Lead Supervisor: Prof Chris Thomas (University of York Department of Biology)
Co-supervisor: Dr Kanchon Dasmahapatra (University of York Department of Biology), Dr David Roy (CEH) Dr Rachel Pateman (University of York Department of Environment and Geography)
The student will be registered with the Department of Biology.
The evolutionary consequences of climate change are poorly understood, despite the ubiquity of climate change. In particular, historic geographic separations between related species have broken down in a number of instances as species shift their distributions, potentially resulting in hybridisation.
The southern, brown argus (Aricia agestis) has two generations per year (bivoltine) and has evolved (changing its host plant) as it has moved northwards in Britain since the 1980s, in response to anthropogenic climate change. It has recently colonised the distribution of the single-generation (univoltine) northern brown argus (A. artaxerxes). This provides a model system enabling us to ‘catch’ hybridisation in mid-process. The studentship will examine gene flow between the species, adaptation to changing environments, and the consequences for the survival of the northern species.
You will:
1. Quantify whether phenotypic changes have taken place in both species since ~1900, focusing on the number of generations per year and the likely host plants of populations.
2. Establish levels of gene flow along a north south transect, and identify whether this is resulting in the development of a new hybrid zone.
3. Identify genes involved in new adaptations and evaluate whether adaptive genes are passing between the Aricia species, focusing on genes responsible for host plant use and those determining the number of generations per year.
4. Estimate rates of expansion and gene flow, and assess the potential for introgression versus species replacement.
You will benefit from using distribution and other ecological data from the UK Biological Records Centre (UKCEH), Natural England and partner Butterfly Conservation, and from access to high quality genome assembly for BA (440Mb) from the Darwin Tree of Life Project. You will have a background in (ecological) genetics and be interested in applying those skills in understanding the evolutionary consequences of global change. You will be based at the University of York, but enjoy collaborating across a range of organisations.
The ACCE DTP and the University of York are committed to recruiting future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and we have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.
Entry Requirements: Students with, or expecting to gain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply. The interdisciplinary nature of this programme means that we welcome applications from students with backgrounds in any biological, chemical, and/or physical science, or students with mathematical backgrounds who are interested in using their skills in addressing biological, ecological or evolutionary questions.
Programme: PhD in ACCE (4 years)
Start Date: 1st October 2022 (the student will be registered with the Department of Biology)
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in the w/c 21 February 2022