以色列海法大学生物学研究博士后岗位

Institution

University of Haifa

Position

Ph.D./Postdoctoral position in bird/rodent ecophysiology & chemical ecology

Location

Haifa, Israel

Date Posted

Sep 16th 2007

Description

A Ph.D./postdoctoral position is available at the Department of Biology,University of Haifa at Oranim, Israel under the supervision of Profs. Ido Izhaki and Zeev Arad (Technion) in a project entitled “The ecophysiological response of birds versus mammals to secondary metabolites in fruits” (see abstract below) funded by the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation.

Applications are welcomed from high motivated candidates with clearly demonstrated experience and skills in vertebrate physiology & chemical ecology.

Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The starting date is October 1st.

To apply, send (1) CV, (2) copies of recent publications (3 maximum), (3) a statement of research interests, (4) letters of reference from three individuals by e-mail or regular mail.

Contact

Prof. Ido Izhaki
Dept. of Biology
University of Haifa
Haifa 31905
Israel
E-mail: izhaki@research.haifa.ac.il

Homepage: http://www.oranim.ac.il/teachers/ido/homepage/ido.htm

Other Description

Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are considered as defences against pathogens or herbivores. Mammalian herbivores use both behavioural and physiological strategies to limit their negative effects. As many plants rely on frugivores for seed dispersal and many vertebrates rely on fruits for their nutritional requirements, coevolution is often assumed. PSMs in fruit pulp likely result from selective pressures imposed by fruit-consumers. Our central hypothesis is that PSMs are mediators of the interactions between plants and seed dispersers (frugivores) as well as seed predators (granivores). We will examine key assumptions of current hypotheses (“Protein Assimilation Hypothesis”, “Directed Toxicity Hypothesis” and “Gut Retention Time Hypothesis”): (a) PSMs impose pre- and post-ingestive effects on fruit consumers (b) PSMs are toxic (or deterrents) for vertebrate seed predators, but have no or little toxic effect on seed-dispersing frugivores. We will compare the behavioral and physiological impact of fruit PSMs of a key desert plant (Ochradenus baccatus) on two seed dispersing birds versus two rodents which are seed predators. We will manipulate PSM concentration in artificial fruits and use them to determine whether PSMs differentially affect frugivores vs. granivores with respect to fruit choice, gut retention time, detoxification ability, energy and nitrogen balance, digestive processing of nutrients, and diet breadth. The project is multidisciplinary in approach, ranges from molecular to ecological levels, and offers promise for uncovering new natural products.