2 MRes projects in birdsong are available from September based at Aberystwyth University, UK:
MRes Project 1 – Individuality within birdsong dialects
MRes Project 2 – Urbane acoustics: physical & auditory habitat associations with
song structure
MRes Project 1 – Individuality within birdsong dialects
Acoustic
cues to an individual’s identity are common among some species of
birds, allowing neighbour and/or kin recognition. In some cases the
associated
aspects of a species’ call or song structure can be a useful tool to
aid in their census or conservation (e.g. great tits Parus major, bitterns Botaurus stellaris).
However, in a few species, individuals sing near-identical fixed
song-types in
a patchwork-quilt-like distribution of dialects, where songs are almost
identical between individuals, differing only across dialect boundaries
(e.g. corn buntings Emberiza calandra, McGregor 1980). This
project involves recording, analysis and playback
of song to determine whether, and on what basis, individuals of a
strict microgeographic dialect-singing species, the corn bunting, are
able to discriminate among territorial neighbours withina dialect.
Structure
of Project: Autumn semester: taught/training at Aberystwyth University
(until early Feb) including training on song recording & analysis.
Spring
& early summer: independent fieldwork in north-east Scotland.
Remainder of summer semester: song analysis, statistical analysis,
manuscript preparation etc. Further information on the MRes scheme can
be found here.
Information on fees & potential funding can be found here.
Further reading: McGregor (1980), “Song dialects in the corn bunting Emberiza calandra”, Z. Tierpsychol, 54, 285-297. Tibbets & Dale (2007) “Individual
recognition: it’s good to be different” Trends in Ecology & Evolution 22 (10) 529-537.
Applicants
should have at least a 2:1 in a relevant subject (e.g. behavioural
biology, zoology, psychology). Fieldwork will be undertaken in remote
locations
in north-east Scotland with limited public transport – access to a car
would be an advantage.
Start date: end of Sept 2017. Finish date: end of Sept 2018
Informal enquiries: Dr Rupert Marshall rmm@aber.ac.uk
Initial application: CV (including names & contacts for 2 referees) & covering letter to rmm@aber.ac.uk by
midday 25th August. Please state if you have a preference for Project 1 or 2 – applicants will otherwise be considered for both.
MRes Project 2 – Urbane acoustics: physical & auditory habitat associations with song structure
The
association between “urban noise” and increased frequency (pitch) of
song in some species of bird is now well established: birds of some
species, including
great tits Parus major, sing at a higher pitch in noisy areas
compared with quieter areas. However, the definition of “urban noise”
covers a variety of factors. This project involves song recording and
analysis in a range of habitats to determine the
features of song structure that vary in association with noise per se from those associated with the physical nature of the urban environment.
Structure
of Project: Autumn semester: taught/training at Aberystwyth University
(until early Feb) including training on song recording & analysis.
Spring
semester: independent fieldwork away from Aberystwyth. Summer semester:
song analysis, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation etc.
Further information on the MRes scheme can be found here.
Information on fees & potential funding can be found here.
Further reading: Mockford et al (2011) Degradation of rural and urban great tit
song: testing transmission efficiency. PLoS One, 6(12),
e28242. Kight et al (2012) Acoustic space is affected by anthropogenic
habitat features: Implications for avian vocal communication. Ornithological Monographs 74, 47-62.
Applicants
should have at least a 2:1 in a relevant subject (e.g. behavioural
biology, zoology, psychology). Fieldwork will be undertaken in remote
locations
with little public transport – access to a car would be an advantage.
Start date: end of Sept 2017. Finish date: end of Sept 2018
Informal enquiries: Dr Rupert Marshall rmm@aber.ac.uk
Initial application: CV (including names & contacts for 2 referees) & covering letter to rmm@aber.ac.uk by
midday 25th August. Please state if you have a preference for Project 1 or 2 – applicants will otherwise be considered for both.
Problems reading this? Try this webpage version instead: http://users.aber.ac.uk/rmm/vacancies.htm