Local adaptation of plants to pollinators MSc and PhD Bursaries available

1. Local adaptation of plants to pollinators MSc and PhD Bursaries available Bee ecotype Bee and fly ecotypes alongside Fly ecotype

2. Local Adaptation of plants to pollinators -MSc and PhD bursaries available Plants are seldom pollinated by the same pollinator species across their entire range and if pollinators from different localities differ in terms of morphology or behaviour, they are likely to generate locally divergent selective forces on the plants that they pollinate. This can be an important driver of the speciation process in plants, as plant morphology diverges in response to the different pollinator communities. Ecological speciation of this nature has undergone a recent resurgence in popularity and plant-pollinator studies are ideally suited to examine ecological divergence between populations. Populations of plants which have diverged morphologically in response to different pollinator communities are called pollination ecotypes. From the multi-coloured forms of the carnivorous plant Droseracistiflora to Pelargoniums with variable tube lengths, I have identified several putative pollination ecotypes which are in need of study. With pollinators that vary between the enigmatic long proboscid flies to colourful sunbirds or industrious bees, there is plenty of interesting work to be done by natural historians. With so many interesting pollination ecotype systems open for study, we can tailor make a project depending on where you would like to work or what species you would like to work on. Projects can be mostly field-based where a student may work on describing pollinator communities and calculating selection pressures in different populations, or calculating the relative effectiveness of different kinds of pollinators. Alternatively there is scope for population genetic studies on three species where we have already done the hard work of finding informative markers. Using molecular tools, we are able to ask questions about the directionality of trait evolution, how many times different traits evolved, and how geneflow may influence the evolution of traits at the population level. With collaborations in France and within the department, students doing these projects will be presented with opportunities to interact with many different researchers within the field, as well as the possibility of travel abroad. Stellenbosch University is a unique environment in which to study pollination biology – with three of South Africa’s most dynamic young pollination biologists, we have an excellent joint-laboratory setup where you will be able to learn from, and interact with other highly motivated students. I have NRF grant-holder-linked funding for an MSc (R50 000 p.a.) and a PhD bursary (R70 000 p.a.). These bursaries are available to students with permanent residence certificates and for South African citizens. Students with their own financial funding are also welcome to talk to me about these projects Interested students may contact Bruce Anderson at 0721136948, banderso.bruce@gmail.com. Also visit website at: http://academic.sun.ac.za/botzoo/bruce/index.htm