I'M
Lucas Greville
Integrative and Comparative Physiology
I am currently a NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Waterloo researching flight energetics and field endocrinology in bats. I completed my PhD at McMaster University examining the physiological and behavioural potential of estradiol to act as a pheromone in big brown bats.
I am an active member of my academic institute instructing upper year courses, sitting on multiple university and departmental committees, and captaining department intramural teams.
Scroll below to take a closer look at my academic journey!
02 TEACHING
I have always enjoyed discussing and teaching others about the magic of science! As an undergraduate I began my first formal teaching position in higher education, and my love for teaching has only increased throughout my graduate career. I have been fortunate enough to instruct upper year university courses, and am eager to continue training others in scientific thinking for years to come.
Winter 2020
Instructor
LifeSci 4X03: The BioPsychology of Sex
McMaster University
School of Integrated Sciences
Explore topics in the scientific study of human sexuality from an anatomical, behavioural, and cultural perspective. Topics may include reproductive anatomy, gender identity, gender in sports, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Fall 2020/2021/2023, Winter 2018
Instructor
Psychology 3M03: Motivation and Emotion
McMaster University
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
Examine the biological basis of motivation and emotion in humans and other mammals through an integration of evolutionary, physiological, developmental, and social perspectives
Winter 2020
Instructor
Explore 3IE1: Bat Ecology & Human Interactions
McMaster University
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
Discuss the overlap of bat ecology and human culture through exploring topics such as agriculture and pest control, the spread and prevention of mammalian disease, and influences on renewable energy
2014-Present
Graduate TA
Various Courses
McMaster University
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
Assist in instructing undergraduate courses in anatomy, neuroscience, animal behaviour, and scientific inquiry
Please see CV for list of courses & guest lectures
2012-2014
Undergraduate Lab TA
Anatomy and Physiology
McMaster University
Department of Kinesiology
Design and lead weekly lab sessions using anatomical models, cadaver specimens, and dissections to provide everyday applications of course content
01 Research
My scientific interests are focused in the realm of physiology and behaviour. My main area of study is evaluating the potential for sex steroids to act as pheromones. More simply, how steroids produced in one individual's body can be excreted into the environment and alter a second individual's physiology or behaviour. While such phenomena have been well studied in rodents, I am currently evaluating this potential in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). I approach this question from a variety of angles, as well as find time to work on a variety of hobby projects.
Sex Steroid Transfer Among Conspecifics
Using radioactive tracers I have demonstrated cutaneous and intranasal absorption of steroids in bats, and the reliable transfer of steroids between conspecifics to neural, reproductive, and peripheral tissues. The transfer of these steroids may lead to behavioural or physiological changes in the receiver.
Quantification of Urinary Steroids
Individuals naturally secrete bioactive sex steroids in their urine. I non-invasively collect urine from bats and have begun to quantify endogenous steroid levels across their annual reproductive cycle.
Urinary steroids are a suspected vector in the transfer of steroids between individuals mentioned above.
Olfactory Sex Discrimination in the Big Brown Bat
Olfactory signals provide an individual with an abundance of information about its environment and the individuals around them. Using an experimental Y-maze, we are able to evaluate bats' behavioural responses to the odours of male and female conspecifics and determine if the odour influences which area of the maze a bat chooses to spend more time in.
Influences of Stress on Gonadotropin Inhibitory Hormone
Gonadotropin Inhibitory Hormone (GnIH) is a peptide molecule critical in the suppression of reproduction in an individual. As both humans and other animals are known to undergo decreased fertility and sexual behaviour in the presence of stress, I am investigating changes in GnIH secreting neurons in bats following prolonged restraint stress.
Comparative Wound Healing
Bat biologists commonly biopsy the wing membrane of bats in order to collect biological samples or to mark individuals in the field. Bats also frequently damage their wings through interactions with the environment and conspecifics. Depending on the species, I have shown that the location of a wound within a bat's wing influences the time taken to heal.
Reproductive Toxicology
Many consumer products contain chemicals that leech into our bodies and affect our natural regulatory systems. I have shown that some of these chemicals bind to receptors throughout the body and mimic estrogen signalling, thus altering an individual's reproductive state.
03 Publications, Talks, And Media
Publications
Download Alonge MM, Greville LJS, Ma X, Faure PA, Bentley GE (2023). Acute restraint stress rapidly impacts reproductive neuroendocrinology and downstream gonad function in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Journal of Experimental Biology, MS#JEB/2023/245592.
Download Sullivan IR, Adams DM, Greville LJS, Faure PA, Wilkinson GS (2022). Big brown bats experience slower epigenetic ageing during hibernation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 289, 20220635.
Download Alonge MM, Greville LJS, Faure PA, Bentley GE (2022). Immunoreactive distribution of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone precursor, RFRP, in a temperate bat species (Eptesicus fuscus). Journal of Comparative Neurology, 530(9), 1459–1469.
Download Greville LJS, Bueno LM, Pollock T, Faure PA (2022). Quantification of urinary sex steroids in the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 95(1), 22–34.
Download Greville LJS, Tam AG, Faure PA (2021). Evaluating odour and urinary sex preferences in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 99(10), 930–938.
Download Wilkinson GS, Adams DM, Haghani A, Lu AT, Zoller J, Breeze CE, Arnold BD, Ball HC, Carter G, Cooper LN, Dechmann DKN, Deanna P, Fasel NJ, Galazyuk AV, Günther L, Hurme E, Jones G, Knörnschild M, Lattenkamp EZ, Li CZ, Mayer F, Reinhardt JA, Medellin RA, Nagy M, Pope B, Power ML, Ransome RD, Teeling EC, Vernes SC, Zamora-Mejías D, Zhang J, Faure PA, Greville LJ, Horvath S (2021) DNA methylation predicts age and provides insight into exceptional longevity of bats. Nature Communications, 12, 1615.
Download Mondal T, Muddaluru V, Jaafar A, Gupta S, Greville LJ, Gorter JW (2020) Transition of adolescents with congenital heart disease from pediatric to adult congenital cardiac care: Lessons from a retrospective cohort study. Journal of Transition Medicine, 1, Open-Issue.
Download Greville LJ, Pollock T, Faure PA, deCatanzaro D (2020) Seasonal transfer and quantification of urinary estradiol in the big brown
bat (Eptesicus fuscus). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 286, 113321.
Download Pollock T, Greville LJ, Weaver R, Radenovic M, deCatanzaro D (2019) Bisphenol S modulates concentrations of bisphenol A and
oestradiol in female and male mice. Xenobiotica, 49(5), 540–548.
Download Greville LJ, Ceballos-Vasquez A, Valdizón-Rodríguez R, Caldwell JR, Faure PA (2018) Wound healing in wing membranes of the
Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Journal of Mammalogy, 99(4), 974–982.
Download Greville LJ, Pollock T, Salter JC, Faure PA, deCatanzaro D (2017) Progesterone transfer among cohabitating female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 247, 199–204.
Download Pollock T, Greville LJ, Tang B, deCatanzaro D (2016) Triclosan elevates estradiol levels in serum and tissues of cycling and peri-
implantation female mice. Reproductive Toxicology, 65, 394–401.
Download deCatanzaro D, Pollock T, Greville LJ, Faure PA (2014) Estradiol transfer from male big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) to the
reproductive and brain tissues of cohabiting females, and its action as a pheromone. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 208, 126–133.
Selected Talks
Greville LJ, Pollock T, deCatanzaro D, Faure PA, (2022) Urinary Steroids as Reproductive Pheromones: Insights from Endocrine and Behavioural Experiments with Eptesicus fuscus. Joint meeting of the 50th North American Symposium on Bat Research and the 19th International Bat Research Conference, Austin, Texas, USA. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Bueno LM, Pollock T, Faure PA, (2021) Age, Sex, and Seasonal Comparisons of Urinary Estradiol in the Big Brown
Bat. 6th Biennial North American Society for Comparative Endocrinology Meeting, Virtual Conference. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Bueno LM, Pollock T, Faure PA (2021) Quantification urinary sex steroids in the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Virtual Conference. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, deCatanzaro D, Faure PA (2020) Seasonal Variation in Estradiol Transfer Among Male and Female Big Brown Bats. 2020 Annual Conference of the Animal Behaviour Society, Virtual Conference. (Talk).
View Here Greville LJ (2020) Examining the Pheromonal Potential of Estradiol in the Big Brown Bat. McMaster University Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Colloquium Series, Hamilton, Ontario, USA. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, deCatanzaro D, Faure PA (2020) Seasonal Variation in Estradiol Transfer Among Male and Female Big Brown
Bats. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Austin, Texas, USA. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, Faure PA, deCatanzaro D (2019) Seasonal Variation in Male Urinary Estradiol and Transfer to Female Conspecifics in E. fuscus. 49th North American Symposium on Bat Research, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, Faure PA, deCatanzaro D (2019) Seasonal Variation in Estradiol Transfer Among Male and Female Big Brown
Bats. 5th Biennial North American Society for Comparative Endocrinology Meeting, Gainesville, Florida, USA. (Poster).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, Faure PA, deCatanzaro D (2019) Seasonal Variation in Estradiol Transfer Among Male and Female Big Brown
Bats. 49th Ontario Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution Colloquium, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, deCatanzaro D, Faure PA (2018) Quantifying Unconjugated Urinary Steroids in the Big Brown Bat Across the
Reproductive Cycle. 9th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Poster).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, Faure PA, deCatanzaro D (2018) Quantifying Unconjugated Urinary Steroids in the Big Brown Bat Across the
Reproductive Cycle. 46th Southern Ontario Reproductive Biology Conference, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, Salter JC, deCatanzaro D, Faure PA (2017) Quantifying Steroid Transfer and Urinary Steroids in Female Big
Brown Bats. 47th North American Symposium on Bat Research, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Salter JC, Pollock T., deCatanzaro D, Faure PA (2017) Progesterone Transfer Amongst Cohabitating Big Brown Bats
(Eptesicus fuscus). 54th Annual Conference of the Animal Behaviour Society, Scarborough Ontario, Canada. (Poster).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, deCatanzaro D, Faure PA (2015) Estradiol Transfer from Male to Female and Between Female Conspecifics in Big Brown Bats. 45th North American Society for Bat Research, Monterey, California, USA. (Talk).
Greville LJ, Pollock T, deCatanzaro D, Faure PA (2014) 3H-Estradiol Transfer from Male Big Brown Bats to Cohabitating Females.
44th meeting of the North American Society for Bat Research, Albany, New York, USA. (Talk).
Media
Read Here Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Science News: Sending the bat signal - through pee (Farrar, 2020)
CONTACT
Thanks for stopping by! If you have questions regarding my research, collaborations, or opportunities please feel free to shoot me a message!
Lucas Greville, PhD
lucas.greville@uwaterloo.ca