Pitcher plants prey upon ants, yet ants keep visiting them. How can this relationship be maintained when ants make foraging decisions based on risk and reward? This 3.5 year PhD project tests the hypothesis that both sides gain valuable resources from the interaction. Ants provide nitrogen, a scarce resource for the plant, while they harvest larger quantities of sugary nectar, fuelling the workers when foraging and defending the colony against competitors and predators. The project combines innovative and interdisciplinary research approaches and offers opportunities for field work in tropical Borneo.

Applicants will compete for a full studentship (stipend, tuition fees and a generous research budget) and have access to excellent training and networking opportunities. The scheme is open to UK and international applicants. Project details here or on the University of Exeter website.