Research Projects

Evolutionary history of rodent voles cryptic species and biogeography

Supervisors: Dr Sophie Montuire, Dr Aurélien Royer, Dr Nicolas Navarro

Host Institution: CNRS-UBE-EPHE UMR-6282 Biogéosciences (France)

Phd enrolment: Université Bourgogne Europe (France)

Objectives:

  1. Evaluation of the accuracy of the discriminant models based on geometric morphometrics: temporal variation of the accuracy (in relation to the evolution of the molar shape complexity with the acquisition of new triangles in some vole species). Some species complexes will be considered (e.g. Microtus arvalis, M. agrestis, or Lasiopodomys gregalis).
  2. Study of the status of fringe populations and their morphological variability at the limits of their distribution concerning core populations.
  3. Tracing the renewal of lineages within a species complex in relation to climate change over the last 100,000 years. Investigation of the potential migratory pulses and species dynamics at the European scale.
  4. Evolution and local adaptation within lineages and their response to climate change.

Expected results:

  1. Provide new identification model (Establishment of robust models for accurate species identification).
  2. New understanding of the population variability at continental scale in reduced time scales.
  3. Understanding the role of climate change in long-distance migration and long-term dynamics at a continental scale.

Planned secondment(s):

The Centre of New Technologies, (University of Warsaw) will help to better delimit cryptic species at the morphological level combining morphometrics with aDNA, tracing the renewal of lineages and species dynamics at the European scale, and allowing to re-build models that include fossil well-determined species. Dr. Baca will act as co-supervisor during a secondment spanning from 2 to 6 months. The secondment period will begin after the third month of the second year of the DC contract. The dates will be subject to changes based on the progress of the IRP.