The molecular ecology of stress: developmental plasticity in the face of predators, pathogens and climate change.

Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Beckerman

Keywords
Stress, predation, disease, climate change, phenotypic plasticity

Developmental plasticity defines the capacity of organisms to respond to environmental
change – natural changes such as disease and predation, and human induced change in climate. This project will focus on three
forms of stress linked to environmental change: increased temperature, exposure to
parasites and exposure to predation. These forms of stress represent the major axes of
natural and human induced threat for most organisms.
Several lines of evidence suggest that dealing with predators and pathogens requires chitin. The project will focus on how chitin mediates adaptation in a changing climate. The student will link sensory perception genes and neurotransmitters - responsible for signal
detection and initiating cascades of development – with special nuclear receptor genes that oversee and coordinate patterns of
development and importantly chitin synthesis and degradation. The project will identify developmental mechanisms for coping with
environmental change, using the model system of Daphnia magna and will leverage several advanced technologies including RT-qPCR and transcriptomics. The following three objectives frame the project:
1) Evaluate the role of candidate sensory and regulatory genes in stress responses via rigourous experiments and RT-qPCR.

2) Leverage extensive natural genetic variation and experimental transcriptomic technology to reveal major sets of genes responsible for detection, development and regulation of stress responses under climate change.
3) Explore via network modelling, candidate regulatory networks mediating stress
responses common to and unique to each form of stress.
The PhD will take advantage of collaborations between Sheffield, Edinburgh and the
Daphnia Genomics Consortium (Indiana, USA)

For more information about how to apply, or the application process, please contact Mrs S Carter (s.a.carter@sheffield.ac.uk).

To apply now go to: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/online