Objective
One of the most intriguing questions in evolutionary biology is why some groups of animals contain many species while others contain only a few. One important factor influencing biodiversity is selection on a male secondary sexual trait arising from aggressive competition between males to gain access to females or resources. Colour polymorphic species are excellent to study effects of competition on the evolution of phenotypic diversity. Typically one morph is behaviourally dominant over the other. This covariance in phenotypic traits has implications for sexual and natural selection and patterns of gene flow. Next to addressing such ultimate questions, it is highly important to study the proximate mechanisms underlying phenotypic covariance. The species flock of Lake Victoria cichlid fish is a major model system for adaptive radiation and speciation research. In addition, the polymorphic cichlid species Astatotilapia burtoni has become a major model system used to understand the molecular basis of complex vertebrate behaviours. In the proposed project I will combine the strength of these two systems. I will utilize the outgoing phase to learn genomic and neuroendocrine tools and will identify candidate genes and gene clusters underlying the polymorphism in colour and behaviour in A. burtoni. I will then test the hypothesis that hormones modulating coloration have pleiotropic effects on behaviour and physiology. During the return phase I will employ my newly acquired expertise to identify genes underlying phenotypic diversity in several species of Lake Victoria cichlids. The results of these experiments will provide a proximate framework linking the vast knowledge obtained through years of studying a traditional model organism (A. burtoni) with the unique opportunity provided by the “natural mutant screen” of African Great Lake cichlids. The training I seek with this proposal will give me unique and highly desirable skills as a behavioural biologist.
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.
- engineering and technology materials engineering colors
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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.
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.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008
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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.
Coordinator
2311 EZ Leiden
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.