Natural selection is the main
mechanism driving evolution and therefore the hub for our comprehension of the
origin and maintenance of biodiversity. Yet, a key causal factor of natural
selection is environmental variation, but our knowledge on how environmental
variation shapes natural selection in wild populations is extremely limited. First,
it is not yet known what agents of selection are acting on given phenotypes or
genotypes. Since environmental conditions are not constant in time for given
populations, natural selection has acted to produce local evolutionary
adaptations. However, temporal environmental variation may drive phenotypic
selection and thereby result in changes in the frequency of underlying
genotypes (microevolution) or adaptation without need of such change due to phenotypic
plasticity. Thus, second, our knowledge on the role of microevolution or
phenotypic plasticity in natural populations is rather limited. If those
phenotypes are associated with reproductive variables, it is expected that
evolutionary change can produce parallel consequences at demographic level in
the population depending on how phenotypes are selected and transferred from
one generation to the next. Thus, and third, an accurate understanding of how
environmental change may affect population persistence, needs necessarily go
through marrying local evolutionary adaptation and population dynamics. In this
PhD project the student will explore 1) the agents of selection acting on
laying date of a wild bird, 2) the role of microevolution or phenotypic
plasticity on local adaptation, and 3) the demographic consequences of
different scenarios of environmental change within an eco-evolutionary
perspective.
The student will take advantage of
one of the best monitored long-term and individually-based studied populations
of pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
in Europe. This Spanish population has been monitored for the last 32 years and
has compiled an outstanding set of environmental variables recording a full set
of morphological and life-history traits over the years. The student will be
supervised by Dr. J. Martínez-Padilla (UMIB – University of
Oviedo/CSIC) and Dr.
J. Potti in close collaboration with Dr. L. Garamszegi (both at Estación
Biológica de Doñana, CSIC). In addition,
the student is expected to visit Prof.
T. Coulson’s group at the
University of Oxford to improve theoretical background and analytical skills on
eco-evolutionary dynamics.
We are seeking for a student with
strong skills/interest in statistics and programming in R and a deep interest
in evolutionary biology and quantitative genetics. A Master degree (MsC
equivalent) is required, particularly on evolutionary ecology. Fieldwork experience
particularly on wild birds and (at least some) knowledge of Spanish language
will be a plus. We offer a three-year fully funded studentship, and depending
on the stage of the PhD, the student will be based at Estación Biológica de
Doñana (Sevilla) or UMIB (Oviedo), both in Spain. Fieldwork will take place in
Madrid. A research visit to the University of Oxford (UK) is expected.
Candidates are encouraged to send
their CV along a motivation letter to Dr. J. Martínez-Padilla (jmartinezpadilla12@gmail.com) and Dr. J. Potti (jpotti@ebd.csic.es) before the end of June of 2016. More details about the project can be
found here.