Dr Penelope Watt

School of Biosciences

Senior Lecturer in Zoology

p.j.watt@sheffield.ac.uk
Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Dr Penelope Watt
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  •  Senior Lecturer in Zoology (2014-)
  • Lecturer, University of Sheffield (1998-2014)
  • Lecturer, De Montfort University, Leicester (1993-1998)
  • Post Doctoral Research Assistant, Imperial College at Silwood Park (1989-1993)
  • PhD Zoology (Leeds) (1989)
  • BSc (Hons) Zoology (Newcastle) (1986)
Research interests

I am a behavioural ecologist with interests in the genetic control of behaviour and responses to stress. My research has focused on aquatic systems (fish, amphibians) and terrestrial invertebrates (earthworms). We use environmental DNA to assess species diversity in terrestrial systems, specifically soil managed under different regimes, and aquatic habitats.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Berthon K, Wade R, Chapman P, Jaworski CC, Leake JR, McHugh N, Collins L, Daniell T, Zhao Y, Watt P , Doherty B et al (2025) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 380(1935).
  • Llanos J, Hipperson H, Horsburgh G, Lappage MG, Maher KH, Burke T, Leake JR & Watt PJ (2025) . Science of The Total Environment, 968.
  • Berthon K, Jaworski CC, Beacham JD, Jackson P, Leake J, McHugh NM, Capstick L, Daniell T, Krzywoszynska A, Cameron D , Holland J et al (2024) . Environmental Research: Food Systems, 1(2).
  • Kitson JE, Ord J & Watt PJ (2022) . Biomolecules, 12(8).
  • Alfakih A, Watt PJ & Nadeau NJ (2022) . Journal of Experimental Biology, 225(10).
  • Berdeni D, Turner A, Grayson RP, Llanos J, Holden J, Firbank LG, Lappage MG, Hunt SPF, Chapman PJ, Hodson ME , Helgason T et al (2021) . Soil and Tillage Research, 212.
  • Ord J, Heath PR, Fazeli A & Watt PJ (2020) . Molecular Ecology, 29(14), 2722-2735.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Berthon K, Wade R, Chapman P, Jaworski CC, Leake JR, McHugh N, Collins L, Daniell T, Zhao Y, Watt P , Doherty B et al (2025) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 380(1935).
  • Llanos J, Hipperson H, Horsburgh G, Lappage MG, Maher KH, Burke T, Leake JR & Watt PJ (2025) . Science of The Total Environment, 968.
  • Berthon K, Jaworski CC, Beacham JD, Jackson P, Leake J, McHugh NM, Capstick L, Daniell T, Krzywoszynska A, Cameron D , Holland J et al (2024) . Environmental Research: Food Systems, 1(2).
  • Kitson JE, Ord J & Watt PJ (2022) . Biomolecules, 12(8).
  • Ord J, Fazeli A & Watt PJ (2022) . Environmental Biology of Fishes, 105(6), 741-751.
  • Alfakih A, Watt PJ & Nadeau NJ (2022) . Journal of Experimental Biology, 225(10).
  • Berdeni D, Turner A, Grayson RP, Llanos J, Holden J, Firbank LG, Lappage MG, Hunt SPF, Chapman PJ, Hodson ME , Helgason T et al (2021) . Soil and Tillage Research, 212.
  • Ord J, Heath PR, Fazeli A & Watt PJ (2020) . Molecular Ecology, 29(14), 2722-2735.
  • Ord J, Holmes KE, Holt WV, Fazeli A & Watt PJ (2020) . Journal of Fish Biology, 96(2), 506-515.
  • Eachus H, Bright C, Cunliffe VT, Placzek M, Wood JD & Watt PJ (2018) . ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology, 15.
  • Eachus H, Bright C, Cunliffe VT, Placzek M, Wood JD & Watt PJ (2017) . Human Molecular Genetics, 26(11), 1992-2005.
  • Ariyomo TO & Watt PJ (2015) . Journal of Fish Biology, 86(6), 1852-1859.
  • Ariyomo TO & Watt PJ (2013) . Animal Behaviour.
  • Ariyomo TO & Watt PJ (2013) . Behavioral Ecology, 24(6), 1320-1326.
  • Ariyomo TO, Carter M & Watt PJ (2013) . Behav Genet, 43(2), 161-167.
  • Ariyomo TO & Watt PJ (2012) . Animal Behaviour, 83(1), 41-46.
  • Ariyomo TO & Watt PJ (2011) The effect of variation in boldness and aggressiveness on the reproductive success of zebrafish. Animal Behaviour.
  • Watt PJ, Skinner A, Hale M, Nakagawa S & Burke T (2011) Small Subordinate Male Advantage in the Zebrafish. Ethology.
  • Watt PJ, Skinner A, Hale M, Nakagawa S & Burke T (2011) . Ethology, 117(11), 1003-1008.
  • Guevara-Fiore P, Stapley J, Krause J, Ramnarine IW & Watt PJ (2010) . ANIM BEHAV, 79(6), 1191-1197.
  • Guevara-Fiore P, Rosenqvist G & Watt PJ (2010) . BEHAV ECOL SOCIOBIOL, 64(10), 1601-1607.
  • Guevara-Fiore P, Stapley J & Watt PJ (2010) . BEHAV ECOL SOCIOBIOL, 64(10), 1665-1672.
  • Guevara-Fiore P, Stapley J, Krause J, Ramnarine IW & Watt PJ (2010) . Animal Behaviour, 79(6), 1191-1197.
  • Guevara-Fiore P, Rosenqvist G & Watt PJ (2010) Inbreeding level does not induce female discrimination between sibs and unrelated males in guppies. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 1-7.
  • Shohet AJ & Watt PJ (2009) . J FISH BIOL, 75(6), 1323-1330.
  • Guevara-Fiore P, Skinner A & Watt PJ (2009) . ANIM BEHAV, 77(2), 425-431.
  • Romey WL, Walston AR & Watt PJ (2008) . BEHAV ECOL, 19(1), 74-78.
  • Skinner AMJ & Watt PJ (2007) . BEHAV ECOL, 18(5), 905-909.
  • Skinner AMJ & Watt PJ (2007) . BEHAV ECOL, 18(1), 47-52.
  • Shohet AJ & Watt PJ (2004) . BEHAV ECOL SOCIOBIOL, 55(4), 363-369.
  • Watt PJ & Shohet AJ (2003) . Journal of Fish Biology, 63(s1), 258-258.
  • Watt PJ, Shohet AJ & Renshaw K (2001) Female choice for good genes and sex-biased broods in guppies. J FISH BIOL, 59(4), 843-850.
  • Woodward MA, Winder LA & Watt PJ () . Fishes, 4(1), 22-22.
  • Ord J, Fazeli A & Watt PJ () . Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1014, 117-135.

Preprints

  • Llanos J, Hipperson H, Horsburgh G, Lappage MG, Maher KH, Burke T, Leake JR & Watt PJ (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

Current graduate students

  • 2025 - Sabina Schneider. Using environmental DNA to assess soil
    health bioindicators and their relationship to crop nutrition and
    production under different agricultural regimes. PhD.
  • 2023 - Ghada Fhaid. Monitoring European ell populations using eDNA. PhD.
  • 2022 - Naiyou Xu. Impact of early life stress on zebrafish behaviour. PhD.
  • 2022 - Yu Zhao. Monitoring earthworm populations using eDNA. PhD.
  • 2021 - Roberta Bray. Drivers and costs of aestivation in earthworms. PhD.
  • 2021- Abdullah Alsulaiman. Assessing marine diversity in the eastern
    province of Saudi Arabia using eDNA. PhD.
  • 2020 - Ali Alamri. Population ecology of great crested newts. PhD.
Teaching activities

In L2, I teach BIS204 (Invertebrates) and BIS216 (Vertebrates), and on the L2 Mediterranean field course in France and the L3 marine field course in Anglesey. As a zoologist, I have a real passion for animals, and I hope to put this across in my teaching.

I supervise L3 and L4 projects in behaviour and ecology.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Chair of Faculty of Science Senior Tutor Group (2019-)
  • Member of the University Discipline, Appeals and Faculty Student Review Committees
  • Member of Inner International Assessment Board, Irish Research Council, Dublin (2017-)
  • External Examiner, University of Nottingham (Zoology) (from 2017-2022)
  • Member of the Field Studies Council Executive Committee (from 2011-17)
  • Member of the Field Studies Council Education Committee (from 2011-17) & Chair (2016-17)