![Maximillian Tercel](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3344?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
I'm an entomologist using DNA metabarcoding techniques to reveal how invasive ants fit into ecological communities. We can use these powerful molecular methods as tools to inform conservation and show fundamental ecological and evolutionary principles working in reality.
Though I've studied and worked on many different invertebrate groups, I specialise in ants. These social insects are integral to tropical ecosystems, have a vast diversity of forms, and the most complex societies of any organism other than humans. Not only that, but they fulfill a myriad of different ecological roles, from soil-movers, to predators, parasites, granivores and fungus-farmers.
I earned my BSc (Hons.) in Zoology from Bangor University and then went on to study for my MSc in Entomology at Harper Adams University.
Publication
2023
- Cuff, J. P., Windsor, F., Tercel, M. P., Bell, J. R., Symondson, W. O. C. and Vaughan, I. P. 2023. Temporal variation in spider trophic interactions is explained by the influence of weather on prey communities, web building and prey choice. Ecography 2023(7), article number: e06737. (10.1111/ecog.06737)
- Luke, S. H. et al. 2023. Grand challenges in entomology: Priorities for action in the coming decades. Insect Conservation and Diversity 16(2), pp. 173-189. (10.1111/icad.12637)
- Cuff, J. P., Kitson, J. J. N., Hemprich‐Bennett, D., Tercel, M. P. T. G., Browett, S. S. and Evans, D. M. 2023. The predator problem and PCR primers in molecular dietary analysis: Swamped or silenced; depth or breadth?. Molecular Ecology Resources 23(1), pp. 41-51. (10.1111/1755-0998.13705)
2022
- Tercel, M. 2022. The trophic ecology of non-native ants on Round Island, Mauritius. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Cuff, J. P. et al. 2022. Density-independent prey choice, taxonomy, life history and web characteristics determine the diet and biocontrol potential of spiders (Linyphiidae and Lycosidae) in cereal crops. Environmental DNA 4(3), pp. 549-564. (10.1002/edn3.272)
- Cuff, J. P., Windsor, F. M., Tercel, M. P. T. G., Kitson, J. J. N. and Evans, D. M. 2022. Overcoming the pitfalls of merging dietary metabarcoding into ecological networks. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 13(3), pp. 545-559. (10.1111/2041-210X.13796)
2021
- Tercel, M. P. T. G. et al. 2021. DNA metabarcoding reveals introduced species predominate in the diet of a threatened endemic omnivore, Telfair’s skink (Leiolopisma telfairii). Ecology and Evolution 12(1), article number: e8484. (10.1002/ece3.8484)
- Tercel, M. P., Symondson, W. O. and Cuff, J. P. 2021. The problem of omnivory: a synthesis on omnivory and DNA metabarcoding. Molecular Ecology 30(10), pp. 2199-2206. (10.1111/mec.15903)
- Cuff, J. P. et al. 2021. Money spider dietary choice in pre- and post-harvest cereal crops using metabarcoding. Ecological Entomology 46(2), pp. 249-261. (10.1111/een.12957)
- Cuff, J. P. et al. 2021. MEDI: Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates, a rapid, cheap and streamlined protocol. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 12(4), pp. 593-601. (10.1111/2041-210X.13551)
2018
- Tercel, M. P. T. G., Veronesi, F. and Pope, T. W. 2018. Phylogenetic clustering of wingbeat frequency and flight-associated morphometrics across insect orders. Physiological Entomology 43(2), pp. 149-157. (10.1111/phen.12240)
Articles
- Cuff, J. P., Windsor, F., Tercel, M. P., Bell, J. R., Symondson, W. O. C. and Vaughan, I. P. 2023. Temporal variation in spider trophic interactions is explained by the influence of weather on prey communities, web building and prey choice. Ecography 2023(7), article number: e06737. (10.1111/ecog.06737)
- Luke, S. H. et al. 2023. Grand challenges in entomology: Priorities for action in the coming decades. Insect Conservation and Diversity 16(2), pp. 173-189. (10.1111/icad.12637)
- Cuff, J. P., Kitson, J. J. N., Hemprich‐Bennett, D., Tercel, M. P. T. G., Browett, S. S. and Evans, D. M. 2023. The predator problem and PCR primers in molecular dietary analysis: Swamped or silenced; depth or breadth?. Molecular Ecology Resources 23(1), pp. 41-51. (10.1111/1755-0998.13705)
- Cuff, J. P. et al. 2022. Density-independent prey choice, taxonomy, life history and web characteristics determine the diet and biocontrol potential of spiders (Linyphiidae and Lycosidae) in cereal crops. Environmental DNA 4(3), pp. 549-564. (10.1002/edn3.272)
- Cuff, J. P., Windsor, F. M., Tercel, M. P. T. G., Kitson, J. J. N. and Evans, D. M. 2022. Overcoming the pitfalls of merging dietary metabarcoding into ecological networks. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 13(3), pp. 545-559. (10.1111/2041-210X.13796)
- Tercel, M. P. T. G. et al. 2021. DNA metabarcoding reveals introduced species predominate in the diet of a threatened endemic omnivore, Telfair’s skink (Leiolopisma telfairii). Ecology and Evolution 12(1), article number: e8484. (10.1002/ece3.8484)
- Tercel, M. P., Symondson, W. O. and Cuff, J. P. 2021. The problem of omnivory: a synthesis on omnivory and DNA metabarcoding. Molecular Ecology 30(10), pp. 2199-2206. (10.1111/mec.15903)
- Cuff, J. P. et al. 2021. Money spider dietary choice in pre- and post-harvest cereal crops using metabarcoding. Ecological Entomology 46(2), pp. 249-261. (10.1111/een.12957)
- Cuff, J. P. et al. 2021. MEDI: Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates, a rapid, cheap and streamlined protocol. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 12(4), pp. 593-601. (10.1111/2041-210X.13551)
- Tercel, M. P. T. G., Veronesi, F. and Pope, T. W. 2018. Phylogenetic clustering of wingbeat frequency and flight-associated morphometrics across insect orders. Physiological Entomology 43(2), pp. 149-157. (10.1111/phen.12240)
Thesis
- Tercel, M. 2022. The trophic ecology of non-native ants on Round Island, Mauritius. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.