Will Allen
@wlallen.bsky.social
Associate Professor in Evolutionary and Sensory Ecology - Swansea University, Wales www.easelab.uk
co-Director @crocus-dla.bsky.social
Senior Editor @ecol-evol.bsky.social
co-Director @crocus-dla.bsky.social
Senior Editor @ecol-evol.bsky.social
We conclude that whether animals evolve camouflage or warning colouration as their antipredator strategy depends on multiple mechanisms. This helps explain the evolution and global distribution of camouflaged and warningly coloured animals. 6/6
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
We conclude that whether animals evolve camouflage or warning colouration as their antipredator strategy depends on multiple mechanisms. This helps explain the evolution and global distribution of camouflaged and warningly coloured animals. 6/6
We found predator competition had the largest effect, and it was bad news for prey with warning colouration – they were more likely to be sampled but slow to be learnt when hungry predators were competing for resources. 4/6
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
We found predator competition had the largest effect, and it was bad news for prey with warning colouration – they were more likely to be sampled but slow to be learnt when hungry predators were competing for resources. 4/6
In 21 different forests we exposed over 15,000 camouflaged and warning coloured artificial ‘moths’ to avian predation 🐦⬛.
How do differences in predator and prey communities and light environment between locations affect predation on each colour strategy? 3/6
How do differences in predator and prey communities and light environment between locations affect predation on each colour strategy? 3/6
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
In 21 different forests we exposed over 15,000 camouflaged and warning coloured artificial ‘moths’ to avian predation 🐦⬛.
How do differences in predator and prey communities and light environment between locations affect predation on each colour strategy? 3/6
How do differences in predator and prey communities and light environment between locations affect predation on each colour strategy? 3/6
Iliana Medina and I assembled a team of 50+ amazing collaborators inc.
@jmappes.bsky.social @hannahmrowland.bsky.social hmrowland.bsky.social @facasaro.bsky.social saro.bsky.social @jtroscianko.bsky.social + many not on Bsky to run a field predation experiment across six continents. 2/6
@jmappes.bsky.social @hannahmrowland.bsky.social hmrowland.bsky.social @facasaro.bsky.social saro.bsky.social @jtroscianko.bsky.social + many not on Bsky to run a field predation experiment across six continents. 2/6
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Iliana Medina and I assembled a team of 50+ amazing collaborators inc.
@jmappes.bsky.social @hannahmrowland.bsky.social hmrowland.bsky.social @facasaro.bsky.social saro.bsky.social @jtroscianko.bsky.social + many not on Bsky to run a field predation experiment across six continents. 2/6
@jmappes.bsky.social @hannahmrowland.bsky.social hmrowland.bsky.social @facasaro.bsky.social saro.bsky.social @jtroscianko.bsky.social + many not on Bsky to run a field predation experiment across six continents. 2/6
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
New paper @biolinvasions.bsky.social led by Sarah-Sophie Weil.
Can macroevolution inform contemporary invasion potential?
We outline the assumptions of this approach, assess support, then test if dispersal ability can proxy for naturalisation success in several tetrapod groups.
rdcu.be/eD9Tt
Can macroevolution inform contemporary invasion potential?
We outline the assumptions of this approach, assess support, then test if dispersal ability can proxy for naturalisation success in several tetrapod groups.
rdcu.be/eD9Tt
September 4, 2025 at 3:39 PM
New paper @biolinvasions.bsky.social led by Sarah-Sophie Weil.
Can macroevolution inform contemporary invasion potential?
We outline the assumptions of this approach, assess support, then test if dispersal ability can proxy for naturalisation success in several tetrapod groups.
rdcu.be/eD9Tt
Can macroevolution inform contemporary invasion potential?
We outline the assumptions of this approach, assess support, then test if dispersal ability can proxy for naturalisation success in several tetrapod groups.
rdcu.be/eD9Tt
Sunrise at Refugio Juclar in Andorra. Hiking retreat after ESEB.
August 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Sunrise at Refugio Juclar in Andorra. Hiking retreat after ESEB.
Hot cats, cool linoleum floor.
July 3, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Hot cats, cool linoleum floor.
Our latest publication on using visual ecology approaches to improve insect pest control - here how modelling pest acuity can identify the best sized patterns for visual traps. Out in J. Insect Science: academic.oup.com/jinsectscien...
May 14, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Our latest publication on using visual ecology approaches to improve insect pest control - here how modelling pest acuity can identify the best sized patterns for visual traps. Out in J. Insect Science: academic.oup.com/jinsectscien...
The money is ‘use it or lose it’, so what we get is nature destruction.
March 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The money is ‘use it or lose it’, so what we get is nature destruction.
This ‘improvement’ is happening because a forward-looking scheme to open up a large part of Swansea to safe car-free travel was shelved after pandering to the motorist lobby.
March 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This ‘improvement’ is happening because a forward-looking scheme to open up a large part of Swansea to safe car-free travel was shelved after pandering to the motorist lobby.
This is to widen a lovely car-free path I use on my daily commute through Clyne woods.
March 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This is to widen a lovely car-free path I use on my daily commute through Clyne woods.
Swansea Council is currently felling hundreds of mature trees with zero public consultation.
March 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Swansea Council is currently felling hundreds of mature trees with zero public consultation.
I thought I knew all the footpaths near me but I found this sunken beaut on my morning run.
February 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I thought I knew all the footpaths near me but I found this sunken beaut on my morning run.
All (female) velvet ants are badass, but why do some species have conspicuous spots on their metasoma? New paper led by Vinicius Marques Lopez out today looks into this: doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
January 31, 2025 at 9:37 AM
All (female) velvet ants are badass, but why do some species have conspicuous spots on their metasoma? New paper led by Vinicius Marques Lopez out today looks into this: doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
Fully-funded PhD: Comparative analysis of collective behaviour in natural and artificial systems.
Supervised by Andrew King and myself at Swansea University, @rjpheathcote.bsky.social (Oxford) and Marina Papadopoulou (Tuscia).
Come fly in the swaRmverse!
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
Supervised by Andrew King and myself at Swansea University, @rjpheathcote.bsky.social (Oxford) and Marina Papadopoulou (Tuscia).
Come fly in the swaRmverse!
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
December 19, 2024 at 4:32 PM
Fully-funded PhD: Comparative analysis of collective behaviour in natural and artificial systems.
Supervised by Andrew King and myself at Swansea University, @rjpheathcote.bsky.social (Oxford) and Marina Papadopoulou (Tuscia).
Come fly in the swaRmverse!
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
Supervised by Andrew King and myself at Swansea University, @rjpheathcote.bsky.social (Oxford) and Marina Papadopoulou (Tuscia).
Come fly in the swaRmverse!
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
Ultrablack structural colour in the velvet ant Traumatomutilla bifurca - nicely demonstrated by friends Vinicius Marques Lopez, Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira and colleagues. doi.org/10.3762/bjna...
December 9, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Ultrablack structural colour in the velvet ant Traumatomutilla bifurca - nicely demonstrated by friends Vinicius Marques Lopez, Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira and colleagues. doi.org/10.3762/bjna...
Fully-funded PhD opportunity on the visual ecology of cabbage stem flea beetle and its natural enemies. Apply by 11th Dec here: www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
December 5, 2024 at 9:19 AM
Fully-funded PhD opportunity on the visual ecology of cabbage stem flea beetle and its natural enemies. Apply by 11th Dec here: www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate...
My (indoor) cat and mouse.
November 27, 2024 at 12:41 AM
My (indoor) cat and mouse.
🐵📢 I am recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to work for 6-months on our NSF-BBSRC project investigating the form and function of primate natal coats. Why are some🐒 babies🍊?!
www.swansea.ac.uk/jobs-at-swan...
Please pass on to potential applicants and get in touch if considering applying.
www.swansea.ac.uk/jobs-at-swan...
Please pass on to potential applicants and get in touch if considering applying.
November 22, 2024 at 11:46 AM
🐵📢 I am recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to work for 6-months on our NSF-BBSRC project investigating the form and function of primate natal coats. Why are some🐒 babies🍊?!
www.swansea.ac.uk/jobs-at-swan...
Please pass on to potential applicants and get in touch if considering applying.
www.swansea.ac.uk/jobs-at-swan...
Please pass on to potential applicants and get in touch if considering applying.
My favourite mug has a fine crack at the base of the handle. Thermal contraction makes a 'ping' when tea is at optimal drinking temperature (60°). How long will this perfect imperfection last?
November 21, 2024 at 8:32 AM
My favourite mug has a fine crack at the base of the handle. Thermal contraction makes a 'ping' when tea is at optimal drinking temperature (60°). How long will this perfect imperfection last?
Got myself in a pickle.
November 17, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Got myself in a pickle.
I am advertising a fully-funded SWBio BBSRC PhD on the visual ecology of cabbage stem flea beetle with Patricia Ortega-Ramos and Sam Cook at Rothamsted Research. Exciting mix of basic and applied research. Please circulate to students who may be interested - I'm available for informal discussion.
November 15, 2024 at 9:56 AM
I am advertising a fully-funded SWBio BBSRC PhD on the visual ecology of cabbage stem flea beetle with Patricia Ortega-Ramos and Sam Cook at Rothamsted Research. Exciting mix of basic and applied research. Please circulate to students who may be interested - I'm available for informal discussion.
Counterillumination can reduce attacks by great white sharks, likely by disrupting silhouettes. Christmas lights coming to wetsuit tech?
Ryan et al. in Current Biology:
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Ryan et al. in Current Biology:
www.cell.com/current-biol...
November 12, 2024 at 8:39 AM
Counterillumination can reduce attacks by great white sharks, likely by disrupting silhouettes. Christmas lights coming to wetsuit tech?
Ryan et al. in Current Biology:
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Ryan et al. in Current Biology:
www.cell.com/current-biol...
😂 New Anna Maxwell Martin drama 'Until I Kill You' opens with the view from my office window. Shot in Swansea because the director says it looks like north London in the 90s 🤣.
November 7, 2024 at 10:12 PM
😂 New Anna Maxwell Martin drama 'Until I Kill You' opens with the view from my office window. Shot in Swansea because the director says it looks like north London in the 90s 🤣.