Available: Three 4-year position (2 PhD & 1 postdoc) in Avian Population Ecology Where: Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Radboud University & Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology Deadline: 20-July-2016
General background Project CHIRP (Cumulative Human Impact on biRd Populations) is a collaboration between the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Radboud University and the Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology as part of the newly established Centre for Avian Population Studies. CHIRP is funded by the Technology Foundation of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO-STW). CHIRP aims to develop a modelling framework that integrates how various human impacts (e.g. climate change, agriculture, mining, fisheries) that act at different spatial and temporal scales affect metapopulation numbers. It will use this knowledge to identify mitigation actions to minimize the impact of human activities and develop the best conservation strategy to help species recovery. CHIRP will use the well-studied Eurasian Oystercatcher in the Netherlands as a test case. The project will combine new field data collection (e.g. using GPS trackers to assess the impact of disturbance on birds) with the development of new hierarchical models that link eco-physiological, demographic and migratory processes (based on the vast literature of this species as well as new large citizen science datasets). Project specifics Project 1: PhD in Foraging and Population Ecology (4 years; PhD-AnE-015039), Department of Animal Ecology of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, preferred starting date 01-Oct-2016. This project will quantify how overwintering conditions (food stocks, weather, competitor density) and human actions (disturbance, fisheries) affect the energy budgets and foraging ecology of birds and ultimately their overwinter survival and numbers. This involves the development of individual-based foraging models that will be calibrated with historical data on food stocks, fisheries, population trends and demography, and newly collected data on body condition and survival of large number of birds. Furthermore, GPS trackers will be used to follow the impact of disturbance by air planes. For details on selection criteria, salary conditions and how to apply go to: https://nioo.knaw.nl/nl/vacatures/phd-avian-population-conservation-ecology-2x Project 2: PhD in Reproduction and Population Ecology (4 years; vacancy PhD-AnE-015040), Department of Animal Ecology of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, preferred starting date 01-Dec-2016. This project aims to identify the main drivers of reduced reproductive success on the breeding grounds for a coastal bird that has increasingly become an inland meadow bird. Specifically, project 2 will relate how variation in reproductive success and population trends across the Netherlands are related to habitat type, land use and predator abundances. Furthermore, it will investigate the links between the choice of overwintering and breeding site and the potential for carry-over effects of winter condition on performance during the breeding season. This knowledge will be used to identify the best conservation strategy for species recovery. For details on selection criteria, salary conditions and how to apply go to: https://nioo.knaw.nl/nl/vacatures/phd-avian-population-conservation-ecology-2x Project 3: Postdoc (4 years; vacancy 62.20.16) in Migratory Network Dynamics, Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology of the Radboud University, preferred starting date 01-Jan-2017. The postdoc will develop a migratory network metapopulation model, parameterized on existing and new dispersal and vital rate data for the Oystercatcher. Large databases on this well-studied bird species are already available, and will be supplemented with data from GPS trackers and field studies (see PhD projects). The metapopulation needs to include various spatial and temporal scales, but still be general in structure such that it can be used for other species in the future. The spatial model will include dose-response relationships established in the other projects in a hierarchical manner. Model projections will be compared with observed population trends. The postdoc will quantify the relative and cumulative impacts of various human activities, and analyse the effectiveness of future scenarios of conservation and mitigation measures on oystercatcher populations. For details on selection criteria, salary conditions and how to apply go to: http://www.ru.nl/werken/details/details_vacature_0/?taal=uk&recid=583499 The institutes The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) is a top research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and focuses on fundamental and strategic research. The Department of Animal Ecology consists of various research groups studying the behavioural, evolutionary and/or population ecology of birds. The language used at the institute is English. NIOO is located in the university town of Wageningen, situated close to all major cities in the Netherlands. See also www.nioo.knaw.nl/en The Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR) of the Radboud University has a strong focus on environmental stress responses of wetland systems at various levels of organization: from organismal levels to populations and ecosystems. Ecologists at IWWR are very experienced in linking abiotic and biotic changes in ecosystems to the population dynamics of threatened species, and in translating that knowledge to practical solutions. The postdoc will be part of the Animal Ecology and Physiology group. Nijmegen is a dynamic university city. See also http://www.ru.nl/iwwr/ Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology coordinates the monitoring of wild bird populations in the Netherlands and carries out research on the ecology and demography of bird populations. The results of these censuses and research projects are used for nature conservation and management purposes and for spatial planning. Sovon operates in close collaboration with governmental bodies, universities and research institutes. Over 10,000 dedicated volunteer bird watchers perform most of the fieldwork for our monitoring projects. The headquarter of Sovon is located at the Radboud University campus in Nijmegen, with minor offices on Texel and in Leeuwarden. See also http://www.sovon.nl The Centre for Avian Population is the knowledge centre for research on bird populations in the Netherlands. Five leading organizations in the fields of ornithology and population studies collaborate within CAPS: the three abovementioned institutes, the Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography (Vogeltrekstation) and the Dutch BirdLife partner (Vogelbescherming Nederland). The centre aims to promote research on demography (numbers, reproduction and survival) and driving environmental factors of bird populations for effective species conservation and management. See also http://www.avianpopulationstudies.org/en How to apply The closing date for all application is July 20, 2016, while interviews are scheduled for August 5 (PhDs) & August 4 (post-doc) 2016. Additional information about these position is available from Martijn van de Pol ([email protected]; +31-(0)317-473421), Eelke Jongejans ([email protected]; +31-(0)24-3652621), Bruno Ens ([email protected]; +31-(0)6-10664469) & Hans de Kroon ([email protected]; +31-(0)24-3653380). For how to apply please visit the following websites: Project 1 & 2: https://nioo.knaw.nl/nl/vacatures/phd-avian-population-conservation-ecology-2x Project 3: http://www.ru.nl/werken/details/details_vacature_0/?taal=uk&recid=583499
