Phenotypic plasticity: can a leopard (ant) change its spots?

Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Martin

All animals and plants exhibit a range of phenotypes, such as height, weight and facial patterns. These are fundamental since it is on such traits that natural selection acts.

Despite their importance how the variability of these traits is generated and how flexible they are remains largely unknown in many systems. Over the past 10 years we have developed a model insect system for the study of chemical recognition cues in several ant species. We now understand the natural range of chemical phenotypes that exist within several species and have just demonstrated that chemical phenotypes can be extremely flexible when subjected to the correct environmental manipulations.

This PhD will develop these original and exciting findings by conducting a series of lab and field experiments on ants in both the UK and in Europe. This will involve classic cross-rearing experiments, but using state of the art chemical analyze methods to help link up the observed behavioural data from aggression bioassays with changes in their recognition profiles.

Potential students needs plenty of enthusiasm, an inquisitive mind and happy to work with live ants. Training in all the chemical and genetic aspects of the project will be provided.

References:

• Helanterä, H., Lee, Y. R., Drijfhout, F. P., Martin, S. J. (2011) Genetic diversity, colony chemical phenotype and nestmate recognition in the ant Formica fusca. Behavioural ecology, 22, 710-716.
• Martin, S. J ., Vitikainen, E, Helanterä, H., Drijfhout, F.P. (2008) Chemical basis of nestmate recognition in the ant Formica exsecta. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 275, 1271-1278.

For further information, please contact: s.j.martin@salford.ac.uk

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