Cutting the cost of war: the resolution of inter-group conflict in Kalahari meerkats

CRAM_UBIO25ARIES

Cutting the cost of war: the resolution of inter-group conflict in Kalahari meerkats

CRAM_UBIO25ARIES

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Dominic Cram, Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Professor David Richardson, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia

Dr Mark Dyble, Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge

 

Background

Avoiding wars and minimizing the harm they do is a key goal for humanity in the coming century. In the wild, rival social groups of animals also engage in battles over territories, yet these rarely escalate to the levels of violence seen in humans. How do these animal groups resolve their differences and minimize violent escalation? It is likely they have evolved behavioural strategies to avoid violent escalation, but these have not been explored in detail. Insights into these strategies will enhance our understanding of social evolution, and could inform conflict resolution in our own societies.

Research Approach

The Kalahari Meerkat Project (KMP) provides an opportunity for an exciting PhD to fill this knowledge gap. You will combine observations of wild meerkats at our field site in South Africa, theoretical modelling of optimal behaviour, and statistical analysis of existing data, to address the following research questions:

  1. How do rival groups assess their chance of victory, and avoid engaging in bloody battles they cannot win?
  2. Can inter-group signalling avoid costly battles, or help groups enhance their chance of victory?
  3. Do groups weaken their opponents in advance, to ensure victory in future battles?

There will be many opportunities to pursue your own novel research directions, by developing new theoretical models and collecting empirical data.

Research Environment and Training

At UEA you will join a diverse, supportive research group working across evolution, ecology and conservation, and be embedded in a vibrant ARIES PhD cohort. You will also join the international community of researchers at the KMP, and attend yearly meetings with them to share results and network. You will gain diverse skills including field techniques (radio-tracking, animal handling and behavioural observation), working with large databases in SQL/R, statistical analysis (mixed models, Bayesian statistics), theoretical modelling, a deep understanding of evolutionary ecology, critical thinking, scientific writing, and science communication. Training to enhance your transferable skills and employability will also be provided.

Person specification

Degree in biology/zoology/related subject.

Preferred skills: field observation of wild animal behaviour, handling/statistical analysis of behavioural data in SQL/R, driving license.

Acceptable first degree subjects: biology, zoology or related subject

 

References

  • Cram, D., Jungwirth, A., Spence-Jones, H., & Clutton-Brock, T. (2019). Reproductive conflict resolution in cooperative breeders. Behavioral Ecology, 30(6), 1743-1750. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arz143
  • Johnstone, R. A., Cant, M. A., Cram, D., & Thompson, F. J. (2020). Exploitative leaders incite intergroup warfare in a social mammal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(47), 29759. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2003745117
  • Dyble, M., Houslay, T. M., Manser, M. B., & Clutton-Brock, T. (2019). Intergroup aggression in meerkats. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286(1917), 20191993. doi: doi:10.1098/rspb.2019.1993
  • Dyble, M. (2021). The evolution of altruism through war is highly sensitive to population structure and to civilian and fighter mortality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(11), e2011142118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2011142118
  • Bebbington, K., Kingma, S. A., Fairfield, E. A., Dugdale, H. L., Komdeur, J., Spurgin, L. G., & Richardson, D. S. (2017). Kinship and familiarity mitigate costs of social conflict between Seychelles warbler neighbors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(43), E9036-E9045. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1704350114

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 via the  University of East Anglia application portal