Elephants as Seed Dispersers in Fragmented Savanna Landscapes - Call for PhD studies with the supervision of Brandon P. Anthony

NEW Call for Applications for PhD research on elephants as seed dispersers in fragmented savanna landscapes by Prof. Brandon P. Anthony for 2026/2027 enrollment

Project Title: Elephants as Seed Dispersers: Maintaining Ecological Connectivity in Fragmented Savanna Landscapes

Background and Rationale: Elephants are the last remaining megaherbivores capable of maintaining ecological connectivity across increasingly fragmented savanna environments. Their fruit consumption and wide-ranging movements enable them to disperse the seeds of large-fruited, megafauna-adapted trees such as Hyphaene coriacea, Sclerocarya birrea, and Schinziophyton rautanenii. These species rely on large-bodied animals for long-distance seed dispersal, essential for population regeneration and gene flow. The confinement or loss of elephant populations threatens these processes, potentially undermining savanna structure and resilience.

Elephant corridors in South Africa and Southern Mozambique present an exceptional opportunity to research these dynamics, reconciling wildlife movement with human livelihoods. This PhD project, based on a partnership between the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy and Elephants Alive, aims to understand how elephants sustain seed dispersal, recruitment, and genetic connectivity for keystone trees within these coexistence landscapes—and to explore how people perceive and value these ecosystem services. The findings will directly inform the design and management of wildlife corridors and conservation strategies.

PhD Project Structure: The successful candidate will develop a dissertation that includes (i) a conceptual framework outlining the importance of elephants in ecological connectivity, (ii) gut passage and germination ecology: Analysis of seed fate (survival, germination, and seedling establishment) following gut passage by elephants, using data from semi-habituated individuals, (iii) tree demography inside/outside corridors: Quantification of abundance, recruitment, and age-class structure of megafaunal fruit tree populations through ground surveys and remote sensing, (iv) genetic connectivity: Assessment of gene flow and population structure using genetic markers (microsatellites or SNPs), linking tree population dynamics to elephant movement, and (v) human dimensions: Investigation of local perceptions, values, and management implications of elephant corridor or range expansion occurrences using interviews, participatory mapping, and/or social surveys.

Expected Skill Set of the Applicant
Applicants should demonstrate:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in conservation biology, ecology, zoology, environmental science, or a related field.

• Strong quantitative skills, including experience with data analysis (e.g., R, SPSS), ecological statistics, and/or remote sensing.

• Fieldwork experience, ideally involving plant or wildlife ecology, and a willingness to conduct research in southern Africa under sometimes challenging conditions.

• Familiarity with molecular ecology techniques (desired but not essential), such as DNA extraction, genotyping, and population genetic analysis.

• Interest in interdisciplinary research, with abilities or motivation to undertake structured interviews, qualitative data analysis, and work with diverse stakeholders.

• Evidence of strong scientific writing skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative, multi-institutional team.

• Commitment to research with applied conservation impact and community relevance.

Project Supervisor: Prof. Brandon P. Anthony

Financial assistance is available including tuition waivers and full CEU fellowships that cover all tuition fees and include a generous monthly stipend to help with housing and living expenses as well as health insurance. The CEU Doctoral Scholarship is awarded for a period of 48 months in total. Each student is responsible for securing accommodation for themselves.

Please read our Doctoral Program Handbook for detailed programmatic information at the department of Environmental Sciences and Policy Department of CEU.

For more information please check our site: https://envsci.ceu.edu/call-applications, https://envsci.ceu.edu/phd-admissions or get in contact:  Tunde Szabolcs, PhD Program coordinator: SzabolcsT@ceu.edu