*Post-doc position in the spatial genetics and ecology of acacia-ants in Kenya*
The Stanton and Grosberg labs, Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis We are seeking a highly motivated post-doc with expertise in spatial genetic analysis, an interest in using genetics to inform field experiments and surveys, and the ability to work up to 4 months per year at one of Africa’s most spectacular field research centers. Over the past twelve years, our team of colleagues at the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya has probed deeply into the ecological dynamics of a multi-species mutualism in which four species of acacia-ants associate with a single, dominant acacia, *A. drepanolobium *in highland savannas around East Africa. The relative ease with which field manipulations can be conducted in this system, in concert with its amazingly rich natural history, has resulted in a number of high-profile publications, and new insights into the dynamics of competition and coexistence among the symbiont ant species, the role of mega-herbivores in maintaining the mutualism, and the non-additive fitness consequences for long-lived host trees that associate with multiple species over their lifetime. For links to recent papers and some of the work in progress, please refer to the beautiful website of our pal and collaborator extraordinaire, Todd Palmer ( http://web.mac.com/toadpalmer/Site/welcome.html). The new post-doc will lead a relatively new research effort, in which we are focusing on three congeneric acacia-ant species that coexist at very fine spatial scales around the Mpala area— *Crematogaster sjostedti*, *C. mimosae*, and *C. nigriceps*. These species vary dramatically in ecology, life-history and apparent colony dynamics. Large, multi-queen, multi-tree colonies of *C. sjostedti* dominate in competition for host trees over smaller (sometimes multi-queen) colonies of *C. mimosae*, which in turn can competitively displace the single-queen colonies of *C. nigriceps.* The focus of our current project is to determine what role spatial patterns of within-colony and between-colony genetic variation may play in colony success in competition for food sources and host trees, colony establishment, the balance between intra- versus inter-specific competition, and on the ability of these intensely competing species to coexist system. Multiple microsatellite loci have been developed in two of the three species thus far, and patterns of variation at these loci identify colony structures that correspond closely with those obtained from field aggression assays. So, if you are, like us, someone who is driven to solve mysteries, here is just a small sample of observations we’ve made and questions we hope to address in this work. *Bigger colonies have a competitive advantage, but attaining large colony size requires multiple queens. To what extent are large colonies less genetically integrated than single-queen colonies? Does polygyny pre-dispose a colony to reduced cooperation or fragmentation? If not, how is colony integrity and cooperation maintained? ** Colonies of the different species are spatially aggregated— that is, conspecific colonies are more often near neighbors than expected by chance. To what extent are conspecific neighbors also related to one another? How do genetically related neighboring colonies arise? ** Do neighboring colonies of the same species compete as often and as intensively as heterospecific neighbors? To what extent are levels of intraspecific, inter-colony aggression determined by genetic relatedness? Here are the attributes we are seeking in the person who will fill this position. 1) Strong skills in writing and in transforming data into manuscripts and research proposals. 2) Experience in development of microsatellites and in analysis of microsats or other hyper-variable genetic markers using multiple software packages. 3) Experience in the design and execution of large-scale field experiments. 4) Good mentoring and organizational skills, with an ability to organize and supervise lab groups and research teams. 5) High levels of responsibility and self-motivation for independent work. 6) Experience with mapping and spatial analysis in GIS. 7) Experience and interest in ant or other haplodiploid social insects is a plus, but not essential. UC Davis is an extraordinarily stimulating and fertile environment for post-doctoral work in all aspects of evolutionary ecology. While on campus, the post-doc will have office and lab space in Storer Hall, home to both the Department of Ecology and the Center for Population Biology. We anticipate that the post-doc will make two trips per year to the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, which hosts a stimulating international community of biologists and ecosystem scientists. This post-doc position is renewable for up to three years. Full-time salary will range from $38,500 to $45,000, depending on years of experience. Please send inquiries or applications to Maureen Stanton at mlstan...@ucdavis.edu. Applications should include a cover letter describing your interests in (and qualifications for) this position, an up-to-date c.v., and the names, email addresses and phone numbers of 3 references. -- Maureen Stanton Professor Department of Evolution and Ecology One Shields Avenue University of California Davis Davis, CA 95616 phone: 530-752-1272 fax: 530-752-1449
