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About the project:<\/strong><\/p>\n Nepenthes <\/em>pitcher plants trap ants to meet their nitrogen demand on nutrient-deprived soils. Ants evaluate risk when making foraging decisions, so why do they not avoid the traps? This PhD project tests the hypothesis that ants and pitcher plants engage in a \u201cfair trade\u201d of nitrogen for energy (sugary nectar), with benefits to both sides. In the lab, we will use a highly sensitive custom-built \u201cweigh bridge\u201d with constant video observation to quantify ant traffic and nectar transport between an ant colony and a pitcher plant over time. Pitcher traps are only slippery to insects when wet. The availability of fully controlled environmental simulator chambers (\u201cweather pods\u201d) in Exeter allows us to investigate how rain and air humidity shift the risk-reward balance, and hence the nutrient flux, between ants and plants. The project also offers the opportunity to conduct field work in Borneo, using stable isotopes to trace nutrient fluxes between ants and plants in the natural habitat. An interdisciplinary supervisor team with experience in behavioural ecology, plant biomechanics, AI-guided video analysis, stable isotope analysis and field work on pitcher plants provides optimal support and flexibility to shape the project to the student\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n Ants crossing a custom-built weight bridge to access a Nepenthes <\/em>pitcher plant in the lab.<\/span><\/p>\n How to apply:<\/strong><\/p>\n A fully funded 3.5-year Studentship is available for this project. Please contact us<\/a> as soon as possible if you are interested in applying.<\/p>\n Apply<\/a> by 13 January 2025, 23:59 for a start in September 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have Master\u2019s degree. Applicants with a minimum of Upper Second Class degree and significant relevant non-academic experience are encouraged to apply.<\/p>\n NERC GW4+ DTP studentships are open to UK and Irish nationals who, if successful in their applications, will receive a full studentship including payment of university tuition fees at the home fees rate. The conditions for eligibility of home fees status are complex and you will need to seek advice if you have moved to or from the UK (or Republic of Ireland) within the past 3 years or have applied for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Those not meeting the nationality and residency requirements to be treated as a \u2018home\u2019 student may apply for a limited number of full studentships for international students. Although international students are usually charged a higher tuition fee rate than \u2018home\u2019 students, those international students offered a NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership full studentship starting in 2025 will only be charged the \u2018home\u2019 tuition fee rate (which will be covered by the studentship).<\/p>\n For more information visit the project page<\/a> on the University of Exeter website and the NERC GW4+ DTP website<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mechanicalecology.exeter.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/IMG_0252-scaled.jpg\")
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