Female fertility in wild birds - understanding the causes of variation in wild populations

Supervisors: Dr Nicola Hemmings (lead); Dr Patricia Brekke (Zoological Society of London)
Funded by The Royal Society. Start Date 1 October 2018 (flexible)

Understanding the causes of variation in reproductive success in wild animal populations is a fundamental goal of evolutionary biology. Compared to males, our knowledge of the factors affecting fertility in females is relatively poor, particularly in wild populations. However, since females generally invest more in reproduction than males, the trade-offs they face between reproduction and survival under stressful environmental conditions are likely to be of greater consequence. Gaining a clearer understanding of the mechanistic basis of female reproductive failure will allow us to predict how such trade-offs are likely to play out in the face of future environmental change. This exciting project will test key hypotheses concerning variation in female reproductive failure, in a wild population of threatened hihi (Notiomystis cincta) with high levels of infertility and early embryo death. This population has been monitored for over 20 years and is the focus of significant conservation effort. The outcomes of this research will enhance our understanding of how genetic, developmental, and environmental factors interact to influence female reproductive success in wild birds.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated PhD student, ideally with bird-specific field experience and a willingness to learn molecular and quantitative genetic techniques. The student will join the large Evolution and Behaviour research group in Sheffield, and the project will incorporate three field seasons across a number of sites in New Zealand. Laboratory work will be carried out both in New Zealand (University of Auckland), and at the host institution (University of Sheffield), and the student will also spend time developing conservation genetics skills with co-supervisor Dr Patricia Brekke at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The student will become familiar with fertility diagnosis methods, molecular ecology techniques, quantitative genetic approaches, and computer-based modelling. Further information on the research groups and supervisors can be found via the following links:
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/aps/research/evol-behav
https://nicolahemmings.wordpress.com/
https://www.zsl.org/science/users/patricia-brekke
http://www.hihiconservation.com/

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