PhD Position in UK at Dawn of Plant Life on Land 2024 is open now. This research focuses on understanding the survival of lycophytes, an ancient group of vascular plants, in contrast to the extinction of zosterophylls. Lycophytes, with a history spanning over 430 million years, were once the most diverse plants on Earth. However, during the Silurian and early Devonian periods, a divergence occurred, leading to two main groups: zosterophylls and lycopsids. By the end of the Devonian, zosterophylls faced extinction, while lycopsids thrived. The project aims to unravel the reasons behind this divergence by describing new fossils, creating a phylogeny, investigating traits in both living and fossil lycophytes, and correlating changes in diversity with global environmental shifts. The ultimate goal is to provide insights into how plants cope with global change and why certain groups endure while others face extinction.
Methodology that will be carried out for this research.
Year 1 – Describe new fossils and create a phylogeny for lycophytes
Describe undiscovered fossil lycophytes, enhancing the understanding of their characteristics. Build a cladistics matrix and establish a time-calibrated phylogeny for lycophytes.
Year 2 – Investigate traits in living and fossil lycophytes
Using the new phylogeny, explore trait evolution in lycophytes through advanced imaging techniques. Compare anatomical and developmental traits between living and extinct lycopsids and zosterophylls.
Year 3 – Correlate diversity changes with global change
Examine the impact of global change on lycophyte extinction during the Devonian. Use biogeochemical models to identify extinction signatures and predict species at risk today due to global change using living lycophyte datasets.
PhD Position in UK at Dawn of Plant Life on Land 2024
Program: PhD Funded Position
Host Country: UK
Institute: Dawn ofPlant Life on Land
Field: Extinction and Survival
Nationality: International
Training for PhD Position in UK at Dawn of Plant Life on Land 2024
- Comprehensive training program provided
- Specialized scientific training and transferable professional skills included
- Phylogenetic methods and cladistics phylogenies
- Use of museum collections at the Natural History Museum, London (palaeontology and herbarium)
- Anatomical and developmental descriptions of living and fossil lycophytes
- Advanced imaging techniques: confocal laser scanning microscopy, X-Ray Micro Computed Tomography, and photogrammetry
Question Related to Research for PhD Position in UK at Dawn of Plant Life on Land 2024
- Can we anticipate which present-day lycophyte species are more susceptible to extinction?
- What are the distinguishing anatomical and developmental traits between zosterophylls and lycopsids?
- Is there a correlation between zosterophyll extinction and global environmental changes?
- Do zosterophylls constitute a monophyletic or paraphyletic grouping?
- When and where did the extinction of zosterophylls commence?
Eligibility Criteria for PhD Position in UK at Dawn of Plant Life on Land 2024
- The project is well-suited for individuals with a keen interest in plant evolution, possessing a background in either Life or Earth Sciences.
How to Apply for PhD Position in UK at Dawn of Plant Life on Land 2024
- Interested applicants are welcomed to apply online.
- Link to apply online is provided below.
- Application received after last date will not be entertained.
- Upload all required documents.
- Fill out application form carefully.
Deadline
- Last date to apply for PhD Position in UK at Dawn of Plant Life on Land is 4 January, 2024.
