The Southern Black-throated finch Poephila cincta cincta, is currently listed as endangered following a decline over more than 80% of its former range since the 1970’s, largely due to habitat loss and degradation. There remain many unknowns regarding the movement and life-history of the southern black-throated finch that constrain efforts to manage the species and protect it from further habitat loss and other threats. This project aims to address this knowledge gap with the ultimate goal of implementation of effective management actions for conservation of this iconic bird species.
Topics of study might include:
- Map the current area of occupancy of the finches and monitor possible contractions
- Improve our understanding of the main habitat features determining suitability
- Investigate the spatial requirements of the finches by acquiring long-term systematic movement data that can help refine current home range estimates and reveal the drivers for longer distance movements
- Identify the main drivers of reproductive success, targeting the effects of the most likely limiting factors, such as food resource bottlenecks
Applications are open for non-Australian applicants both in Australia and overseas, and Australian domestic students.
To be a successful applicant you would ideally have a background in ecology. Experience in studying birds/birdwatching is desired. You would either have, or be likely, to get a first-class Honours or Master’s degree at an institution of high repute. The degree must have included a research project that represents a significant contribution to the final mark. To be competitive for a scholarship an excellent GPA and Peer-reviewed papers are required.
If you are interested, please email me with a CV detailing your GPA (and publications) and I will let you know whether I think your skill set and academic record would place you well against the competition.
See my website for more information about my research. This project is in collaboration with Prof Simon Griffith from Macquarie University
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