Dr Will Hentley

School of Biosciences

Teaching Associate

w.hentley@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 4372

Profile

2010-2014 PhD (Ecology) "The impact of global change on multi-trophic interactions", School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK
2008-2009 Masters - MSc (Biodiversity and Conservation), School of Biology, University of Leeds, UK
2004-2007 Bachelors, Honours - BSc (Hons) Zoology, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, UK

Research interests

As an ecologist, the complex interactions that take place between organisms and the environment fascinate me. To date my research has focused on the way aquatic and terrestrial organisms interact with both the biotic and abiotic environment.

PhD Research

My PhD research focused on understanding how species interactions are affected by abiotic change. I investigated the impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 on a plant-herbivore-predator system. The work highlighted that changes to atmospheric CO2 concentrations can reduce plant resistance to herbivory, but predators maintain the balance within the system, removing any advantage herbivores may have due to reduced host plant resistance. Furthermore, I demonstrated that the escape responses of aphids to their predators became impaired under elevated atmospheric CO2, which may have a significant impact on ecosystem function in the future.

Current Reseach:

After completing the PhD, my research interests have expanded considerably, but encompass three interconnected themes, ecological immunity, behavioural and applied ecology.

Ecological immunity - With a strong background in ecology and a fascination for understanding the mechanics of everything, my research has become more focused on ecological immunology. Using the bedbug study system I am applying new molecular techniques to quantify bedbug immune function in response to the biotic and abiotic environment.
Behavioural ecology - I continue to develop research goals around the behavioural ecology of aphids and bedbugs with collaborators within the department and further afield in Australia.
Applied ecology - The pest status of bedbugs in the UK is increasing rapidly, and therefore provides an ideal opportunity to develop scientific research into new guidelines for the government to harmonise the control and prevention of this resurging pest species.

Publications

Journal articles

Siva-Jothy MT, Zhong W, Naylor R, Heaton L, Hentley W & Harney E (2019) Female bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L) anticipate the immunological consequences of traumatic insemination via feeding cues. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(29), 14682-14687. View this article in WRRO
Hentley WT, Webster B, Evison SEF & Siva-Jothy MT (2017) Bed bug aggregation on dirty laundry: a mechanism for passive dispersal. Scientific Reports, 7(1). View this article in WRRO
Carter MJ, Lind MI, Dennis SR, Hentley WT & Beckerman AP (2017) Evolution of a predator-induced, nonlinear reaction norm. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences, 284(1861). View this article in WRRO
Hentley WT, Vanbergen AJ, Beckerman AP, Brien MN, Hails RS, Jones TH & Johnson SN (2016) Antagonistic interactions between an invasive alien and a native coccinellid species may promote coexistence. Journal of Animal Ecology, 85(4), 1087-1097. View this article in WRRO
Hentley WT, Hails RS, Johnson SN, Hefin Jones T & Vanbergen AJ (2014) Top-down control byHarmonia axyridismitigates the impact of elevated atmospheric CO2on a plant-aphid interaction. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 16(4), 350-358.
Hentley WT, Vanbergen AJ, Hails RS, Jones TH & Johnson SN (2014) Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Impairs Aphid Escape Responses to Predators and Conspecific Alarm Signals. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 40(10), 1110-1114.
McKenzie SW, Hentley WT, Hails RS, Jones TH, Vanbergen AJ & Johnson SN (2013) Global climate change and above- belowground insect herbivore interactions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 4. View this article in WRRO
Morrell LJ, Hentley WT, Wickens VJ, Wickens JB & Rodgers GM (2012) Artificial enhancement of an extended phenotype signal increases investment in courtship by three-spined sticklebacks. Animal Behaviour, 84(1), 93-101.
Dennis SR, Carter MJ, Hentley WT & Beckerman AP (2011) Phenotypic convergence along a gradient of predation risk. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 278(1712), 1687-1696.

Chapters

Evison S, Hentley WT, Wilson R & Siva-Jothy M (2018) Bed Bug Biology In Doggett SL, Miller DM & Lee C-Y (Ed.), Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs (pp. 151-162). Wiley-Blackwell
Hentley WT & Wade RN (2017) Global Change, Herbivores and Their Natural Enemies In Johnson SN & Jones TH (Ed.), Global Climate Change and Terrestrial Invertebrates (pp. 177-200). Wiley.
Evison SEF, Hentley WT, Wilson R & Siva-Jothy MT () Bed Bug Biology, Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs (pp. 149-161). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd