Dr. Jonathan Pattrick
I am fascinated by the biology of pollination and floral visitors, in particular the Hymenoptera (bees, ants and wasps). Much of my research work so far has been focused in this area, though I am also interested in insect-plant interactions more generally. Before starting at Oxford, I completed an MPhil degree at the University of St Andrews on the chemical ecology of ant-plant interactions and a PhD at the University of Cambridge on the biomechanics of interactions between bees and plants.
I am currently working on the energetics of pollinator foraging behaviour, studying how nectar composition and pollinator taste perception interact to influence assessment of floral reward. I mainly work with bees, though I have worked with other insect species, and very much enjoy branching out into other areas when the opportunity arises.
Contact Details: jonathan.pattrick@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Publications:
Goetzke H., Pattrick J.G. & Federle W. (2019) Froghoppers jump from smooth plant surfaces by piercing them with sharp spines. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 116(8) 3012-3017
Pattrick J.G., Labonte D. & Federle W. (2018) Scaling of claw sharpness: mechanical constraints reduce attachment performance in larger insects. The Journal of Experimental Biology.221(24), jeb188391.
Bailes E.J., Pattrick J.G. & Glover B.J. (2018) An analysis of the energetic reward offered by field bean (Vicia faba) flowers: nectar, pollen and operative force. Ecology and Evolution 8, 3161-3171.
Pattrick J.G., Block W. & Glover B.J. (2017) The effect of the Bee Gym grooming device on Varroa destructormite fall from honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. Journal of Apicultural Research 56, 63-70.
Pattrick J.G., Shepherd T., Hoppitt W.J.E., Plowman N. & Willmer P.G. (2017) A dual function for 4-methoxybenzaldehyde in Petasites fragrans? Pollinator-attractant and ant-repellent. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 11, 623-627.
Bailes E.J., Ollerton J., Pattrick J.G. & Glover B.J. (2015) How can an understanding of plant-Pollinator interactions contribute to global food security? Current Opinion in Plant Biology26, 72-79.
Nityananda V. & Pattrick J.G.(2013) Bumblebee visual search for multiple learned target types. The Journal of Experimental Biology 216, 4154-4160.
Willmer P.G., Nuttman C.V., Raine N.E., Stone G.N., Pattrick J.G., Henson K., Stillman P., McIlroy L., Potts S.G. & Knudsen J.T. (2009) Floral volatiles controlling ant behaviour. Functional Ecology23, 888-900.
