Sex role evolution and demography in shorebirds PhD studentship based in Debrecen, Hungary 2020–2024
Supervisors: Prof Tamás Székely (Debrecen University) and Dr Vojtěch Kubelka (Debrecen Uni.)
Deadline of application: 15 December 2019
We are interested in:
Sex roles (i.e. courtship, competition for mates, pair bonding and
parenting) are among the most diverse social behaviour. Recent research is uncovering key elements of sex role variation, but significant gaps remain.
Appropriate sexual behaviour is essential for reproduction, and thus understanding the causes and implications of sex roles are at the core of evolutionary biology and fundamental for the study of life history evolution, physiology and population biology. Understanding sex roles and demography (reproduction and mortality rates) is also important for biodiversity conservation since disruptions to normal sexual behaviour due to environmental changes reduce the viability of wild populations.
Our team was awarded an project of Hungarian Science Foundation, the ÉLVONAL Shorebird Science: https://elvonalshorebirds.com/ to investigate sex role evolution in shorebirds.
This PhD project will focus on sex role behaviour in shorebirds. Using behavioural observations in wild populations it will investigate causes of display behaviour, pair bonding and parenting. The PhD student will test whether (i) sex role behaviours are induced by ambient environment, demographic parameters or social environment, (ii) explore the relationship between different sex role components, and (iii) test the fitness implications of sex role variations.
The ideal candidate:
has a strong interest in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology and field biology, and willing to work in remote areas, e.g. South Africa, South America or Arctic Russia or elsewhere. He/she needs to have a solid background in data analyses preferably in R, and statistical modelling. A condition of the application is a Master degree (or equivalent) in biology, zoology or similar subject. Experience in field ornithology and bird ringing is desirable but not essential. The studentship will start in September 2020. We are preferably seeking candidates willing to raise their own funding. Note that for students from eligible countries the Stipendium Hungaricum offers a scholarship programme (www.stipendiumhungaricum.hu).
Are you interested?
Contact Dr Vojtěch Kubelka (kubelkav@gmail.com).
Applications includes: a CV (max 3 pages) and a max 2 pages cover letter with personal motivation and the name and contact details of two references (both in English) should be sent to Dr Kubelka before deadline.
References
Carmona-Isunza, M C, C Küpper, M A Serrano-Meneses & T. Székely. 2015.
Courtship behavior differs between monogamous and polygamous plovers.
Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 69: 2035–2042.
Cunningham, C, J. E. Parra, L. Coals, M. Beltrán, S. Zefania & T. Székely.
2018. Social interactions predict genetic diversification: an experimental manipulation in shorebirds. Behavioral Ecology 29: 609–618.
Eberhart-Phillips, L. J., …, T. Székely, … 2018. Demographic causes of adult sex ratio variation and their consequences for parental cooperation.
Nature Communications 9 (1651).
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Végvári Z., Freckleton R. P. & Székely T. 2018: Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds. Science 362: 680–683.
Liker A., Freckleton R. P. & Székely T. 2015: The evolution of sex roles in birds is related to adult sex ratio.
Nature Communications 4 (1587).
Vincze, O., A. Kosztolányi, … & T. Székely. 2016. Parental cooperation in a changing climate: fluctuating environments predict shifts in care division.
Global Ecology and Biogeography 26: 347–358.
Supervisors: Prof Tamás Székely (Debrecen University) and Dr Vojtěch Kubelka (Debrecen Uni.)
Deadline of application: 15 December 2019
We are interested in:
Sex roles (i.e. courtship, competition for mates, pair bonding and
parenting) are among the most diverse social behaviour. Recent research is uncovering key elements of sex role variation, but significant gaps remain.
Appropriate sexual behaviour is essential for reproduction, and thus understanding the causes and implications of sex roles are at the core of evolutionary biology and fundamental for the study of life history evolution, physiology and population biology. Understanding sex roles and demography (reproduction and mortality rates) is also important for biodiversity conservation since disruptions to normal sexual behaviour due to environmental changes reduce the viability of wild populations.
Our team was awarded an project of Hungarian Science Foundation, the ÉLVONAL Shorebird Science: https://elvonalshorebirds.com/ to investigate sex role evolution in shorebirds.
This PhD project will focus on sex role behaviour in shorebirds. Using behavioural observations in wild populations it will investigate causes of display behaviour, pair bonding and parenting. The PhD student will test whether (i) sex role behaviours are induced by ambient environment, demographic parameters or social environment, (ii) explore the relationship between different sex role components, and (iii) test the fitness implications of sex role variations.
The ideal candidate:
has a strong interest in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology and field biology, and willing to work in remote areas, e.g. South Africa, South America or Arctic Russia or elsewhere. He/she needs to have a solid background in data analyses preferably in R, and statistical modelling. A condition of the application is a Master degree (or equivalent) in biology, zoology or similar subject. Experience in field ornithology and bird ringing is desirable but not essential. The studentship will start in September 2020. We are preferably seeking candidates willing to raise their own funding. Note that for students from eligible countries the Stipendium Hungaricum offers a scholarship programme (www.stipendiumhungaricum.hu).
Are you interested?
Contact Dr Vojtěch Kubelka (kubelkav@gmail.com).
Applications includes: a CV (max 3 pages) and a max 2 pages cover letter with personal motivation and the name and contact details of two references (both in English) should be sent to Dr Kubelka before deadline.
References
Carmona-Isunza, M C, C Küpper, M A Serrano-Meneses & T. Székely. 2015.
Courtship behavior differs between monogamous and polygamous plovers.
Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 69: 2035–2042.
Cunningham, C, J. E. Parra, L. Coals, M. Beltrán, S. Zefania & T. Székely.
2018. Social interactions predict genetic diversification: an experimental manipulation in shorebirds. Behavioral Ecology 29: 609–618.
Eberhart-Phillips, L. J., …, T. Székely, … 2018. Demographic causes of adult sex ratio variation and their consequences for parental cooperation.
Nature Communications 9 (1651).
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Végvári Z., Freckleton R. P. & Székely T. 2018: Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds. Science 362: 680–683.
Liker A., Freckleton R. P. & Székely T. 2015: The evolution of sex roles in birds is related to adult sex ratio.
Nature Communications 4 (1587).
Vincze, O., A. Kosztolányi, … & T. Székely. 2016. Parental cooperation in a changing climate: fluctuating environments predict shifts in care division.
Global Ecology and Biogeography 26: 347–358.