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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Phylogeography of the Orkney vole Microtus arvalis orcadensis

Objective

A phylogeographic approach will be used to establish the source of colonization of the Orkney vole, which was transported by humans from continental Europe to Orkney in the Neolithic. This involves molecular typing of voles collected from Orkney and continental Europe using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites. Other techniques, including simulation modeling, will be used to estimate the number of founders and time of colonization.

This study will pioneer the approach of using the phylogeography of introduced species to provide information about human cultural interactions, in this case to provide much needed information on Neolithic cultural linkages. This is an approach being developed by the University of York host laboratory of Dr J Searle. The 2-year fellowship will introduce a talented young Slovak scientist, Dr N Martinkova, to a range of new concepts and techniques in her research area of mammalian evolutionary biology.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the project, she will also be introduced to archaeology and how it may be used in conjunction with evolutionary biology. Through carrying out the project and other training activities (including formal courses in laboratory management), Dr Martinkova will develop greater professional maturity. EU scientific excellence will be enhanced in several ways.

First, through the data and insights generated by the project itself. Second, at the end of the fellowship, through the transfer of the novel evolutionary-archaeological approach used at York to problems that Dr Martinkova can address in her home base in the Czech Republic, and, third, through the increased skills level that Dr Martinkova will have as a result of the fellowship.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF YORK
EU contribution
No data
Total cost
No data