Postdoctoral position - University of Helsinki
Dispersal and species invasions: combining experiments with modelling
A postdoctoral position is available for 3 years in the Laboratory of
Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics (LEED), led by prof. Hanna Kokko
and funded by the Academy of Finland. LEED
(http://www.helsinki.fi/~hmkokko/LEED.html) is a strongly
international research group in which evolutionary questions are
linked to their population dynamic consequences, and the emphasis
varies from developing theoretical tools to data analysis and
experimental work.
The postdoctoral project considers the evolution of dispersal and
space use with the aim of predicting species ranges in a changing
world, using the invasive Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) as a model
organism. As the CPB is a pest species, the project has relevance for
both applied and pure scientific questions. The scientific framework
can be found in the following publication:
Kokko, H. & López-Sepulcre, A. 2006. From individual dispersal to
species ranges: perspectives for a changing world. Science 313:789-
791
The project forms a collaboration with researchers between
universities of Helsinki, Jyväskylä (central Finland) and Bremen
(northern Germany); the postdoctoral researcher will be based in
Helsinki but with frequent visits to the other universities. A good
candidate should have good skills in planning and carrying out
experimental work, and be keen to consider theoretical aspects of
species invasion. Particular theoretical skills are not required at
this stage (i.e. experimental skills are more important), since LEED
offers strong expertise in the theoretical area, and offers an
environment where such skills can be gained.
The CPB has invaded Europe since the 1930s, but is not yet
established in Finland. Suitable habitats (potato fields) are patchy,
and all potential sites are known within southern Finland. Range
expansion at species margins can be very sensitive to small changes
in behaviour. While researchers at Jyväskylä already have results on
e.g. trade-offs between fecundity and pesticide resistance (for
project description see
http://www.cc.jyu.fi/~mappes/research/colorado/), dispersal
parameters are lacking, and it is clearly important to know if a
beetle landing in a random location can respond adaptively: one has
to quantify mate-searching and resource-searching abilities of males
(of different life history stages) as well as mated and unmated
females. Much of beetle dispersal happens passively (wind-assisted in
stormy weather) and establishment attempts are always reported to
authorities, which together with the detailed resource maps creates
good opportunities to understand the process of species range shifts.
The beetles rarely alight, and wind tunnel experiments can therefore
be used to estimate the willingness for long-distance dispersal. This
can be combined with experiments on movement in matrix habitat.
Experimentation in the field is not possible because of the pest
status of the species, therefore the results will be scaled up using
modelling tools to match weather patterns and known past invasions.
Finally, the study will proceed to simulating alternative future
scenarios, taking advantage of known actual spatial structure of all
the resources available to the beetle. Wherever possible, modelling
will also allow us to derive more general results on the evolutionary
ecology of species at their range edges.
The position is for 3 years, with a flexible start date (anytime from
April 2007 onwards). Applicants should send an application that
includes an explanation of relevant experience and a CV to
hanna.kokko@helsinki.fi, and contact details of two or preferably
three persons who could provide letters of reference. Copies of
relevant earlier publications can also be useful. There is no strict
deadline, as the position will be filled once a suitable candidate
has been found. Applications can also be sent by post (see the
website www.helsinki.fi/~hmkokko for address information).
A postdoctoral position is available for 3 years in the Laboratory of
Ecological and Evolutionary Dynamics (LEED), led by prof. Hanna Kokko
and funded by the Academy of Finland. LEED
(http://www.helsinki.fi/~hmkokko/LEED.html) is a strongly
international research group in which evolutionary questions are
linked to their population dynamic consequences, and the emphasis
varies from developing theoretical tools to data analysis and
experimental work.
The postdoctoral project considers the evolution of dispersal and
space use with the aim of predicting species ranges in a changing
world, using the invasive Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) as a model
organism. As the CPB is a pest species, the project has relevance for
both applied and pure scientific questions. The scientific framework
can be found in the following publication:
Kokko, H. & López-Sepulcre, A. 2006. From individual dispersal to
species ranges: perspectives for a changing world. Science 313:789-
791
The project forms a collaboration with researchers between
universities of Helsinki, Jyväskylä (central Finland) and Bremen
(northern Germany); the postdoctoral researcher will be based in
Helsinki but with frequent visits to the other universities. A good
candidate should have good skills in planning and carrying out
experimental work, and be keen to consider theoretical aspects of
species invasion. Particular theoretical skills are not required at
this stage (i.e. experimental skills are more important), since LEED
offers strong expertise in the theoretical area, and offers an
environment where such skills can be gained.
The CPB has invaded Europe since the 1930s, but is not yet
established in Finland. Suitable habitats (potato fields) are patchy,
and all potential sites are known within southern Finland. Range
expansion at species margins can be very sensitive to small changes
in behaviour. While researchers at Jyväskylä already have results on
e.g. trade-offs between fecundity and pesticide resistance (for
project description see
http://www.cc.jyu.fi/~mappes/research/colorado/), dispersal
parameters are lacking, and it is clearly important to know if a
beetle landing in a random location can respond adaptively: one has
to quantify mate-searching and resource-searching abilities of males
(of different life history stages) as well as mated and unmated
females. Much of beetle dispersal happens passively (wind-assisted in
stormy weather) and establishment attempts are always reported to
authorities, which together with the detailed resource maps creates
good opportunities to understand the process of species range shifts.
The beetles rarely alight, and wind tunnel experiments can therefore
be used to estimate the willingness for long-distance dispersal. This
can be combined with experiments on movement in matrix habitat.
Experimentation in the field is not possible because of the pest
status of the species, therefore the results will be scaled up using
modelling tools to match weather patterns and known past invasions.
Finally, the study will proceed to simulating alternative future
scenarios, taking advantage of known actual spatial structure of all
the resources available to the beetle. Wherever possible, modelling
will also allow us to derive more general results on the evolutionary
ecology of species at their range edges.
The position is for 3 years, with a flexible start date (anytime from
April 2007 onwards). Applicants should send an application that
includes an explanation of relevant experience and a CV to
hanna.kokko@helsinki.fi, and contact details of two or preferably
three persons who could provide letters of reference. Copies of
relevant earlier publications can also be useful. There is no strict
deadline, as the position will be filled once a suitable candidate
has been found. Applications can also be sent by post (see the
website www.helsinki.fi/~hmkokko for address information).
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