The effects of urbanization on physiological indicators of welfare in bats
Main supervisor: Dr Davina Hill, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine,
University of Glasgow;
Co-supervisor: Professor Kirsty Park, Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling.
Changes
in land use from an increasing human population presents a major
challenge for biodiversity (Grimm et al. 2008). Several studies have
documented the impacts of urbanization on wildlife due to habitat loss
and fragmentation, chemical, light and noise pollution, harvesting,
predation and roads (Russo & Ancillotto 2015). While
some aspects of urbanization have immediate lethal effects, others act
more slowly or may vary between years or seasons. For example, urban
heat might benefit some species, but be detrimental to others at certain
times of the year (e.g. hibernators in winter).
Bats are one of the most diverse mammalian groups represented in urban environments but also one of the most threatened.Some species are relatively common in urban areas (e.g. Pipistrellus pipistrellus in Europe), and have been described as ‘urban-adaptors’. However, recent work has indicated that the activity of even these species decreases with increasingly urbanized landscapes (Lintott et al. 2016). The mechanism for this is unclear; most work on bat responses to urbanization has focused on foraging and roosting patterns with little information on physiological effects.
This PhD will use a number of novel and non-invasive welfare indicators to compare levels of physiological stress in wild bats living in urban and rural environments.
Key objectives include:
• Validating novel physiological indicators of welfare in bats
• Testing for variation in physiological stress along a gradient of increasing urbanization
• Assessing whether gut microflora communities differ between urban and rural bats
• Testing for differences in the signature of chemical pollutants between urban and rural populations
• Testing for differences in the temperature and thermal stability of roosts in urban and rural sites
• Modelling population growth from habitat use and composition to inform conservation and survey effort
The student will investigate these questions in two common UK bat species to provide insights on the physiological mechanisms underlying urban declines in bats.
Bats are one of the most diverse mammalian groups represented in urban environments but also one of the most threatened.Some species are relatively common in urban areas (e.g. Pipistrellus pipistrellus in Europe), and have been described as ‘urban-adaptors’. However, recent work has indicated that the activity of even these species decreases with increasingly urbanized landscapes (Lintott et al. 2016). The mechanism for this is unclear; most work on bat responses to urbanization has focused on foraging and roosting patterns with little information on physiological effects.
This PhD will use a number of novel and non-invasive welfare indicators to compare levels of physiological stress in wild bats living in urban and rural environments.
Key objectives include:
• Validating novel physiological indicators of welfare in bats
• Testing for variation in physiological stress along a gradient of increasing urbanization
• Assessing whether gut microflora communities differ between urban and rural bats
• Testing for differences in the signature of chemical pollutants between urban and rural populations
• Testing for differences in the temperature and thermal stability of roosts in urban and rural sites
• Modelling population growth from habitat use and composition to inform conservation and survey effort
The student will investigate these questions in two common UK bat species to provide insights on the physiological mechanisms underlying urban declines in bats.
This project
is funded by the NERC Iapetus Doctoral Training Partnership (https://www.iapetus2.ac.uk/studentships/the-effects-of-urbanization-on-physiological-indicators-of-welfare-in-bats-2/
) and is open to UK/EU students.
To apply,
follow this link and click on ‘Visit website’: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/fully-funded-phd-the-effects-of-urbanization-on-physiological-indicators-of-welfare-in-bats/?p115508
Deadline
10th January 2020 - please email davina.hill@glasgow.ac.uk for further information