Behavioural ecology, disease biology and immuno-ecology in Malagasy shorebirds

Mating systems and parental behaviour are among the most diverse social behaviours, and recent research suggests that the social environment influences these behaviours. Small plovers (Charadrius spp.) exhibit highly variable breeding systems, between and within species, making them an ideal model system for studying the causes and consequences of sex ratio variation. The objective of these studentships is to investigate these fundamental issues by means of fieldwork in three plover populations in Madagascar. The research builds on the results from previous successful studentships working with these birds.

We seek a bright and highly motivated student with strong interests in evolutionary ecology and behavioural ecology. Willingness to carry out fieldwork in a harsh tropical environment is essential for this position. The student will search for nests, trap birds and take blood and preen gland samples and record their behaviour. In addition, s/he will use molecular methods and chemical analysis in the laboratory. Previous experience with avian field biology or any other field experience in the tropics is important.

Fieldwork will be in a remote and pristine location in SW Madagascar. Facilities are extremely basic, the weather can be very harsh, and a great deal of walking and cycling are required. Opportunities for outside communicate on are very limited. You must be physically fit, hard-working and meticulous, and have a proven ability to work independently. You must have a positive attitude and an ability to look after yourself (i.e. cook your own meals, deal with logistics and organise your own work over extended periods). Speaking French is advantageous, but not a requirement.

The aim of this project is to study the immune-ecological causes of sex ratio bias in three sympatric species of plovers with varying mating systems at one site in Madagascar. At which stage of the life cycle do mortality differences between the sexes emerge and what are the demographic consequences of these differences? We aim to experimentally manipulate parasite infection and load in plovers but also monitor the populations closely to find the proximate causes of the adult sex ratio biases previously described. In addition, the student will test hypotheses of mating system evolution, and develop demographic models to estimate key demographic properties of natural populations., statistical modelling and/or immunological techniques is advantageous. Strong quantitative skills are essential, and willingness to programme is a must. Project supervisors: Prof Oliver Krüger, Prof Joe Hoffman, Dr Nayden Chakarov (Bielefeled), Prof Tamás Székely (Bath)

The student will be based at the Department of Animal Behaviour at Bielefeld University (www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/animalbehaviour.html). The Department is the oldest of its kind in Germany and currently hosts 6 Principal Investigators, 7 Postdocs and 20 PhD students. It offers a stimulating international environment and an excellent research infrastructure with access to state-of-the-art techniques. The working language of the Department is English. The students will also spend some of their time at the Universities of Bath (www.bath.ac.uk/bio-sci/biodiversity-lab/index.htm) and Bristol (www.bristol.ac.uk/), United Kingdom.