Project properties
Title Spatial Behaviour: Where do the ravens go?
Group Behavioural Ecology
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Lysanne Snijders, Chris Tyson
Examiner(s) Lysanne Snijders, Chris Tyson, Marc Naguib
Contact info lysanne.snijders@wur.nl
Begin date 2023/10/02
End date 2024/12/31
Description The Veluwe is home to many ravens. Since 2021, 21 raven offspring have been fitted with GPS transmitters. Of these, ten are still active, and new birds will be tagged next spring. Spatial data of all birds is accessible through a (live) Ornitela database. Uniquely, we also know the sex of all these ravens. These devices are meant to give more insight into the habitat and food use of the ravens (e.g., do they profit from the carcasses left behind by wolves?). But many other exciting questions about raven (spatial) ecology can and should be addressed. For example:

- How does spatial behaviour, homerange and foraging behaviour change with age?
- How does dispersal and foraging behaviour vary with sex?
- Which foraging places/habitats are most popular (natural versus anthropogenic) and are there individual traits or factors that predict preference?
- Do ravens show temporal rhythms in their foraging behaviour?
- Is there evidence for potential aversive effects of the transmitters

Next to GPS data, there is also a database available with ringing and resighting data, which, for example, could be used to compare recapture/survival between tagged and ringed birds.

For this project, we work together with Ravenwerkgroep Nederland, and if desired, there is the opportunity to join ringing events in spring.

Open to Master Research Practice or MSc Thesis.

For students with an affinity for (spatial) data analyses.

Starting literature: Ho et al (2023) Scavengers use natural and anthropogenic resources connecting protected areas with surrounding lands. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbirs.2023.1119507/full

For more info, contact lysanne.snijders@wur.nl

Used skills Spatial analysis, R programming, statistical analysis
Requirements Experience in R and ideally experience in spatial analysis. Interest in data analysis