney SB, Mordue AJ, Albon S, Gunn GJ, Blackwell A (2011) Impacts of climate, host and landscape factors on Culicoides species in Scotland. Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2011), doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2011.00991.x
Fernandez R, Santos MB, Pierce GJ, Llavona A, Lopez A, Silva MA, Ferreira M, Carrillo M, Cermeno P, Lens S, Piertney SB (2011) Fine-scale genetic structure of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Atlantic coastal waters of the Iberian Peninsula. Hydrobiologia 670, 111-125.
Paterson S, Piertney SB (2011) Frontiers in host-parasite ecology and evolution. Molecular Ecology 20, 869-871.
Youngson AF, Piertney SB, Thorley JL, Malcolm IA, Soulsby C (2011) Spatial association of nest construction by brown trout Salmo trutta. J. Fish Biol 78, 713-725.
Webster LMI, Mello LV, Mougeot F, Martinez-Padilla J, Paterson S, Piertney SB (2011) Identification of genes responding to nematode infection in red grouse. Molecular Ecology Resources 11, 305-313.
Foote AD, Vilstrup JT, deStephanis R, Verborgh P, Nielsen SCA, Deaville R, Kleivane L, Martin V, Miller PJO, Oien N, Perez-Gil M, Rasmussen M, Reid RJ, Robertson KM, Rogan E, Simila T, Tejedor ML, Vester H, Vikingsson GA, Willerslev E, Gilbert MTP, Piertney SB (2011) Genetic differentiation among North Atlantic Killer Whale populations. Molecular Ecology 20, 629-641.
Webster LMI, Paterson S, Mougeot F, Martinez-Padilla J, Piertney SB (2011) Transcriptomic response of red grouse to gastrointestinal nematode parasites and testosterone: implications for population dynamics. Molecular Ecology 20, 920-931
Oliver MK, Piertney SB (2010) Beyond splitting hares and rabbiting on about major histocompatibility complex complexity. Molecular Ecology 19, 4099-4101
Mougeot F, Martínez-Padilla J, Blount JD, Pérez-Rodríguez L, Webster LMI, Piertney SB (2010) Oxidative stress and the effect of parasites on a carotenoid-based ornament. J Exp Biol 213: 400-407.
Piertney SB, Webster LMI (2010) Characterising functionally important and ecologically meaningful genetic diversity using a candidate gene approach. Genetica 138: 419-432.
Mougeot F, Martinez-Padilla J, Bortolotti GR, Webster LMI, Piertney SB (2010) Physiological stress links parasites to carotenoid-based colour signals. J. Evol Biol 23: 643-650.
Martinez-Padilla J, Mougeot F, Webster LMI, Perez-Rodriguez L, Piertney, SB (2010)Testing the interactive effects of testosterone and parasites on carotenoid-based ornamentation in a wild bird. J. Evol Biol 23: 902-913.
Schwenkenbecher JM, Mordue AJ, Switek K, Piertney SB (2009) Discrimination of Culicoides midge larvae using multiplex PCR assays based on DNA sequence variation at the mitochondrial Cytochrome C oxidase I gene. J. Medical Entomology 46: 610-614.
Foote AD, Newton J, Piertney SB, Willerslev E, Gilbert MTP (2009) Ecological, morphological and genetic divergence of sympatric North Atlantic killer whale populations. Mol Ecol 18: 5207-5217.
A’Hara S, Hancock M, Piertney SB, Cottrell JE (2009) The development of a molecular assay to distinguish droppings of black grouse Tetrao tetrix from those of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus and red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. Wildlife Biology 15: 328-337.
Schwenkenbecher JM, Mordue AJ, Piertney SB (2009) Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Culicoides dewulfi should not be considered part of the Culicoides obsoletus complex. Bull Ent Res 99: 371-375.
2009) Physiological stress mediates the honesty of social signals. PLoS ONE 4: e4983.
Mougeot F, Martinez-Padilla J, Webster LMI, Blount JD, Perez-Rodriguez L, Piertney SB (2009) Honest sexual signalling mediated by parasite and testosterone effects on oxidative balance. Proc Roy Soc B 276: 1093-1100.
Oliver MK, Telfer S, Piertney SB (2009) Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) heterozygote superiority to natural multi-parasite infections in the water vole (Arvicola terrestris). Proc Roy Soc B 276: 1119-1128.
Oliver MK, Lambin X, Cornulier T, Piertney SB (2009) Spatio-temporal variation in the strength and mode of selection acting on major histocompatibility complex diversity in water vole (Arvicola terrestris) metapopulations. Molecular Ecology 18, 80-92.
Dias PJ, Sollelis L, Cook EJ, Piertney SB, Davies IM, Snow M. (2008) Development of a real-time PCR assay for detection of Mytilus species specific alleles. J Exp Mar Biol & Ecol 367, 253-258.
Nolan DV, Dallas JF, Piertney SB, Mordue AJ (2008): Incursion and range expansion in the bluetongue vector Culicoides imicola in the Mediterranean basin: a phylogeographic analysis. Medical & Veterinery Entomology 22, 340-351.
Ngamprasertwong T, Mackie IJ, Racey PA, Piertney SB (2008): Spatial distribution of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA variation in Daubenton’s bat within Scotland. Molecular Ecology 17, 3243-3258.
Piertney SB, Lambin X. MacColl ADC, Lock KA, Bacon PJ, Dallas JF, Leckie F, Mougeot F, Racey PA, Redpath S, Moss R (2008): Temporal changes in kin structure through a population cycle in a territorial bird, the red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus). Molecular Ecology 17, 2544-2551.
Segelbacher G, Piertney SB (2007): Phylogeography of the European capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) and its implications for conservation. Journal of Ornithology 148 269-274.
Sæther SA, Fiske P, Kålås JA, , Kuresoo A, Luigujõe L, Piertney SB, Sahlman T & Höglund J (2007): Inferring local adaptation from QST - FST comparisons: neutral genetic and quantitative trait variation in European populations of great snipe. J. Evolutionary Biology 20, 1563-1576.
Nolan D, Carpenter S, Barber J, Mellor PS, Dallas JF, Mordue AJ & Piertney SB (2007) Rapid diagnostic PCR assays for members of the Culicoides obsoletus and Culicoides pulicaris species complexes, implicated vectors of bluetongue virus in Europe. Veterinary Microbiology 124, 82-94.
Racey PA, Barratt EM, Burland T, Deaville R, Gotelli D, Jones G, & Piertney SB (2007): Microsatellite DNA polymorphism reveals reproductive isolation of cryptic pipistrelle bat species and differences in population genetic structure. Biol J Linn Soc. 90, 539-550.
Oliver MK & Piertney SB (2006): Major histocompatiblity complex class II DRB polymorphism in the European water vole (Arvicola terrestris). Immunogenetics 58, 390-395.
Aars J, Dallas JF, Piertney SB, Marshall M, Gow JL, Telfer S & Lambin X (2006): Excess heterozygosity reveals widespread gene flow in highly fragmented populations of water voles Arvicola terrestris. Mol Ecol 15, 1455-1466.
Piertney SB & Oliver MK (2006): The evolutionary ecology of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Heredity 96, 7-21.
Mougeot F, Piertney SB, Redpath SM (2006): Elevated spring testosterone increases parasite intensity in male red grouse. Behavioural Ecology 17, 117-125.
Parsons KM, Piertney SB, Middlemas SJ, Hammond PS & Armstrong JD (2005): DNA-based identification of salmonid prey species in seal faeces. Journal of Zoology 266, 275-281.
Mougeot F, Piertney SB, Leckie F, Evans S, Moss R, Redpath SM & Hudson PJ (2005): Experimentally increased aggressiveness affects population kin structure and subsequent recruitment in red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. J. Animal Ecology 74, 488-497.
Piertney SB, Stewart WA, Lambin X, Telfer S, Aars J & Dallas JF (2005): Phylogeographic structure and post-glacial evolutionary history of water voles (Arvicola terrestris) in the United Kingdom. Mol Ecol 14, 1435-1444.
Mougeot F, Redpath SM, Piertney SB & Hudson PJ (2005): Separating behavioral and physiological mechanisms in testosterone mediated trade-offs. American Naturalist 166, 158-169.
Mougeot F, Irvine JR, Seivwright L, Redpath SM & Piertney SB (2004): Testosterone, immunocompetence and honest sexual signalling in male red grouse. Behavioural Ecology 15, 930-937.
Hambly C, Pinshow B, Wiersma P, Verhulst S, Piertney SB, Harper EH & Speakman JR (2004): Comparison of the cost of short flights in a nectarivorous and non-nectarivorous bird. Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 3959-3968.
Paterson S, Piertney SB, Knox D, J. Gilbey J & Verspoor E (2004): Characterisation and PCR multiplexing of novel highly variable tetranucleotide Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) microsatellites. Molecular Ecology Notes 4, 160-162.
Lambin X, Aars J, Piertney SB & Telfer S (2004): Inferring pattern and process in small mammal metapopulations: insights from ecological and genetic data. In: Ecology, Genetics & Evolution of Metapopulations (Eds. Hanski I & Gaggiotti O), pp. 515-540.
Piertney SB (2003): Major histocompatibility complex B-LB gene variation in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus). Wildlife Biology 9, 251-259.
Moss R, Piertney SB & Palmer SCF (2003): The use and abuse of microsatellite DNA markers in conservation biology. Wildlife Biology 9, 243-250.
Piertney SB, Carss DN & Goostrey A (2003): Population variation in the frequency of extra-pair paternity in the cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo: an analysis using microsatellite DNA markers. Vogelwelt 124: 149-155.
Gare DC, Piertney SB & Billingsley PF (2003): Anopheles gambiae collagen IV genes: cloning, phylogeny and midgut expression associated with blood feeding and Plasmodium infection. International Journal for Parasitology 33, 681-690.
Telfer S, Piertney SB, Dallas JF, Stewart WA, Marshall F, Gow JL & Lambin X (2003): Parentage assignment detects frequent and large-scale dispersal in water voles. Mol Ecol 12, 1939-1949.
Piertney SB, Hudelot C, Hochberg FG & Collins MA (2003): Phylogenetic relationships among cirrate octopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) resolved using mitochondrial 16s ribosomal DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 27, 348-353.
Summers R & Piertney SB (2003): The Scottish Crossbill – what we know and what we don’t. British Birds 96: 100-111.
Telfer S, Dallas JF, Aars J, Piertney SB, Stewart WA & Lambin X (2003): Demographic and genetic structure of fossorial water voles Arvicola terrestris on Scottish islands. J Zoology 259: 23-29.
Dallas JF, Coxon K, Sykes T, Chanin PRF, Marshall F, Carss DN, Bacon PJ, Piertney SB & Racey PA (2003): Similar estimates of population genetic composition and sex ratio from carcasses and faeces of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra. Mol Ecol 12, 275-285.
Höglund J, Piertney SB, Alatalo R, Lindell J, Lundberg A & Rintamäki PT (2002): Inbreeding and male fitness in a wild population of black grouse. Proc Roy Soc London B. 269: 711-715.
Allcock L & Piertney SB (2002): Evolutionary relationships of Southern Ocean Octopodidae (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) and a new diagnosis of Pareledone. Marine Biology 140: 129-135.
Piertney SB, Shorey L & Höglund J (2002): Characterisation of microsatellite DNA markers in the white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus). Molecular Ecology Notes 2, 504-505.
Thuman KA, Widemo F & Piertney SB (2002): Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in the ruff (Philomachus pugnax). Molecular Ecology Notes 2: 276-277.
Dallas JF, Marshall F, Piertney SB, Bacon PJ & Racey PA (2002): Spatially restricted gene flow and reduced microsatellite polymorphism in the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Britain. Conservation Genetics 3:15-29.
Piertney SB, Summers R & Marquiss M (2001): Microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA homogeneity among phenotypically diverse crossbill taxa in the UK. Proc Roy Soc London B 268: 1511-1518.
Piertney SB & Höglund J (2001): Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in black grouse (Tetrao tetrix). Molecular Ecology Notes 1, 303-304.
Lambin X, Aars J & Piertney SB (2001): The roles of intraspecific competition, kin competition and kin co-operation in the evolution and ecology of dispersal: a review of the empirical evidence. In: Causes, Consequences and Mechanisms of Dispersal at the Individual, Population and Community level (eds. Clobert J, Nichols JD, Danchin E & Dhondt A). OUP, Oxford, UK.
Piertney SB, MacColl ADC, Racey PA, Bacon PJ, Lambin X & Dallas JF (2000): Matrilineal genetic structure and female-mediated gene flow in red grouse (Lagopus l. scoticus): An analysis using mtDNA. Evolution 54: 279-289.
Shorey L, Piertney SB, Stone J & Höglund J (2000): Fine-scale genetic structuring on Manacus manacus leks. Nature 408: 352-353.
Piertney SB, Dallas JF, Hawkins C & Racey PA (2000): Microsatellite markers for the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). Mol Ecol 9: 489-490.
MacColl ADC, Piertney SB, Moss R & Lambin X (2000): Spatial arrangement of kin affects recruitment success in young male red grouse. Oikos 90: 261-270.
Dallas JF, Carss DN, Marshall F, Koepfli K-P, Kruuk H, Piertney SB & Bacon PJ (2000): Sex identification of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra by PCR typing of spraints. Conservation Genetics 1, 181-183.
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