Dr M Symonds
No more applications being accepted
About the Project
Pheromones are chemical signals whose composition varies enormously between species. Despite being a nearly ubiquitous form of communication, particularly among insects, we still know relatively little about how this diversity has arisen. Previous studies have related differences in pheromone composition among species to their phylogeny and found that behavioural function in part determines the mode of evolution, with species recognition signals typically exhibiting large changes in composition at speciation events. However, the overall picture remains remarkably poorly understood. Does environment help select for differences in chemical signals? Does overlap with other closely-related sympatric species drive divergence in signals? To answer these we need more studies identifying chemical profiles of clades of closely related species, which need to be then related to their phylogenies. The opportunity exists for the student to test these questions with a number of insect taxa and pheromone types, for example trail pheromone in ants, sex pheromones in moths, and recognition pheromones in social insects.
Related references:
Symonds & Elgar (2008) Trends in Ecology and Evolution 23: 220-228
Van Wilgenburg, Symonds & Elgar (2011) Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 1188-1198
Symonds, Moussalli & Elgar (2009) Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 97: 594-603
Prospective students will need to apply for a research scholarship through Deakin University (http://www.deakin.edu.au/study-at-deakin/scholarships-and-awards/research-degree-scholarships). The deadline for international students is 31st July and for domestic (Australian and New Zealand) students is 31st October. Applicants for the PhD program must have a high first class honours or master’s degree and an excellent academic record with evidence of research experience, publication output and/or student awards. If you are interested in joining my lab, please send me an email expression of interest, explaining your background research interests and including a CV complete with academic transcripts and the names of two referees at the latest by 14th July (international) or 13th October (domestic).
Dr. Matthew Symonds [Email Address Removed]
Webpage: http://symondslab.wordpress.com
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