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Project properties |
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| Title | The ecology and social behaviour of free-ranging dogs in Morocco |
| Group | Behavioural Ecology |
| Project type | internship |
| Credits | 24 |
| Supervisor(s) | Giulia Cimarelli (VetMedUni) |
| Examiner(s) | Marc Naguib |
| Contact info | Eline Weenink (eline.weenink@wur.nl) |
| Begin date | 2024/01/01 |
| End date | 2025/12/31 |
| Description | The student will gain insight into the social behaviour and feeding ecology of free-ranging dogs by performing and analysing behavioural observations at the field site in Morocco. They will obtain experience in observational techniques such as focal and scan sampling, and practice general research skills such as data management and analysis. Students can incorporate the data collected during this period in their MSc thesis.
Students will: • live in Morocco, ideally for +/- 6 months (free accommodation) • carry out behavioural observations of dogs (in hot weather conditions) • collect saliva, hair and faecal samples • help with data entry and management • analyse behavioural data and write a thesis, if appropriate Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in biology, animal behaviour or related disciplines • Demonstrable skill and enthusiasm for behavioural research and fieldwork • Ability and willingness to live and work abroad, sometimes under challenging field conditions • Communication skills in English • Prior research experience and statistical knowledge are an advantage • Basic French or Arab language skills are an advantage Potential topics – but alternative topics can be discussed: - Does looking alike mean getting along? How free-ranging dogs choose their friends. - Play behaviour in adult dogs. - Kinship and friendship in free-ranging dogs: is blood thicker than water? - BFF: Do dog friendships last forever? - Nothing unites like a common enemy. Playback experiments invoking territorial defence. - Why chasing cars together? Making allies through territory-defence ‘games’. - Causes of individual variation in social behaviour in free-ranging dogs: why being nice or aggressive? |
| Used skills | Fieldwork, data analysis |
| Requirements | |