INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY, COOPERATIVENESS AND CONSEQUENCES OF PARTNER CHOICE
Project leader Markus Öst
Like humans, animals too have personalities, some of them being bold and brave, while others are shy and softy. These differences have traditionally been explained away as noise surrounding adaptive population-average behaviour. Recent theory has aimed at adaptively explaining this variability. However, little is known about whether personality affects the tendency to cooperate with others, and whether the mixture of personality types in socially breeding groups has fitness consequences. These open questions can best be addressed by an integrative approach, since genetics and individual state influence endocrine mechanisms that govern behaviour.
This four-year project funded by Academy of Finland aims to 1) demonstrate the existence of personalities, 2) relate personality and physiological stress response to parental care strategy and parental quality and state and 3) explore the distribution of personalities in cooperative groups and its fitness consequences. The model species is the eider duck (Somateria mollissima), where females show a variety of parental care strategies, ranging from solo care to joint care with other females.
Fecal steroid analyses are ideal for studying hormone-behaviour relationships. It has previously been shown that stress responses relate to personalities and dominance. We will quantify individual quality, dominance, boldness, activity, exploratory behaviour and physiological social stress response, as judged by fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) before and after choosing parental care strategy. This defines individuals on the “boldness-shyness” personality axis.
Field work will take place at Tvärminne Zoological Station, SW Finland, in a long-term, individually-marked study population. The biochemical analyses (immunoassay) will be conducted abroad. The doctoral student will be based at Ekenäs, Finland, joining the interdisciplinary ARONIA Coastal Zone Research Team established in 2008. The new Ekenäs campus creates an inspirational setting for supervision and training, and the candidate will be enrolled at Åbo Akademi University.
HOW TO APPLY
We are looking for a self-motivated person with a Master’s Degree, able to work both independently and in a team. The position is open from early 2009 (with some flexibility) until the end of 2012. The thesis work will be supervised by Dr. Markus Öst together with a postdoc. The position is open to anyone with an interest in behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology or physiological ecology. Previous experience of field and lab work, good knowledge of statistics and proficient writing skills in English are desirable qualifications. The salary will be paid according to the guidelines of Åbo Akademi University.
Applications (in English) should include a -Statement of research interests and motivation for applying for this position, not exceeding 2 pages
-CV
-Publication list (if available)
-Contact information of two academic references
Send your application electronically to Markus Öst, markus.ost@novia.fi. For further information, please e-mail or call Markus Öst (tel. +358-19-224 8414).
Application deadline: 31 December 2008.
Project leader Markus Öst
Like humans, animals too have personalities, some of them being bold and brave, while others are shy and softy. These differences have traditionally been explained away as noise surrounding adaptive population-average behaviour. Recent theory has aimed at adaptively explaining this variability. However, little is known about whether personality affects the tendency to cooperate with others, and whether the mixture of personality types in socially breeding groups has fitness consequences. These open questions can best be addressed by an integrative approach, since genetics and individual state influence endocrine mechanisms that govern behaviour.
This four-year project funded by Academy of Finland aims to 1) demonstrate the existence of personalities, 2) relate personality and physiological stress response to parental care strategy and parental quality and state and 3) explore the distribution of personalities in cooperative groups and its fitness consequences. The model species is the eider duck (Somateria mollissima), where females show a variety of parental care strategies, ranging from solo care to joint care with other females.
Fecal steroid analyses are ideal for studying hormone-behaviour relationships. It has previously been shown that stress responses relate to personalities and dominance. We will quantify individual quality, dominance, boldness, activity, exploratory behaviour and physiological social stress response, as judged by fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) before and after choosing parental care strategy. This defines individuals on the “boldness-shyness” personality axis.
Field work will take place at Tvärminne Zoological Station, SW Finland, in a long-term, individually-marked study population. The biochemical analyses (immunoassay) will be conducted abroad. The doctoral student will be based at Ekenäs, Finland, joining the interdisciplinary ARONIA Coastal Zone Research Team established in 2008. The new Ekenäs campus creates an inspirational setting for supervision and training, and the candidate will be enrolled at Åbo Akademi University.
HOW TO APPLY
We are looking for a self-motivated person with a Master’s Degree, able to work both independently and in a team. The position is open from early 2009 (with some flexibility) until the end of 2012. The thesis work will be supervised by Dr. Markus Öst together with a postdoc. The position is open to anyone with an interest in behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology or physiological ecology. Previous experience of field and lab work, good knowledge of statistics and proficient writing skills in English are desirable qualifications. The salary will be paid according to the guidelines of Åbo Akademi University.
Applications (in English) should include a -Statement of research interests and motivation for applying for this position, not exceeding 2 pages
-CV
-Publication list (if available)
-Contact information of two academic references
Send your application electronically to Markus Öst, markus.ost@novia.fi. For further information, please e-mail or call Markus Öst (tel. +358-19-224 8414).
Application deadline: 31 December 2008.