Initially and with colleagues from La Trobe University, Australia, interest focussed on the insect communities forming on the presently volcanically active island of Anak Krakatau. More recently, and in conjunction with the School of Geography, Oxford University, interest has shifted to the more established forests of the other islands in the archipelago. These founding forests are now ageing and gaps produced by falling trees or landslides provide opportunities for the establishment of new species. Herbivore attack represents one of several challenges to potential colonisers of these gaps and their importance in this dynamic process is being assessed. This work was funded by the British Ecological Society, The Royal Society, The University of London Central Research Fund and NERC but there is currently no immient plans to revisit the islands.
Insects can provide valuable forensic information in police investigations.
The Diptera are particularly important in this respect and there is a need for basic biological information on their development, behaviour, and physiology. In particular a detailed knowledge of the effects of temperature on developmental rates are needed to accurately determine post mortem intervals. Current research , in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, is foccussed on the variability of fly assemblages on corpses in urban environments. She is exploring whether the relationships based on simple morphology are supported by molecular, behavioural and physiological characteristics of species in the genus. This study has revealed evidence of a transovarially transmitted bacterial parasite which is similar to species known to have marked effects on the reproductive biology of other insects.