Research Overview

 
 
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Environmental DNA & Agricultural Pests (2020-2021)

A smaller project on limited time scale, the goal was to use environmental DNA to track agricultural pests. This was attempted in a few ways, including with bat guano (faeces) or from crop washwater.
I presented our results at the NAEM Meeting in February - access the presentation here

This project ended with an (unsuccessful) Veni application, but if you’re interested in similar concepts, do get in touch so that I can refer you to my colleagues who still work in this field.

Genomes of Biological Control Agents (2015-2020)

My PhD thesis, “Know Your Enemy: Genomes of Biological Control Agents,“ is a product of a larger EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions project, “BINGO: Breeding Invertebrates for Next Generation Biocontrol.“ The BINGO project was the work of over 13 PhDs throughout Europe, and has since wrapped up. The key idea for my project was to generate genomes for important biological control agents to encourage further research and advancement. Four genomes in total were generated for the project, and a variety of publications can be found listed below. My thesis, pictured right, was awarded the 2020 Dissertationprijs from the Netherlands Entomological Society (Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging).

Image: K. Spoelstra (image description: night time photo of a forest with green street lamps installed and turned on)

Image: K. Spoelstra (image description: night time photo of a forest with green street lamps installed and turned on)

Bats and Bugs at night (2013-2014)

My Masters thesis work was on a project called Licht op Natuur (“Light On Nature” in Dutch) which is now expanded to Licht Op Landschap (“Light on Landscape" in Dutch). Artificial light at night (ALAN) is of serious concern especially for crepuscular and nighttime creatures, such as bats, as it disturbs their behaviour and can affect their success in changing environments. My thesis work was performed under Dr. Kamiel Spoelstra and looked into bat hunting behaviour in the presence/absence of artificial nighttime lighting in various colours in conjunction with insect presence. The results can be found in the resulting publication, and indicates that green and white light have a larger impact on some bat species (and insects) than red light.

 

Publication List

  • K. B. Ferguson, S. Visser, M. Dalíková, I. Provazníková, A. Urbaneja, M. Pérez-Hedo, F. Marec, J. H. Werren, B. J. Zwaan, B. A. Pannebakker, & E. C. Verhulst. 2020. “Jekyll or Hyde? The genome (and more) of Nesidiocoris tenuis, a zoophytophagous predatory bug that is both a biological control agent and a pest.” Insect Molecular Biology 3(2): 188-209. https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.12688.

  • K. B. Ferguson, B. A. Pannebakker, A. Centurión, J. van den Heuvel, R. Nieuwenhuis, F. F. M. Becker, E. Schijlen, A. Thiel, B. J. Zwaan, & E. C. Verhulst. 2020. “Bracon brevicornis genome showcases the potential of linked-read sequencing in identifying a putative complementary sex determiner gene.” Genes 11(12). 1390. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11121390.

  • K. B. Ferguson, T. Kursch-Metz, E. C. Verhulst, & B. A. Pannebakker. 2020. “Hybrid genome assembly and evidence-based annotation of the egg parasitoid and biological control agent Trichogramma brassicae.” G3: GENES, GENOMES, GENETICS October 1, 2020 vol. 10 no. 10 3533-3540. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.120.401344

  • K. Leung, E. Ras, K. B. Ferguson, […], & B. A. Pannebakker. 2020. “Next‐generation biological control: the need for integrating genetics and genomics.” Biological Reviews 95(6): 1838-1854. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12641

  • K. B. Ferguson, S. R. Chattington, W. N. Plouvier, & B. A. Pannebakker. 2020 Preprint (in review). “Genetic Variation of Traits in Natural Enemies Relevant for Biological Control: A Systematic Review.” Preprints.org - January 2020. https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202001.0276/v1

  • A. Paspati, K. B. Ferguson, E. C. Verhulst, A. Urbaneja, J. González‐Cabrera, & B. A. Pannebakker. 2019. “Effect of mass rearing on the genetic diversity of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii.” Entomologia Experimenalis et Applicata. 167(7): 670-681. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12811

  • K. Spoelstra, R. H. A. van Grunsven, J. J. C. Ramakers, K. B. Ferguson, T. Raap, M. Donners, E. M. Veenendaal, & M. E. Visser. 2017. “Response of bats to light with different spectra: light-shy and agile bat presence is affected by white and green, but not red light.” Proc. Royal Soc. B 284: 20170075. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.0075

 

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