Wanted: Two MSc students for a study of evolution & invasion ecology in South Island beech forests.
We have two MSc scholarships available for a project beginning in November 2007, funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund. This is the premier funding body of New Zealand. The scholarships will pay $12000, plus $4000 for fees in the thesis year of the MSc degree. However, our funding will also provide the students with a "summer research assistantship" in the first year (2007/2008) and last (2009/2010) of the project. Data collected over this entire period will contribute the students' thesis. Several jointly authored papers are expected to come from this study.
What is the project?
Invasive species can introduce intense selection pressure on recipient populations. Invasions by lizards and cane toads have shown ‘evolution in action’, although in these examples fitness consequences have been implied and not directly measured. We have preliminary data indicating that the massive densities of the invasive wasp Vespula vulgaris in South Island beech forests are exerting strong selection pressure on the morphology of the native bush ant Prolasius advena. Wasps are major predators of ants. Our data indicates they select larger ants and consequently lower the size distribution of ants in areas with high wasp densities. Foraging behaviour also appears to be modified by wasps. Consequently, queens that produce consistently smaller ants or ants with modified behaviour are likely to have a fitness advantage. We seek to experimentally measure these fitness consequences incurred as a result of this wasp invasion. We will quantify what appears to be rapid evolution in bush ants and then manipulate the speciation process. We will modify the size distribution of ant workers in reciprocal transplant experiments, examine for heritability of morphological and behavioural traits, manipulate densities of the selective agent (wasps), and seek genetic evidence for selection leading to genotype dominance in natural communities. This project should therefore allow us to directly quantify and measure evolution.
How do you apply?
E-mail Phil at Phil.Lester@vuw.ac.nz by October 15th, 2007. In the e-mail give detail on your grades and coursework. State why you want to apply for the position and give your career aspirations. We are looking for friendly and hard-working people that will enjoy spending several weeks each year in the South Island working in beech forests. Travel and accommodation during that time will be paid for. Not being allergic to sandflies or wasps would be an advantage. We will be working with Landcare Research Ltd on the project. We will be utilizing a range of techniques including molecular techniques, insect rearing in the laboratory, and statistical analysis. Both students will have a substantial field component to their project, but one with also be utilizing molecular techniques to look at gene flow. The work will provide you with ideal training for a position in a research organization such as Landcare or for entry into a PhD programme in NZ or overseas.
We will notify you of the results of your application on October the 22nd.
Thanks,
Phil Lester & Pete Ritchie (Victoria University of Wellington), & Richard Harris (Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia). |
