Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
PhD project in conservation ecology: Ecology of threatened frogs in human modified landscapes of southern New South Wales and Victoria Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University National Environmental Science Programme Threatened Species Recovery Hub The National Environmental Science Programme’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub is a partnership between the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of the Environment and multiple research partners across Australia. The conservation of Australia’s rich and extraordinarily distinctive biodiversity should be secure or achievable relative to that of most other nations. Yet, Australia’s extinction rate is one of the worst in the world, and that rate of decline and loss is continuing unabated. The Threatened Species Recovery Hub tackles this ongoing ecological challenge through research focused on informing policy and improving on-ground management of Australia’s threatened species. It brings together leading ecological experts to work on the outlook for Australia’s threatened species and ecological communities. PhD program The Fenner School of Environment and Society at The Australian National University is seeking applications from highly qualified and motivated candidates for a PhD program of research on the ecological requirements of frogs in human modified landscapes, with a focus on the threatened Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis) and Sloane’s Froglet (Crinia sloanei) in the Riverina and South West Slopes bioregions of New South Wales and Victoria. The aim of this project is to evaluate why some populations of threatened frog species persist in human modified landscapes, while other populations have declined significantly or become locally extinct. The candidate will collect high-quality ecological field data, including species habitat requirements, calling phenology, population dynamics and competitive interactions with other co-occurring species, with the aim of quantifying habitat refuges. The Threatened Species Recovery Hub is supported through funding from the Australian Government's National Environmental Science Programme. Photo: Sloane’s Froglet (D Michael) Purpose Duration and benefits Three years full-time with a possible six month extension. The successful student will be offered a PhD top-up stipend of AUD$6000 p.a. plus funding of up to AUD$8,000 p.a. and other support for the significant amount of fieldwork that will be required to successfully complete this exciting project. This funding is provided by the NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub as part of its research program. Supervision The student will be supervised by ARC Laureate Fellow Professor David Lindenmayer, Dr Ben Scheele and Dr Damian Michael from The Australian National University. Candidate requirements Bachelors degree with first-class honours, or a research Masters degree from a recognised university. Selection is based on academic merit and the candidate’s research proposal. The successful candidate will have experience in environmental science or ecology and management, and be capable of writing quality scientific articles for leading international journals. A background in population ecology or genetics will be a distinct advantage, as will a demonstrated ability to independently plan and execute field-based research. Domestic students must obtain a PhD stipend scholarship at The Australian National University (AUD$26,288 tax free (2016 rate) for 3 years). International students must hold an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS). The candidate would be expected to commence the doctoral program in early 2017. Research at The Australian National University In the latest World University Rankings, The Australian National University was the top institution in Australia for environmental research and ranked within the world top ten. The Fenner School of Environment and Society has a large, dynamic community of PhD students who are provided with modern office facilities, computer and statistical support, and access to field equipment, laboratory facilities and a fleet of 4WD vehicles. Students are encouraged to collaborate widely and attend national and international conferences. Application process and closing dates Interested individuals are invited to discuss the project with Professor David Lindenmayer (02 6125 0654 or [email protected]) and must submit a CV and a one page statement of possible research directions to [email protected] by 15 August 2016 for international students or 8 October 2016 for domestic students. The closing dates for applications for a PhD stipend scholarship at The Australian National University are: International - 31 August 2016; Domestic - 31 October 2016. See http://www.anu.edu.au/students/scholarships-support/ecology-of-threatened-frogs-in-human-modifiedlandscapes-of-southern. Queries regarding scholarship matters can be directed to Amy Chen at [email protected]. Background The project will consist of two interconnected research themes. The first theme will focus on threatened Bell Frog conservation and management. The Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis) experienced major declines associated with the emergence of chytrid fungus in the 1980s. However, remnant populations still persist in isolated parts of the landscape. This research will focus on investigating the demographic and environmental characteristics of remnant populations and will Threatened Species Recovery Hub Page 2 involve developing models that integrate spatial and demographic parameters to quantify habitat refuges in human-modified landscapes. This information will be used to identify areas of suitable habitat that may support reintroduced populations. The second theme will focus on the conservation and management of the threatened Sloane’s Froglet (Crinia sloanei) in southern New South Wales and North East Victoria (South West Slopes and Riverina bioregions). Three Myobatrachid frog species in the genus Crinia occur in the South West Slopes/Riverina bioregions. Two species, Crinia signifera and C. parinsignifera, are widely distributed across eastern Australia and are habitat generalists. In contrast, C. sloanei has a restricted distribution and specific habitat requirements. C. sloanei has experienced population declines associated with habitat loss and fragmentation and is listed as threatened in NSW. This research will focus on investigating the ecological requirements of C. sloanei, including calling phenology, niche partitioning and competitive interactions with co-occurring Crinia species. This information could be used to investigate how morphologically similar frog species respond to different land-use intensities. Threatened Species Recovery Hub Page 3