Stage de M2 de janvier à juin 2017

Etude expérimentale des processus de régulation du flux alimentaire chez la fourmi Sujet de stage L’alimentation est un phénomène régulé par les besoins nutritionnels de l’organisme et la disponibilité d’aliments. En fonction de l’état physiologique de l’individu et de l’éco système dans lequel celui-ci évolue, le choix pour un type d’aliment et les quantités ingérées varient. Le choix du type d’aliment ingéré et la régulation de l’activité de fourragement intègrent donc un grand nombre de variables auxquelles chaque être vivant est confronté constamment. Les sociétés plus ou moins intégrées doivent faire face à un challenge similaire mais néanmoins plus complexe. Chez les insectes sociaux, et notamment les fourmis, la division du travail implique que seule une partie des ouvrières (les fourrageuses) parte à la recherche de nourriture (Hölldobler & Wilson 1990). De retour au nid, les trophallaxies (échanges alimentaires entre fourmis) permettent la distribution de la nourriture à l’ensemble de la colonie (voir par exemple Mailleux et al. 2010, 2009, 2006). Du point de vue du comportement individuel, chaque fourmi a le choix entre le partage ou l’accumulation des aliments. La résultante de ces décisions individuelles couplées aux proportions relatives entre fourmis donneuses et receveuses (fourrageuses et stockeuses) influence profondément la distribution de la nourriture au sein de la fourmilière et par conséquent, l’activité de récolte. Les résultats obtenus pour des groupes d’ouvrières chez Formica fusca montrent que l’entrée d’aliments est régulée par le processus d’amplification bien connu qu’est le recrutement d’une part, et un effet de saturation proportionnel à la quantité récoltée d’autre part. La distribution des aliments est hétérogène et centrale dans l’agrégat d’ouvrière. Quels changements de mécanismes peut observer lorsqu’on étudie, non pas une partie de la colonie mais son entièreté ? Les besoins des larves, la présence de la reine influencent-ils profondément le système de régulation du flux alimentaire entrant ou ne font-il que renforcer les processus observés dans des groupes d’ouvrières ? Grâce à un marquage radioactif des aliments et à la scintigraphie, il est possible de suivre, en temps réel et sans perturbation, leur propagation dans la colonie. En faisant varier le nombre de d’ouvrières fourrageuses et d’ouvrières domestiques (ne fourrageant pas), nous étudierons les interactions et le réseau qui se dessine de par ces interactions afin de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de flux alimentaire au sein de la colonie. Références : Buffin et al. (2009). Feeding and stocking up: radio-labelled food reveals exchange patterns in ants. Plos One 4: e5919. – Buffin et al. (2012). Collective regulatory stock management and spatiotemporal dynamics of the food flow in ants. FASEB Journal, doi: 10.1096/fj.11-193698. Echéancier La collecte des données aura lieu en laboratoire de janvier à mars. Laboratoire et lieu du stage Service d’Ecologie Sociale, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bd du Triomphe, CP 231, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgique Encadrants Jean-Louis Deneubourg (PU Université libre de Bruxelles) http://www.ulb.ac.be/sciences/use Cédric Sueur (MCF Université de Strasbourg) https://sites.google.com/site/cedricsueuranimalbehaviour/ Collaborations Olivier Bles, doctorant, olivier.bles@ulb.ac.be Contact Jean-Louis Deneubourg, tél : (32) 26 50 57 76, mél : jldeneub@ulb.ac.be Cédric Sueur : cedric.sueur@iphc.cnrs.fr Profil souhaité Intérêt pour la quantification et la rigueur scientifique. Logement et frais de mission Remboursement des frais de voyage. Aide apportée pour trouver un logement et participation aux frais de logement. Bourse boussole de la région Alsace et bourse de l’université de Strasbourg possibles Trois derniers étudiants de master : - Thibault Boelhy thibault.boehly@gmail.com 2014-2015 - Olivier Bles, doctorant, olivier.bles@ulb.ac.be, master 2 en 2012-2013 - BRUNET Charlotte (ULB, 2014-2015), Tel: 02/650.51.19 - email: charlottelea.brunet(at)gmail.com

PhD position

Our research group is looking for a new recruit for a fully funded PhD position in social behaviour in dogs and primates at the University of Portsmouth. The PhD student will work closely with a research team working on guilt in humans (funded by the Leverhulme Trust). More specifically, we're looking for someone who would work on guilt in animals to try address the big question of our time: Can we talk about guilt in animals?

The deadline is fairly short (interview to be held on August 16th) but it is worth a go!

*Please share if you know anyone who would be interested!*

Follow the link for more information

https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=76503&LID=1306

2 Offres de Stage en Australie

2 internships-6 months- (Master 2, University Diploma, other…) are available in John Endler Group (Deakin university, Australia). It is required to have a good skill to communicate in English.

·       1 project on sensory ecology (colour vision)

·       1 project on gene expression

COLOUR VISION: LINK BETWEEN THEORETICAL DISCRIMINATION AND ACTUAL PERCEPTION

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Colours are used in various inter-individual relationships: for species recognition, as an aposematic signal, for camouflage, and in mate choice. With our human eyes and cognition, we can only get a biased idea of the colours in the world. To better understand the evolution of colour and their functions it is essential to assess animal colour vision, colour discrimination and colour perception.

Thanks to the Just Noticeable Distance model, allowing determination of colour discrimination thresholds based on physiological characteristics, we can get a good idea of animal colour discrimination. However to determine perceptual colour space, influenced by neural processes, accurate behavioural experiments are necessary. Behavioural experiments will allow us to determine the correlation between the theoretical model of colour discrimination and the actual colour perception.

SUPERVISOR:  Adelaide Sibeaux (PhD Candidate), Dr.Gemma Cole & Prof.John Endler

Contact: asibeaux@deakin.edu.au, Phone: +61 434 094 164

RELEVANT LITERATURE:

·        Kemp, D. J., Herberstein, M. E., Fleishman, L. J., Endler, J. A., Bennett, A. T. D., Dyer, A. G., et al. (2015). An Integrative Framework for the Appraisal of Coloration in Nature. American Naturalist, 185(6), 705-724.

·        Fleishman, L. J., Perez, C. W., Yeo, A. I., Cummings, K. J., Dick, S., & Almonte, E. (2016). Perceptual distance between colored stimuli in the lizard Anolis sagrei: comparing visual system models to empirical results. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 70(4), 541-555.

TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT: Radiance/Irradiance/Reflectance measurement, Behavioural and learning experiments, Animals maintenance, Statistics.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Statistics (R or Matlab), Conscientious, Interest for sensory ecology.

IS THERE A CIRCADIAN RHYTHM TO VISUAL OPSIN EXPRESSION IN GUPPIES AND DOES THIS COINCIDE WITH SPECIFIC MATE CHOICE BEHAVIOURS?

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project will explore diurnal changes in the visual system of guppies (Poecilia reticulata), by investigating the expression levels of nine guppy opsin genes throughout different times of day.  Opsins are light sensitive proteins found in the photoreceptor cells of the retina. As such, opsins function at the interface between the outside light environment and the visual system.  In some species, opsin expression levels change throughout the day.  In guppies, any diurnal opsin expression changes may influence colour-based behavioural decisions, such as foraging or mate-choice. First, this project will identify any changes in opsin expression over diurnal time. Second, it will explore whether any reported opsin expression changes could have implications for a guppy’s visual perception and mate-choice behaviours.

SUPERVISOR: Dr. Alexandrea Kranz & Dr. Gemma Cole & Prof. John Endler

Contact: xandy.kranz@deakin.edu.au

RELEVANT LITERATURE:

·        Johnson A. M, Stanis S, Fuller R. C. (2013) Diurnal lighting patterns and habitat alter opsin expression and colour preferences in a killifish. Proc Biol Sci. 280(1763): 20130796

TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT: Fish rearing and handling; eye dissections; molecular techniques (including RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and digital PCR).

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Comfortable with fish dissections and early/late hours. English speaking is essential.

funded PhD at Liverpool John Moores University

A fully funded 3-year PhD position is available in the School of Natural Sciences and Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University:

Title: "Epigenetic inheritance of ecological information"

Description: Organisms are thought to adapt to changing environments through either short term (e.g. phenotypic plasticity) or long term processes (e.g. genetic mutation & evolution, gene flow). Accumulating evidence, primarily from rodents, suggests that there is an additional mechanism, epigenetic inheritance, which facilitates adaption to challenges over the medium term. However disentangling epigenetic inheritance from maternal effects is problematic in mammals due to viviparity: internal fertilisation and development permit the mother to exert considerable influence on offspring phenotype during embryonic development, potentially masking direct epigenetic inheritance. This project will investigate the role of epigenetic inheritance in vertebrates using the classical genetic model organism the zebrafish (Danio rerio). As an externally-fertilising species with no parental care, zebrafish are an ideal, genetically tractable model organism in which to study the mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance while controlling other transgenerational influences such as maternal effects.

This project will involve manipulation of the parental environment to identify experiences and ecological challenges which produce transgenerational behavioural or physiological effects. Following characterisation of parental and offspring phenotypes, RNAseq will be used to identify differentially expressed genes associated with different phenotypes in offspring. Associated changes in epigenetic status of DNA and chromatin will be characterised to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the observed transgenerational effects.

The project will involve behavioural and physiological analysis, as well as both molecular biology and bioinformatics, and would suit a student with either a genetics/molecular biology background and a keen interest in whole animal biology, or a zoology/animal biology background and strong molecular biology knowledge and skills. The project will be supervised by Dr Will Swaney, Dr Craig Wilding and Dr Prim Singh, all at LJMU.

Duration: 3 years, full time, starting by 1st November 2016
Funding: the successful student will receive a stipend in line with RCUK rates (e.g. £14296 in year 1), and tuition fees will be waived
Eligibility: UK/EU citizens only, with the equivalent of a UK 1st class or 2:1 Bachelors degree in biology/genetics/zoology or related subject as a minimum, good spoken & written English.
Desirable/relevant knowledge: bioinformatics, PCR, biostatistics/R, behavioural analysis, fish biology, relevant MSc

Application process: email an application letter explaining your interest in the project, your relevant experience and suitability, as well as a CV and the contact details for two academic referees (former tutors/supervisors).
Application deadline: Friday 19th August, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in early September.
Applications and informal enquiries should be sent to Dr Will Swaney (w.t.swaney@ljmu.ac.uk)

PhD Candidate in Animal Behaviour

The research group of Prof. Leonida Fusani at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, has funding available for a three year PhD position in Animal Behaviour. The PhD candidate should develop his/her own project within the frame of a larger project aimed to understand how different components of avian courtship displays (vocalizations, movements and posture, morphological traits, etc.) contribute to signal male quality and shape female response. The project focuses on two species, the domestic collared doves Sterptopelia risoria and the tropical manakins Manacus spp. Therefore, the PhD candidate is expected to spend several months per year working in the field in Panama and/or Costa Rica. We are developing innovative methodologies using motion capture and telemetry to study courtship displays, and the candidate is expected to contribute to the development of these methods.
The position is based at the at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Vienna, Austria (http://www.klivv.at/). The working language of the Institute is English and we welcome scientists and students from any part of the world.
The candidate will be supervised by Prof. Leonida Fusani but will collaborate with other scientists in Vienna and abroad with specific expertise in the methodologies listed above. Fusani holds a dual appointment and is also member of the Department of Cognitive Biology of the University of Vienna (http://cogbio.univie.ac.at/). The PhD student will be able to interact with scientists and students and use facilities of both institutions.
Profile:
• MSc degree in Animal Behaviour, Zoology, or similar
• Proficient knowledge of English
• Excellent academic standing
• Experience with fieldwork
• Good computing skills
• Genuine interest in studying behaviour from an interdisciplinary perspective
Further desirable qualifications
• Publications in international, peer-reviewed journals
• Previous experience in studying animals in the field
• Previous work experience in tropical areas and in rainforests
• Previous experience in video and behavioural analysis
• Ability to work in a team is essential
Letters of application including CV, photograph, 2 letters of recommendation and a statement of research interests should be sent to bewerbungen@vetmeduni.ac.at until August 21st, 2016. Planned starting date is October-November, 2016. For further information about the project, please contact Leonida Fusani: leonida.fusani@vetmeduni.ac.at.
The University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna promotes the employment of woman in fields of work in which they are underrepresented and therefore encourages qualified women to apply to this opening.

funded PhD at the University of Bristol

PHD STUDENTSHIP AVAILABLE
SOCIAL CONFLICT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

A fully funded PhD studentship is available to work with Prof. Andy Radford (School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol) as part of his 5-year European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. The successful candidate will focus on dwarf mongooses and be part of a 5-strong interdisciplinary ERC team examining the consequences of out-group conflict. We established the Dwarf Mongoose Project (http://dwarfmongooseresearch.weebly.com/) on Sorabi Rock Lodge Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa in 2011. We currently work with 8 groups that have been habituated to the close presence of observers; group members are individually marked and climb on a balance scale to weigh themselves.
The PhD will involve detailed behavioural observations, field-based experimental manipulations, movement modelling, hormonal assays, and analysis of long-term data.
The successful candidate will have a strong interest in social behaviour, will be highly motivated, academically accomplished, enthusiastic, and prepared for arduous fieldwork, and will have excellent communication skills. A Masters and previous fieldwork experience, especially in Africa or with social species, will be viewed as advantageous.

[Full funding is available only for UK or EU students.]
 

For further information or to apply, contact Andy (andy.radford@bristol.ac.uk).
 

Applications consisting of a CV (including the names of 2 referees) and a cover letter must be submitted by 31st July 2016. Interviews will be in early August; the ideal start date is Sep 2016, but Jan 2017 is possible.

PhD available: Transgenerational effects of stress on vocal learning

PhD student wanted!

Australian Research Council (ARC) project
Transgenerational effects of stress on vocal
learning
Based at Deakin University’s Centre for Integrative Ecology
with ARC Future Fellow Professor Kate Buchanan,
Professor Andy Bennett & Dr Ondi Crino
We are seeking an outstanding, highly motivated PhD candidate to work on the ARC Future
Fellowship research project “Transgenerational effects of stress on vocal learning”.
Previous work has demonstrated the fundamental impact of early life stressors on vocal
learning in songbirds. The aim of this PhD research program is to assess the extent to
which such effects are mediated across generations and test the possible mechanisms for
any transgenerational effects using Zebra Finches as a model systems. The PhD student
will work in a vibrant and productive research team testing the role of early developmental
stress for song learning and neural development. They will conduct behavioural assays,
bioacoustics analyses, neural sectioning and image brain sections for gene expression to
assess vocal learning.
Stipend: AUD26,000 p.a. (tax exempt) for 3 years (for overseas
students, waivers to overseas tuition fee are potentially available)
PhD Project content: The student will join a productive ARC-funded team testing the effect of early life
stress on vocal learning and neural development. The student will have responsibility for recording song,
carrying out playback experiments, collecting neural tissue and imaging the brain for gene expression, and
will receive training in all these aspects. The research will involve collaboration with the Max Planck
Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany and travel there may be possible. Although the project
involves clear aims to meet the ARC-funded objectives, we seek a student who is keen to develop their own
interests and consequently find their own individual niche within the project.
For a description of the research groups see the following sites:
http://www.deakin.edu.au/profiles/kate-buchanan
http://www.deakin.edu.au/profiles/andy-bennett
http://cie-deakin.com/
Some recent relevant publications by the group on this topic include:
 Crino, O.L., K. L Buchanan, L.A Trompf, M. C Mainwaring, S. C Griffith (2016) Stress reactivity,
condition, and foraging behavior in zebra finches: effects on boldness, exploration, and sociality.
General and Comparative Endocrinology doi 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.01.014.
 Woodgate, J.L, K.L. Buchanan, A.T.D. Bennett, C.K .Catchpole, R. Brighton & S. Leitner. (2013)
Environmental and genetic control of brain and song structure in the zebra finch. Evolution 68,
230- 240.
 Buchanan, KL, J. Grindstaff and V.V. Pravosudov (2013) Condition-dependence, developmental
plasticity and cognition: implications for ecology and evolution. Trends in Ecology and Evolution
28, 290-296.
The Research Environment: The successful candidate would be based in the Centre for Integrative
Ecology (CIE) at Deakin University’s Geelong campus 50 minutes from Melbourne CBD, and 20 minutes from
Bells Beach, Torquay. Deakin hosts one of the largest ornithological research groups in the southern
hemisphere, and in the recent ARC Research Assessment exercise it received the highest possible rating
of 5 in Zoology. Excellent facilities are available for the project, including a 300m2 new aviary, modern lab
and offices, well equipped 4WDs for fieldwork, excellent statistical support and established sites for
fieldwork on zebra finches. The CIE has over 60 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, many from
overseas, with multiple weekly seminars and paper discussion sessions, and the research group has 6+
postdocs and regular lab group meetings fostering a lively research culture. We strongly encourage PhD
students to present at national and international conferences, and over $3000 is support for conference
attendance is provided for each PhD.
Who should apply? The scholarship would suit a highly motivated and able student with strong interests in
avian evolution, ecology, behaviour or neurobiology. Essential requirements include: Masters or first class
honours (or equivalent in a relevant field); excellent written communication skills; high levels of enthusiasm,
motivation; an ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team. A driver’s licence is
essential, as field work may be required. The student needs to be able to take on the collection and
analyses of neural tissue, after training. Experience in field work with birds and/or bioacoustics or neural
analyses are desirable but not essential. The position will be based in Geelong, but with opportunities for
work and visits to other labs. Selection will be based on academic merit and prior experience.
Application deadline is 1st August 2016. For further information or to apply
contact Dr Ondi Crino (Andrea.crino@deakin.edu.au) or Professor Andy Bennett
(andy.bennett@deakin.edu.au). To apply, please send a statement of your interest in the
project, a detailed CV and contact details for two referees

Volunteers South Africa, Evolution and Socio-Ecology of small Mammals

Volunteers needed

Evolution and Socio-Ecology of small Mammals in the Succulent Karoo of South Africa

Opportunity: This is a great opportunity for anybody who wants to get more experience in field work related to animal behavior, evolution, eco-physiology, and ecology before starting an MSc or PhD project.

Project: We study the evolutionary and ecological reasons as well as physiological mechanisms of group living, paternal care, communal nesting and social flexibility in the striped mouse. One focus is on the adaptation to droughts, combining physiological, behavioral, ecological and evolutionary research. As this species is diurnal and the habitat is open, direct behavioral observations in the field are possible.

What kind of people are needed? Biology/zoology/veterinary students are preferred as candidates. Applicants must have an interest in working in the field and with animals. Hard working conditions will await applicants, as the study species gets up with sunrise (between 5 and 6 o` clock), and stops its activity with dusk (19 o` clock). Work during nights might also be necessary. Work in the field will be done for 5 days a week. Applicants must be able to manage extreme temperatures (below 0 at night in winter, sometimes over 40°C during summer days). Applicants must both be prepared to live for long periods in the loneliness of the field and to be part of a small social group.

Work of volunteer field assistants: Trapping, marking and radio-tracking of striped mice; direct behavioral observations in the field. Volunteers will also see how blood samples are collected for physiological measurements. Volunteers are expected to help with maintenance of the research station (water pump, solar power, etc.).

Confirmation letter: Students get a letter of confirmation about their work and can prepare a report of their own small project to get credit points from their university for their bachelor or masters studies.

Costs: Students have to arrange their transport to the field site themselves. Per month, an amount of Rand 1450 (around 175 US$, 100 Euro) must be paid for accommodation at the research station. Students must buy their own food etc in Springbok (costs of about R 3000, approx. 350 US$ or 250 Euro/month). Including extras (going out for dinner; shopping), you should expect costs of about 600 US$ / 450 Euros per month. Students get an invitation letter which they can use to apply for funding in their home country.

Place: The field site is in the Goegap Nature Reserve near Springbok in the North-West of South Africa. The vegetation consists of Succulent Karoo, which has been recognized as one of 25 hotspots of biodiversity. It is a desert to semi-desert with rain mainly in winter (June to September).

When and how long: We are looking for volunteers to start any time in 2016 as well as beginning of 2017. Volunteers are expected to stay for 2-3 months.

How to apply? Send a short motivation letter stating why and for which period you are interested and your CV via email to succulent.karooo.research.station@kabelbw.de.

More information under

http://stripedmouse.com/site1_3_5.htm