CENTA funded – Restoring the Glory: The Conservation Genomics of the Kentish Glory Moth

Project highlights

• Engage with, and become an integral part of, an exciting multi-institutional conservation project
• Carry out academic research in partnership with CASE partner Twycross Zoo
• Perform important public outreach to highlight the importance of insect conservation

Overview

This is a fantastic opportunity to engage in important conservation research and become an integral part of an exciting, established collaboration between Twycross Zoo, Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, Forestry England, Natural History Museum and the University of Leicester. This project aims to protect existing populations of the Kentish glory moth (KGM, Endromis versicolora) and to reintroduce it into England, initially the Wyre Forest.  

KGM is a phylogenetically important species being the only member of its subfamily of Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths), and the only member of its family which ranges into western Asia and Europe. Sadly, the species is extinct in England and Wales, with only small fragmented populations remaining in Scotland. In continental Europe, as well as the UK, populations are increasingly fragmented and, given the species’ limited dispersal, small population fragments potentially suffer the detrimental effects of localised inbreeding.   

This PhD will investigate the population and conservation genomics of KGM at a landscape scale with the explicit aim of informing the hands-on management of this species. It will also make general suggestions for the genetic management of insect species. Questions of particular interest are: 

1. How does genomic differentiation relate to habitat availability and isolation?
2. Is there evidence of a decline in genetic variation over the past 120 years?
3. Are there populations with low genetic variation requiring genetic rescue to increase adaptability in the face of habitat / climate change?
4. Which populations are potential sources for conservation breeding and reintroduction into England?
5. Are there two species of Kentish glory moth in Europe?

The strong partnership between TZ, BC, NE, FE, NHM and UoL ensures these questions are answerable. Pilot work has revealed interesting of patterns genetic variation in extant populations (Figure 1, C) and shown that DNA sequences can be obtained from museum specimens over 100 years old. An important remit of the student will be to maximise the impact of the project to the general public. This will be achieved by producing outreach material: zoo interpretation, press releases, popular science articles and engaging with other forms of dissemination (e.g. podcasts, radio). 

Methodology

You will use a whole genome approach to investigate contemporary and historical population genetics of this species.  You will extract DNA from contemporary and historical samples (NHM and other museums).  You will engage in obtaining samples by liaising with collaborators (the partnership is setting up a network of samplers across Europe) and taking part in field collection trips using light traps. DNA will be sampled non-destructively from small wing clips using already established protocols that we have shown give high quality DNA. Sequencing reads will be mapped to a reference genome (KGM is to be sequenced by the Darwin Tree of Life (https://www.darwintreeoflife.org/) and genetic differences scored bioinformatically. The population genomics and past population histories will be inferred from these data using established statistical approaches. Using available occurrence data (https://www.gbif.org/), you will model available habitats and quantify fragmentation to assess its impact on population genetic differentiation. 

Enquiries to Dr Robert Hammond – rh225@le.ac.uk

To apply see our website https://le.ac.uk/study/research-degrees/funded-opportunities/centa-phd-studentships

Study start September 2025