A PhD position is available for 3 years
at the Insect Biology Research Institute (
IRBI, University of
Tours).
Reproductive differentiation in termites: study
of the chemical signals and the behaviors involved
Context and challenges
The reproductive division
of labor is the keystone of social organization in insect
societies. Indeed, in these societies, few individuals
monopolize reproduction, whereas the other colony members forego
their own reproduction to perform the remaining tasks to
maintain the colony. In termites, the access to reproduction is
known to be controlled by the reproductives already present in
the colony. Understanding how the reproductive differentiation
occurred in termites and identifying the involved signals, are
crucial questions to understand the evolution of social life and
the ecological success of insect societies.
In this PhD project, we
propose to study how the reproductives of termites control the
access to the reproduction of the other colony members. Among
the involved signals, several studies highlighted the major role
played by the volatile chemical compounds. However, other
signals have been neglected so far, like the peptides or the
vibratory signals. Nevertheless, in confined and solid
environment of the underground termite nests (galleries in wood
and soil), the specific nature of these two signals could
transport or code the information of these signals more
efficiently compared to the volatile compounds. Therefore, their
study could represent a major transition in our understanding of
insect societies. We will focus on the study of these three
signals which are: the volatile pheromones, the non-volatile
peptidic compounds and the vibratory signals. (1) Several
decades of scientific research revealed that insect
communication is mainly mediated by volatile chemical compounds.
Either in a complex mixture covering the cuticle or in a more
specific chemical blend produced by specialized glands. Even if
a new pheromone specific of the reproductives have just been
described in the literature in termites, its function and its
impact on the reproductives differentiation remain to be
clarified. We propose to study this pheromone as well as its
volatility and its transmission to the other colony members. (2)
Despite a growing number of studies involving the role of the
peptidic compounds in insect communication, studies on their
implication in the control of the reproductive access are
scarce. In a second part, we propose to study the non-volatile
peptidic compounds which are more suitable for the underground
termite life, because they can be deposited by contact on the
substrates. (3) The reproductives differentiation could also be
controlled by specific behaviors of the reproductives but also
by the other non-reproductive members of the colony. In several
species of termites, the behaviors using vibratory signals are
omnipresent, however their exact functions on the reproductives
differentiation need more experimental demonstrations. We will
test how the signals will be pursued by the other
non-reproductive members of the colony and their impact on
reproductives differentiation and on their social interactions.
The model system, Reticulitermes
flavipes, is a subterranean termite species present in
France all around urban zones. It will be studied by joining
chemical analyses and behavioral approaches. The signals, which
some are under current investigation in the lab, will be tested
alone or in combination. In order to validate the impacts of the
studied signals on the reproductives differentiation, behavioral
experiments will be processed by doing chemical stimulation
and/or playback experiments. The PhD will be supported by two
grants covering salary and experiments costs.
Required profile
Applicants must show interest in at least
one research field of the project: behavioral ecology,
evolutionary biology, entomology or chemical ecology. Knowledge in
social insects, behavior, statistics (with R) and chemical
analyses will be appreciated. A Master’s degree or equivalent is
required.
Practical and salary
The Insect Biology Research Institute
offers state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to study all
aspects of insects biology, ranging from genomes to communities
and covering research fields such as behavior, genomic, ecology,
biochemistry and evolution. The laboratory is localized in Tours
(1h from Paris), which is a historical town localized in the
Unesco world heritage site of the Loire Valley Chateaux.
Applications
Please submit your application by email to Christophe Lucas (
christophe.lucas@univ-tours.fr)
including a cover letter with your research interests, a CV and
contacts of two potential referees. Contact information: phone:
+33 247-367-372;
Website; address: IRBI, CNRS UMR7261, University of Tours, Av.
Monge 37200 Tours, France.
>> Application deadline: April 1st, 2019
>> Starting date: September 2019
