The evolution of symmetry in echinoderms

About the project

Symmetry is a fundamental property of the animal body plans that emerged over half a billion years ago, during the Ediacaran–Cambrian. While a few animal groups display radial symmetry or are asymmetrical, the vast majority are bilaterally symmetrical. However, determining why different types of symmetry evolved is challenging, in part because most phyla are characterized by only a single form. Echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins and their allies) are an exception; all modern species exhibit pentaradial (five-fold) symmetry, but the phylum also possesses an extensive fossil record that includes bilateral, asymmetrical and radial forms [1,2]. The aim of the proposed research is to investigate the evolution of symmetry in echinoderms as an exemplar for understanding the evolutionary significance of symmetry in animals more broadly. This will be achieved by studying the form, function and phylogeny of early fossil echinoderms using cutting-edge methods, including X-ray tomography, computational fluid dynamics and Bayesian inference. Furthermore, the ecology and environments inhabited by early echinoderms will be characterized and analyzed quantitatively using phylogenetic comparative methods. The results will transform our understanding of the evolution of symmetry in echinoderms, with broad implications for animal body plan assembly.

For full project details visit the Inspire project page .

Lead supervisor

• Doctor Imran Rahman (Natural History Museum)

Supervisors

• Doctor Jeffery Thompson (University of Southampton)
• Doctor Tim Ewin (Natural History Museum)
• Doctor Frankie Dunn (Oxford University Museum of Natural History)
• Doctor Neil Gostling (University of Southampton)

Dr Neil J. Gostling BSc PhD FLS

• Evolutionary Biology
• Palaeobiology
• Molecular Biology

Entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent , in one of these subjects:

• biology
• geology

Fees and funding

INSPIRE studentships are funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC, part of UK Research and Innovation, UKRI). The stipend is in line with UKRI standard levels, including the recent cost of living increase.

All studentships are fully funded for 3.5 years.

How to apply

To make an application, visit the how to apply section of the INSPIRE website .

Contact us

For questions about the project, contact Doctor Imran Rahman:

Email: imran.rahman@nhm.ac.uk

For questions about the application process, contact the graduate school office.

Email: gsnocs@soton.ac.uk

Research areas