2005-present PhD

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Museum Insect Room Group

Studying the determinants of ant community composition in Bird’s nest ferns (Asplenium nidus complex) in Sabah, Malaysia. Funded by NERC with a CASE studentship from the Natural History Museum, London.

2004-2005 MPhil

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Conservation Biology Group and Museum Insect Room Group

Research-based master’s degree: “The Biodiversity of Abandoned Farmland” (see Research Experience for details)

2000-2003 BA (Hons)

University of Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College

2003 Zoology Part 2 1st (Rank 5/85)

Modules: Population Biology; Evolutionary, Ecological and Population Aspects of Genetics; Behavioural Ecology; Behaviour.

Projects: 1) “Foraging strategies in the ant Formica fusca when feeding on aphid honeydew”. Observation of ant behaviour in the field and analysis of data including construction of a model looking at the maximisation of colony energy gain. 2) “The impact of management on riverine biodiversity”. Collection of aquatic animal samples (mainly insects) from the Somerset levels and identification in the lab. Results are being used by the Environment Agency for the management of waterways.

2002 Natural Sciences Part 1B 1st

Modules: Ecology; Animal Biology; Experimental Psychology.

Project: The effect of moth trap type on catch size and composition. Identification to species level of macro-moth catch from three different trap set-ups.

2001 Natural Sciences Part 1A 1st

Modules: Quantitative Biology; Evolution and Behaviour; Biology of Cells; Chemistry.

(All projects involved submission of a 5000-word report and a brief oral presentation of results)

1999-2000 Gap Year – see Regular Activities (Travel) section.

1992-1999 Torquay Boys’ Grammar School

A levels
Biology A
Chemistry A
Maths A
Further maths A

GCSEs
4 subjects at grade A*
3 subjects at grade A
2 subjects at grade B


RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Oct ’05-present

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Museum Insect Room group

Continuing PhD research on the ant communities of epiphytic ferns. Four month’s field work in tropical rain forest in Sabah, Malaysia, including tree climbing to heights of 40m. Identification of specimens and analysis of results in Cambridge.


Jun ’05-Aug ’05

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Museum Insect Room group

Helped run a project investigating the costs of nest digging and provisioning in the wasp Ammophila pubescens in Surrey, UK. Funded by the Balfour-Browne fund. (Eight weeks)

Apr ’04-Apr ’05

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Conservation Biology Group and Museum Insect Room group

One-year project comparing the species of various taxonomic groups inhabiting 58-year-old abandoned farmland, current arable farmland, 20-year-old set-aside and secondary ancient woodland. Gained experience in the survey methods and identification of ants, day-flying moths, butterflies, hoverflies, bumblebees, ground beetles, birds and trees. Worked independently in the field for extended periods of time. Used a variety of statistical techniques to analyse community composition and its determinants. Presented work at departmental seminars and exhibited a poster at the 2005 Student Conference on Conservation Science. Funded by the Eranda Foundation.

Feb-Mar ’04

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Aquatic Ecology Group

Research Assistant
Looked at the effect of draining the river between locks on freshwater mussels. Worked independently of supervision for seven weeks. Carried out fieldwork in Kent, supervising up to two field assistants at any one time. Carried out analysis of results. (Eight weeks)

Aug-Sep ’03

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Aquatic Ecology Group

Research Assistant
Fieldwork on the Somerset levels. Use of muffle furnace in lab to process sediment samples. Introduction to the use of a flame absorption spectrophotometer. (Four weeks)

Jun-Jul ’03

Tropical Biology Association Field Course, Kibale Forest, Uganda
Studied various aspects of tropical ecology and conservation. Carried out a project investigating resting site selection in tropical Lepidoptera (Four weeks)

Aug-Sep ’02

University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology, Aquatic Ecology Group

Research Assistant
Data collection for second Part 2 project (see Education section). Use of Environment Agency website to compile water quality dataset. (Four weeks)


PUBLICATIONS

Fayle T.M., Eggleton P. & Foster W.A. (2009). Stable species coexistence maintains diversity in a
rainforest ant-epiphyte microcosm. (In review at Ecology).

Edwards, D.P., Ansell, F.A., Woodcock, P, Fayle, T.M., Hamer, K.C. (2009) Lack of a host sanction
correlates with prolific cheating in an ant-palm symbiosis. (In review at Oikos).

Fayle T.M. & Manica A. (2009). Improving the assessment of species co-occurrence using the c-score
metric. (Invited to resubmit to Ecology).

Ellwood M.D.F., Fayle T.M., Bluthgen N. & Foster W.A. (2009). Temporal dynamics of epiphyte dwelling ant communities in a tropical rainforest. (In preparation for submission to Ecology Letters).

Fayle T.M., Foster W.A. & Green R. (2009) The potential of abandoned farmland as a habitat for
biodiversity conservation in the UK. (In preparation for submission to Biodiversity and Conservation).

Dench R., Fayle T.M. & Cheyne S. (2009) The Intestinal Parasites of the Bornean Orang-utan (Pongo
pygmaeus). (In preparation for submission to Journal of Medical Primatology).

Savage J., Barton D., Turner E.C., Manica A. & Fayle T.M. (2009) The ecology of a newly-established
population of ant lions (Euroleon nostras) at Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk, UK. (In preparation for submission to Journal of Insect Science).

Fayle T.M., Dumbrell A.J., Eggleton P. & Foster W.A. (2009). Rainforest canopy architecture
differentially affects the distribution of two species of epiphytic fern (Asplenium spp.). (In press at Biotropica).

Turner, E.C., Snaddon, J.L., Fayle, T.M. & Foster W.A. (2008) Oil Palm Research in Context: Identifying the Need for Biodiversity Assessment. PLoS ONE 3: e1572. [PDF]

Fayle, T.M., Ellwood, M.D.F., Turner, E.C., Snaddon, J.L., Yusah, K.M. & Foster, W.A. (2008) Bird’s nest ferns: islands of biodiversity in the rainforest canopy. Antenna 32(1): 34-37. [PDF]

Disney, R.H.L. & Fayle, T.M. (2008) A New Species of Scuttle Fly (Diptera: Phoridae) Parasitizing an
Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Borneo. Sociobiology 51: 327-332. [PDF]

Fayle, T.M. (2008) Book review of Ants of North America: A Guide to the Genera by Brian Fisher & Stefan Cover. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152: 847. [PDF]

Field, J., Turner, E., Fayle, T.M. & Foster, W.A. (2007) Costs of egg-laying and offspring provisioning: multifaceted parental investment in a digger wasp. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 274: 445-451. [PDF]

Aldridge, D.C., Fayle, T.M. & Jackson, N. (2007) Freshwater mussel abundance predicts biodiversity in UK lowland rivers. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 17: 554- 564. [PDF]

Fayle, T.M., Gilkison, R. & Majerus, M.E.N. (2007) The effect of moth trap type on catch size and composition in British Lepidoptera. British Journal of Entomology and Natural History 20: 221-232. [PDF]


PRESENTATIONS

Fayle, T.M., Turner, E.C., Eggleton, P., Manica, A. & Foster W.A. (2009) Species diversity maintenance and species interactions. Invited to speak at the AntLab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Fayle, T.M., Eggleton, P., Chung, A.Y. & Foster W.A. (2008) Species diversity in a rainforest microcosm is maintained by niche differences rather than ecological neutrality. International Union for the Study of Social Insects Conference, Natural History Museum, London, UK. Prize for student talk (1st).

Fayle, T.M., Turner, E.C., Snaddon, J.L. & Foster W.A. (2008) The impact of logging and conversion to oil palm plantation on Bornean canopy ant assemblages. Royal Entomological Society Conference, Plymouth, UK. Prize for student talk (1st).

Fayle, T.M., Foster, W.A., Eggleton, P. & Chung, A. (2008) The maintenance of high ant diversity in tropical rain forest canopies. International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa.

Fayle, T.M., Foster, W.A., Eggleton, P. & Chung, A. (2008) The maintenance of high diversity in tropical rain forest canopies: Empirical evidence for a lottery model with taxonomically limited competition. ATBC Asia Pacific chapter conference, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Fayle, T.M., Foster, W.A. & Eggleton, P. (2007) Ant community assembly in a common rain forest epiphyte. British Ecological Society annual meeting, Glasgow.

Fayle, T.M., Foster, W.A. & Eggleton, P. (2007) Ant community assembly in a common rain forest epiphyte. Invited to speak to the School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth.

Fayle, T.M., Foster, W.A. & Eggleton, P. (2006) The ant fauna of a common rain forest epiphyte in Sabah, Malaysia. RES conference, Bath. Prize for student talk (2nd).

Fayle, T.M., Foster, W.A., Eggleton, P. & Chung, A. (2006) Islands in the sky: epiphytic Bird’s Nest Ferns (Asplenium nidus complex) as microcosms for the study of ant community ecology (poster). IUSSI congress, Washington. [PDF]

Fayle, T.M. (2005) Biodiversity on abandoned farmland: the best of both worlds? (poster) Student Conference for Conservation Science, Cambridge. [PDF]

SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRIZES

• Received the Swann Prize for Biology
• Received the Legg Scholarship in 2005 and 2006
• Elected a Senior Scholar
• Elected a College Scholarship
• Received a College Book Prize in all three years of undergraduate study
• Participation in TBA course (see above) funded by a British Ecological Society Scholarship and a Panton Trust Grant
• Prizes for student talk at the Royal Entomological Society conference (1st - 2008, 2nd - 2006)
• Prize for student talk (1st - 2008) at the International Union for the Study of Social Insects conference, London, UK.


POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Teaching
Taught on four residential undergraduate field courses in various parts of the UK. Supervised a number of undergraduate projects. Demonstrated in third-year undergraduate statistics computing practicals. Demonstrated in Part 1A Evolution and Behaviour practicals.

Organisation
Organised lab meetings for the Conservation Biology Group from April 2004 until April 2005, including presenting papers and arranging talks. Helped run the Student Conference on Conservation Science in 2004 and 2005. Organising second year undergraduate student talks.

COURSES

Weeklong course “Statistics for free: Linear models in R” in Zurich, Switzerland covering statistical analysis and graphics skills in the program R. (Oct 2005)

Ten-day course “Ant Course 2005” in Arizona, USA covering ant taxonomy, ecology and field techniques. (Aug 2005)

Nine three-hour evening classes “Ground beetle identification and ecology”. (Oct-Dec 2004)

One-day course “Butterfly and day-flying moth monitoring”. (June 2004)

Weeklong climbing course “Climb trees and perform aerial rescue”. (Feb 2006)

Weeklong climbing course at Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah, Malaysia "Basic Canopy Access Proficiency". (Jan 2007)

AFFILIATIONS

• Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
• Graduate Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
• Member of the British Ecological Society
• Member of the British Entomological and Natural History Society
• Member of the Royal Entomological Society
• Member of the Wildlife Trusts
• Member of the Wicken Fen bird ringing group. Hold a trainee ringing permit.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

Running
Completed the 2007 Original Mountain Marathon (B category) and competed in the event in 2008 (second day called off due to bad weather). Also completed the ultra-distance (40 mile) Tring to Town race (2008) and the Atlantic Coast Challenge 2008 (three marathons in three days along the Cornish coastal path). Regular marathons and half marathons.

Cricket
Represented the Department of Zoology, Cambridge in inter-departmental matches.

Rowing
College 2nd VIII. Won blades in the 2002 May bumps competition. Coached college novice boats.

Photography
Particularly interested in wildlife photography. Have entered various photography
competitions and had work exhibited. Photography featured on front covers of Science, TREE and Biology 2 for OCR. Photographs in semi-finals of BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007.

Clock repair
Interested in restoring antique clocks.

SKILLS

IT
Familiar with MS Word 2000, MS Excel 2000, MS PowerPoint 2000, Dreamweaver MX, R 2.0.1, Minitab 13.31, Endnote 4.0, EstimateS 7.00, Species Diversity and Richness 3, Community Analysis Package and eTrex Vista GPS unit.

Driving
Full UK driving licence.