Bob Mayes

Honorary Research Associate
Ecological Sciences
E: bob.mayes@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

Dr Bob Mayes trained as a ruminant nutritionist and, for over 30 years, has specialised in research on grazing sheep and cattle. During his time at the Institute, Bob gained expertise in measuring metabolite turnover and energy expenditure in grazing ruminants. He also studied the behaviours of radioactive, heavy metal and organic pollutants in livestock. However, his main achievements have been associated with the development of methodologies for measuring dietary intake, digestibility and plant species composition in grazing herbivores. These techniques, which use the chemical compounds in the wax of dietary plants as faecal markers, are now used by researchers world-wide; his original scientific paper on intake measurement using n-alkane markers now has over 365 ISI citations.

Biography

Dr Bob Mayes trained as a ruminant nutritionist and, for over 30 years, has specialised in research on grazing sheep and cattle. During his time at the Institute, Bob gained expertise in measuring metabolite turnover and energy expenditure in grazing ruminants. He also studied the behaviours of radioactive, heavy metal and organic pollutants in livestock. However, his main achievements have been associated with the development of methodologies for measuring dietary intake, digestibility and plant species composition in grazing herbivores. These techniques, which use the chemical compounds in the wax of dietary plants as faecal markers, are now used by researchers world-wide; his original scientific paper on intake measurement using n-alkane markers now has over 365 ISI citations. The applications of these markers (hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols and fatty acids) have been extended to study the diets of wild animals, including non-ruminant herbivores and insectivorous birds and mammals. In 2008, Bob became an Honorary Life Member of the British Society of Animal Science, in recognition of his contribution to advances in animal science research.

Bob has, in recent work, applied the techniques for analysing plant wax compounds to soil samples. These compounds are very long-lived in soil and can be used as markers to indicate past changes in vegetation cover. In collaboration with other Macaulay staff, Bob has demonstrated that the plant wax markers and associated compounds can be used as an effective tool in soil forensic investigations.

Research

Use of organic biomarkers in soil to monitor past and present vegetation change; organic biomarkers in soil and plant material as forensic tools; use of sterols and related compounds to monitor water pollution; measuring diet selection, intake and gut passage rate in sheep and cattle; measuring energy expenditure and gaseous exchange (including methane production) in ruminants using respiration chambers and indirect marker methods.

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, R.W. (2014) Criminal and environmental soil forensics: soil as physical evidence in forensic investigations., In: Murphy, B.L. & Morrison, R.D. (eds.). Introduction to Environmental Forensics. 3rd edition, Academic Press, Oxford, Chapter 12, pp457-486.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Rhind, S.M.; Zhang, Z.L.; Poggio, L.; Kyle, C.E.; Mayes, R.W.; Aalders, I.H.; Osprey, M.; Ross, J.; Cuthbert, A. (2012) Linking distribution of soil PaHs to location as a forensic tool., In: Morrison, R.D. & O’Sullivan, G. (eds.). Environmental Forensics: Proceedings of the 2011 INEF Conference. Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing, Cambridge, pp199-205.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Brewer, M.J.; Dawson, L.A.; Ross, J.M. (2011) An objective method for comparing unresolved complex mixture (UCM) “humps” in gas chromatograms., In: Morrison, R.D. & O’Sullivan, G. (eds.). Environmental Forensics. Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing, London, 275-284.
  • Dove, H.; Mayes, R. W. (2011) Feed Quality: Natural Plant Wax Markers, In: Ullrey, D. E., Baer, C. K. and Pond, W. G. (eds.) Encyclopaedia of Animal Science, 2nd edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 4pp
  • Mayes, R.W.; Macdonald, L.M.; Ross, J.; Dawson, L.A. (2009) Discrimination of domestic garden soils using plant wax compounds as markers., In: Ritz, K., Dawson, L.A. & Miller, D.R. (eds.). Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics. Springer, Chapter 29, 463-476.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Dove, H. (2006) The use of n-alkanes and other plant-wax compounds as markers for studying the feeding and nutrition of large mammalian herbivores., In: Herbivores: the assessment of intake, digestibility and the roles of secondary compounds (eds. C.A. Sandoval-Castro, F.D. Hovell, F. de B. Torres Acosta and A. Ayala-Burgos). BSAS Publication 34, Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK., pp153-182.
  • Mayes, R.W. (2006) The possible application of novel marker methods for estimating dietary intake and nutritive value in primates., In: Feeding Ecology in Apes and Other Primates (eds. G.Hohmann, M.M. Robbins and C. Boesch). Cambridge University Press, pp 421-444.
  • Dove, H.; Mayes, R.W. (2004) Feed quality: natural plant markers – alkanes., Encyclopaedia of Animal Science, M. Dekker, New York, pp362-364.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Dove, H. (2004) Satellite meeting: wild and domestic herbivore diet characterization., In: Manual of methods accompanying: Wild and Domestic Herbivore Diet Characterization. Satellite meeting to the Vith International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, Merida, Mexico, October 2003. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham.
  • Forbes, J.M.; Mayes, R.W. (2001) Diet choice., In: Sheep nutrition (eds. H. Dove and M. Freer). CAB International, Wallingford.
  • Salt, C.A. and Mayes, R.W. (1990) Seasonal patterns of 124Cs uptake into hill pasture vegetation., In: Transfer of RTadionuclides in Natural and Semi-natural Environments (eds. G. Desmot, P. Nassimbeni, M. Belli) London, Elsevier Applied Science, 1990, pp334-340.

Technical / contract reports

  • Dawson, J.J.C.; Delbos, E.; Hough, R.L.; Lumsdon, D.; Mayes, R.; Watson, H. (2011) Impacts of volcanic ash originating from the April 2010 eruption in Eyjafjallajokull (Iceland) on the natural resources of Scotland., Macaulay Land Use Research Institute website.
  • Dennis, P.; Elston, D.A.; Evans, D.; Evans, S.; Gordon, I.J.; Grant, M.; Kunaver, A.; Marquiss, M.; Mayes, R.W.; McCracken, D.; Pakeman, R.; Pearce-Higgins, J.; Redpath, S.; Skartveit, J.; Stephen, L.; Benton, T.; Bryant, D. (2005) Effects of grazing management on upland bird populations: disentangling habitat structure and arthropod food supply at appropriate spatial scales (GRUB)., Final Report on Flexible Fund Project to SEERAD. January 2002 to December 2004.
  • Moberg, L.; Mayes, R.W.; Iason, G.R. (1999) An integrated approach to radionuclide flow in semi-natural ecosystems underlying exposure pathways to man., Final Report to EC DGXI, Radionuclide Protection Programme. Swedish Radiological Protection Institute.
  • Beresford, N.A., Mayes, R.W., Crout, N.M.J., Dawson, J.M., MacEachern, P.J., Dodd, B.A., Soar, J.B., Barnett, C.L. and Lamb, C.S. (1999) Transfer of heavy metals from feeding stuffs and environmental sources into meat, milk and other foods of animal origin. Part II – Lead., Technical Report to MAFF.
  • Beresford, N.A., Mayes, R.W., Colgrove, P.M., Barnett, C.L., Dodd, B.A., MacEachern, P.J., Lamb, C.S. and Bryce, L. (1998) The effectiveness of alginates to reduce the transfer of radiostrontium to the milk of dairy animals., Final Report to Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC). MAFF Project RP0243, 40pp.
  • Beresford, N.A.; Mayes, R.W.; MacEachern, P.J.; Dodd, B.A.; Lamb, C.S. (1997) The effectiveness of alginates to reduce the transfer of radiostrontium to the milk of dairy animals., Interim report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC) MAFF Projects RP0243, 22pp.
  • Beresford, N.A., Mayes, R.W., Crout, N.M.J., Dawson, J.M., MacEachern, P.J., Dodd, B.A., Soar, J.B., Barnett, C.L. and Lamb, C.S. (1997) Transfer of heavy metals from feeding stuffs and environmental sources into meat, milk and other foods of animal origin. Part I – Arsenic, Cadmium and Mercury., Final Report to Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC). MAFF Contract No. FS2179, Project No. T07051X1, 68pp.
  • Beresford, N.A., Mayes, R.W., Wilson, P.J., Barnett, C.L., Lamb, C.S., Dodd, B.A., Howard, B.J. and Crout, N.M.J. (1996) Transfer of heavy metals from feeding stuffs and environmental sources into meat, milk and other foods from animal origin., Progress Report to Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (Natural Environment Research Council), Project No: T07051X1, MAFF Contract No.: FS2179, June 1996.
  • Howard, B.J., Assimakopoulis, P.A., Crout, N.M.C., Mayes, R.W., Voigt, G.A., Vandecasteele, C.M., Zelenka, J., Hove, K. and Hinton, T.G. (1995) Transfer of radionuclides in animal production systems., Final Report to DGXII-D-3, Commission of the European Communities, Contract No. F13P-CT920006, 89pp.
  • Beresford, N.A., Barnett, C.L., Mayes, R.W., Lamb, C.S., Howard, B.J. and Wilson, P.J. (1995) Radiocaesium variability within sheep flocks in the restricted area of Cumbria. Final Report., Final Report, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC). MAFF Contract Nos. N2139 and N2140. TFS Project No.T07051J1, 95pp.
  • Beresford, N.A., Mayes, R.W., Barnett, C.L., Lamb, C.S., Wilson, P.J. and Howard, B.J. (1995) Development of rapid techniques to assess the availability to food animals of radionuclides in or on feed., Final Report. TFS Project T07051L1. MAFF Project No.N2585. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC), 47pp.
  • Beresford, N.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Howard, B.J.; Barnett, C.L.; Lamb, C.S.; Wilson, P.J. (1994) Development of rapid techniques to assess the availability to food animals of radionuclides in or on feed., Progress Report, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC). MAFF Contract No. N2585. TFS Project No. T07051L1.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Lamb, C.S.; Stakelum, G.; Dillon, P.; Beresford, N.A.; Howard, B.J. (1993) A Comparison of the Gut Absorption of Radiocaesium in Sheep and Cattle., TFS Project No. T0751f1; MAFF Project No. N649. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC), 11 pp.
  • Beresford, N.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Barnett, C.L.; Howard, B.J.; Lamb, C.S.; Wilson, P.J. (1993) Development of rapid techniques to assess the availability to food animals of radionuclides in or on feed., Interim Report, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC). MAFF Contract No. N2585. TFS Project No. T07051L1. 34 pp.
  • Howard, B.J., Vandecasteele, C.M., Mayes, R.W., Belli, M., Stakelum, G., Colgan, P.A., Assimakopoulos, P.A., Unsworth, M.H. and Jones, B.-E.V. (1992) Factors Affecting Radiocaesium Transfer to Ruminants., Final Report to DGXII-D-3, Commission of the European Communities, Contract No. Bi-018, 43pp.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Eayres, H.F.; Lamb, C.S.; Beresford, N.A.; Barnett, C.L.; Howard, B.J. (1992) Studies on the transfer of 35S to goat milk., TFS Project TO7051i1. Nuclear Electric Contract reference COB/BC/2163. 50 pp.
  • Beresford, N.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Singleton, D.L.; Howard, B.J.; Eayres, H.F.; Lamb, C.S.; Livens, F.R.; Barnett, C.L. (1991) Development of a methods to rapidly predict the availability of radiocaesium., Final Report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. MAFF Project No. N649, 51pp.
  • Howard, B.J.; Vandecasteele; Mayes, R.W.; Belli; Stakelum; Colgan; Assimakopolous; Unsworth; Jones. (1991) Factors affecting radiocaesium transfer to ruminants. Progress report, April 1990 – March 1991., Progress report, April 1990 – March 1991, CEG DG X11.D.3. Radiation Protection Research Programme, Contract Bi7-018.
  • Beresford, N.A., Mayes, R.W., Singleton, D.L., Howard, B.J., Eayres, H.F., Lamb, C.S., Livens, F.R. and Barnett, C.L. (1991) Development of a Method to Rapidly Predict the Availability of Radiocaesium., Final Report. TFS Project TO7051F1. MAFF Project No. N649. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (NERC). 51pp.

Conference papers

  • Mayes, R.; Ross, J.; Dawson, L.A. (2014) Developments in the analysis of organic compounds as forensic markers in soil and related materials., International Network of Environmental Forensics, INEF, St John’s College, Cambridge, 4-6 August 2014.
  • Von der Luhe, B.; Mayes, R.; Dawson, L.A. (2014) The decomposition of adipocere under contrasting environmental conditions., International Network of Environmental Forensics, INEF, St John’s College, Cambridge, 4-6 August 2014.
  • Carvalho, A.; Dawson, L.A.; Ribeiro, H.; Mayes, R.; Guedes, A.; Abreu, I.; Noronha, F. (2014) Multidisciplinary characterization of sediments from two northern Portuguese river beaches for forensic application., IX Congresso Nacional de Geologia (IX CNG), Portugal, 18-24 July 2014.
  • Carvalho, A.; Ribeiro, H.; Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, B.; Guedes, A.; Abreu, I. (2012) Independent techniques for the forensic characterisation of river beaches., 6th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference, (EAFS), Towards Forensic Science 2, The Hague, Netherlands, 20-24 August, 2012, p189.
  • von der Luhe, B.M.; Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Forbes, S.L.; Fielder, S. (2012) The preliminary investigation of animal sterols for the detection of decomposing bodies in soil., 6th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference, (EAFS), Towards Forensic Science 2, The Hague, Netherlands, 20-24 August, 2012, p291.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Rhind, S.M.; Zhang, Z.L.; Poggio, L.; Kyle, C.E.; Mayes, R.W.; Aalders, I.H.; Osprey, M.; Ross, J.; Cuthbert, A. (2011) Distribution of PAHs across the soils of Scotland., International Network of Environmental Forensics Conference, St John’s College, Cambridge, 24-27 July 2011. Conference Proceedings, pp.18-19.
  • Kustantinah, A.; Mayes, R.W.; Orskov, E.R. (2010) The measurement of rate of passage using different pairs of alkane as markers for sheep fed hay or fresh grass., Proceedings International Seminar on Tropical Animal Production at Gadja Mada University, Ogyakarta, Indonesia, October 2010, pp274-281.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Czerniakiewicz, M.; Handley, K.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M.; Towers, W.; Donnelly, D.; Mayes, R.W. (2010) A complementary approach to the forensic analysis of soil in case investigations., International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2-4 November 2010.
  • Adiwimarta, K.; Daryatmo, J.; Orskov, E.R.; Mayes, R.W.; Hartadi, H. (2010) Utilisation of cassava leaf and carica papaya leaf as feeds and anthelmintics for goats., Proceedings of the BSAS and the Agricultural Research Forum. Advances in Animal Biosciences, Food, Feeds, Energy and Fibre from Land – A Vision for 2020, p114.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Macdonald, C.A.; Macdonald, L.M.; Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W. (2008) Plant wax markers: developing methods to compliment mineralogical techniques., International Crime Science Conference 2008, Science, Crime and Security: Creating Sustainable Partnerships, British Library, London, 17-18 July 2008.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Dawson, L.A.; Smith, C.; Morrisson, A.; Ross, J.M.; Milton, S. (2007) Using gas chromatographic information from plant wax compounds and similar substances for forensic matching of urban garden soils., Conference Proceedings, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007, p27.
  • Hillier, S.; Dawson, L.A.; Robertson, J, Delbos, E.; Shiels, J.; Campbell, S.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.M. (2007) Provenancing archaeological objects using traces of soil., Conference Proceedings, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
  • Morrisson, A. L.; McColl, S.; Dawson, L.A.; Cocks, S.; Macdonald, L.; Mayes, R.W. (2007) The Soil Forensic University Network (SoilFUN) – a collaborative project., Conference Proceedings, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007, p25.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Morrisson, A.; Macdonald, L.M.; Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Robertson, J.; Towers, W.; Brewer, M. (2007) Soil Forensics University Network (SoilFUN) Protocols., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Morrisson, A.; Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Robertson, J. (2007) Soil Forensics University Network (SoilFUN) Outline., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Green, E.; Sanchez, T.; Shekute, B.; Orskov, E.R. (2007) The use of inexpensive alternatives to n-heptane as the main solvent in the analysis of diet and faeces samples for n-alkanes as dietary markers., Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, Beijing, China, September 2007.
  • Brewer, M.J.; Elston , D.A.; Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, R.W. (2004) Principal components analysis of compositional problems., Ecological Economics.183, Article No. 106954.
  • Dawson, L.A., Towers, W., Mayes, R.W., Craig, J., Vaisanen, K. and Waterhouse, C. (2003) Use of plant wax in signatures in understanding Scottish soils., Annual Meeting of Geological Society, London. March 2003.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Iason, G.R.; White, N.; Palo, T. (2001) Measuring diet composition and food intake by moose in the Swedish boreal forest: integrating GPS and faecal marker technologies., In: Proceedings of GPS Conference, “Tracking Animals with GPS”, (eds. A.M. Sibbald and I.J. Gordon). Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen, 12-13 March 2001, pp77-80.
  • Dove, H.; Mayes, R.W. (2001) Developments in the use of plant wax markers for estimating diet selection in herbivores., Proceedings of “Emerging Techniques”, Satellite Meeting at the IV International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, Texas, USA (CDROM).
  • Mayes, R.W. (2001) The potential of plant-wax compounds as markers for diet digestion and utilisation in free-ranging herbivores., Proceedings of Emerging Techniques Satellite Meeting at the V International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, Texas, USA. On CD ROM.
  • Mayes, R.W. (1999) New markers for determining diet composition., M. J. Gibb (Ed.) Proceedings of IXth European Intake Workshop. IGER, Aberystwyth.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Duncan, A.J. (1999) Short-term intake and diet composition measurements using n-alkanes., Proceedings of IXth European Intake Workshop. Summary Paper. pp45-48.
  • Olivan, M., Dove, H., Mayes, R.W. and Hoebee, S.E. (1999) Recent developments in the use of alkanes and other plant wax components to estimate intake and diet composition in herbivores., Journal of Animal Production (Zootecnia)(Portugal).
  • Dove, H., Mayes, R.W. and Freer, M. (1995) Using cuticular wax alkanes to estimate herbage intake in animals fed supplements., Annales de Zootechnie, 44(Suppl 1-IVth International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores), 237.
  • Dove, H., Mayes, R.W., Lamb, C.S. and Ellis, K.J. (1991) Evaluation of an intra-ruminal controlled-release device for estimating herbage intake using synthetic and plant cuticular wax alkanes., In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores, 1991.
  • Salt, C.A. and Mayes, R.W. (1990) Seasonal patterns of 134Cs uptake into hill pasture vegetation., In: The Transfer of Radionuclides in Natural and Semi-natural Environments (Eds. G. Desmet, M. Belli and P. Nassimbeni), pp334-340. Elsevier Applied Science, London and New York.
  • Mayes, R.W. (1990) Measurement of true absorption of radiocaesium from the ruminant digestive tract., In: Proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the IUR Plant-to-Animal Transfer Working Group, Munich, West Germany, 1990, p.17.
  • Mayes, R.W., Lamb, C.S. and Colgrove, P.M. (1988) Digestion and mtabolism of dosed even-chain and herbage odd-chain n-alkanes in sheep., In Proceedings of the 12th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Dublin, July 1988. p.159-163
  • Mayes, R.W. (1987) Measurement of glucose production and oxidation in sheep using carbon isotopes., In Stable Isotope Tracers for Metabolic Studies: Proceedings of a Workshop held on 4 September 1986 (ed. T. Preston), pp.14-16. Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Luhe von der, B.; Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Forbes, S.A.; Fiedler, S. (2013) Die extraktion von fettsauren und steroiden aus bodenproben zum nachweis von tierischer dekompositionsflussigkeit., The German Soil Science Society (DGB) Biennial Meeting, Rostock, Germany, 9-12 September 2013.
  • von der Luhe, B.; Dawson, L.A.; Mayes, R.; Forbes, S.; Fiedler, S. (2013) Die extraktion von fettsauren und sterolen aus bodenproben zum nachweis von tierischer dekompositionsflussigkeit., Anmeldung zur DBG-Tagung (The German Soil Science Society) Annual Meeting, Rostock, September 2013.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Dawson, L.A.; Ross, J.M. (2011) Organic markers to fingerprint sewage sludge to assist in forensic tracking in the environment., International Network of Environmental Forensics (INEF) Conference, St John’s College, Cambridge, 25-27 July 2011.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Brewer, M.; Dawson, L.A.; Ross, J.M. (2011) An objective method for comparing unresolved complex mixture (UCM) “humps” in gas chromatograms of hydrocarbon extracts from soils polluted with petroleum products., International Network of Environmental Forensics (INEF) Conference, St John’s College, Cambridge, 25-27 July 2011.
  • Thornton, B.; Zhang, Z.; Mayes, R.W.; Midwood, A.J. (2010) Can GC-C-IRMS quantify organics?, Joint Meeting of SIMSUG 2010 and ISO-SIG, Exeter University, 27-30 April 2010.
  • Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Mauquoy, D.; Dawson, L.A. (2010) Development of plant wax biomarker analysis in soil for use in forensic investigation., International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2-4 November 2010.
  • Mayes, R.W.; Pagella, J.H.; Orskov, E.R. (2010) Development of an intra-ruminal nylon bag technique for feed evaluation which does not require the use of fistulated animals., Conference Paper Summary for BSAS Conference, 2010.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.J.; Macdonald, L.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.M.; Robertson, A.H.J. (2009) Chemical profiling of soil for forensic application., Royal Society of Chemistry, 42nd IUPAC Congress: Chemistry Solutions, SECC, Glasgow, 2 -7 August 2009.
  • Macdonald, L.M.; Singh, B.K.; Macdonald, C.A.; Ritz, K.; Horswell, J.; Campbell, C.D.; Mayes, R.W.; Dawson, L.A. (2008) Evaluating the potential of molecular microbiology in the forensic examination of soil., BSSS Autumn Meeting: Something Old, Something New: integrating molecular biology with other techniques in soil science, Rothamsted Research, 17 September 2008.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Macdonald, L.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.M. (2008) Forensic Geoscience: utilising soil colour and plant wax markers to aid criminal investigations., Forensic Research and Teaching Conference, Aberdeen, 1-3 July 2008.
  • Macdonald, L.; Brewer, M.; Dawson, L.A.; Campbell, C.D.; Mayes, R.W.; Robertson, J.; Singh, B.K.; Towers, W.; Ross, J.M.; Bellamy, P.; Ritz, K.; Crawford, J. (2007) Exploring the forensic potential of novel soil profiling methods., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007. Abstract and poster presentation, p46.
  • Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Dawson, L.A. (2007) Development of methodology for analysis of small soil samples for plant wax biomarkers enabling their use in forensic investigation., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007. Abstract and poster presentation, p51.
  • Iason, G.R.; Sim, D.A.; Beaton, J.K.; Mayes, R.W.; Summers, R.W.; Proctor, R. (2007) Chemical heterogeneity within a population of Scots pine influences tree selection by capercaillie., BES Annual Meeting, Glasgow, 10-12 September 2007. Abstract.
  • Romero-Perez, G.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Scaife, J.R. (2006) A comparison of the fatty acid profiles of red deer and sheep adipose tissues., Journal of Animal Science, 84, Suppl.1., 68.Abstract.
  • Stephen, L.; Benton, T.G.; Bryant, D.M.; Mayes, R.W (2005) Remote assessment of wild bird diet: an investigation into current and novel tools for dietary estimation., 90th Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and IX Montreal INTECOL Congress 2005.
  • Stephen, L.; Benton, T.G.; Bryant, D.M.; Mayes, R.W (2005) Remote assessment of wild bird diet: current and novel tools for dietary estimation., Conference of the European Ornithologists’ Union, 5th, Strasbourg, France, August 2005.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Moore, F.P.; Mayes, R.W.; Hillier, S.; Towers, W.; Campbell, C.D.; Malcolm, A.; Brewer, M.; Robertson, J.; Barclay, D. (2004) Integration of soil fingerprinting techniques for soil forensic applications (SOILFIT)., Forensic Science Society Annual Meeting, Bedfordshire, 5-7 November 2004.
  • Stephen, L.; Benton, T.G.; Bryant, D.M.; Mayes, R.W. (2004) Measuring bird diet using natural chemical markers – the development of a new technique., British Ornithology Union Annual Conference and AGM. Ecology and Conservation of Lowland Farmland Birds, University of Leicester, 26-28 March 2004.
  • Dawson, L.A.; Ross, J.M.; Pratt, S.M.; Anderson, I.; Mayes, R.W.; Reid, E.; Grayston, S.; Burt-Smith, G.S.; Ord, B.; Murray, P. (2003) The influence of plant species inputs on the soil microbial community as influenced by soil amendment using nitrogen, lime and insecticide., Fine Root Turnover Workshop, Uppsala, Sweden, 8-11 September 2003, p10.
  • Dennis, P.; Evans, D.M.; Skartveit, J.; Stephen, L.; Pakeman, R.J.; Pearce-Higgins, J.; Redpath, S.; Mayes, R.W.; McCracken, D.; Gordon, I.J.; Grant, M.; Elston, D.A.; Kunaver, A.; Quinn, S.; Benton, T.; Bryant, D.; Marquiss, M. (2003) Effects of grazing management on upland bird populations: disentangling habitat structure and arthropod food supply (GRUB)., In: Proceedings of the International Association for Landscape Ecology Congress, Crossing Frontiers – Landscape Ecology Down Under, Darwin, Australia, 13-17 July 2003.