The extinction of the sexier? A global investigation of the role of sexual selection in modern amphibian declines

OVERVIEW

Multiple factors are believed to be responsible for the accelerating extinctions of biodiversity during the Anthropocene. Environmental degradation is widely recognised as the leading factor. However, emerging hypotheses predict that ‘costly’ species traits – sexually-selected displays in particular – can play a key role in predisposing species to declines. This project investigates the link between extinction risk and sexual selection in amphibians globally.

Biodiversity is undergoing alarming declines worldwide. Modern species extinctions are predominantly attributed to environmental factors, mostly climate change and habitat destruction. However, sexual selection –competition over mates – drives evolution of intrinsically ‘costly’ traits (calls, ornaments, displays) that increase chances of population collapses, thus potentially leading to non-ecological extinctions. But, is sexual selection a factor responsible for ongoing species extinctions? Despite its enormous implications for our understanding of current and future global biodiversity, this question remains unresolved. Existing theories linking sexual selection to extinctions make contradictory predictions – some models suggest that sexual selection accelerates extinctions, while others suggest that it mitigates species declines. However, empirical evidence remains limited.

This project implements the first global-scale research programme investigating whether the worldwide extinctions of one of nature’s most threatened lineages, amphibians, are accelerated by the widespread evolution of a particularly costly sexual trait – advertisement calls, known to enhance mortality via energetic and ecological costs. Using a dataset spanning morphological, ecological, life history, genomic, climatic, geographic and phylogenetic data for 7,000+ amphibian species, this project aims to establish the mechanistic connections between sexual selection and extinctions at an unprecedented scale. This project is part of the Global Amphibian Biodiversity Project (GABiP) led by Daniel Pincheira-Donoso.

Research Information

PhD Supervisors
Information on the research interests and activities of academics in Biological Sciences can be accessed via the School website and the Find a Supervisor facility.

Career Prospects

Introduction
Queen’s postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as the DegreePlus/Future Ready Award, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Career prospects in the biological sciences are exceptionally good. To some extent it depends on the specific topic, of course, but laboratory-based and especially quantitative skills and the proven innovation of a PhD or MPhil are highly sought after. Degrees are very much in demand, both in commercial science and public sector research and development (e.g. drug discovery and development, crop and animal improvements and welfare, sustainable agriculture and resource use, human nutrition and health, animal health, ecological management, food safety and technology, scientific communications, regulation, and many more fields).

Employment after the Course
Graduates have gone on to be professional research scientists, consultants, or hold technical and junior executive positions in commerce and government.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant subject from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Find a supervisor

If you’re interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.