The role of interspecific competition in ecological differentiation and speciation in two passerine species, Luscinia megarhynchos and Luscinia luscinia

• Thesis title in Czech: Role mezidruhové kompetice v ekologické diferenciaci a speciaci u dvou druhů pěvců, Luscinia megarhynchos a Luscinia luscinia
• Thesis title in English: The role of interspecific competition in ecological differentiation and speciation in two passerine species, Luscinia megarhynchos and Luscinia luscinia
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2014/2015
• Thesis type: dissertation
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Zoology (31-170)
• Supervisor: RNDr. Radka Reifová, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned by the advisor
• Date of registration: 16.10.2015
• Date of assignment: 16.10.2015
• Date of electronic submission: 04.08.2020
• Date of proceeded defence: 11.09.2020
• Opponents: doc. Mgr. Miloš Krist, Ph.D.
• Advisors: prof. Mgr. Jiří Reif, Ph.D.

Preliminary scope of work

Ecological character displacement, i.e. morphological divergence of species caused by interspecific competition, is an important process contributing to the origin of biological diversity. In hybridizing taxa, it can facilitate the process of speciation by adding an additional degree of reproductive isolation between incipient species. In our previous study, we revealed that secondary contact between two closely related nightingale species, the Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) and the Thrush Nightingale (L. luscinia), resulted in divergence in the beak size in sympatry suggesting partitioning of food resources between species. Such divergence should be maintained by strong selection not to be erased by interspecific gene flow. At the same time, local composition of nightingale food remains unknown. To better understand selective forces responsible for the morphological divergence in beak size, the PhD student should perform a detail survey of food supply and habitat composition in territories of both species in sympatry and allopatry. Moreover, we will study nightingale diet directly using neck collars and emetics on trapped birds, together with blood sampling and taking morphological measurements. Combination of morphological and ecological data with simultaneously gathered genomic data will allow us to examine genetic basis of bill size divergence and to infer the importance of bill size divergence in reproductive isolation. We are looking for a motivated student with good experience in field ornithology, able (after some training) to work independently in harsh field conditions.
More information at: http://web.natur.cuni.cz/~radkas/index.php?page=opportunities
If interested, please, send a CV, motivation letter and contact details of 2-3 senior scientists that can provide references on you in a single PDF file to Radka Reifová ([e-mail]) by 10th March 2015.