mardi 11 novembre 2008

Do sex-differences in foraging area explain the link between ocean climate change and survival in the Northern Fulmar?

Ocean ecosystems are going through rapid and dramatic transformations, driven primarily by changing climate and patterns of harvesting. Seabirds are key indicators of the state of these systems, and many species are currently undergoing serious declines. Individual-based studies of several North Atlantic seabirds have shown that climate-related variation in adult survival may be driving population change, but understanding of these effects is hampered by a lack of data on distribution and foraging ecology during the winter. We recently detected sex-differences in the influence of climate on adult survival of northern fulmars. This project will study the at-sea distribution of fulmars and test the hypothesis that differences in survival are due to sex differences in winter foraging areas. The student will use geolocation data loggers and analyses of chemical signatures in feathers to compare male and female winter distribution. New insights into at-sea distribution will facilitate the identification of key foraging habitats and important marine conservation areas within the NE Atlantic. The project involves collaboration between staff with expertise in marine top predator ecology and environmental chemistry, and will provide the student with opportunities to develop both field and laboratory skills, and expertise in GIS analysis.

Funding Notes
Candidates must be eligible for UK/EU fee status (EU students MUST have been in the UK for at least three years prior to commencement of studentship) and should hold a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree, a Masters degree or an equivalent qualification.

To apply send an application form, downloadable from http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/pgapp.doc along with a letter and an up-to-date C.V. (no longer than 2 sides of A4)

Send to Ms M Schumann, School of Biological Sciences, Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU. E-mail is the preferred mode of application – m.schumann@abdn.ac.uk

Cherel, Y., Phillips, R.A., Hobson, K.A. and McGill, R. (2006). Stable isotope evidence of diverse species-specific and individual wintering strategies in seabirds. Biology Letters 2, 301-303.

Grosbois, V. & Thompson, P.M. (2005) North Atlantic climate variation influences survival in adult fulmars. Oikos. 109, 273-290.

Phillips, R.A., Silk, J.R.D., Croxall, J.P. and Afanasyev, V. (2006) Year-round distribution of white-chinned petrels from South Georgia: relationships with oceanography and fisheries. Biological Conservation 129, 336-347.

Plus d'infos ici
Et d'autres offres de l'université d'Aberdeen:

Nitrate assimilatory gene evolution in mycorrhizal fungi

Extinctions of symbiotic fungi in alpine and subarctic ecosystems

Are animal movements the main factor that causes both transmission and maintenance of gastrointestinal pathogens in cattle and sheep?

What have we bred?