Stage

 M2 student project – 5 to 6 months
Socio-geneƟcs and male tacƟcs in the solitary bush Karoo rat (Otomys unisulcatus)
Host laboratory
Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC) – Université Sorbonne Paris Nord :
hƩp://leec.univ-paris13.fr/
Address : LEEC UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, InsƟtut Galilée, Bât C, Avenue J-B Clément,
93430 Villetaneuse, France
Context and ObjecƟves of the Project
The bush Karoo rat (Otomys unisulcatus) is a solitary rodent species living in the Succulent Karoo desert in
South Africa. It constructs and maintains sƟck lodges using dry plant material which are used as refugia,
protecƟng the animals from the harsh ambient environment (Vermeulen and Nel 1988). Adults live solitary
in their sƟck lodges and aggression among conspecifics is usually low, in parƟcular between closely related
neighboring females (Makuya et al. 2024). However, we do not know much about this species’ maƟng
system, in parƟcular as liƩle is known about the maƟng strategies of males.
InvesƟgaƟons (on ecology, reproducƟon and behavior) of this small rodent are ongoing at the Succulent
Karoo Research StaƟon (hƩps://www.stripedmouse.com/) since 2018. For the here proposed Master
project, which is linked to an ongoing PhD project of Chiarra Guerra, a long-term data set is available. This
data set includes individual-based informaƟon on life histories including body masses and space use, and
Ɵssue samples for geneƟc analysis from a large number of males and females during seven years of study.
The M2 candidate, in close collaboraƟon with the PhD student, will study the maƟng system in this solitary
species and populaƟon structure using molecular markers on a sub-set of the individual-based data
collected over seven years at this field site.
The objecƟves of the project are to:
- collaborate to opƟmizing mulƟplex amplificaƟon condiƟons for 20 microsatellite loci.
- genotype individuals trapped during two years (n=250): DNA extracƟon, mulƟplex PCR, genotype reading
- analyze populaƟon structure, pedigrees and relaƟonship to solve quesƟons about male maƟng tacƟcs:
age of reproducƟve males, occurrence / proporƟon of mulƟple paternity, the number of different liƩers
sired by individual males during the breeding season, monopolizaƟon of females by males, etc.
LocaƟon of internship: The internship will take place in the geneƟcs lab of LEEC at the campus of the
Université Sorbonne Paris Nord in Villetaneuse. The student will be supervised by two senior research
scienƟsts (Dr. C. Poteaux, chantal.poteaux@univ-paris13.fr and Prof. H.G. Rödel, rodel@univ-paris13.fr)
and by a first-year PhD student (Chiara Guerra, chiara.guerra@edu.univ-paris13.fr). The 5-6 months
internship will be funded by the ANR project COBESOLI (Costs and benefits of solitary living).
QualificaƟon of Candidate: We are looking for a highly moƟvated candidate, during his/her second year of
Master. The candidate should have some background in the use of molecular techniques and populaƟon
geneƟcs. The language of communicaƟon in the laboratory will be English and French; thus, good English
communicaƟon skills are requested.
ApplicaƟon procedure: the applicaƟon deadline will be the 15 November. Please send your applicaƟon
(CV, moƟvaƟon leƩer, M1 academic transcript, pdf of M1 internship report, email address(es) of 1-2
referees willing to submit support leƩers on demand) to: Dr. Chantal Poteaux (chantal.poteaux@univ-
paris13.fr), in copy to rodel@univ-paris13.fr.
Literature
Makuya L, Pillay N, Sangweni SP, Schradin C (2024) Tolerant mothers: aggression does not explain solitary
living in the bush Karoo rat. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 291:20241534.
Vermeulen HC, Nel JAJ (1988) The bush Karoo rat Otomys unisulcatus on the Cape West coast. S Afr J Zool
23:103-111.