18 June 2020
Professor Phil Stevenson
Senior Research Leader
Biography
I lead Kew’s research on the ecological function of plant and fungal chemicals, the interactions that plant chemicals mediate between plants and other organisms and the potential to use plants sustainably for enhancing ecosystems and improving horticulture.
My research focuses on the chemistry that mediates pollinator-plant and plant-pest interactions. This includes how plant chemicals affect insect behaviour, health and ecosystem function, for example through exposure to toxins or inadequate nutrition and the potential for plants to provide environmentally benign alternative pest control in smallholder agriculture. My work is funded by BBSRC, National Science Foundation (USA), European Union, Peter Sowerby Foundation and the McKnight Foundation.
I hold a dual role as Professor of Plant Chemistry at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.
Qualifications and appointments
- BSc Applied Biology, Brunel University, 1988
- PhD, University of London, 1992
- Professor of Plant Chemistry, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, 2011
- Regional Editor, Biopesticides International
- Subject Editor, Bulletin of Entomological Research
- Editorial Board, People, Plants, Planet; Crop Protection; The Natural Products Journal
Selected publications
Arnold, S.E.J., Perry, G.B., Spinelli, G.R., Pierre, B., Murray, F., Haughton, C., Dockery, O., Grey, L., Murphy, S.T., Belmain, S.R. and Stevenson, P.C. (2018)
The significance of climate in the pollinator dynamics of a tropical agroforestry system
Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment 254: 1-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2017.11.013
Stevenson, P.C., Nicolson, S.W. and Wright, G.A. (2017)
Plant secondary metabolites in nectar: impacts on pollinators and ecological functions
Functional Ecology 31: 65-75. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12761
Barlow, S., Wright G.A., Ma, C., Barberis, M., Farrell, I.W., Marr, E.M., Brankin, A., Pavlik, B.M. and Stevenson, P.C. (2017)
Distasteful nectar deters floral robbery
Current Biology 27 (16): 2552-2558: DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.07.012
Egan, P.A., Stevenson, P.C., Wright, G.A., Boylan, F. and Stout, J.C. (2016)
Plant toxin levels in nectar vary spatially across native and introduced populations
Journal of Ecology 104: 1106-1115. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12573
Wright, G.A., Baker, D., Palmer, M.J., Stabler, D., Mustard, J.D., Power, E., Borland, A.M. and Stevenson, P.C. (2013)
Caffeine in floral nectar enhances a pollinator’s memory of reward
Science 339 (6124): 1202-1204. DOI: 10.1126/science.1228806
Projects
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Evaluating sustainable agro-ecological crop protection using pesticidal plants
Improving food security in Malawi and Tanzania through the optimization of plant-based pest management.
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Harmful or healthy? Studying how chemicals in nectar and pollen affect bees
Can diseased bees take advantage of antimicrobial chemicals found in plant nectar and pollen and self-medicate?
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The macronutrient regulation of adult worker honey bees
Studying naturally occurring pollen nutrients to identify the most important dietary components for honey bees.
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