PhD position on molecular ecology of Hawksbill Turtle (field site Seychelles)

A very good opportunity to secure funding for the following PhD focusing on evolutionary and conservation genetics in the Hawksbill turtle has just arisen at UEA.

The funding is open to all EU students. Could you please bring this PhD to the attention of any suitable strong candidates that you may know. The deadline is just a couple of weeks so the sooner the better.

Thanks for your help

Genetic studies have determined many aspects of the biology of marine turtles, e.g. population structure, migration and natal philopatry, however little work has been done on their mating systems. Although it is easy to observe females nesting it is normally impossible to know the identity of the males that have fertilised the eggs as mating happens at sea, often a long way away from the nesting grounds. Such details are of evolutionary interest but also crucial in directing the conservation of this highly vulnerable group. For example, knowing paternity means that the effective population size can be estimated. Determining mating preferences can also be important - if females prefer bigger males then the loss of such males through poaching may be highly detrimental. Alternatively, if females prefer genetically dissimilar males to reduce inbreeding, population fragmentation may have a greater impact than previously thought. The PhD will assess patterns of paternity and genetic diversity within the Cousine island population of the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata. No such information is currently available on this species. This information will be used to determine the mating system, to accurately calculate effective population size, to assess levels of genetic variability (and viability) within this population and to determine connectivity between the Seychelles population and other populations of this turtle around the world. The study will produce important knowledge on this critically endangered species that will assist with its conservation, but the finding will also be of great general interest to biologists and the public in general.

This work would be in collaboration with Cousine Island. Permission has already been gained to undertake sampling of this species and one year of preliminary samples are already available for use.

Start Date October 2009 - Funding open to UK and EU candidates

Information on the project and how to apply can be found at:

http://biobis.bio.uea.ac.uk/Resproject/bio_all.aspx

The project is a mix of molecular lab work and field work but the applicant must be very clear that much of the time and basis of the study will be lab based (Molecular DNA work in the lab). So while field skills are useful having molecular experience, or the desire to work with such techniques, is more important. The Seychelles fieldwork component will be more limited to just a few months per year. The person must also be hard working, organized and focused on the evolutionary aspects of the project and not just the conservation. Although the initial goals are well defined there would be plenty of scope for the PhD to go into new areas. In many ways it is going to be more an evolutionary ecology project, understanding patterns of mate choice and problems with low genetic diversity etc, than it is going to be just a conservation project.

Applicants should complete the application form available (see above) together with a CV and cover letter within the next 2 weeks. Please mark clearly that they are applying for a Dean’s studentship in BIO for Oct 2009 entry. Please also send a copy of the application directly to david.richardson@uea.ac.uk

Supervisor; Dr David S Richardson in collaboration with Cousine Island

Contact

Dr. David S. Richardson

School of Biological Sciences,

University of East Anglia,

Norwich NR4 7TJ

England

http://biobis.bio.uea.ac.uk/biosql/fac_show.aspx?ID=325

email david.richardson@uea.ac.uk

Telephone 01603 591496

FAX 01603 592250