MSc project in Evolutionary Biology
Food availability is a key aspect of the environment for arguably most species. It affects how organisms allocate their time and energy among different behaviours such as foraging, avoiding predators, mating, and reproducing. When food is scarce, organisms often face a trade-off between investing in reproduction or in growth and maintenance, or between reproducing now or later. Dietary restriction can thus influence reproductive strategies and the evolution of reproductive traits.
Fish in the family Poeciliidae show a staggering diversity of reproductive adaptations: some lay eggs, others don’t, some provide their unborn offspring with nutrients before fertilisation, others only after fertilisation. Curiously, some species have even evolved the ability to carry multiple broods at different developmental stages, a phenomenon called superfetation. Several of these reproductive adaptations are hypothesised to have evolved as a response to low or fluctuating food availability.
In this project, we will examine how high or low food levels influence reproduction in one poeciliid fish – the Trinidadian guppy. Traits to look at include, e.g., reproductive timing, offspring number and size, gestation length, and the presence of superfetation. The project will be conducted in my newly built, state-of-the-art fish research laboratory.
Required knowledge: This project can include anything from life-history, behavioural, post-mortem and advanced statistical analyses. A strong interest in evolutionary biology, attention to detail, team spirit, and a caring attitude towards laboratory fish are paramount. Familiarity with R is helpful but not needed. You will receive education in animal experimentation ethics
Length of project: 45-60 credits MSc level (60 credits preferred)
Start date: flexible but in September 2025 at the latest
Part-time work: there is a possibility for 1-4 hours/day of paid work, performing animal husbandry and maintenance tasks in my guppy laboratory
Supervisor: Anja Felmy, Homepage: https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/anja-felmy
Contact details: Send an email to anja.felmy@biol.lu.se or just drop by my office (D115, Ecology Building ground floor, near seminar room Tanken)!