Call for applications 2008: PhD Opportunity at the Natural History Museum, Paris, France

April 11, 2008

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Call for applications 2008: PhD Opportunity at the Natural History
Museum, Paris.

Contact: J.-N. Labat (labat@mnhn.fr), UMR 5202 ‘Origine, Structure &
Evolution de la Biodiversit?’, Mus?um National d’Histoire Naturelle,
Paris, France.

*Endemism and speciation in a mega diverse island ecosystem: the
/Arthroclianthus///Nephrodesmus/ (Leguminosae) species complex in **New
Caledonia***

* *

_Project summary_

* *

The /Arthroclianthus///Nephrodesmus/ (Leguminosae, tribe Desmodieae)
species complex, endemic to New Caledonia, displays striking
morphological and ecological diversities. The distinction between
within-species and among-species variability is difficult. Twenty-four
species are currently described, but 42 morpho-species (37 for
/Arthroclianthus/, 5 for /Nephrodesmus/) have been detected in a
preliminary survey. Several aspects will be considered:

1) Systematics: the student will establish a molecular phylogeny (using
both organelle and nuclear DNA markers) in order to distinguish the
major clades, reconstruct the genealogical relationships among taxa,
estimate the date of appearance and timing of diversification in the
different clades, and propose a biogeographic scenario.

2) Evolution of floral morphology: on the basis of the molecular
phylogeny, the student will examine the evolution of reproductive
characters and assess the correlation between reproductive morphology
and ecology. The two genera differ in their species diversity, which may
be linked to the apparition of a pollination syndrome in
/Arthroclianthus/: whereas all other species of the tribe are
insect-pollinated, these species are suspected to be bird-pollinated.
The correlation between rapid speciation and bird-pollination was
previously observed in other genera of the family (e.g. /Chadsia/ and
/Pyranthus/).

3) Genetic diversity: because the species are very closely related, the
within-species genetic diversity will have to be considered in order to
delimit taxa and study their relationships. Moreover, events of
reticulate evolution are stongly suspected and speciation may still be
on-going. A fine-scale genetic study will therefore be performed within
small groups of species that will be circumscribed based on the
molecular phylogeny.

4) Taxonomy and conservation : based on molecular data and morphological
observations, species delimitation will be re-evaluated. The student
will subsequently use Geographical Information System (GIS) in order to
characterize the IUCN conservation status of all taxa under study. This
will be particularly important since the /Arthroclianthus/ and/
Nephrodesmus/ mainly occur in sclerophyllous forests, which have suffer
a drastic range contraction (only 1% of their initial range remains) and
maquis, which is under huge human pression (mining activity and its
related urbanization).

_Scientific context_

This PhD project will be performed within the broad framework of the
program “BIONEOCAL: Phylogenetic and population studies of the emergence
of endemism in New Caledonia”, funded by the French National Agency for
Research (ANR). This project fits the main research areas of the UMR
5202 ‘OSEB’, and the PhD student will therefore have many opportunities
to collaborate and share experience with other members of the team.

Co-advisors: Myriam Gaudeul (MNHN) & J?rome Munzinger (IRD, Noum?a)

_Selection criteria_

This work will require intensive field work, observations on herbarium specimens, molecular analyses in the lab, statistical treatments and writing publications. We seek for a highly motivated candidate with a solid background in evolutionary biology and systematics, including phylogenetics and population genetics. Molecular skills (DNA extraction, PCR, cloning) will be appreciated. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, organised and be able to work both independently and in collaboration with others.__

_Application Process_

A limited number of 3-year PhD fellowships are being opened. Interested
candidates must first contact J.-N Labat (labat@mnhn.fr
<mailto:labat@mnhn.fr>) and provide a CV before mid-May 2008. The
candidate will subsequently have to send a full written application
before 11 June, and to defend his application orally in front of the
Doctoral program College (auditions held the 30 June, 1st and 2nd July
2008).

See in french at :

http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/front/medias/enSup/13468_sujet_JN_Labat.pdf

About the application process (in french):

Further Information

Scholarship Tags: Call for applications, France, History, Museum, Natural, Opportunity, Paris, PhD