Project description
Does disease resistance increase sexual attraction in frogs?
What is the role of sexual selection (SS) in the evolutionary dynamics of amphibian resistance to chytridiomycosis (pathogen Bd)? This is an emerging infectious disease that is causing population declines and extinctions worldwide. The EU-funded CRISIS project will study the poison frogs, a species-rich group with differing SS strength between species. It will test whether mate choice is influenced by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and infection status of both partners. Theoretical models will help predict the circumstances in which SS can accelerate the evolution of disease resistance. The project will also use population ecology to evaluate the association between SS strength and species’ susceptibility to Bd in natural populations.
Objective
Sexual selection (SS) is a strong evolutionary force that can promote or inhibit adaptation to environmental challenges. When populations face novel pathogens, SS can influence their persistence by impacting the spread of resistance alleles. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) encodes proteins that recognize pathogens. Many vertebrates preferentially mate with partners carrying beneficial MHC alleles, conferring higher resistance to the offspring.
Here, I propose to study the role of SS in the evolutionary dynamics of amphibian resistance to chytridiomycosis (pathogen Bd), an emerging infectious disease that is causing population declines and extinctions worldwide; with poison frogs, a species-rich group in which the strength of SS differs between species. i) I will test whether mate choice is influenced by MHC and infection status of both partners. ii) I will use theoretical models to predict under which circumstances SS can accelerate the evolution of disease resistance. iii) I will use population ecology to evaluate the association between the strength of SS and species’ susceptibility to Bd in natural populations.
This project will provide fundamental scientific knowledge on the relationship between SS and the evolution of immunity by exploring the interaction between Bd and amphibian MHC. It builds on the recent insight that natural selection drives MHC evolution in amphibians, and originally explores the role of SS in this process in a uniquely integrated experimental, theoretical and field ecological fashion.
I have worked with Bd throughout my academic career; this project allows me to focus on the hosts, which has been the target of fewer studies and is in dire need of conservation. The project will be conducted at the University of Groningen under the supervision of Dr. Maan, an expert on sexual selection and poison frogs; and Dr. Pen, a an expert in bioinformatics and modelling. Field work will be carried out in Brazilian Amazonian basin.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9712CP Groningen
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.