Biology Education

Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) are long-lived migratory seabirds and constitute the largest tern species in the world. We are currently looking for a dedicated master’s students to study the circadian activities, foraging, rest, sleep during breeding in the largest and oldest Caspian tern colony in Sweden (Stenarna, Björns archipelago, Baltic sea). You will be based in a small village of Fågelsundet (NE of Uppsala) between the end of April/early May and the mid July 2025 and observe Caspian terns in their breeding colony at Stenarna. The study of breeding activities including parents of sleep and behavior expressed during courtship, incubation and feeding of Caspian tern pairs will occur via a combination of direct observation on the island (with overnight stays in the hide on the Stenarna) and by using the surveillance camera that is accessible remotely. You will also have the possibility to partake in chick ringing sessions. Any student interested in this project is encouraged to contact Susanne Åkesson for more information and to discuss specific ideas for their MSc projects.

Prof Susanne Åkesson, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology and Disease Biology (Room C221)
Email: susanne.akesson@biol.lu.se

Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) are long-lived migratory seabirds and constitute the largest tern species in the world. We are currently looking for a dedicated master’s students to study the anti-predator behavior, disturbance and nest failure rates during breeding in the largest and oldest Caspian tern colony in Sweden (Stenarna, Björns archipelago, Baltic Sea). The Master’s student will be based in coastal village of Fågelsundet (Uppsala county) between the end of April/early May and mid July 2025 with the fieldwork team and observe Caspian terns in their breeding grounds on Stenarna. The study of anti-predator behavior, mortality and types of disturbances of breeding Caspian terns will occur via a combination of direct observation on the island (with overnight stays in the hide on the Stenarna), by using the surveillance camera that is accessible remotely and tracking data. The student will also have the possibility to partake in chick ringing sessions on Stenarna. Students interested in this project are encouraged to contact Prof Susanne Åkesson for more information and to discuss specific plans for their MSc projects.

Prof Susanne Åkesson, Department of Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology: susanne.akesson@biol.lu.se

Project suggestions 

Supervisor(s): Allan Rasmusson, Bradley Dotson, Dept. Biology, LU 

 Many fungal species of the genus Trichoderma live in symbiosis with plant roots. The fungus produces substances that stimulate plant growth and immune system but also directly attacking other microorganisms, including pathogens. Therefore, some strains of Trichoderma have been used as biocontrol and biostimulants in agriculture, decreasing the need for agrochemical use. The effect of Trichoderma on plants is strongly dependent on the plant genome, which is involved in a mainly unknown intricate interaction with the fungus, likely involving exchange of several signalling biomolecules.  Plant genes that are essential for biostimulation and biocontrol by fungi can be used in breeding, to make plants that can better benefit from biocontrol and biostimulation. However, we presently do not know what genes these are.  

 One possible class of genes that are essential for positive symbiosis with fungi are plant genes encoding proteins that are needed for the plants to avoid being damaged by the Trichoderma. This fungus attacks other microorganisms by secreting enzymes and peptide antibiotics, including so called peptaibols, where alamethicin is the standard model example. This peptide also lyses plant cells, but cellulase secreted from the Trichoderma induces resistance to the alamethicin by modifying the composition of the plant plasma membrane. This process we have named CIRA, and it is likely important for plant symbiosis with Trichoderma, though direct evidence are lacking. We have isolated CIRA-deficient mutants for a range of Arabidopsis genes, indicating that a so far unknown response chain is active. The different mutants belong to the categories Gene expression, Cell wall modifying, Signalling, Membrane lipid modifying and “Unknown”.  

 We can design differently long projects (30-60 credits) at multiple levels: 

• Whole plant level comparison of genetics of inbred sugar beet breeding lines as expressed in their biostimulation phenotypes. Includes work with molecular markers, genotyping and phenotyping on soil. 

• Analysis of particular known Arabidopsis mutants, their (lack of) biostimulation by Trichoderma, and the potential involvement of calcium signalling. This will involve sterile plant growth, fluorescent microscopy and measurements using intracellular fluorescent reporters. 

•  Identification and analysis of novel CIRA genes by mutant screening. Arabidopsis CIRA mutants are identified by a fluorescent phenotypic change and verified by designing PCR assays and analysing a second mutant allele for the same gene. The genes found are analysed in a first line by bioinformatic database mining (e.g. gene expression patterns, protein localisation, post-translational modification, etc). In a longer project additional analyses can be done. Acquired data will be used in order to assemble a preliminary signalling path. 

 For the sugar beet project, background knowledge on plant physiology, genetics and/or agriculture is suitable. For the Arabidopsis projects, background knowledge on plant physiology, molecular cell biology and molecular genetics is suitable. However, a project can usually be designed in accordance with the background of a candidate. 

 For more information and discussions please contact allan.rasmusson@biol.lu.se or bradley.dotson@biol.lu.se. 

Pollinating insects, such as wild bees, are declining worldwide, threatening pollination of both wild plants and agricultural crops. The main reason for these declines is intensive farming practices which leads to losses of nesting habitats and flowering food resources [1]. However, all species are not equally affected, with important consequences for which wild plant species or agricultural crops that may suffer pollination losses. This is because certain functional traits (e.g. morphological and life-history traits) make some species more vulnerable to landscape changes than others [2]. Information on which traits make species vulnerable may aid conservation of declining species, by for example, suggesting interventions that match species nesting and foraging preferences or mobility.
This project takes a landscape perspective on bee conservation by investigating how habitat availability and landscape scale complexity influence solitary bee communities.

Potential research questions are, for example:
– How is local bee abundance and diversity affected by local and landscape scale habitat availability?
– How do bee traits interact with habitat availability at local and landscape scales to shape bee communities?
– Is habitat availability (amount) or landscape characteristics most important in moderating bee community composition?

Methods
You will use existing data on cavity nesting bees, flower surveys and land-use data, collected in 54 sites across Scania, combined with data on bee traits. While there are straightforward research questions given by our landscape design, the project provides ample opportunities to analyse data in relation to research ideas developed by you. Depending on the research questions chosen, you will use methods such as GLMs and multivariate statistics. You may also extract additional spatial data on habitat availability using GIS.

Contact: Anna Persson (anna.persson@cec.lu.se) and Henrik Smith (henrik.smith@biol.lu.se)

References:

1. Potts et al (2010) Global pollinator declines: trends, impacts and drivers. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2010.01.007
2. De Palma (2015) Ecological traits affect the sensitivity of bees to land‐use pressures in European agricultural landscapes. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12524

In recent decades, populations of many wild bird species have declined dramatically worldwide due to many factors associated with urbanisation. Climate change, induced by human activity, influence the population dynamics of wild birds due to its effect on behaviour, physiology, and reproduction. It was shown that in many wild bird species that not just the increasing temperature, but the unpredictable severe weather changes (i.e. immediate temperature drop, or snowing in April) can have a negative impact on nestlings´ growth or fledging success. Unfortunately, our knowledge about how hatching failure, as one of the main determinant of fitness, can change due to climate change, and how this effect is altered by urban environment (eg.: urban heat island effect), is scarce.

Aim of the study: Using our long-term dataset, we will to study, how temperature increase and extreme weather event influence hatching failure in 2 wild bird species (Blue and Great tits).

Questions:

Q1: Did hatching failure increase over the last decade?

Q2: Do the changes in hatching failure differ between urban and rural habitats?

Q3: Do the interaction between climate and urban environment influence hatching failure?

Your tasks:

• Collect basic breeding data in 2025, following the individual breeding attempt, ringing nestlings and adults, collecting unhatched eggs.
• Organise the data back till 2013 for your analysis.
• Collect the weather data for each nestbox from different databases.
• Carry out the statistical analysis.
• Write your thesis.

You will learn to:

• handle and measure birds
• use brightfield and fluorescent microscope, fluorescent DNA staining of the egg perivitelline layer
• basic principles of databases and using different statistical tools to analyse your data
• use GIS for analysing spatial data

Starting date: 1^st of April (but sooner is the better). Duration: 45-60 credits

Contact:

Main supervisor: Caroline Isaksson: caroline.isaksson@biol.lu.se

Co-supervisor: Zsófia Tóth: zsofia.toth@biol.lu.se