Three fully-funded MSc by Research studentships are available in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, to start in September 2024. The studentship will cover a stipend of £18,622 plus home studentship fees.
Project details are as given below; any further questions can be directed to Dr Chris Clements for projects 1 and 2 ([email protected]), Dr Lucy Alford for project 3 ([email protected]) or Professor Richard Wall for any of the projects ([email protected]). Applications should be submitted via the University of Bristol postgraduate application portal. https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/start-application/ Successful applicants will have at least a 2.i honours degree in Biology or related subject by the start of the MSc and must be UK-based. Please state on your application which of the projects you are applying for. The closing date for applications is the 1st March 2024, but this will be extended should the positions not be filled. PR1. Modelling non-target impacts on insect decomposer species at a landscape level. Supervisors : Dr Chris Clements & Prof Richard Wall A spatial simulation model of the community of invertebrates that colonise and decompose livestock dung will be built in the R statistical package. The model will be used to explore non-target impacts of the antiparasitic anthelmintics administered to livestock on important insect decomposer species. The model will be parameterised using Information on excretion profiles of parasiticides, lethal and sublethal susceptibility to faecal residues and attractivity of contaminated pats, obtained from the published literature. Effects on populations will be estimated using data on the frequency and timing of parasiticides used, proportion of animals treated and excretion profiles of residues, while accounting for impacts on insect generations over time. The model will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the landscape-scale risks to invertebrate decomposer communities associated with current patterns of livestock parasiticide use in the UK. Ideal candidate: will have strong interests in coding and modelling (preferably in R but other languages acceptable), and ideally mathematics to A level, as well as an interest in community and/or population ecology. They will be independent and happy to self-teach aspects of coding and modelling through online courses and papers/published texts. PR2: The environmental benefits of targeted selective treatment of cattle. Supervisors : Dr Chris Clements & Prof Richard Wall Strategies which use antiparasitic medicines against the livestock in a population most at need (Targeted Selective Treatment), are increasingly advocated as a means of reducing the amount of antiparasitic chemical used, with concomitant environmental benefits, while minimising selection for resistance. A field study will be undertaken with three groups of farms, one applying a conventional treatment strategy to beef cattle at spring turnout, one applying no treatments and the other applying a TST approach where the impacts on dung-colonising invertebrates will be assessed. Faecal egg counts will be used to assess parasite burdens and help direct treatments in the TSTgroup. Beetle and fly populations will be assessed on each farm using baited pit-fall traps and pat searching techniques. Ideal candidate: Will have a strong interest in field ecology and the outdoors, be independent in their approaches to problems solving, and some experience carrying out ecological experiments. They will also need good interpersonal skills and some familiarity with farming systems. A full driving licence is also essential. PR3: Impacts of a changing climate on livestock ectoparasites Supervisors : Dr Lucy Alford & Prof Richard Wall Arthropod parasites that live on the external bodies of their living hosts are known as ectoparasites (e.g. mites, lice, ticks and blowfly larvae). Infestation can result in compromised animal health and welfare, and for livestock, reduced economic value. As ectothermic organisms, these arthropod pests have limited ability to regulate their body temperature above and below ambient, with environmental temperature consequently impacting all aspects of their biology. For this reason, climate change will have profound implications for these economically important parasites, infestation rates, and ultimately livestock health. A better understanding of the impacts of cold and heat shock events on a range of ectoparasites will enable a better understanding of the likely impacts of climate change on populations of these arthropods. This project will consider the resilience of model ectoparasite species in the laboratory using controlled environment microcosms. Ideal candidate: will have a strong interest in invertebrate thermal physiology, entomology and/or parasitology within the wider context of climate change and pest outbreaks.
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In our latest paper out in Scientific Reports, we employed field trials and laboratory cage experiments to investigate the impact of winter flower strips on aphid biological control and the potential for competitive interactions between winter-active parasitoids and pollinators. We found that winter flower strips did not enhance aphid biological control in adjacent cereal fields. Furthermore, we found no evidence for exploitative competition between winter-active parasitoids and pollinators over floral resources. Flower strips may thus be implemented during winter months to support nectar-feeding insects when floral resources are scarce, with no evidence of competition between pollinators and parasitoids, nor a detrimental impact on biological control provision. You can read the full paper here.
Congratulations to Daisy Scott who has been awarded £500 by the University of Bristol's Postgraduate Research Fund. Daisy is currently investigating competition between beneficial flower-visiting insects using a metabolomic approach as part of her Masters by Research. The funds will enable Daisy to buy equipment to process her insect samples. Congratulations Daisy!
We are grateful to the Liv Sidse Jansen Foundation for awarding us the funds to buy vital equipment for the study of insect thermal physiology.
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