About the Project
Prof. Kathryn R. Elmer, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow
Prof. Colin Bean, NatureScot
Dr. Martyn Lucas, Department of Biosciences, Durham University
Non-native species invasion into new geographic areas is a major threat to biodiversity. Invasion is becoming more common, caused by anthropogenic activities and climate change. Time-series informed molecular techniques are a powerful high resolution approach to identify the true origins of invasive species and the colonisation processes by which they are entering new habitats.
A very recent invasive species to the northern areas of the UK is the pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbusha). This is an anadromous Pacific species that has successfully and widely established outside its natural range. Having been found in UK rivers only sporadically since the 1960s, in 2017 there was a dramatic increase in encounters and the first recorded spawning. Other areas in northern Europe also had an explosion of pink salmon in 2017 and 2019. Yet the origins of these pink salmon populations, the impacts of this sharp rise in abundance on its diversity, and its effects on rivers are not known. This studentship project will identify the evolutionary and geographic origins of pink salmon invasion to the UK.
This project will:
1. infer the source populations of UK invasive pink salmon, their demographic histories and patterns of contemporary expansion;
2. determine the characteristics of waterways with most propensity to invasion;
3. infer functional genomic regions associated with local adaptation to UK waterways and genetic associations with colonisation success.
There will be opportunities for field work, molecular laboratory work, and advanced statistical and genomic data analysis.
We have drawn together a strong international cooperation of partners focused on inputs and outcomes. This project brings together university and government researchers and applied conservation management. As a “CASE project”, it is co-funded and co-supervised by a government environment agency (NatureScot, previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage). The studentship will leverage expertise from Scotland and internationally (Ireland, Russia, Norway, Canada, Scandinavia), and build new expertise around a hub of biodiversity research with an explicit aim to inform management policy.
For more details see:
https://www.iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships/pink-salmon-invasions-in-the-uk-origins-and-impacts/
For information on our research areas, see:
http://elmerlab.blogspot.com
https://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/bahcm/staff/kathrynelmer/
https://snh.academia.edu/ProfColinBean
https://www.dur.ac.uk/biosciences/about/schoolstaff/academicstaff/?id=30
Application Process
Prospective students must apply to the University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Graduate School via the postgraduate student applications system
https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/graduateschool/howtoapply/
AND the IAPETUS2 website
https://www.iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships/pink-salmon-invasions-in-the-uk-origins-and-impacts/
Deadline: 8th Jan 2021 at 1700
In the application, students need to specify clearly that they wish to be considered for an IAPETUS2 studentship and state the research project for which they wish to be considered. Please attach the following documentation/information to their application:
a) Current CV.
b) A cover letter written by the prospective student, no greater than 2 sides in length, detailing their reasons for applying and why they have selected the project that they wish to conduct.
c) Two (or more) references, avoiding any references from any members of the supervisory team that are part of the research project that they wish to conduct.
d) Full transcripts of previous qualifications obtained to date.
The successfully short-listed applicants will proceed to an interview at the IAPETUS2 Studentships Panel on 16 February 2021.
Informal inquiries in advance to Kathryn Elmer are encouraged.
Eligibility and Funding
This is an IAPETUS2 NERC DTP funded studentship. All applicants need to meet NERC’s eligibility criteria to be considered for an IAPETUS studentship and these are detailed here:
https://www.ukri.org/our-work/developing-people-and-skills/find-studentships-and-doctoral-training/get-a-studentship-to-fund-your-doctorate/
UKRI regulations apply – please contact main supervisor if you are not a UK candidate before applying.
Related subjects:
Evolution
Genomics and epigenomics
Freshwater fish
Conservation biology
Invasive species management
Continue with Facebook
