Dr Stuart Humphries

image of Dr Stuart Humphries

Tel: +44 (0)114 222 0032
Fax: +44 (0)114 222 0002

email : s.humphries@sheffield.ac.uk


http://phys-ecol.group.shef.ac.uk/


Career

2006 – (present)- NERC Advanced Research Fellow, University of Sheffield
2004 – 2005 - NERC Advanced Research Fellow, University of Reading
1999 – 2004 - Freshwater Biological Association Pioneer Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
1996 – 1999 - PhD in Empirical and Theoretical Ecology (University of Glasgow)
1993 – 1996 - BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology (University of Wales, Swansea)

Key Research Interests

image of research

My research interests in general are on the application of classical physics to ecology, and are currently focused in three areas:

  • Biological fluid dynamics
  • The biology of suspension feeding
  • Biophysical interactions on coral reefs

I carry out a combination of theoretical and empirical work that addresses questions about the interplay between physics and function from the organism to ecosystem level.

Recent Publications (2001 to date)

Humphries, S. (in press) Body size and suspension feeding. In: Body size and the organisation and function of aquatic systems, (BES special symposium volume). CUP.

Brown, S.A., Ruxton, G.D., Pickup, R.W. & Humphries, S*. (2005) Seston capture by Hydropsyche siltalai and the accuracy of capture efficiency estimates. Freshwater Biology 50: 113-126.

Brown, S.A., Ruxton, G.D. & Humphries, S*. (2004) Physical properties of Hydropsyche siltalai (Trichoptera) net silk. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 23(4): 771-779.

Jackson, A.L., Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2004) Resolving the departures of observed results from the Ideal Free Distribution with simple random movements. Journal of Animal Ecology 73(4): 612-622.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2003) Estimation of intergenerational drift dispersal distances and mortality risk for aquatic macroinvertebrates. Limnology and Oceanography 48(6): 2117-2124.

Ruxton, G.D. & Humphries, S. (2003) Non-IFD movements: reflections on past work and prospects for future developments. Evolutionary Ecology Research 5(1): 155-157.

Humphries, S. (2002) Dispersal in drift-prone macroinvertebrates: a case for density-independence. Freshwater Biology 47(5): 921-930.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2002) Why did some ichthyosaurs have such large eyes? Journal of Experimental Biology 205(4): 439-441.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2002) Is there really a drift paradox? Journal of Animal Ecology 71: 151-154

Humphries, S., Ruxton, G.D. & Van der Meer, J. (2001) Unequal competitor ideal free distributions: predictions for differential effects of interference between habitats. Journal of Animal Ecology 70: 1062-1069

Ruxton, G.D., Humphries, S. & Farnsworth, K.D. (2001) Non-competitive phenotypic differences can have a strong effect on ideal free distributions. Journal of Animal Ecology 70: 25-32.

Short notes, comments and commissioned pieces

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2002) Making statistical sense of scents. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17(12): 548.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2002) Full speed ahead. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17(10): 453.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2002) Forceful opposition to the evolution of better motors. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17(7): 304.

Ruxton, G.D. & Humphries, S. (2002) Why wear a refuse heap on your back? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17(6): 253.

Ruxton, G.D. & Humphries, S. (2002) For the boys! Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17(3): 109.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2001) Straining for a net profit. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(12): 669.

Ruxton, G.D. & Humphries, S. (2001) Rapid colonisation of polar waters by diving birds. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(10): 540.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2001) Re-examining the drift paradox. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(8): 486.

Ruxton G.D. & Humphries, S. (2001) Rearguard action: why do some butterflies have false heads? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(8): 426-427.

Ruxton G.D. & Humphries, S. (2001) Behaviour without function: egg rejection in the absence of parasitism. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(6): 277-278.

Humphries, S. & Stevens, D.J. (2001) Out with a bang. Nature 410: 758-759.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2001) Faecal pellets and energy flow in rivers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(5): 224-225.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton, G.D. (2001) Toxic nectar: one man´s meat is another man´s poison. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(4): 176.

Ruxton G.D. & Humphries, S. (2001) Why didn´t I think of that? Avian nest predation and parental activity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(3): 123.

Humphries, S. & Ruxton G.D. (2001) Treat `em mean, keep `em keen: are females drawn to aggressive males? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16(1): 15.

Ruxton, G.D. & Humphries, S. (2002) Marine boy. New Scientist 173(2326): U2

Top of page