Postdoctoral Scientist position

 

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund seeks to recruit a full-time Postdoctoral Scientist to support an NIH-funded international collaborative project on “Great apes and the evolutionary origins of long life: the influences of early life adversity on lifespan and individual frailty in wild chimpanzees and gorillas” (https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10936791).  The overarching goal of this project is to examine how variation in prevalence of and resilience to early life adversity shapes the capacity to achieve long life spans in diverse environments, focusing on human’s closest living relatives. The project leverages detailed life course data (including behavior, demography, ecology and physiology) from three of the most extensively studied populations of wild African great apes, which show differences in behavior, ecology and life span: Virunga mountain gorillas studied by the Fossey Fund’s Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda, and eastern chimpanzees studied by the Gombe Stream Research Center in Tanzania and the Kibale Chimpanzee Project in Uganda. 

 

The Postdoctoral Scientist will join a productive and highly collaborative team of international and interdisciplinary researchers representing all three great ape study sites.  Specifically, this position will support analyses of physiological biomarkers and their integration with other life course datasets.  In the first year of the position, the ideal Candidate will spend time based at the University of Michigan in the U.S.A. and at the Fossey Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda, and would work with Principal Investigators to lead validation and analyses of physiological biomarkers (e.g., measures of stress, inflammation, oxidative stress) from wild mountain gorillas. In subsequent years, more time would be spent engaged in research, data analysis and other activities based in Rwanda. Depending on the applicant’s skill set and interest, we also anticipate opportunities to participate in comparative analyses across study sites in subsequent years.

 

The ideal start date for this position is January-February 2025, with flexibility, and it is anticipated to last for up to three years subject to annual renewal of funds.  To apply, please send an email to Dr. Shannon McFarlin (smcfarlin@gorillafund.org), including a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, but applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by December 15, 2024 for full consideration.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Completed PhD in biology, zoology, evolutionary anthropology or a related field, or anticipated PhD degree completion within six months of the start date.
• Strong skills in statistical analysis, including coding in R.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, and record-keeping skills.
• Strong collaborative skills, and/or experience working as part of a diverse, multicultural and/or international team.
• Ability to travel, including extended periods based in Rwanda.

 

Desired Qualifications: 

The following experience would be advantageous; candidates with one or more of these qualifications are especially encouraged to apply.

• Experience in quantification and analysis of physiological datasets from vertebrate animal populations (e.g., for characterization of stress physiology or other hormone biomarkers, physiological indicators of immune function, physiology of aging), especially experience with enzyme immunoassays (ELISA).
• Experience in the analysis of detailed longitudinal databases generated from vertebrate animal populations.
• Expertise in the behavioral ecology and/or physiology of social mammals (primates or other taxonomic groups).
• Demonstrated record of peer-review publication.

 

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Research Assistant

 The Behavioral Services Unit at the Oregon National Primate Research Center is seeking a Research Assistant to collect behavioral data on groups of captive rhesus macaques for a study on social connectedness and health. Some positive reinforcement training will also be involved. This is a full-time position with funding for 1-2 years. Prior experience with non-human primates preferred but not required.

For more details and to apply: https://externalcareers-ohsu.icims.com/jobs/32244/research-assistant-2/job?hub=6&_gl=1*rzj0s7*_ga*MTM1ODE2NDgxMC4xNzMwMTMwMTQ4*_ga_5Y2BYGL910*MTczMTk2OTQxMi43LjEuMTczMTk2OTQ0NC4yOC4wLjA.&mobile=false&width=1252&height=500&bga=true&needsRedirect=false&jan1offset=-480&jun1offset=-420

Contact Dr. Kris Coleman (colemank@ohsu.edu) with any questions.

offre de stage

 NOTRE AMBITION
A l’interface entre la recherche fondamentale et le terrain, l’Itavi apporte aux professionnels des filières
avicole, cunicole et piscicole des expertises et des outils pour anticiper et s’adapter aux évolutions
structurelles.
Itavi oriente ses activités techniques en vue de répondre aux objectifs suivants :
o Evaluer et promouvoir les innovations technologiques ;
o Maîtriser la qualité des produits ;
o Apporter des références et réaliser des expertises ;
o Explorer de nouveaux systèmes de production ;
o Anticiper les évolutions structurelles.
Pour mener à bien nos missions, ce ne sont pas moins de 30 experts à l’écoute des problématiques
rencontrés par les professionnels de l’élevage intervenant sur 9 thématiques :
 Economie
 Alimentation et Techniques d’élevage
 Bâtiment et Energie
 Bien-être animal
 Santé Hygiène
 Environnement
 Qualité des produits
 Elevage de précision
 Durabilité
TRANSMETTRE NOS SAVOIRS
Vous préparez un diplôme agri/agro ou un master (bac + 5), voir un niveau inférieur et vous avez envie
de découvrir un univers scientifique passionnant, riche en challenges et en opportunités ? Nous vous
offrons l’opportunité de réaliser votre stage à l’Itavi en vue d’accompagner nos experts dans leur
mission et de vous enrichir d’une expérience au plus près de l’innovation scientifique.
Evaluation du bien-être des poissons : Validation des indicateurs et de
l’applicabilité d’un outil dédié aux fermes truiticoles
Contact
Merci d’adresser un CV et une lettre de motivation à :
Joanna Litt, Responsable thématique bien-être animal – Contact : 06 46 15 72 38, litt@itavi.asso.fr,
Aurélien Tocqueville, Responsable du service pisciculture – Contact : 06 07 03 51 91,
tocqueville@itavi.asso.fr,
Domaine : pisciculture, bien-être animal, évaluation multicritère
Contexte et objectif du projet dans lequel s’inscrit le stage
La prise en compte et l’amélioration du bien-être animal sont devenues centrales ces dernières années
pour les filières de production animale, y compris les poissons d’élevage. Conscients de cet enjeu, l’ITAVI
et la filière piscicole se sont engagés dans une démarche de progrès visant à améliorer les conditions de
vie des animaux en fournissant aux pisciculteurs un outil scientifiquement validé pour objectiver le bien-
être des truites en élevage. C’est dans cette optique qu’a été développée une première version de l’outil
EBENE®, constituant une première avancée significative pour l’amélioration des pratiques d’élevage
dans cette filière.
Cet outil, développé par ailleurs pour les volailles de chair, les poules pondeuses, les palmipèdes gras et
les lapins, repose sur cadre générique structuré et couvrant l’ensemble des principes et critères de bien-
être animal. Il permet à un observateur formé d’évaluer de façon rapide, simple et instantanée le bien-
être des truites directement en élevage, en collectant un ensemble d’indicateurs sanitaires et
comportementaux.
En vue de finaliser l’outil et de le déployer sur le terrain, une dernière étape reste à conduire visant à
s’assurer de la bonne applicabilité de la méthode en conditions terrain réelles et à vérifier certaines
qualités des indicateurs sur un échantillon de fermes. C’est le travail que nous proposons de réaliser dans
le cadre de ce stage.
Objectif du stage et missions :
Le stage proposé vise :
1. à s’assurer de la bonne applicabilité de la méthode en conditions terrain réelles
2. à vérifier certaines qualités des indicateurs sur un échantillon de fermes, telles que leur fiabilité
(importance de l’écart entre des mesures réalisées par deux observateurs réalisant une même
évaluation ou entre deux évaluations successives réalisées par un même observateur), leur
sensibilité (capacité à détecter des écarts signifiants entre systèmes de production), et leur
redondance (relations d’interdépendance entre indicateurs)
3. à proposer le cas échéant des améliorations à l’outil.
Il s’inscrit dans un objectif plus large de progrès et d’accompagnement au changement dans la filière
piscicole.
Pour ce faire, le ou la stagiaire aura pour missions :
- de constituer avec l’aide de ses encadrants un échantillon d’élevages à suivre et de planifier les
visites à réaliser en contactant les éleveurs et en préparant les équipements nécessaires en
amont des visites. Certaines visites nécessiteront l’appui d’un second observateur avec qui il
faudra se coordonner.
- de collecter, saisir et enregistrer les données recueillies lors des visites en suivant
scrupuleusement le protocole pré-défini.
- d’analyser les données en vue d’évaluer les qualités des différents indicateurs
- de proposer des ajustements à réaliser en fonction des résultats obtenus.
Une restitution des résultats auprès d’un public plus large composé des partenaires et d’acteurs du
projet sera organisée en fin de stage. Ce travail contribuera à finaliser l’outil et à préparer son
déploiement opérationnel sur le terrain.
Profil :
 Formation : Bac+5 agro/agri ou Master*
*Le stage pourrait être ouvert à un niveau d’études inférieur très motivé (ex BTS Aquacole) ou réduit à
une période plus courte (minimum 4 mois) selon profil. Le cas échéant une délégation d’une partie de
l’analyse de données vers du personnel interne ou externe à l’ITAVI serait envisagée.
 Compétences : Capacités relationnelles et sens de l’observation, rigueur, organisation et
autonomie. Facilité de travail en équipe. Goût pour le milieu piscicole et le bien-être animal –
une expérience ou de bonnes connaissances en pisciculture et en particulier en élevage de
truites est un plus. Goût pour les déplacements fréquents.
 Autre : le stage implique des déplacements nécessitant d’être véhiculé (frais pris en charge)
Conditions proposées :
Stage de 6 mois* sur le premier semestre 2025, co-encadré par le service Bien-être animal et le
service Pisciculture de l’ITAVI
Poste basé préférentiellement dans les locaux de l’ITAVI à Haut-Mauco, sur le site de l’Agrocampus
(40280)
Indemnités prises en charge :
 Gratification : 659,76 €/mois (conforme à la réglementation) + 50€ d’indemnité de double
résidence (si éloignement > 50 km)
 Forfait repas journalier : 5,2 €/repas
 Ordinateur portable fourni
 Frais de transport domicile/travail selon réglementation en vigueur
 Frais de déplacements remboursés selon les barèmes de l’ITAVI
 1 journée de télétravail autorisé par semaine.
Vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur les activités de l’Itavi ? Retrouvez-nous sur www.itavi.asso.fr

Itavi, expert des filières avicole, cunicole et piscicole

offre de stage

 Project title: Grouping together during hot weather? A study of the collective behaviour of aggregation in sheep.
This call is supported by the #DigitAg consortium within the scope of the French National
Research Agency under the Investments for the Future Program, referred to as
ANR-16-CONV-0004.
In grazing livestock farming systems, sheep express a unique collective behaviour of
aggregation linked with environmental heat. During the expression of this behaviour, which
can last several hours in the event of prolonged heat, individuals no longer ingest. The
collective dynamics associated with the expression of this behaviour, their links with
environmental temperature and the individual or collective fitness associated with the
expression of this behaviour are poorly determined. However, this behaviour well known by
shepherds can be a hindrance to the herd's performance and as well as an issue for the
management of animal welfare. The global evolution of climate and the multiplication of heat
waves in the Mediterranean area accentuate the need to study this behaviour in order to
understand it and propose ways of managing the grazing environment.
During this project, using digital tools, we will focus on the characterisation of (i) the
collective dynamics of grouping (using embedded devices, video recordings and direct visual
observations) and (ii) the local climatic conditions (temperature, humidity and solar radiation
sensors). This monitoring will be carried out in different groups of ewes (2 to 10 individuals)
at the Domaine du Merle (Institut Agro Montpellier, Salon-de-Provence). This monitoring
will be completed by behavioural data, in particular the monitoring of the physiological
parameters responsive to heat stress.
Key-words: Collective behaviour, aggregation, heat stress, animal welfare, embedded sensors
Field site: Domaine du Merle, 13300 Salon de Provence, South of France
Period of work : February/March to August/September 2025
Salary: The candidate will receive a grant of around 614 €/month. Travel and stay expenses
in the field will be paid by the project. Candidates will have to assume their living expenses.
We encourage students to find additional support from their university, or from other
institutions.
Qualification and Skills of candidates: A person with background in ethology / animal
behavior (level of master is preferred) wishing to learn about the digital monitoring of animal
behaviour both in terms of tools and methods or, conversely, a person with an
electronics/computer science/data analyst background wishing to apply their skills to the field
of animal behaviour.
The candidate will have to work in a farm station, to follow a formation with sheepherders to
manage sheep in the barn and in the field. The candidate will be also in charge of the care of
sheep involved in the experiments, which requires strong commitment during the whole week
including week-ends and close collaboration with the staff of the field station. The candidate
will thus be involved in physical activities linked to the management of adult sheep, will
work in the field under relatively hot Mediterranean climate and at dawn and possibly sunset.
The work in the field will be done in close collaboration with another student and possibly
professionals during short stay field periods. Thus, the job requires the capacity to work in a
team.
While French speaking is not mandatory, it will be an advantage in the field station.
People interested will have to contact:
Jean-Baptiste MENASSOL
jean-baptiste.menassol@supagro.fr
https://umr-selmet.cirad.fr/en/l-unite/pages-agents/jean-baptiste-menassol
Richard BON
richard.bon@univ-tlse3.fr
https://cbi-toulouse.fr/eng/page-personnelle-30

Stanford University - Job Posting

 

Stanford University is seeking a Veterinarian 1 to administer appropriate veterinary care to all animals in the Stanford research colonies, and make critical health care decisions in a wide variety of situations. This veterinarian will support the research program of a laboratory aimed at the creation and deployment of a highly novel, large-scale neural interface for direct communication with the brain.

The position has three main functions:

• Provide veterinary oversight of the lab’s animals, leading an enrichment and behavioral training program, and research management.
• Provide veterinary guidance and care where/when needed for a range of large and small animal species and work collaboratively with Stanford’s Animal Care Unit.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, institutional protocols, and voluntary animal welfare laws and regulations, help to develop standard operating procedures for veterinary care and study implementation, help research staff design and implement in vivo studies, train and oversee lab members on animal training, veterinary care, surgical procedures, lab SOPs, and animal use laws and regulations.

Duties include:

Perform veterinary care physical exams, diagnostic work-ups, medical treatment, surgical and non-surgical research procedures, and/or euthanasia, for all species found in the research colony populations.

Ensure accuracy of research and clinical records in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Provide expert care in the areas of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care of research animals.

Develop and manage IACUC protocols with the PI. Assist with preparing and submitting the lab’s animal use procedures for the Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care review and coordinate the monitoring the lab’s approved research projects with the Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care.

Provide assessments of animals prior to intrastate, interstate, and international shipments, including physical examination, review of colony history, and pertinent diagnostic tests.
Supervise other workers, as assigned.
Manage direct reports in the laboratory and oversee all vivarium operations
Serve as a liaison between the lab and the Veterinary Service Center (VSC) to facilitate research activities and ensure animal welfare
Ensure proper anesthesia and pain management for all procedures and postoperative care
Complete pre-op exams, post-op care, and administer controlled substances
Manage surgical sterile preparation, surgical inventory and OR operations
Provide medical and behavioral health monitoring of lab’s animals and oversight of housing
Provide on-call services as assigned
Administer clinical treatments as directed
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, institutional protocols, and voluntary animal welfare laws and regulations
Maintain accurate documentation and medical records in accordance with lab requirements, institutional requirements, and regulatory bodies
Develop and review SOPs to reflect current and best practices and verify training in lab staff.
Develop and manage the lab’s animal training program to achieve voluntary data collection using positive reinforcement

Develop, manage and help implement the lab’s enrichment program

Assist in the design and implementation of in vivo studies
Complete reports as required for research studies

May perform tasks associated with other teams including, but not limited to, animal care or surgery under supervision of someone trained in those areas

* - Other duties may also be assigned

The expected pay range for this position is $160,953 to $197,563 per annum.

Interested applicants please apply directly at: Veterinarian 1 - Stanford University Careers

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources at stanfordelr@stanford.edu. For all other inquiries, please submit a contact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

PhD

 

PhD Opportunity, fully funded by the NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership

From cognition to conservation: using cognitive and behavioural research to enhance red-billed chough reintroductions.

Entry Ref: 5400

September 2025 start

Supervisors

Alex Thornton, University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation

Rachel Miller, University of Cambridge, Department of Psychology

Malcolm Nicoll, Institute of Zoology

Elizabeth Corry, Wildwood Trust

Malcolm Burgess, University of Exeter, Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour

We are looking for a highly motivated, talented student with broad interests in animal behaviour, cognition and conservation. The project will be based at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in beautiful Cornwall. 

Full details of the project and how to apply are here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=5400

If you have any questions about the project, please write to alex.thornton@exeter.ac.uk

 

Project summary:

As cognition shapes animals’ responses to changing environments, cognitive research is increasingly recognised as a key component of conservation. This PhD project aims to use behavioural and cognitive principles to enhance reintroduction attempts of Britain’s most endangered corvid, the red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax.   

Working with an interdisciplinary supervisory team of cognitive biologists and conservationists (including Paradise Park and CASE partners Wildwood Trust, coordinators of the chough reintroduction scheme in Kent), the project will incorporate controlled experiments, behavioural observations and population monitoring on up to 80 captive and released choughs in Kent and Cornwall.  

Specific research directions are flexible, but broadly, we aim to (1) quantify individual variation in cognitive abilities likely to impact adaptability and survival (e.g. self-control, innovation, social learning, exploration) and (2) relate this to fitness-relevant measures like body condition, stress responses and reproductive success in captivity and the wild. We will then (3) use findings to (a) establish real-world consequences of cognitive performance on behaviour, survival and reproductive success post-release (b) inform release decisions, (c) develop targeted pre-release training and d) expand release protocols. Each objective will be co-developed with the student, with extensive opportunities for you to shape project development according to your interests and the accumulating evidence.

PhD available in the impact of the UK gamebird industry

 

Project Description

Summary

This project will merge social and natural science methods to explore and analyse current antimicrobial use in the UK gamebird industry and its impact on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Case award E4 DTP

Pheasant hens sharing feeder with wild birds

Project background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a critical threat to One Health. Our understanding of antimicrobial use in UK released gamebird species, and the consequences of this, remains limited. The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) estimates around 30-35 million pheasants and 10-12 million red-legged partridges are released annually for shooting in the UK. The ecological consequences of this practice are currently being discussed in relation to possible licencing and limits on releasing.   

Preliminary studies indicate that resistance to β-Lactams and multi-drug resistant members of the Campylobacter genus are prevalent among UK gamebirds. Pheasants and partridges are raised in rearing facilities where they are sometimes provided with antimicrobials through their food or water, which could contribute to the development of resistance. As gamebirds are released into the wild, there is a risk of transmitting resistant bacteria into the broader ecosystem. Also, anecdotal evidence indicates that gamebirds are sometimes given food supplemented with anti-microbials on shooting estates. This practice can attract other wild species that may come into contact with contaminated bird faeces.  

This project will lead to an understanding of antimicrobial use and the prevalence of AMR in the gamebird industry. This will allow the development of strategies to mitigate the industry’s impact on AMR in released gamebirds and potentially on the wider ecosystem. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we aim to explore the factors driving antimicrobial use, assess its biological impact on birds, and identify effective methods for communicating these findings to industry stakeholders. This will enable stakeholders to make more informed decisions and reduce the potential for AMR development. 

Research questions

• What is the current rational for antimicrobial use in gamebirds and what factors determine specific drug use?
• To what extent is the gamebird industry aware of antimicrobial resistance resulting from prophylactic antimicrobial use?
• How prevalent is AMR in the microbiota of released UK gamebirds?
• How do different antimicrobial practices affect resistance levels in the gamebird microbiota?
• What is the most effective method for communicating the impact of antimicrobial use to stakeholders in the gamebird industry?

Methodology

This interdisciplinary project will be conducted in collaboration with The GWCT. In the first year of the studentship, a survey will be conducted to characterise the use of antimicrobials in pheasants and partridges in both rearing facilities and shooting estates. This survey will include a knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) component which will allow the student to explore the drivers for different forms of antimicrobial usage. The entire survey and specifically the KAP questions will be designed in close collaboration with The GWCT to ensure questions are appropriately worded to generate meaningful data without participants feeling interrogated regarding their practices. This survey will quantify current husbandry techniques, AMR knowledge and prevention practices amongst industry stakeholders, and the motivations behind stakeholder interest in AMR avoidance measures. 

Based on the results from the survey, the student will design an appropriate sampling protocol for partridges and pheasants during both rearing and release on a sub-sample of the shoots that have been surveyed. Prevalence of AMR genes during rearing, in release pens, after release and during shooting will be assessed. Samples will be taken from birds that have either been submitted for veterinary post-mortem examination or from birds shot during the shooting season. Faecal and caecal pellet samples will also be taken from live birds. Microbial DNA will be extracted from gastrointestinal and respiratory samples, and qPCR will be used to determine the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes. A subset of samples will undergo metagenomic sequencing, and antimicrobial resistance genes and other virulence genes will be identified. The presence and abundance of AMR and antimicrobial residues will be correlated with the previously surveyed antimicrobial usage practises.   

A co-creation workshop with survey respondents will be arranged to firstly share findings of the research and to explore effective methods for communicating such findings to game industry stakeholders more widely i.e., shooting estates, game rearing facility owners, vets, young game keepers etc. The student will analyse qualitative transcripts from this workshop and create a pilot draft of AMR communication materials. These pilot materials will be pre-tested with a sub-set of workshop and survey participants and reviewed by The GWCT stakeholders. Final feedback will allow the student to generate recommendations for future AMR communications in this sector     

Year 1: Literature review and knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) survey of antimicrobial usage in the gamebird industry, understanding of issue, what drives usage practices, and of other relevant husbandry practices. Initiation of AMR prevalence survey.   
Year 2: Continuation of prevalence survey. Engagement activity (ie: focus group/workshop) to feedback and discuss KAP survey findings. Characterisation of antimicrobial resistance profiles from gut and respiratory samples (metagenomics and qPCR).  
Year 3: Continue bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic data. Feedback current results in co-creation workshop. Develop and pre-test pilot materials for feeding back scientific findings to game industry stakeholders. Produce final recommendations for communication on AMR within the gamebird sector. 

Training

A comprehensive training programme will be provided comprising both specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional skills. This is a highly interdisciplinary project, enabling the student to acquire skills in both social and natural sciences. Natural science skills will include qPCR, metagenomics, and bioinformatic analysis. Social science skills will include survey design, workshop/focus group design and facilitation, and the analysis and synthesis of qualitative data. The student will also acquire a variety of transferable skills, including data management; effective communication with experts and non-experts in the field; and scientific writing. 

Requirements

Evidence of critical thinking, the ability to carry out high-quality research, and the ability to understand the wider outcomes of research. The successful candidate will have an interest in AMR and its management. As this is an inter-disciplinary project, we do not expect students to have previous experience of all of the disciplines involved.

References

Aebischer, N.J. "Fifty-year trends in hunting bags of birds and mammals and calibrated estimation of national bag size using GWCT’s National Gamebag Census".  European Journal of Wildlife Research, 65 (2019).

Arnold, K.E. et al. "‘Disperse abroad in the land’: the role of wildlife in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance." Biology Letters, 12 (2016).

Bain, C. et al. "β‐Lactam resistance genes present in UK pheasants and red‐legged partridges." Veterinary Record 192.5 (2023)

Madden, J.R. "How many gamebirds are released in the UK each year?" European Journal of Wildlife Research, 67, (2021).

Sage R.B. et al. "Summary review and synthesis: effects on habitats and wildlife of the release and management of pheasants and red-legged partridges on UK lowland shoots." Wildlife Biology, 2020 (2020).

Seguino, A. et al. "Campylobacter spp. carriage in wild game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Scotland and its relevance to public health." Game meat hygiene. Wageningen Academic, 2017: 83-99.

CASE partner: Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust - The GWCT

Supervisors

Laura Glendinning	RDSVS - The Roslin Institute	Laura.Glendinning@roslin.ed.ac.uk	www.ed.ac.uk/profile/laura-glendinning
Jess Mitchell	GAAFS	jmitch2@ed.ac.uk
Rufus Sage	Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust	rsage@gwct.org.uk	scholar.google.com/citations?user=VwvTTCMAAAAJ&hl=en

E4 supervisors are happy to hear from candidates who would wish to adapt the project to their own ideas and research background.

CASE studentship

This is a CASE project which benefits from the association of an external non-academic partner to provide additional expertise, access to data, labs and facilities (in some cases), a placement and enhanced research costs. CASE studentships are a great opportunity to apply research in real-world settings (e.g. industry, businesses, charities) and to open up to non-academic careers. See more information on CASE Studentships on our "How to apply" webpages.

To apply: https://e4-dtp.ed.ac.uk/how-to-apply/supervisor-led-projects/project?item=1674

Offre de stage - Janvier 2025

 

Offre de stage en cognition sociale des primates

Etude de l’aversion à l’iniquité chez des macaques et des capucins

Thème

L’aversion à l’iniquité, bien connue chez l’humain, a également été observée chez de nombreuses autres espèces animales. Des lapins aux rats, en passant par les corvidés, la présence et l’intensité de ce trait varient selon les taxa. Une hypothèse quant à son existence et sa variabilité interspécifique est que cette aversion aurait co-évolué avec la coopération.

L’exploration de ce mécanisme encore mécompris est ainsi l’objet principal de ce projet. En raison de la diversité de la coopération spontanée observée à travers les primates non humains, ainsi que leur proximité phylogénétique aux humains, ce sont ces derniers qui sont choisis comme modèles d’étude. Afin de représenter une diversité de profils coopératifs, les espèces suivantes ont été sélectionnées : capucins bruns (Sapajus apella), macaques rhesus (Macaca mulatta) et macaques de Tonkean (Macaca tonkeana). Cette étude permettra l’acquisition de connaissances fondamentales sur l'évolution du sens de l’équité, ainsi que sur les mécanismes qui sous-tendent la prise de décision individuelle dans des situations sociales complexes.

Encadrement

Aurore SERDA, Doctorante en deuxième année & Hélène Meunier, PhD, HDR

Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives – LNCA – UMR 7364, Université de Strasbourg

Durée

Stage de huit semaines maximum à partir du 6 janvier 2025.

Lieu

Centre de Primatologie de l’Université de Strasbourg

Fort Foch

Chemin du Fort Foch

67207 Niederhausbergen

 

Description

Le stage se déroulera au sein de groupes sociaux de macaques et de capucins hébergés au Centre de Primatologie de l’Université de Strasbourg. La/le stagiaire assistera la doctorante dans l’entraînement et les tests des animaux à une tâche cognitive et la collecte de données, principalement par enregistrement vidéo. La tâche demandée aux animaux consistera à résoudre un puzzle (une boîte à plusieurs étages dans laquelle ils doivent faire passer une bille) afin d’obtenir une récompense alimentaire plus ou moins attractive.

La/le stagiaire sera également impliqué(e) dans le traitement et l’organisation des données collectées (tableaux excel, classement de vidéos, etc.), ainsi que dans l’analyse vidéo sur le logiciel BORIS. Cette expérience permettra d’acquérir des compétences pratiques en observation comportementale, gestion des données, analyse vidéo et interaction avec des animaux non humains.

Profil requis

La/le stagiaire doit posséder des capacités d’observation, de patience et d’empathie. Être à l’aise avec le contact des animaux et le travail en extérieur. Une première expérience avec des animaux sauvages serait fortement appréciée. La connaissance du logiciel d’analyse vidéo BORIS est un plus mais pas un prérequis obligatoire.

Conditions de travail

Temps plein (35h), du lundi au vendredi. Stage non rémunéré.

Contact

Envoyer CV et lettre de motivation par courrier électronique aux deux personnes ci-dessous :

-              Aurore SERDA – aurore.serda@etu.unistra.fr

-              Hélène Meunier – hmeunier@unistra.fr

PhD position: Environmental effects on extra-pair mating in birds

 

Environmental effects on extra-pair mating in birds

PhD studentship based in Taiwan 2025-2029

About the Project:

Extra-pair mating occurs when an individual mates with one(s) outside of his or her pair bond. It is a prevalent behaviour in birds and has been reported in more than 75% of studied socially monogamous species. However, the causes and consequences of this common behaviour remain unclear.

In birds, extra-pair mating increases male reproductive success (Dunning et al., 2024), while females face trade-offs, like reduced paternal care from their social partners (Schroeder et al., 2016). Adaptive explanations suggest that females obtain indirect benefits such as good genes and genetic compatibility to offset the costs, but supportive evidence is limited (Hsu et al., 2014; Hsu et al., 2015). 

Alternative hypotheses suggest that extra-pair mating could be initiated and/or sustained by context-dependent paternity benefits, where extra-pair offspring enjoy higher fitness under specific scenarios, or within- or between-sex correlation, such as positive selection on male extra-pair mating and female responsiveness to within-pair copulation. Our preliminary analyses with theoretical modelling highlight the context-dependent paternity effects (Yeh & Hsu, under review), shedding light on the evolution of extra-pair mating in birds. However, more empirical studies to evaluate these effects in wild populations are essential.

Research Objectives

This PhD project aims to understand how various environmental factors influence extra-pair mating. It will explore the biotic factors, including within-species effects and the interaction with other species (e.g. predation risk), as well as abiotic factors, such as bioclimatic effects. The long-term study dataset will provide this project with an ideal opportunity to explore various environmental effects and their interactions with extra-pair mating.

Methodology

Fieldwork will be taken on an offshore UK island where a wild population of house sparrows has been monitored for over twenty years. Activities will involve nest searching, banding, and social interaction observations. The PhD will analyse data using advanced statistical models to explore how environmental conditions impact mating behaviour.

Candidate Profile

This PhD project will be based at the Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan. Applicants must be able to undertake fieldwork in the UK as part of a joint project. Applicants should review the minimum entry requirements for the NCKU 2025 Fall Admission. Ideal candidates are motivated, independent, and interested in evolution and field biology. Experience with fieldwork and statistical analysis is essential.

Funding

This PhD project will be funded by various sources. A successful candidate awarded the competitive Veritas et Conscientia Scholarship from NCKU for the first year will be guaranteed NT$360,000/yr (the basic living expense for taxpayers in Taiwan in 2023 is NT$202,000), supported by both the NCKU scholarship and the supervisor’s research grant for the first three years. From the 4^th year onwards, we will support the PhD candidate in applying for the competitive scholarship from NCKU, as well as from various resources.

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV, the name of two referees, a concise statement of your research interests, and the transcripts of your BSc and MSc as a single PDF file to Dr Yu-Hsun Hsu (yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw). All documents should be in English. The deadline for application is 30^th November 2024. An online interview will be held soon after that. After the interviews, the successful candidate must go through the official application process for NCKU 2025 Fall Admission (the application platform will be open in January 2025).

For more information concerning this position, please contact Dr Yu-Hsun Hsu (yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw).

Application Information for NCKU: NCKU 2025 Fall Admission and application instructions

Related Information

Dr Yu-Hsun Hsu

Related publication

Yeh, J. D. & Y.-H. Hsu. Extra-pair mating may evolve under changing environments. Under review

Hsu, Y.-H. 2022. Consequences of infidelity in non-human animals in T. Shackelford, and T. DeLecce, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Infidelity. Oxford University Press.

Hsu, Y.-H., M. J. P. Simons, J. Schroeder, A. Girndt, I. Winney, T. Burke, and S. Nakagawa. 2017. Age-dependent trajectories differ between within-pair and extra-pair paternity success. Journal of Evolutinary Biology 30:951-959.

Hsu, Y.-H., J. Schroeder, I. Winney, T. Burke, and S. Nakagawa. 2015. Are extra-pair males different from cuckolded males? A case study and a meta-analytic examination. Molecular Ecology 24:1558-1571.

Hsu, Y.-H., J. Schroeder, I. Winney, T. Burke, and S. Nakagawa. 2014. Costly infidelity: Low lifetime fitness of extra-pair offspring in a passerine bird. Evolution 68:2873-2884.

 

Related collaboration

Dunning, J., A. Sanchez-Tójar, A. Girndt, T. Burke, Y.-H. Hsu, S. Nakagawa, I. Winney, and J. Schroeder. 2024. Extrapair paternity alongside social reproduction increases male lifetime fitness. Animal Behaviour 213:117-123.

Schroeder, J., Y.-H. Hsu, I. Winney, M. J. P. Simons, S. Nakagawa, and T. Burke. 2016. Predictably philandering females prompt poor paternal provisioning. American Naturalist 188:219-230.

Department of Life Sciences in NCKU 

Office of International Affairs in NCKU

Field assistant

 

We are recruiting a field vocalization assistant for the Capuchins at Taboga Project, a long-term project in Costa Rica on the behavior, communication, endocrinology, and conservation of wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator). All research is conducted at a field station located in the Taboga Forest Reserve in the Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. 

We are currently looking for a research assistant who is willing to conduct behavioral field studies in addition to being the vocalization technician for a graduate student with which they will be working closely with. This research position will be someone who has some vocalization research experience, and who would like to get a bit of field experience in while conducting field playbacks and focal vocalization collecting work in Costa Rica. We will provide playback protocol training on site.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following: 1) conducting field playbacks, 2) recording new vocalizations and identifying individual monkeys, 3) field data management and data coding, 4) collecting daily behavioral data, and 5) processing, editing, measuring, and compiling vocalization data. The entirety of this position will be conducting fieldwork.

Qualified applicants will have a B.S. or B.A in Biology, Zoology, Biological Anthropology, Psychology, or a related field. You must also have prior training in field playbacks or other acoustic positions and be knowledgable in using acoustic software (e.g., pratt, avisoft, audacity, etc) and in R. Applicants must be fluent/highly proficient in English and conversational in Spanish (or at least willing to learn Spanish!), both of which are necessary to communicate with others at the field station. Prior travel and/or field experience in tropical regions is preferred. An ability to work full days (~ 8 to 10 hours) outdoors in hot, humid conditions, on sometimes steep terrain, and through sometimes dense forest is also required. We think the beauty of the forest and the wildlife is well worth it! Assistants must also be comfortable living, cooking, and working closely with others. Field work is conducted from 4am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, weekends are free.

Directors of the project are Drs. Thore Bergman and Jacinta Beehner (University of Michigan), and Dr. Marcela Benitez (Emory University). The project field station is part of a field campus of the Universidad Técnica Nacional of Costa Rica at Taboga. You can read more about the location here. We have multiple 4-bedroom houses that each sleep 7 people comfortably. Each house has potable running water, reliable electricity and internet, full kitchens, two bathrooms with showers (hot water!), and laundry facilities. The house is shared by our Costa Rican staff assistants during the week, volunteer assistants, and graduate students conducting research. Note that the Taboga adheres strictly to gender equality and will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.

You should come prepared to share a room. Assistants take weekly turns driving to town for groceries (~40 min drive to nearest town) and for other project related purchases. Extended time away from the field site must be approved. When in the forest, assistants must wear a mask and stay at least six meters away from the monkeys.

Funding and Compensation: This is a volunteer position, so there is no formal salary, but there is an extra monthly stipend of $100, in addition to all expenses being covered. Round-trip airfare (up to $500) from your home city and living support while conducting fieldwork will be provided (e.g., travel, meals, and lodging). The assistant needs to have their own basic healthcare plan. The assistant will be responsible for covering expenses during vacations or other weekend trips they choose to take. Costa Rica does not require specific vaccinations to enter the country, but the assistant will be responsible for securing any recommended vaccinations they wish to have. Visa renewals for Costa Rica have recently changed and visitors from select countries with return tickets can now stay 180 days (6 months) without having to leave the country to renew visas.

The volunteer will need to provide their own backpack, water bladder, field clothing, bug repellent, and footwear. We will provide snake gaiters (lower leg coverings) and binoculars. We will also provide recording equipment, playback equipment, and access to vocalization software. We can also offer advice about what items are necessary for daily life in a tropical dry forest.The project is also committed to including assistants as authors on scientific publications made possible by their contributions in the field. 

Appointment: A 4 month commitment is required but 6 month commitment is preferred, and appointments for the following year (2026) are also possible after your successful completion of the 2025 field season. January is the start of the dry season in Costa Rica which means ideal weather for vocalization research, and come May things begin to get wet. So, we are looking for an assistant who can start their appointment for January 2025 and stay at least 3 months.

Deadline: Positions will remain open until filled. We hope to fill the position before January 2025; and we hope to have the assistant in the field ASAP during the first few weeks of January.  

Application: Please email the following materials to Tony Estrella, the graduate student you will be directly assisting (tonyest@umich.edu): 

1. A letter stating your qualifications for this position, whether you speak Spanish, how the position fits with your interests and future career goals, and when you would be available to come.
2. A CV or resumé detailing relevant experience
3. A summary of college courses taken and the grades received. Unofficial transcripts preferred.
4. Contact information for at least two references, preferably at least one academic reference as well as one person who has worked closely with you or who has closely supervised your work. No need to send letters at this time. We will request letters at a later stage in the process. 

The subject heading of the email message should read: “Application for Costa Rican field position”. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment at this research site. We encourage applications from members of groups underrepresented in field sciences, including members of visible minorities, racialized groups, and LGBTQ+ communities. We also encourage applications from nationals of primate habitat countries, including Costa Ricans.

Offre de stage de Master 1

 

Thème du stage : Effets de la musique sur les comportements de partage alimentaire et les réponses vocales de canaris et de diamants mandarins.

Ce stage de M1 s’inscrit dans le projet MUSICAL BEINGS (Exploring MUSICAL influences on social BEhaviour usING a comparative approach in children, non-human primates and birdS) financé par l'ANR. L’objectif de ce projet est de mieux comprendre les racines évolutives de la musicalité (c’est-à-dire les capacités liées à la perception, à l’appréciation et à la production de la musique) et ses effets sur le comportement social en comparant les humains, les primates non humains et les oiseaux.  Certains auteurs suggèrent que la musicalité serait apparue au cours de l’évolution pour renforcer les liens sociaux et la cohésion de groupe (“hypothèse du lien social” ; Roederer, 1984; Dunbar, 2017; Savage et al. , 2020). Plusieurs études ont révélé que les activités musicales conjointes favorisent la prosocialité chez les enfants (Kirschner et Tomasello, 2010;  Rabinowitch et al.  2012). La relation entre la musique et le comportement social est peu explorée chez d’autres espèces. Cependant, en tant que corrélat de « l’hypothèse du lien social », la musicalité peut également avoir émergé dans d’autres taxons animaux comme un moyen d’améliorer les liens sociaux, en particulier chez les espèces sociales où la cohésion du groupe est essentielle à la survie. Alors que des études antérieures portant sur la musicalité chez les primates non humains ont trouvé des résultats mitigés, montrant des capacités musicales globalement limitées par rapport aux humains (McDermott et al., 2006; Zarco et coll., 2009;  Hattori, 2013), en revanche, plusieurs auteurs ont constaté une sensibilité à la musique chez des oiseaux chanteurs et des psittacidés (Watanabe et coll., 1998; Péron et coll., 2008; Bottoni et coll., 2003; Patel et coll., 2009). De plus, nous avons récemment observé qu’écouter de la musique favorise des interactions sociales positives à la fois chez les enfants d’âge préscolaire et chez les perruches callopsittes. Ainsi, la musicalité pourrait avoir émergé au moins deux fois au cours de l’évolution, chez les humains et chez certains oiseaux, avec des fonctions adaptatives similaires. Il s'agira pour le ou la stagiaire de M1 de participer à une expérience sur le partage alimentaire au sein de couples de canaris dans différentes conditions musicales et sonores et d'analyser des vidéos déjà obtenues l'an dernier, pour quantifier les vocalisations émises par des diamants mandarins et des canaris.

Profil du ou de la candidate : Personne fiable et rigoureuse, inscrite en M1. Connaissance du logiciel Boris et bonnes compétences statistiques souhaitées.

Durée du stage : 8 semaines (stage non gratifié)

Lieu de stage :  LECD, Université Paris Nanterre Présentation et actualité - LECD (parisnanterre.fr)

Pour postuler, merci d’envoyer CV et lettre de motivation à Dalila Bovet (dbovet@parisnanterre.fr).

Offre de stage Master 2

Titre : Caractérisation de di0érents contextes anthropisés et des risques associés en Ouganda
Description : Dans le cadre du projet ModernBab (le babouin dans l’Anthropocène) qui vise à étudier l'impact de l'anthropisation des milieux sur les comportements de prises de décision de groupes de babouins, nous souhaiterions caractériser spatialement le parc national de Kibale et ses alentours afin de déterminer la distribution des ressources naturelles et le degré d'anthropisation des différents contextes que les babouins fréquentent et où ils peuvent entrer en compétition avec les populations humaines (agriculture, infrastructures routières, villages, stations de recherche et touristiques). Cette caractérisation permettra de mettre en relation les opportunités et risques inhérents aux di0érents milieux et leur exploitation par les di0érents groupes de babouins.
Ce travail implique de maîtriser des logiciels de SIG (type QGIS) et de s'inspirer de la caractérisation qui a été réalisée en Afrique du Sud (South African National Land Cover Datasets (2018), Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DEFE, 2021)) et du protocole de McKinney : A classification system for describing anthropogenic influence on non human primate populations (2015).
Profil recherché : étudiant·e en école d’agronomie ou en Master de géomatique/géographie
Durée : six mois à compter de janvier 2025 (stage gratifié)
Contact : Merci d’envoyer un CV et une lettre de motivation à Odile Petit (odile.petit@uca.fr) et Louise Robinet (louise.robinet@doctorant.uca.fr) avant le 1er décembre.
Équipe d’accueil : Équipe d’Éthologie Sociale et Cognitive
Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale et Cognitive
UMR 6024 CNRS - Université Clermont-Auvergne
https://www.lapsco.fr/
L’équipe d’Éthologie Sociale et Cognitive est basée à Strasbourg, le stage se déroulera dans ses locaux avec possibilité de télétravail.

Stage

 Type de mission: master
Zone géographique: France ou DOM
Département: 35 – ille et vilaine
Ville: Rennes
Durée: 2 mois
Langue requise: Fr ou Eng
Adresse: 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, Bâtiment 25
Contact: alexis.dollion@univ-rennes.fr
Date de fin de validité: Juin 2025
A pourvoir le ou à partir du: 01/01/2025
(VERSION FRANCAISE)
TITRE : Rôle du changement de couleur de la caroncule dans les interactions sociales agonistiques
chez les dindons.
ENCADREMENT :
• Alexis DOLLION, enseignant vacataire, UMR 6552 ETHOS, Université de Rennes,
alexis.dollion@univ-rennes.fr En collaboration avec Kevin MCGRAW, professeur
titulaire, Michigan State University (MC, USA)
PÉRIODE DE STAGE : 2 mois entre mi-janvier et mi-mai 2025
PROFIL RECHERCHÉ :
• Étudiant en Master en éthologie, écologie ou disciplines connexes
• Intérêt marqué pour le comportement animal et la coloration animale
• Sens du détail, esprit analytique et passion pour la compréhension de la communication
animale sont essentiels
CONTEXTE : Ce stage s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche plus vaste dirigé par le
Dr Alexis Y. Dollion et le Dr Kevin J. McGraw, réalisé entre 2021 et 2023, visant à approfondir
notre compréhension de la communication par les changements de couleur dynamiques chez les
oiseaux. La recherche traditionnelle sur la communication aviaire s’est surtout concentrée sur les
vocalisations et les parades de plumage, en accordant moins d’attention à la coloration des parties
nues, notamment aux changements rapides de couleur des zones de peau exposée lors
d’interactions sociales. Des études récentes ont commencé à explorer les changements de couleur
rapide dans divers taxons, y compris les crustacés, poissons, arachnides, insectes, mollusques,
amphibiens et reptiles ; toutefois, ce phénomène reste peu étudié chez les oiseaux.
Les dindons sauvages (Meleagris gallopavo), en particulier, montrent des changements de
couleur de la tête remarquables, passant du bleu au blanc et au rouge, qui sont supposés jouer un
rôle dans les interactions sociales. Cette capacité, similaire aux changements de couleur observés
chez d’autres espèces comme le caracara huppé et le vautour à tête de lappet, pourrait permettre
une signalisation en temps réel qui transmet des informations sur la dominance, la soumission ou
d’autres états sociaux pendant les rencontres. Ce projet vise à étudier si ces changements de
couleur chez les dindons fonctionnent comme des signaux de dominance ou de soumission lors
d’interactions agonistiques (liées aux conflits).
APPROCHES :
• Analyse d'images et de vidéos : À partir des images et vidéos collectées lors des travaux
de terrain de 2023 en Arizona, aux États-Unis, le stagiaire effectuera des analyses
quantitatives des dynamiques de couleur pendant les interactions sociales.
• Codage et analyse comportementale : En parallèle des mesures de couleur, le stagiaire
enregistrera et classera les types d’interactions (ex. : manifestations d’agression, gestes de
soumission) pour établir des contextes comportementaux des changements de couleur.
• Gestion et analyse de données statistiques : Le stagiaire organisera et analysera les
données collectées en utilisant des techniques statistiques pour explorer les associations
entre les changements de couleur et les indicateurs de hiérarchie sociale. Une expérience
avec le logiciel R, ImageJ (ou codage en Java), BORIS ou un logiciel d’édition vidéo est
un plus, bien que la formation soit assurée.
LIEU : Le stage se déroulera à l’Université de Rennes (campus de Beaulieu) au sein de l'UMR
6552 : Laboratoire d’éthologie animale et humaine (Université de Rennes). EthoS est une unité
mixte de recherche entre les Universités de Rennes 1, Caen et le CNRS (Comité National de la
Recherche Scientifique Section 27). Cette unité est implantée sur quatre sites : le campus
universitaire de Beaulieu à Rennes, la station biologique de Paimpont (Bretagne, Ille-et-Vilaine, à
environ 50 km de Rennes), le campus Jules Horowitz à Caen, et le centre de recherche en
environnement côtier (CREC) à Luc-sur-Mer (à environ 20 km de Caen).
Notre unité de recherche possède une longue expertise dans l’étude du comportement animal
(depuis les années 1950) et humain (depuis les années 1970) et a progressivement augmenté sa
taille et sa réputation nationale ainsi qu'internationale au fil des années. En effet, EthoS est l’une
des plus grandes unités de recherche entièrement dédiée à l’éthologie avec une vaste expertise sur
des modèles animaux allant des invertébrés aux humains. EthoS est notamment reconnu pour ses
contributions importantes aux débats scientifiques internationaux actuels sur l’épigénèse,
l’origine du langage, la plasticité cérébrale et les mesures de bien-être.
Alexis Dollion, enseignant vacataire, sera le superviseur principal. Ses recherches portent
principalement sur l’utilisation de la coloration dans la communication animale, et en particulier
sur les changements de couleur rapides.
BIBLIOGRAPHIE :
(Laruelle, Beumont, & Legait, 1951; Buchholz, 1996, 1997; Prum et al., 1999; Prum & Torres,
2003; Buchwalder & Huber-Eicher, 2003; Negro et al., 2006; Stuart-Fox & Moussalli, 2009;
Bamford, Monadjem, & Hardy, 2010; Umbers et al., 2014; Ligon & McCartney, 2016; Dollion et
al., 2022)
Bamford AJ, Monadjem A & Hardy ICW. 2010. Associations of Avian Facial Flushing and
Skin Colouration with Agonistic Interaction Outcomes: Avian Facial Flushing and Agonistic
Interactions. Ethology 116: 1163–1170.
Buchholz R. 1996. Thermoregulatory Role of the Unfeathered Head and Neck in Male Wild
Turkeys. The Auk 113: 310–318.
Buchholz R. 1997. Male Dominance and Variation in Fleshy Head Ornamentation in Wild
Turkeys. Journal of Avian Biology 28: 223.
Buchwalder T & Huber-Eicher B. 2003. A brief report on aggressive interactions within and
between groups of domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Applied Animal Behaviour Science
84: 75–80.
Dollion AY, Meylan S, Marquis O, Leroux-Coyau M & Herrel A. 2022. Do male panther
chameleons use different aspects of color change to settle disputes? The Science of Nature 109:
13.
Laruelle L, Beumont M & Legait E. 1951. Recherches sur le mécanisme des changements de
couleur des caroncules vasculaires du dindon (Meleagris gallopavo L.). Arch Anat Microsc
Morphol Exp 40: 91–113.
Ligon RA & McCartney KL. 2016. Biochemical regulation of pigment motility in vertebrate
chromatophores: a review of physiological color change mechanisms. Current Zoology 62: 237–
252.
Negro JJ, Sarasola JH, Fariñas F & Zorrilla I. 2006. Function and occurrence of facial
flushing in birds. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative
Physiology 143: 78–84.
Prum RO, Torres R, Kovach C, Williamson S & Goodman SM. 1999. Coherent light
scattering by nanostructured collagen arrays in the caruncles of the malagasy asities
(Eurylaimidae: aves). Journal of Experimental Biology 202: 3507–3522.
Prum RO & Torres R. 2003. Structural colouration of avian skin: convergent evolution of
coherently scattering dermal collagen arrays. Journal of Experimental Biology 206: 2409–2429.
Stuart-Fox D & Moussalli A. 2009. Camouflage, communication and thermoregulation: lessons
from colour changing organisms. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological
Sciences 364: 463–470.
Umbers KDL, Fabricant SA, Gawryszewski FM, Seago AE & Herberstein ME. 2014.
Reversible colour change in A rthropoda. Biological Reviews 89: 820–848.
(ENGLISH VERSION)
TITLE : Role of Caruncle Color Change in Agonistic Social Interactions in Turkeys
SUPERVISION :
– DOLLION Alexis, On-contract lecturer, UMR 6552 ETHOS, Université de Rennes
alexis.dollion@univ-rennes.fr
En collaboration avec MCGRAW Kevin, Full time professor, Michigan State University (MC,
USA)
INTERNSHIP PERIOD : 2months during the period from mid-Jan to mid-May 2025
STUDENT PROFIL :
– Master student in ethology, ecology or related
– Genuine interest in animal behavior and animal coloration
– Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and a passion for understanding animal communication
are essential
CONTEXT :
This internship is part of a larger research project led by Dr. Alexis Y. Dollion and Dr. Kevin J.
McGraw and ran back in 2021-2023, aimed at expanding our understanding of communication
via dynamic color changes in birds. Traditional research in avian communication has focused
predominantly on vocalizations and feather displays, with less emphasis on bare-part
coloration—particularly rapid color changes in skin exposed during social interactions. Recent
studies have begun to explore rapid color change in a variety of taxa, including crustaceans, fish,
arachnids, insects, mollusks, amphibians, and reptiles, yet this phenomenon remains understudied
in birds.
Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), in particular, exhibit remarkable shifts in head color—
fluctuating between blue, white, and red—that are thought to serve a role in social interactions.
This ability, similar to color changes observed in other species like the crested caracara and
lappet-faced vulture, may allow for real-time signaling that conveys information on dominance,
submission, or other social states during encounters. This project will investigate whether these
color shifts in turkeys act as dominance or submission signals during agonistic (conflict-related)
interactions.
APPROACHES :
-Image and Video Analysis: Using footage collected in 2023 from fieldwork in Arizona, USA,
the intern will conduct quantitative analyses on images and videos to measure color dynamics
during social interactions.
-Behavioral Scoring and Analysis: Alongside color measurements, the intern will record and
classify types of interactions (e.g., displays of aggression, submission gestures) to establish
behavioral contexts for color shifts.
-Data Management and Statistical Analysis: The intern will organize and analyze collected data,
using statistical techniques to explore associations between color shifts and social hierarchy
indicators. Experience with R software, ImageJ (or in java coding), BORIS or video edition
software is a plus, though training will be provided.
LOCATION
The internship will take place in Université de Rennes (campus beaulieu) in the UMR 6552:
Laboratoire d’éthologie animale et humaine (Rennes, Université de Rennes). EthoS is a mixed
Universities of Rennes 1 and Caen - CNRS (National Scientific Research Committee Section 27)
research unit. This unit is located at four sites: Beaulieu University Campus in Rennes, the
Biological Field Station at Paimpont (Brittany, Ille-et-Vilaine, approximately 50 km from
Rennes), Jules Horowitz Campus 5 in Caen and the Research center in coastal environment
(CREC) in Luc sur Mer (approximately 20 km from Caen).
Our research unit has a long history of expertise in the study of animal (since the 50's) and human
(since the 70's) behaviour and has progressively increased its size and national as well as
international reputation over the years.
Indeed, EthoS is one of the largest research units focusing its research entirely on ethology with a
broad expertise of animal models ranging from invertebrates to humans. EthoS is well known in
particular for its important contributions to current international scientific debates on epigenesis,
origin of language, brain plasticity and welfare measures
Alexis Dollion, an on-contract lecturer, will be the main supervisor. His research focusing on the
use of coloration in animal communication and mostly rapid color change.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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