While pest control is still often achieved through the massive use of pesticides in conventional agriculture, the search for alternative solutions remains crucial, particularly in the context of the development of other forms of agriculture (eg, agro-ecology). Classical biological control, whereby regulatory species (predators, parasitoids, etc.) are introduced to combat the spread of agricultural pests, is one such alternative. However, understanding the effectiveness of such methods remains a crucial issue, both from a theoretical point of view and in terms of its applications. In particular, the determination of the indirect ecological effects produced by the introduction depends on the local ecological network. Also, the adaptation of the introduced species to this ecological context (eg, evolution of foraging or of the degree of specialization) or of the species in the recipient network are likely to modulate expected biocontrols. As part of the EcoControl project, funded by the PEPR “Digital Agroecology” program, we are proposing a PhD aimed at gaining a better understanding of variations in pest control in agriculture.
The PhD will focus on three main axes: (1) the use of simple models (based on a few interacting species) to understand how biological control is affected by community context; (2) the use of eco-evolutionary models (eg, adaptive dynamics, quantitative genetics) in a simplified context to understand how variation in certain key traits (foraging, specialization) affects biological control; (3) the development of more complex models, exploring how variations in ecological network structure (eg, diversity, connectivity, modularity, etc) change biological control.
The whole thesis will be based on the development of theoretical models, but these developments will also draw on empirical data exploited in other parts of the EcoControl project. The thesis is due to start in autumn 2025, and will be carried out at the iEES Paris laboratory (Institut d’Ecologie et des Sciences de l’Environnement, Sorbonne University).
The candidate must have (or be in the process of obtaining) either a Master’s degree in biodiversity, ecology, evolution, with a strong theoretical component (courses and internships), or a Master’s degree in applied mathematics with a solid background in ecology/evolution.
Applications should be sent before end of may 2025 to Nicolas Loeuille (nicolas.loeuille@sorbonne-universite.fr) and Thierry Spataro (thierry.spataro@agroparistech.fr), including a CV, motivation letter, academic record and contact details for two former collaborators/advisors.
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