Project properties
Title Animal Communication and Conservation: Effect of urban disturbances on bird singing
Group Behavioural Ecology
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Marc Naguib (BHE)
Pim van Hooft (WEC)
Sjouke Kingma (BHE)
Examiner(s) Marc Naguib
Contact info Dr. Pim van Hooft (pim.vanhooft@wur.nl), Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group (WEC), or Prof. Marc Naguib (marc.naguib@wur.nl), Behavioural Ecology Group (BHE).
Begin date 2021/02/14
End date 2027/10/17
Description Human disturbances affect the natural environment both acoustically and visually. Traffic noise and street lights are two of the most prominent environmental pollutants which affecting diurnal activity patterns of wildlife. Birds in urban surroundings have been reported to sing nocturnally and to have an earlier dawn chorus compared to their rural counterparts. This spring, we want to record singing activity of birds throughout the day in both a urban and rural environment. By comparing city birds with rural birds we will get a better view on the effect of urban disturbances on diurnal singing patterns. We are looking for two MSc students who want to conduct sound recordings using automatic sound recorders (March-May) and to analyse the data afterwards. You are encouraged to come up also with your own more specific research questions. Fieldwork can be conducted in the Wageningen area, although other cities are also possible. You need the flexibility to work outside the normal working hours and basic R skills would be desirable.

For more information mail to Dr. Pim van Hooft (pim.vanhooft@wur.nl), Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group (WEC), or Prof. Marc Naguib (marc.naguib@wur.nl), Behavioural Ecology Group (BHE).
Used skills Bioacoustic analysis, Knowledge of birdsongs is of advantage, R
Requirements BHE (BSc thesis: Animal Behaviour BHE20303, MSc thesis: Behavioural Ecology BHE30306) and/or WEC course requirements