dimanche 30 juillet 2017

MRes Birdsong Projects Available

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 One6(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.

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