Should I stay or should I go: the individual determinants of variability in migratory behaviour

FRANCO_UENV25ARIES CASE project with BIOPOLIS/CIBIO, Portugal

Should I stay or should I go: the individual determinants of variability in migratory behaviour

FRANCO_UENV25ARIES CASE project with BIOPOLIS/CIBIO, Portugal

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Aldina Franco, Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Dr Marius Somveille, School of Environmental Sciences, UEA

Dr Tim Mackrill, UK White stork project and Roy Dennis Foundation, Knepp Estate.

Dr Marta Acacio, School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University

Dr Inês Catry, University of Porto |  Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO)

 

Background

Migratory birds are experiencing dramatic population declines and are a priority for conservation. Migration, the regular movement of animals from breeding to non-breeding areas, is common at high latitudes enabling species to cope with fluctuations in resource availability1. Although migration is an inherited trait, recent evidence shows increasing numbers of individuals adopting non-migratory strategies2, mediated by interactions between individual traits and environmental variables3. Recent changes in climate and in resource availability together with improvements in tracking technologies4 provide an opportunity to investigate the drivers and determinants of migratory behaviour at the individual level which can help protect endangered migratory species and better manage natural resources5. This project aims to advance our fundamental understanding of the determinants of individual migratory decisions.

Objectives and Methods

The project uses remote sensing and long-term white stork tracking datasets from the UK and Portugal3. It will have the following objectives:

–           Map spatial heterogeneity in primary productivity and resource availability for bird species across Europe and examine if access to resources influences variability in morphological traits (e.g. body mass, wing load).

–           Determine the influence of food availability on pre-fledgling growth curves and subsequent consequences for individual fledgling traits (e.g. body mass and wing load).

–           Examine if pre-fledgling nutrition and morphological traits influences post-fledgling activity and movement behaviour.

–           Determine how individual traits influence flight performance and energetics, and in turn affect individual migratory strategy and survival.

Training

You will be part of a supportive and dynamic research environment at UEA and work with collaborators at BTO, CWP and the University of Lisbon. The project involves field work in the UK and in Portugal. You will be trained to deploy tracking devices on wild animals and to analyse new and existing long-term tracking datasets and spatial data. This project will develop your critical thinking, programming, statistical and oral presentation skills. It will challenge you to think about conservation strategies for migratory birds and will enhance your future employability.

Person Specification

You should be interested in animal movement and in advancing our understanding of the natural environment. Relevant research experience will be an advantage. This project is available to highly numerate candidates. Contact supervisor Aldina Franco for further details: a.franco@uea.ac.uk

Suitable first degree subjects: ecology, biological sciences, environmental sciences, geography or related discipline.

References

  • Somveille M, Manica A, Butchart SHM, Rodrigues ASL (2013) Mapping Global Diversity Patterns for Migratory Birds. PLOS ONE 8(8): e70907. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070907
  • Gilbert NI, Correia RA, Silva JP, Pacheco C, Catry I, Atkinson PW, Gill JA, Franco AMA (2016) Are white storks addicted to junk food? Impacts of landfill use on the movement and behaviour of resident white storks (Ciconia ciconia) from a partially migratory population Movement ecology 4(1).
  • Soriano-Redondo A, Franco AMA, Acácio M, Payo-Payo A, Martins BH, Moreira F, and Catry I. (2023). Fitness, Behavioral, and Energetic Trade-Offs of Different Migratory Strategies in a Partially Migratory Species. Ecology 104(10): e4151
  • Gauld, J. G., Atkinson, P.W., Silva, J.P., Senn, A., Franco A.M.A. (2023). Characterisation of a new lightweight LoRaWAN GPS bio-logger and deployment on griffon vultures Gyps fulvus. Animal Biotelemetry.
  • Gauld, J. G., Silva, J.P., Atkinson, P.W. et al. Franco A.M.A. (2022) Hotspots in the grid: Avian sensitivity and vulnerability to collision risk from energy infrastructure interactions in Europe and North Africa. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14160

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2025. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 8th January 2025.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£19,237 p.a. for 2024/25) and research funding. A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgradute researcher (PGRs) benefit from bespoke graduate training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or imigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive, and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential, and will be stored on the UEA sharepoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships, and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be ask to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • If funded under the BBSRC-NERC DLA scheme, ARIES studentships will be subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. See https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information

Apply Now

Apply via the  University of East Anglia application portal