Flight-to-Light and the Decline in British Moths

在过去的40年里，英国大蛾的数量急剧下降了三分之二，这与夜间人工照明（如街道照明）的增加大致同步。虽然有很多关于这种联系的猜测，毫无疑问，许多蛾子种类被吸引到路灯上，但对照明在这种下降中所起的作用的适当评估仍然缺乏。该项目将解决这一不足，为轻工业创新提供更好的科学支持，以减少对环境的影响。该学生将使用分子技术来估计基因流动，并确定一套与“飞向光”行为有关的候选基因，以了解进化转变在城市地区是否明显。然后，该学生将利用世界一流的洛桑昆虫调查中心的500个捕光器网络开发一套模型，以估计光在污染和未污染地点之间的影响。这是一个令人兴奋的机会，可以研究环境问题，这可能对轻工业产生深远的影响，并提供一流的科学。学生将在实地工作和实验室之间分配时间，大部分时间将在洛桑研究所进行，但将与埃克塞特大学的活动进行大量互动。对昆虫学有兴趣者优先，有统计建模和分子技术技能者优先。

The dramatic decline in abundances of macro-moths in Britain, two-thirds over the last 40 years, has been broadly synchronous with the increase in levels of artificial nighttime lighting (e.g. from streetlighting). Whilst there has been much speculation over the link, with many moth species undoubtedly being drawn to streetlights, a proper evaluation of the role of lighting in this decline has remained wanting. This project will address this shortfall, providing the science that will be better able to support innovations to the light industry to reduce environmental impacts. The student will use molecular techniques to estimate gene flow and identify a suite of candidate genes involved in the flightto- light behaviour to understand whether an evolutionary shift is apparent in urban areas. The student will then develop a set of models using the world-class Rothamsted Insect Survey's network of 500 light traps to estimate the effects of light between polluted and unpolluted sites. This is an exciting opportunity to work on an environmental problem that could have profound implications for the light industry as well as deliver first class science. The student will split their time between fieldwork and the laboratory and will largely be based at Rothamsted Research but will interact heavily with activities that will be based at Exeter. An interest in entomology would be advantageous and skills in statistical modelling and molecular techniques would be looked upon favourably.