Exploiting animal personality to reduce chronic stress in captive fish populations.
BBSRC SWBio DTP PhD studentship 2023 Entry. PhD in Biosciences
The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday, 5 December 2022.
Project overview - Over recent years the study of personality, defined as the presence of consistent behavioural differences between individuals in a population, has become an important theme in animal behaviour. In this project, the student will build on recently demonstrated links between behaviour and stress physiology to determine how we can harness knowledge of animal personality to improve the welfare of animals, and specifically fish, in captivity.
The goal of this project will be to develop and validate behavioural biomarkers of stress resistance for use in captive fishes. To achieve this, the student will investigate the integration of behaviour (personality), physiology, and welfare indicators (e.g. growth, longevity) at individual and genetic levels across a range of species maintained in captivity as models for scientific research (e.g., guppies, zebrafish). Investigating multiple models is important because, while physiological stress pathways are conserved across species, the structure of personality variation is labile across environmental conditions and evolutionary time. So we don’t yet know, for example, if the same personality types will always be more resistant to chronic stress or whether this will vary across housing conditions, populations and species. The project will combine theory and analytical methods from livestock genetics with physiology, welfare science, and assays of animal personality developed largely by behavioural ecologists.
What we are looking for – this will be an interdisciplinary project combining ideas and tools from behavioural ecology, evolutionary quantitative genetics, welfare science and fish physiology. Applicants need not have prior experience in all these topics, but must be interested in learning about any of these areas that are unfamiliar to them. An interest and aptitude for working with animals - and specifically fish - is essential. The project will involve working with multiple species in the fish facility to collect high volume behavioural data. Strong quantitative skills would be an advantage as the project will also involve a large statistical modelling component using R. However, full training will be provided and enthusiasm for learning these skills is the most important thing!
Want to know more?
More information on the project, eligibility and application process is available here:
As part of the BBSRC SWBio DTP this project will have a multi-institute supervisory team including Alastair Wilson and Erik Postma at Exeter, and Christos Ioannou at Bristol. The student will primarily be based at the Centre for Ecology and Conservation (CEC) on Exeter’s Cornwall Campus but will also spend periods of time in Bristol.
Potentially interested candidates can contact me with questions or to discuss the project further at a.wilson@exeter.ac.uk