Professor David Hosken
Professor of Evolutionary Biology
D.J.Hosken@exeter.ac.uk
01326 371843
Stella Turk Building Upper Groud Floor
University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9FE
Overview
I am an evolutionary biologist with broad interests, but I am primarily interested in sexual phenotypes, particularly those associated with sexual selection and sexual conflict, and in the genotype-phenotype link. I also work on the genetics of sexual selection, sperm competition, inbreeding, metabolism, and intra-locus sexual conflict. I am particularly interested in DDT-resistance alleles in Drosophila because of the sexually antagonistic selection they generate. I also work on bat ecology and aging. I am a member of the Evolution research group and am based in Cornwall.
Qualifications
1992 BSc University of Western Australia
1998 PhD University of Western Australia
Career
2022-present. Deputy-Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
2019-2022. Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Cornwall
2015-2019. Dean of Strategic Development, Cornwall
2015 Leverhulme Research Fellowship
2013 Zoological Society of London, Scientific Medal
2010-present Chair in Evolutionary Biology
2010-2014 Director of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation
2004-2010 Reader in Evolution, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, UK
1999-2004 Assistant, Zoological Museum, University of Zurich, Switzerland
1999 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Chicago, USA
1999 Alexander Von Humboldt Research Fellow, University of Konstanz, Germany
1997-1998 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Links
Research group links
Research
Research interests
I am broadly interested in evolutionary biology, although most of my work is focused on sexual selection, particularly sperm competition and sexual conflicts.
For those with an interest in reproductive biology, sperm competition and sperm, please see Sperm Biology: An Evolutionary Perspective. Elsevier. Birkhead, T.R., Hosken, D.J. & Pitnick, S. (eds) (2009) see Borders.co.uk or Elsevier.com Includes chapters on sperm proteome, history of spermatology, origins of sperm, sperm competition, sperm-egg interactions to name a few and for a report on recent sexual conflict work please see: New Scientist.
For those more broadly interested in sexual selection see our book Genotype by Environment Interactions and Sexual Selection. Hunt J & Hosken DJ (2014).
For more detail on my research interests see:
https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=YeJ4MkYAAAAJ&view_op=list_works
Research projects
1. Sexual selection
a) Is sexual selection adaptive? Darwin suggested natural selection would oppose sexual selection, as did Fisher, but also noted that sexual selection could increase non-sexual fitness. Which of these views is correct? I am using laboratory evolution in insect models to investigate this and test if sexual selection does facilitate natural selection.
b) I am also interested in female choice. I have been funded to investiage the costs of female preference, again using insect models. This work looks at the innate costs of carrying certain mate preferences, but I am interested in preference and choice more broadly as this is an area that is relatively under explored.
c) The other main focus in this area is genital evolution. Genitalia are broadly considered to be the fastest evolving morphological characters. While it is widely accepted that sexual selection is responsible for this rapid and divergent evolution, this is a topic that has been subject to little experimental investigation. I again use selection experiments and insects to answer specific questions about genital evolution, and am also interested in further study of the apparent differences between vertebrate and non-vertebrate genital allometry, the scaling of female genitalia, and the genetic architecture of genital characters.
d) GxE in sexual selection. Most models of sexual selection assume that genetic effects are constant across environments, but this may not be true. We have been investigating GxE in sexual selection and its impacts.
2. Ontogenetic conflict
Males and females (largely) share the same genes but often have different fitness optima. This results in evolutionary tug-of-wars over optimal trait values. How are these conflicts resolved (and can they be)? What are their consequences? And how does intra-locus conflict impact benefits of mate choice?
We investigate these questions in beetles and flies and have recently descibed the first naturally occuring locus at which there is intra-locus sexual conflict, a DDT-resistance locus found in Drosophila.
3. The interaction between environmental and genetic stress and their effects on fitness
Increased inbreeding is a consequences of reduced population size in many systems. In addition, various environmental stresses, including a range of pollutants, are increasingly impinging upon these same populations. I am investigating potential synergies between these two types of stress in fish in collaboration with Professor Charles Tyler at our Streatham Campus.
4. Bat Ecology
Bats spend more than half their time roosting and as a result, roosts are an important resource for them. I am currently involved in projects on bats and windfarms (with Dr Fiona Matthews) and have previously worked on roost use of Cornish bats, and the activity patterns and roost use of bats of the Cayman Islands, plus a study on the spatial ecology of serotine bats in the UK (in conjunction with FERA). Previously, I have worked on bat reproductive biology, metabolism and recently supervised work on the activity patterns and conservation status of cave roosting Madagascan bats.
5. Specific Projects - butterfly genomics, bacteria, sperm and metabolism
I also have on-going investigation of gamete size and use, and the meadow brown butterflies on the Isle of Scilly. This work focusses on following up classical studies conducted by EB Ford and involves indentifying the genes involved in wing patterning. We are also investigating bacterial effects on fitness, Y-chromosome fitness effects and the metabolic costs of trait expression. In the past I have also worked on immunity, aging, reproductive anatomy and bat reproduction, and also have projects on-going in each of these areas.
Research networks
National
Prof N Wedell, Prof T Tregenza, Prof C Tyler, Prof D Hodgson, Prof Zen Lewis, Dr MD Sharma, Prof Sasha Dall, Prof A Wilson , Prof F Matthews, Dr Kelly Moyes, Dr B Kuiper, Dr A Sutter, Prof M Recker, Dr P Lintott, Prof E Westra and Prof A Buckling.
International
Prof Suzanne Alonzo, Prof Scott Pitnick, Dr Kensuke Okada, Dr Ruth Archer, Prof Jacek Radwan, Dr Maxi Tourmente, Prof Taka Miyatake, Dr Kentarou Matsumura, Prof Subhash Rajpurohit, Prof Rhonda Snook, Prof Judith Mank, Prof John Hunt, and Dr Clarissa House.
Research grants
- 2014 NERC
Sexual selection and bacteria - 2012 BBSRC
Genetic basis of sexual antagonism - 2012 CLES Strategic Development Fund
Spot genes in Maniola - 2012 The Royal Society
Mutational variance - 2011 FERA
Genetics of badgers - 2011 Pierre Hunt Bequest
Bats in Cornwall - 2011 Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
GEIs - 2011 The Genetics Society
Summer studentship - 2010 ESF Workshop
GEIs and Sexual Selection - 2010 DEFRA
Bats and wind-farms - 2009 NERC
The rapid evolution of male genitalia - 2009 European Social fund
GxE's in sexual selection - 2009 FERA
Spatial ecology of serotine bats - 2008 NERC KT
Impacts of inbreeding on the responses to pharmaceuticals and fitness consequences in a fish - 2008 The Genetics Society
Maniola & EB Ford - 2006 BBSRC
Sex peptide evolution - 2006 NERC
Sexual conflict coevolution - population size, divergence and the emergence of new variation - 2005 European Social fund
Sexual selection in flies - 2003 Swiss National Science Foundation
Female multiple mating and sperm competition in the dung fly Sepsis cynipsea - 2001 Forschungskredit University of Zurich
Molecular assessment of the importance of sperm number on sperm competition in dung flies - 2001 Roche Research Foundation
Paternity in field captured dung flies
Publications
Books
Journal articles
Chapters
External Engagement and Impact
Awards/Honorary fellowships
President, Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (2020-2024)
Leverhulme Reseach Fellowship (2015/16)
Zoological Society of London, Scientific Medal (2013) (winners announced)
Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (1999)
Janice Klummp Award (1994)
Aubery Nicholls Prize (1992)
Committee/panel activities
2020-2024. President, ASAB.
2018-2021. Research Excellence Framework (REF) Sub-panel Committee (Panel 5 Committee A).
2018-2020. Zoological Society of London Scientific Awards Committee.
2016-2019. ESF College of Expert Reviewers.
2014-17. NERC Core Panel Member.
2012-2014. NERC Peer Review College
2012. College of Reviewers Canada Research Chairs.
2011/12. Evaluator Romanian National Council for Research and Development
2011-15. The Royal Society, International Exchanges Scheme.
2011. The Royal Society, International Travel Grants Committee.
2009-13. Genetics Society Committee.
2008-11. NERC Peer Review College.
2010. External Assessor of Staff, Institute of Zoology, London.
2010. Professorial Promotion Assessor, University of Toronto.
2008. External Assessor of Programmes for the Foundation for Polish Science.
2007. External Assessor of Staff for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Centre.
Editorial responsibilities
2015-present, Editorial Board, Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology
2008-present, Editorial Board, Journal of Ethology.
2010-2020. Associate Editor, Ecology Letters.
2010-2013. Editor, Genetics Society Newsletter
2009-2011. Associate Editor, Evolutionary Ecology.
2008-2009. Editorial Board PLoSOne
2006-2008. Editor, Animal Behaviour.
2005. Special Issue Editor, The American Naturalist.
2004-2011. Editorial Board, Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
Invited lectures
Plenary-Keynote address
2022: Matt Gage Memorial Symposium, University of Exeter, UK.
2017: Association for the Study of Behaviour Winter Conference, London UK “Drosophila simulans: a pragmatic study in sexual selection”.
2017: 19th European Society of Sexual Medicine, Nice, France, Master Lecture “Sexual selection and penis evolution”.
2013: Biology of Sperm Meeting, University of Sheffield, UK, “Sperm: something old, something new”.
2011: British Andrological Society 2011, University of Birmingham, UK "Sperm and Sperm Competition: Where are we now?"
2009: Association for the Study of Behaviour Summer Conference 2009 - The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex - Oxford, UK, “Sexual selection and sexual conflict”.
2008: 14th European Meeting of PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology (EMPSEB), Einsiedeln, Switzerland, “Sexual selection and sexual conflict in flies.
2008: Annual Meeting of the Royal Dutch Zoological Society 2008, Amsterdam “Sexual selection in flies”.
2007: ProReTee, Konnevesi, Finland “Sexual selection in flies”.
2007: Centre for Excellence - The young & high demand patient. Zurich, Switzerland, “Why we age”.
2006: 25th Ethological Conference of Japan, Okayama, Japan, "Sexual selection & sexual conflict"
Conference/Workshop
2023: Biology of Sperm Meeting, University of Stockholm, Sweden.
2018: ERIC PGR Conference, University of Exeter, UK.
2008: Paul Ward Memorial Symposium, University of Zürich Switzerland.
2006: Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Easter Conference, Norwich UK.
2003: 9th European Society for Evolutionary Biology Congress, Co-Host Sexual Conflict Symposium, Leeds, UK.
2002: Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Sexual Conflict Workshop, Tovetorp, Sweden.
2002: Sperm Competition Workshop, Freiburg, Germany.
2001: 8th European Society for Evolutionary Biology Congress, Aarhus, Denmark.
2001: Swiss Zoological Society, Neuchatel, Switzerland.
1998: 7th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, Monterey, USA.
1998: Swiss Zoological Society, Geneva, Switzerland.
University
2020: Okayama University, Japan.
2018: Hong Kong University, Hong Kong.
2018: Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Lisbon, Portugal.
2018: Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, India.
2011: Department of Biology, University of Nottingham, UK.
2011: Konrad Lorenz Insitute of Ethology, Vienna, Austria
2009: Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Edinburgh, UK.
2009: Department of Plant & Animal Sciences, Sheffield, UK.
2006: Department of Genetics, Cambridge, UK.
2006: Department of Ecology & Evolution, Uppsala University, Sweden.
2005: Ecology Department, University of Bern, Switzerland.
2005: Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Tremough, UK.
2004: Department of Ecology & Environmental Science, Umea University, Sweden.
2004: Biosciences, University of Exeter, UK.
2004: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
2004: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy
2003: Experimental Ecology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland.
2003: Institute for Biology, Technische Universitat Dresden, Germany.
2002: Biology Department, Syracuse University, USA.
2002: Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
2001: Freitag Seminar, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
2001: Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany.
2001: Ecology Department, Bern, Switzerland.
2000: Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
1998: NLU, University of Basel, Switzerland.
1998: Evolutionary Biology, University of Konstanz, Germany.
1997: BEES Seminar, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
1996: Zoology Department, University of Western Australia.
1996: Animal Sciences, University of Western Australia.
Outreach
2017: Science in the Square (Public Engagement Event), Cornwall UK: “Animal Weapons”.
2017: Pernyn Temperance Society, Penryn UK: “Why we age”.
2015: The Science of Christmas, Falmouth UK: “Why people believe things”.
2014: The Science of Christmas, Falmouth UK: “Miraculous birth”.
2013: 17th European Meeting of PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology (EMPSEB), Falmouth, UK.
2012: The Excellence Awards, Cornwall 2012, University of Exeter, UK .
2011: Science in the Square (Public Engagement Event), Cornwall UK .
2008: Cornish Humanists, Chacewater Village, Cornwall UK.
2007: Café Scientific, Falmouth, Cornwall.
Media Coverage
Sample Media Coverage
Editors Choice. 'Evolution of testis size'. Science 291:1159. (2001)
Dispatch:- Snook R.R. 'Sexual selection: conflict, kindness and chicanery'. Curr Biol11:R337-R341. (2001)
BiomedNet News. J. Clayton. 'Big really is better'. (2001)
Neue Zurcher Zeitung# 176 (2/8/01), Forshung pp. 11:- G. Klaus. 'Das Rennen um die Eizelle'. (Translation: 'The race for the egg').
Tages-Anzeiger(30/5/02), Wissen pp. 44: 'Der unerbittliche Kampf der Geschlechter'. (Translation: 'The relentless battle of the sexes')
News & Views:- Tregenza T. Evolution: 'The battle between the sexes'. Nature 423:929-930. (2003)
Tages-Anzeiger(26/6/03), Wissen pp. 64: 'Der Kampf der Geschlechter'. (Translation: 'The battle of the sexes')
Wissehschaft-online. A. Findeklee. 'Fremde Manner? Nein, danke.' (2003). (Translation: 'Foreign males? No thanks').
ScienceNow. A. Sreenivasan. 'Picky females may drive speciation'. (2003).
Spiegel Online. 'Wahlerische Weibchen schaffen neue Spezies'. (2003). (Translation: 'Choosy females produce new species')
BiomedNet News. H. Nicholls. 'The shape of things to come'. (2003)
BBC4 documentary "The Great Sperm Race" Mon 8 Dec 2003, 21:30 - 22:30
News & Views in Brief:- Whitfield J. Evolutionary Biology: 'Sexual conflict costs'. Nature427:27. (2004)
Dispatch:- Gage M. Evolution: 'Sexual arms races'. Curr Biol14:R378-R380. (2004).
Dispatch:- Pizzari T. Evolution: 'Sperm ejection near and far'. Curr Biol14:R511-R513. (2004).
The Comparative Method (pp. 265-268) In: Evolutionary Analysis (2nd edition), Freeman S. & Herron J.C. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA.
New Scientist. J Pickrell. 'Winners come last in sperm wars' (2006)
The Independent (21/10/06), pp 21: 'Last sperm best for reproduction'.
LiveScience. J. Bryner. 'Successful sex strategy: be last in line'. (2006)
People's Daily Online 'Last guy in line gets a baby'
Fox News 'Study: Last in line sexually often first in fertilization'
Ipswich Evening Star (20/10/06), pp 5: 'Scientists claim: you can't hurry love'.
Western Daily Press (Bristol) (20/10/06), pp 19: 'It's worth the wait'.
Argus Lite (Brighton) (20/10/06), pp 12: 'Last male in the mating line may be the luckiest'.
Press & Journal (Aberdeen) (20/10/06), pp 14: 'Wait pays off'.
Nottingham Evening Post (20/10/06), pp 8: 'Wait-to-mate secret'.
Metro London (20/10/06), pp 29: 'Waiting pays when mating'.
Atlantic FM (20/11/07) Interview re 'Attractive males sire attractive sons'
BBC Radio Cornwall (22/11/07) Interview re 'Attractive males sire attractive sons'
Medical Breakthroughs (Ivanhoe) 'Thanks Dad: attractiveness is heredity'
InTheNews 'In the genes'
eBiologyNews 'Sexy dads produce sexy sons: Research'
The Indian News 'Sexy dads produce sexy sons'
LifeScientist 'Attractiveness is heredity, Dad says'
Softpedia 'Sexy males father sexy sons! - Male attractiveness is heredity'
GeneticArchaeology 'Like father, like son: attractiveness is heredity'
DNA India 'Sexy fathers have sexy sons'
Mumbai News 'Sexy fathers have sexy sons'
CBC News 'Fly dads sire sexy sons'
NERC News 'Like father, like sons attractiveness is hereditary'
Workshops/Conferences organised
Steering Group Biennial Biology of Sperm Meeting (2016 to 2020)
International Society for Behavioral Ecology 2016, Exeter, UK, Meeting Co-organiser.
17th European Meeting of PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology (EMPSEB), 2013, Falmouth, UK.
European Social Fund 2010, Falmouth UK; Meeting Organiser
Royal Entomological Society 2008, Plymouth UK: Symposium Co-organiser.
European Society for Evolutionary Biology 2007, Uppsala, Sweden: Symposium Co-organiser.
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Easter Meeting 2007, Tremough, UK: Organiser Student Workshop.
European Society for Evolutionary Biology 2003, Leeds, UK: Symposium Co-organiser.
International Society for Behavioral Ecology 2000, Zürich, Switzerland: Co-organisation of Poster Sessions.
Teaching
I am deeply committed to my teaching and have taught on a large number of programmes and modules in the last 10 years, all of which are related to my research interests. I current teach via UG Honours and PGT research projects, many of which have been published with the students involved (e.g. Sharma MD, Griffin RM, Hollis J, Tregenza T, Hosken DJ (2012). Reinvestigating good genes benefits of mate choice in Drosophila simulans. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 106(2), 295-306). My major teaching currently is via project student and the Evolutionary and Behaviour Ecology MSc (BIOM 4046).I am also a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Modules
2024/25
Information not currently available
Supervision / Group
Postdoctoral researchers
- Dr Ruth Archer
- Dr MD Sharma
- Dr Maxi Tourmente
Postgraduate researchers
- Alistair Moyle 'Bat conservation' (with Dr Fiona Matthews)
- Samuel Oyesiku-Blakemore
- James Rapkin
Alumni
- Laura Bambini
- Dr Lisa Bickley
- Dr Ross Brown
- Isabella Burke
- Gemma Cole
- Andrew Collins
- Dr Ralph Dobler
- Dr Trenton Garner
- Dr Laurene Gay
- Chris Hatcher
- Dr Sahran Higgins
- Mark Hill
- Dr Clarrisa House
- Dr Fiona Ingleby
- Dr Masako Katsuki
- Kristy Kelly
- Rahel Leugger
- Dr Zen Lewis
- Dr Stefan Lupold
- Manar Maraqa
- Dr Oliver Martin
- Dr Aria Minder
- Dr Mikael Mokkonen
- Dr Wendi Moran
- Dr Caroline Moussy
- Claire Narraway
- Dr Kensuke Okada
- Dr Keiko Oku
- Dr Wayne Rostant
- Trudy Russell
- Dr Damien Smith
- Dr Michelle Taylor
- Paul Watler
- Drew Wilson
- Dr Lucy Wright
- Joel Wright