An analysis of long-term data to assess the impact of climate and land use change on an apex avian predator from 1990 to 2028
The aim of this project is to study the impact of climate change and land use on:
- Life history traits
- Morphology (body size and proportion, plumage colouration)
- Population dynamics in the barn owl
We will also analyze whether changes over time in all these traits is due to selection. We will also look at whether annual survival and/or breeding success is linked to variation in reproductive parameters, morphological traits and/or life history traits.
This project is timely, as society demands a better understanding of the range of impacts of global change on biodiversity. This is particularly relevant for determining whether populations have had time to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
The project proposed here to collect data in a wild population of barn owls in western Switzerland (400 nestboxes, up to 200 pairs per year) and to analyze data collected since 1990. This predator is at the top of the food chain in intensively farmed areas, and breeds in buildings. It is sedentary, making it possible to study the impact of changes in climate and land use throughout the annual cycle in the same geographical location.
Parameters to Study
We plan to examine:
Reproductive parameters:
- Laying date
- Clutch size
- Egg size
- Hatching success
- Chick growth
- Fledging success
- Sex ratio of offspring
Morphological data:
- Body size
- Plumage characteristics
Life cycle characteristics:
- Age at sexual maturity
- Lifelong reproductive success
- Survival
Demographics:
- Emigration
- Immigration
- Population size
Collaborations
This project will be performed in collaboration with:
- Lucyna Halupka (Wroclawski)
- Andrea Romano (Milano)
- Bettina Almasi & Michael Schaub (Swiss Ornithological Institute)
- Jérôme Goudet (Lausanne)
Requirements
I'm looking for a PhD student and a postdoc to work on this project.
Skills required:
- Ability to work in a team
- Ability to work in the field day and night (these are owls) over a long period (March-September)
- Very good command of R
The project will last 4 or 5 years. Starting date to be agreed.
Please send your CV and cover letter.
Contact Information
Prof. Alexandre Roulin
University of Lausanne
Department of Ecology and Evolution
Building Biophore
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
📞 0041 76 702 08 64
📧 Alexandre.Roulin@unil.ch
