Details

Categorie: 
Stages
Functie: 
Student (HBO)
Student (University)
Department: 
Animal Ecology
Visser Group
Contact: 
Barbara Tomotani
Sluitingsdatum: 
dinsdag 31 maart 2020

We are looking for a highly motivated, independent (vocational/bachelor/master) student to join us during the 2020 fieldwork and help us to study urban and forest birds. You will have the opportunity to learn several different methods to work with birds in the field. There are also possibilities to learn experimental methods and molecular techniques depending on your interest. You will also receive training in how to develop your researcher skills.

A short background

Urbanization provides a fantastic opportunity to study the evolutionary processes in action. Cities profoundly change the environment, putting organisms under contrastingly distinct selective pressures when compared to natural environments such as forests. For example, urban environments are warmer, noisier and with much more light at night in comparison to forests. Due to these strong and distinct pressures, and sometimes restricted gene flow, organisms in cities are known to undergo rapid phenotypic and genetic changes. We are interested in using these differences between urban and forest environments to study the evolution of biological clocks.

What will you do?

You will help to monitor the great tit breeding season. We will monitor birds nesting in a forest and a city in the Netherlands. We will follow the whole breeding from nest building until chick fledgling. You will also be involved when we catch, ring and measure adult birds and chicks.

You will also help to collect activity and nest incubation data of birds in cities and forests using RFID tags and temperature loggers.

Possible questions for students include (but are not limited to):

  • Do forest and city birds have different reproductive success?
  • Is the activity pattern of forest and city birds different?
  • Is the incubation pattern of forest and city birds different?

Students can also come up with their own research questions if they fit in the scope of this project. Apart from field-based ecological questions, we can also discuss possibilities to study the biological clocks of birds in captivity and also questions involving genetic/genomics of wild birds.

 Requirements:

A good planning/organizing capacity

A valid driver’s license is essential.

The fieldwork starts preferably in April 2020 and lasts through to June/July, but specific dates can be negotiated.

Previous experience with avian fieldwork is helpful but not a requirement as training will be provided.

 For more information and questions, feel free to contact Barbara Tomotani