Why do birds build the nest they do and does builder identity matter?

Building a nest is common to nearly all birds but the form the nest takes is enormously diverse. Although it is still typically believed that a nest is the product of the genes, evidence is accumulating that birds also learn multiple aspects of building. This project would take a Tinbergian approach to examining whether the identity of the builder makes a difference and the aim would be to address the following questions: 1. Using phylogeny to determine why males build in some species, why females in others and in yet others why both parents build; 2. Determining the function of nest building, specifically whether if the female and chief incubator is the builder the insulation properties are different than when the builder is the male (with a population of blue tits building in boxes around St Andrews and zebra finches in the lab); 3. Examining the mechanism of nest building (do birds collaborate to build, with a population of sparrow weavers in South Africa); 4. Determining whether early-life experience impacts on builders and not the non-builder mates (with zebra finches in the laboratory and sparrow weavers in Sth Africa).
This project would offer the successful candidate a wide range of training opportunities including field work (both in the UK and abroad), experimental design in the laboratory, and statistical analysis of a range of types of data. There will be multiple opportunities to present data to Healy’s lab group (contains several post docs, PhD, MRes and undergraduate students), within the School, and at both national (e.g. ASAB) and international conferences. All of Healy’s students are encouraged to publish their data during their PhD and to take part in presenting their data to non-academic audiences.
Informal enquiries very welcome. Contact: Sue Healy ([Email Address Removed]), http://cognitioninthewild.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk