Dr John Breen

Present Position: Dean, Graduate School / Senior Lecturer in Environmental Biology Qualifications: BSc , PhD

Former Positions

• Lecturer in Biology

Current Research Interests

• Biodiversity and ecology of Irish insects, especially ants and bumblebees; heavy metals in the ecosystem.

Recent Publications

• Author(s): Mäki-Petäys, H. and Breen, J. (2007) Title: Genetic vulnerability of a remnant ant population. Journal: Conservation Genetics. 8: 427-435. (in press, available on-line, Springer Verlag)
• Author(s): Fitzpatrick, Ú., Murray, T.E., Paxton, R.J., Breen. J., Cotton, D., Santorum, V. and Brown, M.J.F. (2007) Title: Rarity and decline in bumblebees - A test of causes and correlates in the Irish fauna. Journal: Biological Conservation, 136 (2): 185-194.
• Author(s): Schönrogge, K., Gardner, M.C., Elmes, G.W., Napper, E.K.V., Simcox, D.J., Wardlaw, J.C., Breen, J., Barr, B. Knapp, J.J., Pickett, J.A. and Thomas, J.A. (2006) Title: Host propagation permits extreme local adaptation in a social parasite of ants. Journal: Ecology Letters. 9: 1032 - 1040.
• Author(s): Santorum, V. and J. Breen (2006) Title: Bumblebee diversity on Irish farmland. Tearmann, Journal: AIrish Journal of Agri-Environmental Research. 4: 79 - 90.
• Author(s): Purvis, G., Bolger,T., Breen, J., Connolly, J., Curry, J., Finn, J, Kelly-Quinn, M., Kennedy, K., Schmidt, O., Schulte, R, and Whelan, J. (2006) Title: The significance of biodiversity in agriculture: relevance, aims and progress of the Ag-Biota project. Journal: Tearmann, Irish Journal of Agri-Environmental Research. 4: 29 - 50.
• Author(s): McCarthy, J. and J. Breen (2005) Title: Lamprey records in the Silvermines area. Journal: Irish Naturalists' Journal 28(1): 43-44.
• Author(s): Moles, R, J. Breen and O'Regan, B. (2005) Title: A pilot scale long term experimental study on the effects of grazing and gap creation on Burren grassland dynamics: implications for conservation. Journal: Biology and Environment 105B: 15-32.
• Author(s): Herlihy, M., McCarthy, J. Breen J., and Moles R. (2004) Title: Effects over time of fertiliser P and soil series on P balance, soil-test P and herbage production. Journal: Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 43: 147-160.
• Author(s): Schönrogge, K., Barr B., Napper E., Breen J., Elmes G.W., and Thomas J.A. (2002) Title: When rare species become endangered: cryptic speciation in myrmecophilous hoverflies. Journal: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 75(3): 291-300 and 76(2): 315.

Contact Details

• Tel: +353 (0) 61 202853
• Fax: +353 (0) 61 202212
• Email:John.Breen@ul.ie