Using hermit crab personality to understand the effects of human induced rapid environmental change (HIREC).

BRIFFA_P25ARIES

Using hermit crab personality to understand the effects of human induced rapid environmental change (HIREC).

BRIFFA_P25ARIES

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Mark Briffa, Biological and Marine Sciences (SoBMS), University of Plymouth –contact me

Dr Peter Cotton, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth

Dr Svenja Tidau, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University

 

Scientific background

Human induced rapid environmental change (HIREC) places new selection pressures on natural populations. The strength of these will depend on the balance between adaptive phenotypic plasticity, maladaptive impairment, and individual differences in these responses [1]. Behaviour is very sensitive to HIREC [1] so understanding its effects on behaviour is key to predicting long-term consequences for animal populations [1]. Hermit crabs are a model species for studying behavioural responses to HIREC [2] including elevated temperature [1], light pollution [3], noise pollution [4], ocean acidification [1] and microplastics [5], and a model for animal personality, a framework for probing between- and within-individual variation in behaviour [1]. Behavioural responses have been investigated for individual HIRECs but in nature these do not occur in isolation. Therefore, we need to investigate their combined and interactive effects on behaviour. In this project you will conduct experiments to investigate the effects of HIRECs in combination, including examples that could be ameliorated in the short term (light and noise pollution) and those that cannot (microplastics, elevated temperature). Our central questions are: Will combined stressors amplify the effects of single stressors? How these will these combinations effect between- and within-individual variation in behaviour? Using hermit crabs as your model you will conduct laboratory experiments on individual boldness [5] and pairwise resource contest behaviour [1] and, in a field experiment, group-level interactions and resource distribution [4].

Research methodology

Collection of hermit crabs from local sites to use in laboratory behavioural experiments, where you will manipulate noise, light, temperature and microplastics. Behavioural responses will be video-recorded and analysed using specialist software. You will also undertake a field survey of resource distribution within hermit crab populations at differently impacted sites.

Training

All aspects of working with a decapod model including husbandry, ethics, experimental design and behavioural observation, and how to manipulate light and soundscapes in the laboratory. Coaching in statistics.

Person specification

An enthusiasm for animal behaviour and its importance for understanding responses to HIREC is essential. Experience with data analysis using R and knowledge of core concepts in behavioural ecology, or of anthropogenic impacts on the environment are desirable.

Acceptable first degree subjects: Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Zoology.

 

References

  • Tawfiqur R, Candolin U. 2020. Linking animal behavior to ecosystem change in disturbed environments. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10. DOI=10.3389/fevo.2022.893453.
  • Briffa M, Arnott G, Hardege JD. 2024. Hermit crabs as model species for investigating the behavioural responses to pollution. Science of The Total Environment, 906, 167360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167360.
  • Velasque M, Denton JA, Briffa M. 2023. Under the influence of light: How light pollution disrupts personality and metabolism in hermit crabs. Environmental Pollution, 316, 120594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120594.
  • Tidau S, Briffa M. 2024. Anthropogenic noise limits resource distribution without changing social hierarchies. Science of The Total Environment, 922, 171309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171309.
  • Nanninga GB, Horswill C, Lane SM, Manica A, Briffa M. 2020. Microplastic exposure increases predictability of predator avoidance strategies in hermit crabs. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 1, 100005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazl.2020.100005.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2025. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 8th January 2025.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£19,237 p.a. for 2024/25) and research funding. A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgradute researcher (PGRs) benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or imigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential, and will be stored on the UEA sharepoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships, and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • If funded under the BBSRC-NERC DLA scheme, ARIES studentships will be subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. See https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information

Apply Now

Apply now via the  University of Plymouth Application Portal