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Project properties |
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| Title | Avian Malaria: does it negatively affect individuals’ behaviour and health? |
| Group | Behavioural Ecology |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 30-36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Sjouke Kingma
Kevin Matson Kat Bebbington. |
| Examiner(s) | Marc Naguib |
| Contact info | sjouke.kingma@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2020/03/10 |
| End date | 2030/03/10 |
| Description | Avian malaria is a common disease in birds. These blood parasites are predicted to negatively affect individuals’health and reproduction. However, results of tests of the effects of malaria are mixed; potentially this is because individuals face a trade-off between infection risk and food availability, if malaria prevalence is higher in areas where also more food is availability. If so, this higher food availability will buffer the negative effects of malaria. By quantifying malaria infection and assessing health and reproduction of individuals, we will determing whether and how birds are affected by avian malaria. |
| Used skills | Fieldwork, behaviour observations, nest searching and observation, bird catching, lab work |
| Requirements | The fieldwork takes place in the savanna of Eswatini in Southern Africa; an adventurous attitude is an advantage: the fieldsite is beautiful but remote and accommodation is basic. |