PhD thesis in behavioral ecology: joint collaboration Wits (South Africa) and CNRS (France)
Alone at Home with Climate-Change? The Importance of good Personality!
Thesis subject description
Interactions with the environment, including social interactions, depend on the personality of individuals, for example whether they are shy or bold, more or less explorative. It is commonly assumed that proactive personality syndromes in early-born individuals are advantageous for competing for reproductive resources, but would be maladaptive for long-term survival in late-borns. However, we propose that not only adaptations to more intense breeding resource competition in early borns, but also adaptations to harsh environment faced by late-born cohorts shape personalities.
In this project we will study personality in the bush Karoo rat (Otomys unisulcatus), a diurnal, seasonally breeding rodent living in the Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. This species builds large stick lodges of 0.5-3.0 m in diameter as refugia from predators, offering a favorable internal micro-climate against extreme temperatures. These stick-lodges are expensive to build and represent a valuable resource that is used for decades by many generations. Individuals born early during the breeding season, after the long dry season when population density is very low, might easily find and occupy abandoned lodges and may even inherit one in their mother’s territory. At the end of the breeding season, population density typically more than doubles, such that late borns will need to build their own lodges or compete for existing ones. Seasonality in resource competition might select for seasonal differences in the frequency of personality types. We predict (i) bush Karoo rats from late born cohorts will be bolder, more exploratory and aggressive and (ii) express a lower stress axis activity compared to early borns. (iii) This is predicted to be associated with a better performance in competing for existing stick lodges, and increased building activity.
Laboratory
The successful candidate will be awarded a 3-year PhD fellowship from the CNRS to work at the Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien together with Carsten Schradin, co-supervised by Neville Pillay from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. In the field, the student will work together with Lindelani Makuya, a Wits based PhD student. In year 1 and 2, both PhD students will spend 9 months / year at the Succulent Karoo Research Station. Working language in the research group is English.
The Succulent Karoo Research Station in the Northern Cape of South Africa offers a great workplace directly at the field site in a biodiversity hotspot in a very remote location without internet, cell-phone or phone connection. The closest town, Springbok, is 20km away. In the first two years, the PhD student will spend most time there. In the third year, most time will be spent in Strasbourg, one of Europe’s most attractive cities, being 1h45 by train from Paris, 1h by plane from Amsterdam and Scandinavia, and at the border with Germany. It has a rich historical and architectural heritage, with Strasbourg's historical city centre being listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its diversity, pedestrian city centre and 500 km of cycling paths make it a very pleasant city to explore. Vibrant and affordable, Strasbourg is a true student city providing a great learning and living environment. While in Strasbourg in year 3, the student can spend 1-2 days per week working in home office.
What we are looking for
We are seeking a highly-motivated, independent candidate with excellent organizational skills. The student must be hard working and enjoy field work, as the first two years most time will be spent in South Africa. The ideal candidate has a background in animal behavior, behavioral ecology and evolution. Knowledge of statistical analyses in R is needed as well as proficiency in English.
Details: Employment for 36 months full time, gross monthly salary 2135 €.
Applications must include 1) a cover letter outlining why you want to work on this project, 2) a detailed curriculum vitae, 3) a list of a minimum of two referees that can be contacted, 4) master thesis and / or publications. To be fully considered for the first round of interviews around the 12th of July, please submit your application latest the 5th of July. If we cannot reach a decision, we will re-advertise and hold a second round of interviews middle of September (after field work by C. Schradin). Please send your application as a single pdf file to carsten.schardin@iphc.cnrs.fr, Neville.Pillay@wits.ac.za or apply directly online at https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR7178-REGSOM-082/Default.aspx?lang=EN.