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Dr Steve Compton

  • Position: Reader in Entomology
  • Areas of expertise: Entomology; Plant-insect interactions
  • Email: S.G.A.Compton@leeds.ac.uk
  • Phone: +44(0)113 343 2879
  • Location: 8.07 Irene Manton Building

Profile

My main study system over the years has been fig trees and their associated animals, particularly the fig wasps that pollinate them. This has taken me to the Namib Desert (to study long distance pollen flow) to the volcanic island of Anak Krakatoa in Indonesia (to study how rainforest recolonisation is speeded up by the animals that feed on figs and disperse seeds) and to Hyde Park in Leeds, where our 'captive' population of fig trees and fig wasps is the only such facility world wide.

Our conservation studies have centred on rare UK beetles, including the unique situation on Lundy in the Bristol Channel, where an endemic plant is host to two beetles known from nowhere else.

The potential role of hybridisation in the evolution of fig trees and their pollinators is one of our current research themes, along with studies of the mechanics of how these small wasps manage to use their very long ovipositors.

Funding sources have included English Nature, BBSRC and NERC

Rainforest regeneration, gene flow in fig trees, insect and plant conservation

Previously a lecturer at Rhodes University in South Africa.

Research interests

Plant-Animal Interactions

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Some research projects I'm currently working on, or have worked on, will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD
  • BSc,

Professional memberships

  • FRES

Student education

The Diversity of Life; Terrestrial Ecology and Behaviour Field Course; Marine Zoology Field Course; Level 3 Field Course (South Africa), Masters: Habitat Management; Practical Conservation with the National Trust; Plant Identification; Insect Identification Skills.

Studentship information

Undergraduate project topics:

  • Seed dispersal
  • pollination biology
  • rainforest regeneration
  • sex ratio evolution using fig wasps
  • long distance gene flow
  • conservation of beetles, plants and tailed amphibians
  • altitudinal variation in communities
  • trade in endangered species

Postgraduate studentship areas:

  • Plant-animal interactions

See also:

Modules managed

BLGY5116M - Habitat Management
BLGY5131M - Practical Conservation with the National Trust
BLGY5163M - Plant Identification
BLGY5166M - Insect Identification Skills
 

Modules taught

BLGY1124/1128 - The Diversity of Life/Living Planet
BLGY1125 - Biology Practicals and Data Analysis
BLGY1128 - Living Planet
BLGY1303 - Tutorials for Biology and Genetics
BLGY2253 - Animals as Pests
BLGY2301 - Research Experience and Skills Level 2
BLGY2321 - Marine Zoology Field Course
BLGY3021/3396 - BLGY projects
BLGY3300 - Level 3 Field Course (South Africa)
BLGY3345 - Biology Integrated Research Projects

BLGY5107M - Biodiversity and Conservation Skills I
BLGY5116M - Habitat Management
BLGY5131M - Practical Conservation with the National Trust
BLGY5163M - Plant Identification
BLGY5166M - Insect Identification Skills
BLGY5191M - Biodiversity and Conservation MSc and MRes Summer Project