Professor Simon Creer
Professor of Molecular Ecology

Contact info
I am interested in using contemporary molecular tools to address diverse questions focusing on biodiversity, ecology and evolution. This is a particularly exciting time in the field of molecular ecology, since advances in DNA sequencing throughput have recently offered a paradigm shift in our ability to assess previously intractable functional and taxonomic biodiversity at an unprecedented scale, augmenting existing biodiversity fields and empowering others. Using such technologies, I am testing a range of hypotheses regarding the alpha and beta functional and taxonomic diversity of macro-, meio- and microbial communities (e.g. microbiomes) in space and time, based on genomic, community and environmental DNA (eDNA). Focal habitats have included estuarine, coastal and deep sea environments with an increasing focus now on freshwater, terrestrial, whole organisms and the aerial biosphere in order to understand the drivers of diversity in natural communities and also how diversity is linked with ecological function, trophic relationships, environmental and human health. Current additional activities include phylogenomics, population genetics, life history evolution, polyploidy, pollination genomics.
Any funded Fellowship, postgraduate or postdoctoral positions will be advertised on the group website/social media feeds, but we also welcome enquiries from candidates seeking their own funding mechanisms, to develop future research collaborations.
Email: s.creer@bangor.ac.uk
Phone: +44(0)1248 382302
Address: School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
URL: http://mefgl.bangor.ac.uk/staff/si.php
Twitter: @SiCreerProf
- 2022
- Cyhoeddwyd
Novel insights into marine fish biodiversity across a pronounced environmental gradient using replicated environmental DNA analyses
Czachur, M. V., Seymour, M., Creer, S. & von der Heyden, S., 1 Ion 2022, Yn: Environmental DNA. 4, 1Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Challenges to Implementing Environmental-DNA Monitoring in Namibia
Perry, I., Jams, I. B., Casas-Mulet, R., Hamutoko, J., Marchbank, A., Lendelvo, S., Naomab, E., Mapani, B., Creer, S., Wanke, H., Durance, I. & Kille, P., 17 Ion 2022, Yn: Frontiers in Environmental Science. 9, 773991.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Managing human-mediated range shifts: understanding spatial, temporal and genetic variation in marine non-native species
Holman, L. E., Parker-Nance, S., de Bruyn, M., Creer, S., Carvalho, G. & Rius, M., 14 Maw 2022, Yn: Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 377, 1846, 20210025.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Using DNA Metabarcoding to Identify Floral Visitation by Pollinators
Lowe, A., Jones, L., Witter, L., Creer, S. & de Vere, N., 24 Maw 2022, Yn: Diversity. 14, 4Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl adolygu › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Strategies for sample labelling and library preparation in DNA metabarcoding studies
Bohmann, K., Elbrecht, V., Caroe, C., Bista, I., Leese, F., Bunce, M., Yu, D. W., Seymour, M., Dumbrell, A. & Creer, S., Mai 2022, Yn: Molecular Ecology Resources. 22, 4, t. 1231-1246 16 t.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl adolygu › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Seasonal progression and differences in major floral resource use by bees and hoverflies in a diverse horticultural and agricultural landscape revealed by DNA metabarcoding
Lowe, A., Jones, L., Brennan, G., Creer, S. & de Vere, N., Meh 2022, Yn: Journal of Applied Ecology. 59, 6, t. 1484-1495Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Fauxcurrence: simulating multi-species occurrences for null models in species distribution modelling and biogeography
Osborne, O., Fell, H. G., Atkins, H., Tol, J. V., Phillips, D., Herrerra-Alsina, L., Mynard, P., Bocedi, G., Gubry-Rangin, C., Lancaster, L. T., Creer, S., Nangoy, M., Fahri, F., Lupiyaningdyah, P., Sudiana, I. M., Juliandi, B., Travis, J., Papadopulos, A. S. T. & Algar, A. C., Gorff 2022, Yn: Ecography. 2022, 7, e05880.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Temporal Patterns of Honeybee Foraging in a Diverse Floral Landscape Revealed Using Pollen DNA Metabarcoding of Honey
Jones, L., Lowe, A., Ford, C. R., Creer, S. & de Vere, N., 1 Awst 2022, Yn: Integrative and Comparative Biology. 62, 2, t. 199-210Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Long term drought and warming alter soil bacterial and fungal communities in an upland heathland
Seaton, F., Reinsch, S., Goodall, T., White, N., Jones, D. L., Griffiths, R., Creer, S., Smith, A., Emmett, B. A. & Robinson, D. A., Medi 2022, Yn: Ecosystems. 25, 6, t. 1279-1294 16 t.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Temporal change in floral availability leads to periods of resource limitation and affects diet specificity in a generalist pollinator
Lowe, A., Jones, L., Brennan, G., Creer, S., Christie, L. & de Vere, N., 24 Hyd 2022, Yn: Molecular Ecology. 32, 23, t. 6363-6376 14 t.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- 2023
- Cyhoeddwyd
Mineralogy affects prokaryotic community composition in an acidic metal mine
Kelly, L., Rivett, D. W., Pakostova, E., Creer, S., Cotterell, T. & Johnson, B., 1 Ion 2023, Yn: Microbiological Research. 266, 127257.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
UK DNA working group eDNA week, January 2022
Handley, L. L., Blackwell, T., Broadhurst, H. A., Clark, K., Davison, P. I., England, J., Mariani, S., McDevitt, A. D., Pillay, G. K., Read, D., Walsh, K., Nisbet, A. & Creer, S., 1 Ion 2023, Yn: Environmental DNA. 5, 1, t. 18-24 7 t.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Microscale pollen release and dispersal patterns in flowering grass populations
Frisk, C. A., Apangu, G. P., Petch, G. M., Creer, S., Hanson, M., Adams-Groom, B. & Skjoth, C. A., 1 Gorff 2023, Yn: Science of the Total Environment. 880, 163345.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Environmental DNA metabarcoding for fish diversity assessment in a macrotidal estuary: A comparison with established fish survey methods
Gibson, T., Carvalho, G., Ellison, A., Gargiulo, E., Hatton-Ellis, T., Handley, L. L., Mariani, S., Collins, R. A., Sellers, G., Distaso, M., Zampieri, C. & Creer, S., 1 Tach 2023, Yn: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 294, 108522.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
100 years of anthropogenic impact causes changes in freshwater functional biodiversity
Eastwood, N., Zhou, J., Derelle, R., Abdallah, M.A.-E., Stubbings, W. A., Jia, Y., Crawford, S. E., Davidson, T. A., Colbourne, J. K., Creer, S., Bik, H., Hollert, H. & Orsini, L., 7 Tach 2023, Yn: Elife. 12Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu
Comparative population genomics of manta rays has global implications for management
Humble, E., Hosegood, J., Carvalho, G., De Bruyn, M., Creer, S., Stevens, G. M. W., Armstrong, A., Bonfil, R., Deakos, M., Fernando, D., Froman, N., Peel, L. R., Pollett, S., Ponzo, A., Stewart, J. D., Wintner, S. & Ogden, R., 23 Tach 2023, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Molecular Ecology.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Environmental DNA biomonitoring in biodiversity hotspots: A case study of fishes of the Okavango Delta
von der Heyden, S., Neef, G., Grevesse, T., Cwecwe, Y., Sado, T., Miya, M., Mosie, I., Creer, S., Skelton, P. & von Brandis, R., 28 Tach 2023, Yn: Environmental DNA. 5, 6, t. 1720-1731Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- 2024
- Cyhoeddwyd
Molecular ecology of microbiomes in the wild: Common pitfalls, methodological advances and future directions
Fountain-Jones, N. M., Giraud, T., Zinger, L., Bik, H., Creer, S. & Videvall, E., 12 Ion 2024, Yn: Molecular Ecology. 33, 2, e1723.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Bacillus indicus and Bacillus subtilis as alternative health and colouration promoters to synthetic astaxanthin in cyprinid aquaculture species.
Baumgärtner, S., Creer, S., Jones, C., James, J. & Ellison, A., 15 Ion 2024, Yn: Aquaculture. 578, 740016.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Design considerations for eDNA metabarcoding surveys
Perry, W. B., Pillay, K., George, P., Brennan, G., Lowe, A., Jones, L., Holman, L., Gibson, T., de Vere, N. & Creer, S., 19 Ion 2024, Applied Environmental Genomics. Berry, O. F., Holleley, C. E. & Jarman, S. N. (gol.). CRC PressAllbwn ymchwil: Pennod mewn Llyfr/Adroddiad/Trafodion Cynhadledd › Pennod › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
An integrated spatio-temporal view of riverine biodiversity using environmental DNA metabarcoding
Perry, W. B., Seymour, M., Orsini, L., Jâms, I. B., Milner, N., Edwards, F., Harvey, R., de Bruyn, M., Bista, I., Walsh, K., Emmett, B., Blackman, R., Altermatt, F., Lawson Handley, L., Mächler, E., Deiner, K., Bik, H. M., Carvalho, G., Colbourne, J., Cosby, B. J., Durance, I. & Creer, S., 23 Mai 2024, Yn: Nature Communications. 15, 1, t. 4372Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
A diversity of diversities: Do complex environmental effects underpin associations between below- and above-ground taxa?
Seaton, F., George, P., Alison, J., Jones, D. L., Creer, S., Smart, S. M., Emmett, B. A. & Robinson, D., 1 Gorff 2024, Yn: Journal of Ecology. 112, 7, t. 1550-1564 15 t.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Airborne DNA reveals predictable spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi
Abrego, N., Furneaux, B., Hardwick, B., Somervuo, P., Palorinne, I., Aguilar-Trigueros, C. A., Andrew, N. R., Babiy, U. V., Bao, T., Bazzano, G., Bondarchuk, S. N., Bonebrake, T. C., Brennan, G. L., Bret-Harte, S., Bässler, C., Cagnolo, L., Cameron, E. K., Chapurlat, E., Creer, S., D'Acqui, L. P., de Vere, N., Desprez-Loustau, M.-L., Dongmo, M. A. K., Jacobsen, I. B. D., Fisher, B. L., Flores de Jesus, M., Gilbert, G. S., Griffith, G. W., Gritsuk, A. A., Gross, A., Grudd, H., Halme, P., Hanna, R., Hansen, J., Hansen, L. H., Hegbe, A. D. M. T., Hill, S., Hogg, I. D., Hultman, J., Hyde, K. D., Hynson, N. A., Ivanova, N., Karisto, P., Kerdraon, D., Knorre, A., Krisai-Greilhuber, I., Kurhinen, J., Kuzmina, M., Lecomte, N., Lecomte, E., Loaiza, V., Lundin, E., Meire, A., Mešić, A., Miettinen, O., Monkhouse, N., Mortimer, P., Müller, J., Nilsson, R. H., Nonti, P. Y. C., Nordén, J., Nordén, B., Norros, V., Paz, C., Pellikka, P., Pereira, D., Petch, G., Pitkänen, J.-M., Popa, F., Potter, C., Purhonen, J., Pätsi, S., Rafiq, A., Raharinjanahary, D., Rakos, N., Rathnayaka, A. R., Raundrup, K., Rebriev, Y. A., Rikkinen, J., Rogers, H. M. K., Rogovsky, A., Rozhkov, Y., Runnel, K., Saarto, A., Savchenko, A., Schlegel, M., Schmidt, N. M., Seibold, S., Skjøth, C., Stengel, E., Sutyrina, S. V., Syvänperä, I., Tedersoo, L., Timm, J., Tipton, L., Toju, H., Uscka-Perzanowska, M., van der Bank, M., van der Bank, F. H., Vandenbrink, B., Ventura, S., Vignisson, S. R., Wang, X., Weisser, W. W., Wijesinghe, S. N., Wright, S. J., Yang, C., Yorou, N. S., Young, A., Yu, D. W., Zakharov, E. V., Hebert, P. D. N., Roslin, T. & Ovaskainen, O., 25 Gorff 2024, Yn: Nature. 631, 8022, t. 835-842 8 t.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Environmental DNA reveals ecologically relevant spatial and temporal variation in fish assemblages between estuaries and seasons
Gibson, T., Baillie, C., Collins, R. A., Wangensteen, O. S., Corrigan, L., Ellison, A., Heddell-Cowie, M., Westoby, H., Byatt, B., Lawson-Handley, L., Soto, A. Z., Creer, S., Genner, M. J. & Mariani, S., 1 Awst 2024, Yn: Ecological Indicators. 165, 112215.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
Accounting for extinction dynamics unifies the geological and biological histories of Indo-Australian Archipelago
Herrera-Alsina, L., Lancaster, L. T., Algar, A. C., Bocedi, G., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Gubry-Rangin, C., Osborne, O. G., Mynard, P., Creer, S., Villegas-Patraca, R., Made Sudiana, I., Fahri, F., Lupiyaningdyah, P., Nangoy, M., Iskandar, D. T., Juliandi, B., Burslem, D. F. R. P. & Travis, J. M. J., 30 Medi 2024, Yn: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 291, 2031, t. 20240966Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- 2025
- Cyhoeddwyd
Plastic responses to past environments shape adaptation to novel selection pressures
Coates, S., Comeault, A., Wood, D. P., Fay, M. F., Creer, S., Osborne, O., Dunning, L. T. & Papadopulos, A. S. T., 30 Ion 2025, Yn: PNAS. 122, 5, e2409541122.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- Cyhoeddwyd
A continuous feast of bramble: Rubus fruticosus agg. is a key cross-seasonal dietary resource for a fallow deer population
Gresham, A., Pillay, K., Healey, J., Eichhorn, M., Ellison, A., Lowe, A., Creer, S., Cordes, L. & Shannon, G., 10 Chwef 2025, Yn: Ecological Solutions and Evidence. 6, 1Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
- E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu
Genomics and morphometry of herbarium specimens elucidate the origin of the Cape Verde date palm (Phoenix atlantica A.Chev.) and highlight its agronomic potential
Vian, J. C., Pérez-Escobar, O. A., Baker, W. J., Bonhomme, V., Ferrand, S., Ivorra, S., Kaczmarek, T., Pagnoux, C., Terral, J.-F., Wales, N., Purugganan, M. D., Creer, S., Papadopulos, A. S. T., Bellot, S. & Gros-Batlthazard, M., 11 Chwef 2025, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Plants, People, Planet.Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid