PhD position on Behavioural variability as anti-predator adaptation
The <http://www.orn.mpg.de/IMPRS> International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Organismal Biology is jointly organized by the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen and Radolfzell and the University of Konstanz. More than 25 internationally recognized research groups actively participate in the PhD program and offer challenging, cutting-edge PhD projects in the fields of Behavioral Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Physiology, and Neurobiology. Project description Many prey animals show erratic and unpredictable movement, termed protean behaviour, as an anti-predator adaptation. Moths with ultrasound sensitive ears are a classic example for this behaviour, exhibiting both directional and erratic flight to escape from echolocating insectivorous bats. Moth families differ in the number of auditory receptor cells (1-4 cells) and their antipredator strategies, allowing for a comparative approach to study the function and adaptive value of evasive flight and protean escape mechanisms. The well-studied neurobiology of the simple moth ear provides an ideal foundation for a systematic study of moth evasive flight, which is the phenotype selected by bat-predation. Using both tethered and free-flying moths in the lab, we will quantify the intra- and interspecific stereotypy and variability in evasive flight across moth species from different families. This data will be used to address biological hypotheses regarding the functional ecology of evasive flight in the face of predators, such as the risk-dependent evolution of erratic flight, sustained erratic flight without sensory input and phenotypic variability as adaptation to predation pressure. We are looking for a dedicated candidate genuinely interested in bioacoustics, sensory ecology and animal behaviour, who is motivated to work both in the lab and field, potentially at night and at our field station in Bulgaria. Experience in these areas, as well as technical and programming skills and a driver's licence can be advantageous. Please do not hesitate to contact Holger Goerlitz for further information. Main advisor <http://www.orn.mpg.de/409052/employee_page?c=660919&employee_id=26282> Holger Goerlitz, MPIO Seewiesen Our offer All students accepted to the program will be supported by stipends or contracts. Besides their own research, the IMPRS fellows attend laboratory courses and workshops in relevant transferable skills like scientific writing and project management. Talks by invited speakers during our annual IMPRS symposium, student retreats, and conference participation complete the individually tailored curriculum. The working language is English. Each PhD student receives individual supervision and mentoring and is guided in her/his research work by a PhD advisory committee. Your application Outstanding students of all nationalities with a deep commitment to basic research in Organismal Biology are invited to apply. Deadline for the application is January 15, 2014. Interviews with the applicants are scheduled for Mid-March. Candidates accepted into the program may start latest September 2014. The Max Planck Society and the University of Konstanz are equal opportunity employers. Qualification: Applicants should hold a MSc or equivalent degree in biology or a related discipline at the point of enrollment. Queries should be mailed to the program office: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Application : For the online application process visit <http://www.orn.mpg.de/2383/Application> www.orn.mpg.de/2383/Application. More information on the current PhD projects at http://www.orn.mpg.de/projects and <http://www.facebook.com/OrganismalBiology> www.facebook.com/OrganismalBiology.
