The impact of pollutants on sperm production and fertility in amphipods

Career overview

Professor Alison M. Dunn obtained a BA Hons in Zoology from Pembroke College, Oxford. Following her undergraduate studies, she worked as a Nature Research Warden, a Lab Technician, and a Violin Teacher before returning to academia to pursue a PhD at the University of Leeds, focusing on Parasitic Sex Ratio Distorters, which are parasites that alter the sex of their hosts. After completing her PhD, she conducted postdoctoral research at the NERC Centre for Population Biology at Imperial College. Professor Dunn joined the University of Leeds as a NERC Research Fellow and subsequently as a University Research Fellow before becoming a member of the academic staff. She is currently a Professor of Ecology in the School of Biology, where her research primarily addresses issues related to Invasive Species and Wildlife Diseases.

Research interests

Professor Dunn''s research focuses on Invasive Species, Parasitic Disease, and Novel Ecosystems. She studies the impact of invasive alien species on native species and ecosystems, examining how these species can lead to population extinctions and changes in community structure and ecosystem function. Her work also investigates the role of parasites in these interactions, including how invasive species can introduce new parasites that may infect native species, potentially leading to emerging infectious diseases. Additionally, Professor Dunn explores how parasitic diseases affect host behaviour and life history, influencing competitive and predator-prey interactions, and ultimately impacting community structure and ecosystem function. She collaborates with environmental managers to develop practical biosecurity measures aimed at preventing the spread of invasive non-native species (INNS), which pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Her research includes working with industry partners, such as water companies, to mitigate the spread of invasive species during water transfers. Furthermore, she examines the relationship between extinction, invasions, and parasites, investigating how parasite control can be viewed as a form of managed extinction and its implications for conservation and biodiversity.