Scholarship for MSc/PhD study at the School of Zoology, University of
Tasmania, Hobart,
AustraliaTopic: Conservation genetics of the Providence Petrel
A fully funded research project with scholarship is available for
immediate start.
Background to project:
Petrels are often important seabird species with respect to nutrient
inputs to oceanic islands, where they commonly nest. However, on
Norfolk Island (southwest Pacific) a huge colony of Providence Petrels
(>1 million breeding pairs) was hunted to extinction by humans during
the early 1800's. In the following 200 years the vegetation of Norfolk
Island has declined, with ensuing problems of erosion, and degradation
of habitat for other imperiled taxa such as the endemic Norfolk
parakeet. For these reasons, managers seek to re-establish a
population of Providence Petrel on Norfolk Island by releasing
individuals sourced from Lord Howe Island (over 1000 km away). Similar
colony re-establishments have already been performed successfully for
petrel species on other islands. However, in this case an important
conservation implication is the fate of a small Providence Petrel
colony at Phillip Island (~30 individuals, only 4 km from Norfolk...
not the "Phillip Island" near Melbourne). Individuals at Phillip
Island exhibit different behaviour from those at Lord Howe (e.g. time
of return to colony), and could represent the sole-perilously small-
population of a distinct species.
The aim of this study is to assess the distinctiveness of Lord Howe
and Phillip Island Providence Petrels. The project will use a variety
of genetic techniques (nuclear introns, microsatellites, mitochondrial
DNA) to determine whether the Phillip Island colony may require
consideration before proceeding with re-establishing a Norfolk Island
colony. Molecular analysis will also be performed on paleontological
Norfolk Island material, to assess the genetic distinctiveness of this
now extinct colony. Comparisons of morphology and call dialect will
also be performed. The breeding season occurs in May, and a field trip
to Phillip Island to collect blood samples in 2011 is a possibility if
a student can enroll in time. The scope of the project can be varied
to represent either an MSc or PhD study.
The project is based at the University of Tasmania (http://www.utas.edu.au
), one of Australia's oldest universities, with great opportunities
for intellectual development and also outdoor recreation. The Central
Science Laboratory contains a large, well-equipped molecular genetics
facility. Work on the paleontological material will be conducted with
Dr. Trevor Worthy (University of New South Wales) and Dr Jeremy Austin
at the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/
). Dr David Priddel and Nicholas Carlile from the NSW Department of
Environment and Climate Change will oversee fieldwork.
Applicants require a BSc with a substantial research component to part
of their study (the latter may have been achieved by different means
depending on the country of study; within Australia this typically
represents a BSc Honours degree). Demonstrated expertise with
molecular laboratory procedures is desirable (DNA extraction, PCR, DNA
sequencing, microsatellite genotyping) but not essential, as are
interests in conservation biology, molecular ecology, and species
delineation.
The Scholarship comprises $AUS 22,500 per year (2 years for MSc; 3
years for PhD with a possible 6 month extension). Student fees will be
required if the you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or
an Australian permanent resident ($AUS 18,400 per year for MSc; $AUS
19,376 per year for PhD), unless you are able to attract your own
scholarship, in which case the fees will be waived. Students from a
non-English speaking background will require proof of English-language
ability (e.g. an IELTS of 6.5).
To apply: Please send a cover letter expressing your interest (in the
form of an e-mail), contact details of at least two referees, and an
curriculum vitae to Dr. Chris Burridge (chris.burridge@utas.edu.au).
Applications remain open until the position is filled.
===========================
School of Zoology
University of Tasmania
Private Bag 5
Hobart, Tasmania 7001
Australia
e-mail: chris.burridge@utas.edu.au
phone: +61 3 6226 7653
fax: +61 3 6226 2745
web: http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/
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