The sensory ecology of sound in the ocean has been well described in terms of the physical propagation of sound, but little or not work has been done to describe natural sources of sound relevant to passive detection of prey by marine mammals. This PhD studentship will focus on the presence and function of sound in association with aggregations of krill, and how they might be relevant to foraging mysticete whales. While the distribution of krill is predictable at large spatial and temporal scales, their distribution at small and medium scales is patchy and less predictable. Marine mammals should be adapted to make use of any available cues to locate prey resources.
Specific research will focus on: 1. Can krill and krill schools be heard? Do krill actively or inadvertently produce sound that could be used as an auditory cue? Q2. Can marine mammals manipulate krill schools with sound? Q3. How ubiquitous and what is the function of broadband click production by foraging mysticete whales? Q4. The effect of long term exposure to anthropogenic activities on foraging and reproductive behaviour in baleen whales. Questions 1-3 will be addressed using field surveys of sound from krill aggregations in locations where mysticete whale foraging also occurs, in combination with captive observations and experiments via collaborations with institutions holding krill. Question 4 will use modelling techniques, but will be informed by results from questions 1-3.
The successful candidate will have a good training in basic biology, with specific training or extensive experience in the study of marine mammals. Importantly, the successful candidate will also have substantial field experience with marine acoustics; especially a demonstrated ability to create low-noise field recordings and quantitative techniques to analyze acoustic data.
Funding Notes
The studentship covers subsistence and fees for UK students, and for European Union nationals who have been resident in the UK for at least the last 3 years for education purposes; where residency has been for less than three years, funding is on a fees-only basis. These studentships cannot be used to support non-European overseas students.
Specific research will focus on: 1. Can krill and krill schools be heard? Do krill actively or inadvertently produce sound that could be used as an auditory cue? Q2. Can marine mammals manipulate krill schools with sound? Q3. How ubiquitous and what is the function of broadband click production by foraging mysticete whales? Q4. The effect of long term exposure to anthropogenic activities on foraging and reproductive behaviour in baleen whales. Questions 1-3 will be addressed using field surveys of sound from krill aggregations in locations where mysticete whale foraging also occurs, in combination with captive observations and experiments via collaborations with institutions holding krill. Question 4 will use modelling techniques, but will be informed by results from questions 1-3.
The successful candidate will have a good training in basic biology, with specific training or extensive experience in the study of marine mammals. Importantly, the successful candidate will also have substantial field experience with marine acoustics; especially a demonstrated ability to create low-noise field recordings and quantitative techniques to analyze acoustic data.
Funding Notes
The studentship covers subsistence and fees for UK students, and for European Union nationals who have been resident in the UK for at least the last 3 years for education purposes; where residency has been for less than three years, funding is on a fees-only basis. These studentships cannot be used to support non-European overseas students.
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