The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. David's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About David
Professor of Aquatic Biology, University of PlymouthVising Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Deputy Director, NERC ARIES DTP
Faculty of Science and Engineering PGR lead, University of Plymouth.
My research focuses on a variety of ecological and evolutionary issues, mainly using aquatic insects as models. I have published over 200 scientific papers and four authored books, as well as a number of invited reviews and book chapters. A lot of recent work has focused on the diverse fauna of the Republic of South Africa.
Supervised Research Degrees
Dr Lucy Kelly . Dispersal, Genetic Differentiation and Community Composition of Insular Stream Invertebrates. (Supervised with Simon Rundle). Awarded 2001.
Dr Louise McAbendroth . Mediterranean Temporary Ponds in the UK: Ecology, Status and Management. (Supervised with Simon Rundle and Andy Foggo ). Awarded 2004.
Dr Punyasloke Bhadury . Molecular resolution of marine nematode biodiversity: Development of a rapid assessment technique. (Supervised with Mel Austin & Gary Smerdon, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and John Lambshead, Natural History Museum, London). Awarded 2006.
Dr Ena Mata-Zayas. The distribution of phylogenetic diversity of mammals in Mexico and its implications for conservation. (Supervised with Miguel Franco). Awarded 2007.
Dr Victor Aguirre-Hidalgo . Demographic and genetic diversity of the Mexican black iguana Ctenosaura pectinata. (Supervised with Miguel Franco). Awarded 2008.
Dr Sonia Fontani . Genetic biodiversity of the European barnacle Chthalamus montagui. (Supervised with John Bishop). Awarded 2009.
Dr Tony Bicknell. Population biology of Leach's storm petrel. (Supervised with Steven Votier and Mairi Knight). Awarded 2011.
Dr Nigel Marley.Biology of Tardigrada. Awarded 2011.
Dr Rebekah Cioffi. Understanding rarity and latitudinal range size relationships in European diving beetles (Dytiscidae) using metabolic plasticity and immunocopmetence. (Supervised with John Moody and Richard Billington). Awarded 2017.
Dr John Thorpe.Biogeography of rocky plateaus in the Western Ghats, India. (Supervised with Mairi Knight). Awarded 2018.
Dr Balbina Ramsay.The ecology and biogeography of tardigrades. (Supervised with Simon Rundle). Awarded 2019.
Teaching
I am interested in a range of questions related to biogeography, conservation and evolution, particularly using aquatic invertebrates as models. Much of my teaching reflects my research interests, covering topics such as macroecology and biogeography, aquatic conservation, biological species concepts and speciation, and arthropod zoology. I teach on courses to all three undergraduate years, and supervise a range of BSc and MSc/MRes projects.
Stage 1
MBIO123 Biodiversity - Overview of the diversity of life, covering microbes, fungi, algae, plants and animals, plus some material on behaviour. I cover the arthropods - the most important animals on earth.
MBIO120 Introduction to Marine Biology - What it says on the tin. I am heavily involved in field week, and lead field sampling trips to a number of locations in the region. In addition I give a lecture on the 'terrestrial' specialists of the shore.
MBIO123 Marine Biology Field Course - I attend this residential course in Brittany each year, and do some of the taxonomy practicals before we go.
Stage 2
BIOL214 Ecology - An up-to-date exploration of the fundamental principles of population and community ecology. I teach community ecology from a large-scale, or macroecological, perspective, examining the assembly of communities, island biogeography, adaptive radiation, biodiversity and ecosystem function, and asking why most species are rare, and why there are there are more species of organisms in the tropics?
MBIO213 Coastal Biodiversity and Ecology Fieldcourse - An exploration of biodiversity in a coastal setting, currently in one of the World's Biodiversity Hotspots, on the western Cape of South Africa. I attend this residential course each year.
Stage 3
MBIO324 Speciation and Diversity - What is a species? How do new species originate? What generates and maintains the diversity of life? How do we quantify this biodiversity? What are the ecological and evolutionary processes which underpin global patterns in biodiversity? Does biodiversity matter? An up-to-date exploration of the nature and generation of biological diversity, examining model taxa from a wide range of habitats and groups. I co-ordinate this course and teach biological species concepts and speciation.
BIOL304 Global Change Biology - what it says on the tin. Mostly on the causes and consequences of current global change. I deliver three lectures on Quaternary climate change and biological responses to ice ages, to give a wider historical/evolutionary context to ongoing change.
I supervise a range of projects in aquatic biology, ecology and evolution - typically 6-10 students per year.
Module leader for:
MBIO324 Speciation and Diversity
Personal Tutor
For approx.10 students in each year
Contact David
Room 610, Davy Building, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 584608
D.Bilton@plymouth.ac.uk
