Humans are rapidly modifying natural habitats. Although the impacts of this on ecological communities are now relatively well-known, the degree to which species interactions influence network vulnerability remains poorly explored. This project will explore how ecological networks respond to anthropogenic disturbance using a combination of numerical community models, individual based models, and field sampling of networks in disturbed habitats (e.g. ant-plant mutualistic interactions). Models will be used to make predictions about the relationship between persistence, interaction type (mutualistic vs antagonistic), degree of specialisation, and landscape modification. These predictions can then be tested in tropical forests in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. There will be opportunities to develop the project in a direction of the student’s own choosing. The results of this work have relevance for conservation of protected areas and identification of habitat for restoration in terms of accounting for network structure.
The Network and Community Ecology lab led by Dr Tom M. Fayle explores how network structure is affected environmental gradients, with a particular focus the impacts of anthropogenic global changes, and consequences for ecosystem processes. The student will be based at Queen Mary University of London, and will also join the research group of Dr Axel Rossberg (http://axel.rossberg.net/). There will be opportunities to collaborate with other members of the Fayle research group at the Institute of Entomology at the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The student will have the opportunity to gain experience in network ecology, statistical analytical methods, and conducting tropical field work.
Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.
We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as community ecology, network ecology, tropical ecology, or ecological modelling.
Knowledge of individual/agent-based modelling, numerical community modelling, entomology, plant ecology or tropical field work would be highly advantageous but are not required.
You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.
Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.
Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 29th January 2025 for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents:
Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.
Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Dr Tom Fayle AT t.fayle@qmul.ac.uk Admissions-related queries can be sent to sbbs-pgadmissions@qmul.ac.uk
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements.
Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship with the support of the supervisor.
For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.
Apply Online