The International Max Planck Research School for Organismal Biology is a joint cooperation between the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and the Department of Biology at the University of Konstanz. The research group Clemens Küpper at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen invites applications for a
PhD position (f/m) on Alternative Reproductive Tactics in Birds: how to overcome a Ruff handicap
How does behavioural diversity persist over time? The Ruff Philomachus pugnax is
a charismatic shorebird with multiple male mating tactics that
profoundly differ in display behaviour, aggression and male ornamental
plumage. The differences are best visible in males during the breeding
season where three morphs can be identified: (i) Independents, large
aggressive Ruffs with dark plumage ornaments, who fight other
Independents over matings with females; (ii) Satellites, non-aggressive
Ruffs with pale plumage ornaments that co-display with Independents and
(iii) Faeders, small non-aggressive Ruffs who lack plumage ornaments and
actively distract ornamented males from matings whilst stealthily
attempting to steal matings with females themselves. Remarkably, these
reproductive tactics are fully genetically determined and the three
morphs appear to occur in stable frequencies in nature.
We
recently found that the underlying genetic differences are entirely
encapsulated within a chromosomal inversion region on chromosome 11.
This region comprises less than 0.5% of the Ruff genome. This inversion
variant is homozygous lethal since one breakpoint interrupts the gene CENPN,
whose product is required during mitosis. In addition, long time data
from aviary breeding suggest that carrying an inversion allele increases
juvenile mortality and therefore the inversion provides a genetic
handicap. Our detailed knowledge about the genomic differences has made
it possible to develop new diagnostic tools to determine morph
frequencies in nature that we want to use to advance our understanding
about the persistence of this unusual behavioural diversity and
illuminate how the genetic handicap is compensated for.
Your profile: We
are seeking a PhD candidate who will take a demographic modeling
approach to help us understanding, how the three morphs co-exist in
nature. The project will provide opportunities to do fieldwork and
sample Ruffs in different parts of Europe, carry out moleculargenetic
work (SNP genotyping) and advanced demographic modeling. The student
will then integrate already collected data from captivity and the wild
with newly collected data and construct a series of state-of-the-art
population-matrix models. These models will provide critical morph- and
sex-specific parameter estimates, which as such cannot be obtained
otherwise. The insights from the modelling will advance our
understanding about the maintenance of phenotypic diversity in a
textbook example for sexual selection. It will complement other research
currently carried out in our group aiming to unravel the proximate
mechanisms underlying the three morphs. Applicants should hold a MSc or
equivalent degree in biology or a related discipline at the point of
enrollment.
Our offer: The
PhD project is fully funded for at least 3 years. The salary will be
paid according to the collective agreement for civil service employees
(TVöD). The program offers a dedicated teaching program, high quality
research experience, and outstanding research facilities in an inspiring
research and living environment. 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.
Application: Please apply exclusively on our online application portal on no later than Jan 15, 2017. Interviews with the applicants are scheduled for Mid‐March. Candidates accepted into the program may start latest October 2017.
The
Max Planck Society and the University of Konstanz are equal opportunity
employers and are committed to increasing the participation of women in
its research activities and to employing more individuals with
disabilities and especially encourages them to apply.
More information at www.orn.mpg.de/IMPRS and www.facebook.com/OrganismalBiology.