Research
William E Feeney is a field biologist based between the University of Cambridge (UK) and the University of Queenlsand (AUS). His research focuses on understanding why animals are the way they are, and do the things they do.
Our lab focuses on understanding how behaviour shapes ecological and evolutionary processes. While our past work has focused primarily on birds and fishes, we’re question-driven, and while these systems tend to be our main focus, we aren’t tied to any particular study system. Below is a little about some of the work we’ve been doing.
birds
While there are a lot of wonderful reasons to work with birds, one is that you can tag individuals and follow them through time. A lot of our past work has focused on understanding the eco-evolutionary consequences of the coevolutionary “arms races” that tend to emerge between avian brood parasites, such as cuckoos or cowbirds, and their hosts. While we am still using these systems to explore a variety of questions, we are also working with other interesting interactions, such as: nest predation and ecto-parasitism, as well as how species interactions are impacted by environmental change.
Key Publications:
Kennerley JA†, Somveille M, Richardson NM†, Hauber M, Manica A, Feeney WE (2022) The overlooked complexity of brood parasite-host relationships. Ecology Letters 25: 1889-1904
Yang C, Ye P, Huo J, Møller AP, Liang W, Feeney WE (2020) Sparrows use a medicinal herb to defend against parasites and increase offspring condition. Current Biology 30: R1411-R1412
Feeney WE, Riehl C (2019) Monogamy without parental care? Social and genetic mating systems of avian brood parasites. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 1769: 20180201. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0201
Feeney WE, Troscianko J, Langmore NE, Spottiswoode CN (2015) Evidence for aggressive mimicry in an adult brood parasitic bird, and generalized defences in its host. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282: 20150795. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0795 PDF
Feeney WE, Welbergen JA, Langmore NE (2014b) Advances in the study of coevolution between avian brood parasites and their hosts. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 45: 227-246. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091603 PDF
Feeney WE, Medina I, Somveille M, Heinsohn R, Hall ML, Mulder RA, Stein JA, Kilner RM, Langmore NE (2013) Brood parasitism and the evolution of cooperative breeding in birds. Science 342: 1506-1508. doi: 10.1126/science.1240039 PDF
A hungry fan-tailed cuckoo fledgling being fed by its white-browed scrubwren foster parent in Brisbane, Australia. Image by Cameryn Brock.
The beautiful field site that I work at in Australia. Photo by Nicole Richardson.
African cuckoo finches (left) seem to have evolved to look like harmless bishops (right) in an attempt to trick their prinia hosts into thinking they're harmless. Image by Claire Spottiswoode.
fish
Fish, and in particular coral reef fish, are such great study systems for so many reasons. With so many diverse species interacting near constantly in water that is so clear, in environments that change so quickly, and with fish being so amenable to tank experiments, they are just a playground for exploring how interspecies interactions operate, regulate biodiversity and are impacted by environmental change.
Key Publications:
Brooker RM*, Casey JM, Cowan Z-L, Sih T, Dixson DL, Manica AM, Feeney WE* (2020) Domestication via the commensal pathway in a fish-invertebrate mutualism. Nature Communications 11: 6253 doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19958-5
Besson M, Feeney WE, Holzer G, Moniz I, François L, Roux N, Brooker RM, Laudet V, Lecchini D (2020) Anthropogenic stressors undermine fish sensory development and survival via thyroid disruption. Nature Communications 11: 3614 doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17450-8
Feeney WE*, Brooker RM*, Johnston LN, Gilbert J, Besson M, Lecchini D, Dixson DL, Cowman PF, Manica A (2019) Predation drives recurrent convergence of an interspecies mutualism. Ecology Letters 22: 256-264. doi: 10.1111/ele.13184
Cortesi F, Feeney WE, Ferrari MCO, Waldie PA, Phillips GAC, McClure EC, Genevieve AC, Sköld HN, Salzburger W, Marshall NJ, Cheney KL (2015) Phenotypic plasticity confers multiple fitness benefits to a mimic. Current Biology 25: 949-954. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.02.013
Cover image for Feeney et al. 2019. Photo by Stefan Andrews.
A photo of one of the field sites that I work at in French Polynesia. Photo by Victor Huertas.
Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group
Donana Biological Station (CSIC)
Seville, Spain