2 doctorados y 1 postdoc en ecología de poblaciones de aves (Países Bajos)

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
(m.vandepol@nioo.knaw.nl; +31-(0)317-473421), Eelke Jongejans
(e.jongejans@science.ru.nl; +31-(0)24-3652621), Bruno Ens
(bruno.ens@sovon.nl; +31-(0)6-10664469) & Hans de Kroon
(h.dekroon@science.ru.nl; +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