MSc projects
Department of Geology & Palaeontology
| Projects supervised by Dr. W. Renema |
Growing big: geographic variation in evolutionary dynamics.
Larger, symbiont-bearing foraminifera (LBF) are the largest free-living unicellular organisms. Their calcite test, abundance and widespread occurrence in tropical shallow water deposits make them ideal study organisms for studies of evolutionary dynamics. During the Eocene tropical conditions reached as far north as the Paris Basin, including Belgium and southern England. Following recovery from the Cretaceous-Paleocene extinction event, several families show a rapid evolution that can be observed in morphological features. Evolutionary patterns differ between families and with time. For example, the oldest Nummulites species have been observed in the late Paleocene, but only become diverse within the Early Eocene. Assilina is also present in the late Paleocene, but, in contrast to Nummulites, does not diversify and is represented by only 1-2 lineages and at most 3-4 per time slice throughout the Early-Middle Eocene. In both genera the general trend within evolutionary lineages is an increase in the diameter of the initial chamber. In this project it is aimed to quantify multiple morphological characters in the evolution of Nummulites and Assilina.
The main questions are:
- Is there a difference in mechanism between a species rich, and a species poor genus?
- Can this pattern be deconstructed into lineages, areas and habitat components?
- Is it possible to detect differences between trends in very diverse areas and less diverse areas?
| Projects supervised by Dr. Lars van den Hoek Ostende |
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What makes the squirrel tick? (6 months)
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Micromammals from Curaçao (6 months)
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Upper Pliocene voles from Hungary (6-9 months)
| Palaeobotany |
- Revision of the tertiary flora from Java, Indonesia (at least 9-12 months; supervision by Prof. Dr. J.H.A. van Konijnenburg-van Cittert and Dr. I.M. van Waveren).
- Stangalpe flora from the latest Carboniferous of Austria (9-12 months; supervision by Prof. Dr. J.H.A. van Konijnenburg-van Cttert)
- Silicified wood from the late Cretaceous of S. Limburg (6-9 months; supervision by R.W.J.M. van der Ham [NHN-Leiden] and Prof. Dr. J.H.A. van Konijnenburg-van Cittert).
Department of Marine Zoology
| Indonesian Marine Lakes projects |
Sponge communities in Indonesian marine lakes. 3-12 month internships available at the National Museum of Natural History – Naturalis with Drs. Lisa Becking and Dr. Nicole de Voogd.
| Collection-based and field research projects marine zoology |
The research department Marine Zoology offers possibilities for collection-based research and field research. Collections can be used for taxonomic revisions or for studies on biodiversity changes in marine faunas that undergo human-induced stress (such as siltation through river discharge or the proximity of a large city). Most of the biodiversity-related field studies are performed on coral reefs in tropical areas, since these are very rich in species. Thanks to this high species richness, it is possible to study patterns in biodiversity along onshore-offshore gradients or species compositions of certain habitats. A major topic in the marine research at Naturalis concerns the co-evolution of intra-specific associations in invertebrates, such as predator-prey and parasite-host relationships, some of which are very specific. In the case of fieldwork, time should be reserved in advance for finding subsidies. Dive (SCUBA) experience is usually required. In evolutionary studies, prior training in performing molecular analyses (DNA) is necessary.
| Literature research on marine distribution patterns |
Literature research on marine distribution patterns.Various systematic revisions in which maps with distribution ranges are presented do not present an analysis of the species ranges and the species richness pattern. It is relevant to compare species that show wide-range dispersal through a larval phase (broadcasters) with species that lay eggs and disperse very poorly (brooders). The outcome of this biogeographical analysis will result in publishable data.
For past and current projects, see here.
Department of Terrestrial Zoology
| Projects supervised by Dr. Pim Arntzen (Amphibians & Reptiles) |
- Island lizards in the Ria de Arosa, Galicia, Spain
- GIS-analysis of atlas data
- Does pond-loss imply species-loss?
- Nuclear genes in phylogeny building
- Phylogeny and historical biogeography of … satellite DNA's
| Projects supervised by Dr. Erik van Nieukerken (Lepidoptera) |
- Phylogeny and host plant relationships of European Ectoedemia (leafmining moths on trees)
- Cryptic species and DNA barcoding in Stigmella leafminers
- Phylogeny and biogeography of a group of Mediterranean miners on shrubs (Trifurcula)
- Recognition of leafmines and caterpillars of oak mining Stigmella by DNA barcoding
- DNA barcoding of butterfly eggs on herbarium specimens (in co-operation with Dr. Barbara Gravendeel, National Herbarium) (download description )
| Projects supervised by Jan van Tol (Odonata) |
In co-operation with other members of the Leiden Zygoptera Research Group at Naturalis.
The full descriptions are available on the personal pages of Jan van Tol.
- Phylogeny of the Chlorocyphidae (Odonata) of Asia and Africa based on molecular characters.
Supervisor: Jan van Tol - Phylogeny of the Protoneuridae (Odonata) of Southeast Asia based on molecular characters.
Supervisor: Jan van Tol - The status of the Tamdao Protosticta (Odonata, Platystictidae).
Supervisor: Jan van Tol
| Projects supervised by Prof. Dr. Menno Schilthuizen |
A full and up-to-date list of projects can be found here
National Herbarium of the Netherlands
There are also a number of possible MSc projects at the National Herbarium of the Netherlands. Click here for more info.
Monday, October 17, 2011