Dr Brian Preston
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: B.T.Preston@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 2177
My research to date has used field, experimental and comparative approaches to yield novel insight into how reproductive competition and conflict have shaped vertebrate (primarily mammalian) morphology, physiology and behaviour. To help achieve this I have developed expertise in the generation, maintenance and analysis of powerful relational databases covering multiple aspects of individual life histories (or species traits), such as their morphology, sociality, aggression, hormone profile and ejaculate characteristics. Currently, I am using multi-generational databases on North African Houbara bustards (>4000 individuals) and St. Kildan Soay sheep (>1000 individuals) to examine the endocrinological determinants of reproductive effort and its influence on the evolution of senescence rates, in addition to how gametogenic senescence hinders the developmental success, growth, and subsequent survival prospects of progeny. Overall, my research draws upon long term collaborative studies and utilises sophisticated statistical methodologies to investigate evolutionary processes at a mechanistic level.
Degrees
2001, University of Stirling, United Kingdom, PhD
1995, Newcastle University, United Kingdom, Bsc(Hons) 1st Class
Highlighted publications
Preston BT, Saint Jalme M, Hingrat Y, Lacroix F, Sorci G. 2015. The sperm of aging male bustards retards their offspring's development NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Jalme MS, Hingrat Y, Lacroix F, Sorci G. 2011. Sexually extravagant males age more rapidly. Ecol Lett, 14 :1017-1024 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Stockley P. 2006. The prospect of sexual competition stimulates premature and repeated ejaculation in a mammal Current Biology, 16 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Stevenson IR, Pemberton JM, Wilson K. 2001. Dominant rams lose out by sperm depletion. Nature, 409 :681-682 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Journal article
Preston BT, Saint Jalme M, Hingrat Y, Lacroix F, Sorci G. 2015. The sperm of aging male bustards retards their offspring's development NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Stevenson IR, Lincoln GA, Monfort SL, Pilkington JG, Wilson K. 2012. Testes size, testosterone production and reproductive behaviour in a natural mammalian mating system Journal of Animal Ecology, 81 :296-305 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Jalme MS, Hingrat Y, Lacroix F, Sorci G. 2011. Sexually extravagant males age more rapidly. Ecol Lett, 14 :1017-1024 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Capellini I, McNamara P, Preston BT, Nunn CL, Barton RA. 2009. Does Sleep Play a Role in Memory Consolidation? A Comparative Test PLOS ONE, 4 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Capellini I, McNamara P, Barton RA, Nunn CL. 2009. Parasite resistance and the adaptive significance of sleep. BMC Evol Biol, 9 :7 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Capellini I, Nunn CL, McNamara P, Preston BT, Barton RA. 2008. Energetic constraints, not predation, influence the evolution of sleep patterning in mammals FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, 22 :847-853 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Capellini I, Barton RA, McNamara P, Preston BT, Nunn CL. 2008. Phylogenetic analysis of the ecology and evolution of mammalian sleep EVOLUTION, 62 :1764-1775 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McNamara P, Cappelini I, Harris E, Nunn CL, Barton RA, Preston BT. 2008. The phylogeny of sleep database: A new resource for sleep scientists The Open Sleep Journal, 1 :11-14
Preston BT, Stockley P. 2006. The prospect of sexual competition stimulates premature and repeated ejaculation in a mammal Current Biology, 16 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Stevenson IR, Pemberton JM, Coltman DW, Wilson K. 2005. Male mate choice influences female promiscuity in Soay sheep Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 272 :365-373 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Stockley P, Preston BT. 2004. Sperm competition and diversity in rodent copulatory behaviour Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 17 :1048-1057 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Stevenson IR, Wilson K. 2003. Soay rams target reproductive activity towards promiscuous females' optimal insemination period Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270 :2073-2078 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Stevenson IR, Pemberton JM, Coltman DW, Wilson K. 2003. Overt and covert competition in a promiscuous mammal: The importance of weaponry and testes size to male reproductive success Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 270 :633-640 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Preston BT, Stevenson IR, Pemberton JM, Wilson K. 2001. Dominant rams lose out by sperm depletion. Nature, 409 :681-682 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Chapters
Cappellini I, Preston BT, Barton RA, McNamara P, Nunn CL. Ecological constraints on mammalian sleep architecture McNamara P, Barton RA, Nunn CL. The evolution of sleep :12-33 Cambridge University Press
Stevenson IR, Marrow P, Preston BT, Pemberton JM, Wilson K. Adaptive reproductive strategies Clutton Brock TH, Pemberton JM. Soay sheep: population dynamics and selection in an island population Cambridge University Press
Nunn CL, Cappellini I, McNamara P, Preston BT, Barton RA. Primate sleep in phylogenetic perspective. The evolution of sleep Cambridge University Press