Dear all, Please circulate this notice to your colleagues who may be in contact with potential students (3rd years), as well as to any relevent listservs. Note the closing date for applications is March 30th 2008.
Summer Research in Dublin Collections-Based Biology in Dublin (CoBiD) Undergraduate Research Experience & Knowledge Award This summer programme offers research projects and activities for students in organismal biology using biological collections Research Projects extreme environments | fire ecology | DNA barcoding | freshwater ecology | biocontrol | environmental epigenomics | terrestrial ecology | invasive species | plant evolution and extinction | life history | genomic imprinting Requirements completion of the third (junior) year of an undergraduate biosciences degree | ability to work independently | strong interest in the project of choice | career goals in organismal biology Full funding for the 10-week programme will be provided for 10 successful candidates, including assistance with air transportation to and from Dublin, accommodation in Dublin, and a small weekly allowance, as well as project expenses. Prior experience with museum collections is not required one of the goals of the programme is to expose students to new research skills. The programme is open to all international as well as Irish and EU students. Term dates: June 16th to August 22nd 2008 For application instructions and more information: http://www.ucd.ie/ureka/ Applications must be received by 30 March 2008 --- Project 3 Evaluation of the performance of activity traps Mentor: Dr. Mary Kelly-Quinn Activity traps are generally employed in standing water bodies to trap highly mobile aquatic invertebrates. They come in various designs but their performance has rarely been tested. This project will test the performance of activity traps that have been designed to capture macroinvertebrates at two levels in the water column in various pond mesohabitats, e.g. marginal and open water. We wish to assess which of these levels will yield the best representation of pond biodiversity. The results from the activity traps will be compared to data collected using sweep netting so that taxa unique to the activity traps can be identified. The student would be trained in a wide range of field and laboratory techniques from use of traps to taxonomic identification techniques, and multivariate techniques to explore inter species relationships. References: · Giller, P.S., OConnor, J.P., and Kelly-Quinn, M. (1998). Freshwater macroinvertebrates. In: Giller, P.S. (ed.) Studies in Irish Limnology. Essays on the occasion of the XXVII Congress of Societas Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL), Dublin, pp. 125-157. · Riley, J., Kirby, J., Linsley, M. and Gardiner G. (2003) Review of the UK and Scottish surveillance and monitoring schemes for the detection of climate-induced changes in biodiversity. Report compiled for Scottish Government. (Available online as PDF) --- Project 4 Life history of the Mayfly Baetis vernus (Ephemeroptera) Mentor: Dr. Mary Kelly-Quinn Mayflies are an important component of the invertebrate communities of rivers in Ireland. Although the distribution patterns of this group has been systematically recorded (Kelly-Quinn and Bracken, 2000), relatively little is known about the ecology of many species, including their life history patterns. Baetis vernus is widespread in many peaty upland rivers in Ireland. It shares that habitat with another baetid mayfly Baetis rhodani. The absence of B. rhodani can be used to highlight acid impact. Unfortunately, the life cycle of B. vernus is not well described for these areas and is required before its indicator potential can be assessed. This project will analyse samples collected over a one-year periods from sites supporting B. vernus to derive the life history. The student would be trained in a wide range of field and laboratory techniques from taxonomy, morphometric studies, comparisons with material in the Natural History Museum, the use of microscopes and deploying sampling gear in different river systems. References: · Ashe, P., O'Connor, J.P. & Murray, D.A.. 1998, A Checklist of Irish Aquatic Insects, Occasional Publication of the Irish Biogeographical Society, Number 3: 1-80 · Nilsson, A, 1996, Aquatic Insects of North Europe: A Taxonomic Handbook. Volume 1, Apollo Books · Kelly-Quinn, M. and Bracken, J.J. (2000) The Distribution of the Ephemeroptera in Ireland. Occasional Publication of the Irish Biogeographical Society 5, 180pp · Wise, E.J. 1980. Seasonal distribution and life histories of Ephemeroptera in a Northumbrian river. Freshwater Biology 10: 101-111. --- Project 5 The biocontrol of the aquatic invasive weed Azolla filiculoides in Ireland by the frond-feeding weevil Stenopelmus rufinasus. Mentor: Dr. Jan-Robert Baars & Dr. Mary Kelly-Quinn The red waterfern, Azolla filiculoides Lamarck (Azollaceae) is a small aquatic fern which has established in Ireland as an invasive species. It originates from South America and was probably introduced as an ornamental fishpond plant. Although this species occupies a limited range in Ireland, thick floating mats out compete native plants and have serious implications for all aspects of water utilization. Although alternative control strategies have their merit, control of this fern elsewhere has relied on the inadvertent arrival of a small weevil, Stenopelmus rufinasus in the United Kingdom. Recently (2007) this small weevil, was collected on A. filiculoides in Ireland, but its national distribution is unknown. Heavy infestations of the fern previously recorded on the Barrow River system may have been controlled by the arrival of this natural enemy. It is as yet unclear when this weevil arrived in Ireland, but sporadic infestation may be indicative of the weevil being presen t in Ireland for a number of years. The weevil has been the cause of one of the most successful biocontrol programmes elsewhere in the world. It is part of a mass rearing programme in the UK in order to supplement the natural control of this weed as part of an augmentive biocontrol programme. This is in response to the cooler climate resulting in weevil populations only building up to cause significant damage late in the growing season. The aim of this project therefore is to monitor the population levels of the weevil on A. filiculoides at several sampling sites in Ireland. Samples already collected will be processed in the laboratory and field sampling will be conducted to determine the result of an augmentive control programme initiated in Spring 2008. --- Project 6 Response of cyanobacteria to extreme environmental conditions Mentor: Prof. Bruce Osborne Cyanobacteria-dominated structures/mats have a long evolutionary history and have been consistently reported from the extreme environments that existed during early earth history. Today, these mats are also associated with extreme habitats. Cyanobacterial mats, for instance, are very common in polar regions where they survive exposure to low temperatures, water deficits and exposure to high irradiances/high UV. In Ireland, cyanobacterial mats are common in ephemeral pools in the Burren, Co Clare, an internationally recognised area of exposed limestone rock, where exposure and repeated cycles of wetting and drying prevent the growth of most plant species. As cyanobacteria can produce large volumes of O2, they are an interesting target organism for driving potential life-support systems, or developing artificial atmospheres. The response of these organisms to levels of UV radiation equivalent to that seen on the surface of Mars or other planets provides a test case for the viability of developing artificial atmospheres from natural materials. This project will address the ability of cyanobacterial mats to survive under these conditions using modern ecophysiological techniques and parallels drawn with the likely responses of cyanobacteria to early earth environments. References: · Whitton, B. A. & Potts, M. (2000). The Ecology of Cyanobacteria. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. · Schopf, J. W. (1999). Cradle of Life. Princeton University Press. · Knoll, A. H. (2003). Life on a Young Planet. Princeton University Press --- Project 9 Earthworms in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin Mentor: Dr. Olaf Schmidt Earthworms are overwhelmingly beneficial soil invertebrates, however when exotic species are introduced they can potentially pose a risk to soils, habitats and native species. For example, invasive earthworms in North America have caused dramatic changes in nutrient and soil organic matter dynamics, plant community composition and the abundance of other soil organisms (Hendrix et al. 2006). All native earthworms in Ireland belong to the family Lumbricidae, but introductions of exotic species occur. For instance, we recorded a large population of an octochaetid earthworm species of east-African origin in a heated swimming pool in Cork (Rota and Schmidt 2006). Botanic gardens and the associated transport of rooted plants are known to facilitate the introduction of exotic soil invertebrates including earthworms, but all records for Britain or Ireland are dated (Blakemore 2005). This project will survey earthworms in the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin. First, selected greenhouses will be sampled, earthworms extracted, preserved and identified to, at least, family level using Sims and Gerard (1999). Second, if the soil and weather conditions during the project permit, selected outdoor plots will also be sampled for earthworms, with a focus on warm-temperate plant plots which may harbour earthworm species that could potentially survive outdoors under the (changing) Irish climatic conditions. Third, new earthworm records will be compared with the existing earthworm collection in the Natural History Museum, Dublin. Finally, during collection work the student will also record occurrences of exotic, earthworm-predatory flatworms, m ost notably Arthurdendyus triangulatus, which is wide-spread in Northern Ireland but of uncertain status in the Republic of Ireland (Cannon et al. 1999). References · Blakemore RJ (2005) Checklist of earthworms of Britain and Ireland after Sims & Gerard (1999). In: Blakemore, R.J. (2005). A Series of Searchable Texts on Earthworm Biodiversity, Ecology and Systematics from Various Regions of the World. Eds.: N. Kaneko & M.T. Ito. COE Soil Ecology Research Group, Yokohama National University, Japan. Online: http://bio-eco.eis.ynu.ac.jp/eng/database/earthworm/ · Cannon RJC, Baker RHA, Taylor MC, et al. (1999) A review of the status of the New Zealand flatworm in the UK. Annals of Applied Biology 135, 597614. · Hendrix PF, Baker GH, Callaham MA et al. (2006) Invasion of exotic earthworms into ecosystems inhabited by native earthworms. Biological Invasions 8, 12871300. · Rota E and Schmidt O (2006) Dichogaster bolaui (Oligochaeta: Octochaetidae), an unusual invader in a swimming pool in Ireland. Journal of Natural History 40, 161167. · Sims RW and Gerard BM. 1999. Earthworms: Notes for the identification of British species. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) No. 31 (Revised). Field Studies Council, Shrewsbury, 169 pp. --- Project 10 Investigating the spatial variability of California Black Oak leaf stomatal frequency in relation to altitude, latitude, climate and ecology across California, USA. Mentor: Dr. Matthew Haworth & Dr. Jennifer McElwain Leaf stomatal frequency is commonly used to reconstruct the elevation of past land surfaces and the carbon dioxide concentration of past atmospheres. This project will investigate the variability of stomatal frequency in relation to other biotic (i.e. ecology) and abiotic variable (i.e. climate) in order to understand the potential limitations of the stomatal frequency-CO2 method and improve its future application. The inverse relationship between stomata and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration allows plants to balance CO2 uptake against water loss, and can allow the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in which a leaf developed to be determined. This UREKA project aims to construct stomatal frequency carbon dioxide response curves from relict conifers in order to gauge their responses to rising atmospheric CO2 levels. These response curves will be used as part of a larger project to estimate how atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration changed across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary (200 million years ago), the fourth greatest mass extinction event in Earth history. Students will gain experience using stereo, epi-fluorescent and Scanning Electron microscopy, digital image capture and image archiving. They will also be trained in the preparation of fresh, historical and some fossil leaf cuticle and stomatal counting protocols. References: · McElwain, J.C. (2004) Climate-independent paleoaltimetry using stomatal density in fossil leaves as a proxy for CO2 partial pressure. Geology, 32, 1017-1020. · Willis, KJ & McElwain, JC (2002). The Evolution of Plants. Oxford University Press. Oxford. 352pp. · McElwain, JC, Beerling, DJ & Woodward, FI (1999). Fossil plants and global warming at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. Science 285, 1386-1390. --- Project 11 Fire damage: Semi-automated quantification of charred plant organs using image analysis Mentor: Dr Claire M. Belcher & Dr Jennifer McElwain The effects of fire on the terrestrial world can be devastating, not only causing destruction of habitat but also increasing soil erosion, however, fire can be necessary for regeneration in some vegetation types. There is increasing need to understand fire ecology so that future threats to todays ecosystems can be better understood based on current global warming predictions. Current mismanagement of forest ecosystems using total fire suppression has lead to devastating consequences, with stand replacing wildfires occurring more often throughout the world. There have been relatively few attempts to study the role of fire in pre-quaternary ecosystems even though the conditions allowing fires to occur on earth appeared some 400 million years ago. Throughout this long history fire has played the role of both cause, consequence and catalyst to the development of terrestrial life on earth. Part of the problem of studying ancient fires has been the lack of well developed techniqu es for identification of burned plants and plant parts. This project will aim to develop and assess semi-automated image analysis techniques for identifying and quantifying charred plant remains. Semi-automated methods have been recently used to quantify proportions of charcoal in sediment samples but have not previously been used to identify and quantify different charred plant parts (e.g. charred wood, cuticle and flowers) within an assemblage. Having the ability to quickly and easily identify and quantify ancient charred assemblages will allow ancient fire ecology to be better understood and links between the earths fire and climate histories to be made. --- Kind regards, The UREKA Team ------------------------------------------------------ Collections-based Biology in Dublin Undergraduate Research Experience & Knowledge Award www.ucd.ie/ureka
