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Synopsis

In some animals, males compete for mates by displaying strength and fighting off rivals. Bulb mites have two distinct male morphs: fighters and scramblers. Fighter males engage in combat to gain access to females, whereas scrambler males avoid conflict and mate opportunistically. But does investing in fighting ability come at a cost? This project explores whether males that allocate more energy to combat have weaker sperm, revealing a potential trade-off between weaponry and reproductive success.

Aims

This project will examine the trade-off between male weaponry and post-copulatory success in bulb mites.

Student benefits

• Design and carry out experiments
• Gain hands-on experience with lab techniques
• Collect, manage, and analyse real research data
• Apply advanced statistical methods to test hypotheses
• Communicate science effectively through writing and presentations
• Collaborate with a research team in a dynamic environment
• Write a scientific paper that contributes to the field