EU-TMR Research Network on Social
Evolution
The Keele group has 30years of experience in the study of the exocrine
glands and secretions of social insects. Special micro-techniques have
been devised for the identification and accurate quantification of the
substances in a single gland of a single individual. It has more recently
developed methods for the analysis of the materials (chiefly hydrocarbons)
on the cuticle of insects, and from its work with ants, bees and wasps,
it is possible to obtain a cuticular profile from, e.g. a single wing of
a bee, an antenna, or a few abdominal sclerites, thus avoiding the
contamination
that is often found on the legs of these insects and which, it is believed,
affects the results of some studies performed with solvent extracts, along
with accidental inclusion of glandular compounds. The group has the ability
and experience to determine differences in cuticular substances and glandular
secretions among species, colonies, and patrilines (full-sister lines within
a colony headed by a multiple mated queen). Specific cuticular hydrocarbons
are being synthesized and supplied to partners of the network for recognition
studies. The group assumes the role of conceptual task-leader for all chemical
work in the network. Collaborations with other teams in the network are
in progress on behavioural and evolutionary studies , to answer specific
questions of individual recognition in ants, bees and wasps. The Keele
group organized the third network workshop on "Chemical Communication and
Behaviour" (together with the Firenze group) in March 1998. The determination
of composition of secretions and provision of synthetic mixtures for
behavioural
tests is part of its duties. The Keele group is supported by grants from
the The British Council, CAPES (Brazil), The Royal Society and industrial
partners. Work is in progress on the identification of exocrine secretions
of a number of hymenopteran types.
The Keele group has also research interests in insect moulting hormones
and insect antifeedants, giving a broad chemical view of insect development
and behaviour (Keele Homepage). It also forms the Chemical
Ecology part of the center for applied Entomology and Parasitology (CAEP)
shared between the School of Life Sciences and The School of Chemistry
and Physics. Chemistry has 5 full professors, 9 further academic staff,
10 postdocs and 60 research students (mostly Ph.D.), covering a broad array
of research programmes in organic chemistry, inorganic and physical chemistry
and materials science.
There are on-going projects on Hymenoptera with the Harpur Adams
Agricultural
College, Carl Hayden Bee Research Centre (Tuscon, Arizona) and the Federal
University of Alagoas (Brazil) and Instituto de Biociencias (University
of Sao Paulo, Brazil) and the University of Leuven, Belgium. Visitors
interested
in insect secretions, pheromones (except Lepidoptera), cuticular substances
and plant-insect interactions are welcome.
Department of Chemistry, Keele
Persons in Keele directly involved in the network
research:
Dr. David Morgan
(professor)
Dr. Graeme Jones
(lecturer)
Dr. Roland Maile (TMR postdoc)
Dr. Harald Jungnickel (TMR postdoc)
John Clewes (technician) (1998 - 1999)
Sally Spencer (work experience technician)
Selected publications:
