Profiles
Dr Michael Thom
Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology
School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology
Qualifications
Employment:
2014 - : Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth
2008 - 2013: Teaching Fellow in Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of York
2003 - 2008: BBSRC Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, University of Liverpool
1995 - 1996: Environmental Consultant, Western Australia
Qualifications
2011: Postgraduate Certificate of Academic Practice, University of York
2011: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2002: PhD, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford: "The mating system and behavioural ecology of American mink (Mustela vison)"
1995: BSc (Hons), First Class, Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia
Professional membership
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Society for the Study of Evolution
International Society for Behavioral Ecology
The Genetics Society
European Society for Evolutionary Biology
Research interests
My research mainly focuses on the importance of sexual selection in shaping animal behaviour, physiology and morphology, and on the interplay between natural and sexual selection in population evolution. I am interested in understanding how males trade off various components of sexual selection to maximise reproductive success, and how this balance is influenced by varying environmental and social conditions and varying costs.
This work ties in to the related theme of behavioural plasticity, particularly plastic reproductive traits: how flexible is male behaviour, and when and why does the level of flexibility vary between individuals?
In connection with much of this work, I am also interested in understanding the genetic basis of key reproductive traits, particularly behavioural traits including plasticity.
Finally, I have longstanding research interest in individual recognition, and how this ability evolves and is maintained.
My research uses both empirical research on animal models, and a theoretical approach through agent-based modelling.
This work ties in to the related theme of behavioural plasticity, particularly plastic reproductive traits: how flexible is male behaviour, and when and why does the level of flexibility vary between individuals?
In connection with much of this work, I am also interested in understanding the genetic basis of key reproductive traits, particularly behavioural traits including plasticity.
Finally, I have longstanding research interest in individual recognition, and how this ability evolves and is maintained.
My research uses both empirical research on animal models, and a theoretical approach through agent-based modelling.
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
2019 'Population fragmentation drives up genetic diversity in signals of individual identity' Oikos , DOI Open access
2019 'Differing effects of age and starvation on reproductive performance in Drosophila melanogaster' Scientific Reports 9, , DOI Open access
2014 'Sperm production responds to perceived sperm competition risk in male Drosophila melanogaster' Physiology & Behavior 131, 111-114 , DOI
2013 'Baculum morphology predicts reproductive success of male house mice under sexual selection' BMC Biol 11, , DOI
2012 'Trait-dependent declines of species following conversion of rain forest to oil palm plantations' Biodiversity and Conservation 22, (1) 253-268 , DOI
2012 'Female choosiness leads to the evolution of individually distinctive males' Evolution 66, (12) 3736-3742 , DOI
2012 'Protein turnover: measurement of proteome dynamics by whole animal metabolic labelling with stable isotope labelled amino acids' Proteomics 12, (8) 1194-1206 , DOI
2012 'Do female zebrafish withhold reproductive resources for future mating opportunities?' Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 66, (6) 891-896 , DOI
2009 'The impact of native competitors on an alien invasive: temporal niche shifts to avoid interspecific aggression?' Ecology 90, (5) 1207-1216 , DOI
2008 'The direct assessment of genetic heterozygosity through scent in the mouse' Curr Biol 18, (8) 619-623 , DOI
2007 'The genetic basis of individual-recognition signals in the mouse' Curr Biol 17, (20) 1771-1777 , DOI
2005 'MHC odours are not required or sufficient for recognition of individual scent owners' Proc Biol Sci 272, (1564) 715-724 , DOI
2004 'Individual recognition by scent' ANNALES ZOOLOGICI FENNICI 41, (6) 765-787
2004 'Why are American mink sexually dimorphic? A role for niche separation' Oikos 105, (3) 525-535 , DOI
2004 'Female American mink, Mustela vison, mate multiply in a free-choice environment' Animal Behaviour 67, (5) 975-984 , DOI
2004 'The evolution and maintenance of delayed implantation in the mustelidae (mammalia: carnivora)' Evolution 58, (1) 175-183 , DOI
1997 'Impaired vision for binocular tasks after unilateral optic nerve regeneration in the frog Litoria moorei' Behav Brain Res 84, (1-2) 195-201 , DOI
'Spatially clustered resources increase male aggregation and mating duration in Drosophila melanogaster' Animal Behaviour Open access
Conference Papers
2008 'Scent Signals of Individual Genetic Identity used in Mate Choice' S173-S173
2001 'Alien carnivores: unwelcome experiments in ecological theory' 93-122