Job Descriptions for Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD)

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Job Descriptions for Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD) Organisation Details: Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC (EBD) C/ Americo Vespucio, s/n, 41092, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla http://www.ebd.csic.

Our primary mission is to carry out multidisciplinary research at the highest level, directed at understanding, from an evolutionary point of view, how biodiversity is generated, how it is maintained

The Institute consists of a main building in Seville, which has an innovative Stable Isotope Laboratory (LIE) and two field stations, the ICTS Doñana Biological Reserve, (Doñana Natural Area,

1 Job Descriptions for Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD) Organisation Details: Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC (EBD) C/ Americo Vespucio, s/n, 41092, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla Organisation Description: Doñana Biological Station is a public research institute belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, within the area of Natural Resources. Our primary mission is to carry out multidisciplinary research at the highest level, directed at understanding, from an evolutionary point of view, how biodiversity is generated, how it is maintained and damaged, in addition to the consequences of its loss and the chances of their preservation and restoration. Furthermore, it also promotes the transfer of knowledge to society. The Institute consists of a main building in Seville, which has an innovative Stable Isotope Laboratory (LIE) and two field stations, the ICTS Doñana Biological Reserve, (Doñana Natural Area, Almonte, Huelva) and Roblehondo Field Station (Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas). Spanish Required: None Positions: EBD are seeking graduates in areas such as animal behaviour, zoology, plant biology, biology, ecology or related fields to carry out a 13-week internship at their institute in Seville. Participants will be encouraged to attend weekly seminars hosted by the institute and there may be opportunities to take part in field trips in the region of Andalucia. The projects all begin in January 2018 and are as follows: 1) POLLINATOR RESPONSES TO GLOBAL CHANGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION "Pollinator responses to global change and its implications for ecosystem function" As of the year 2000, 40% of Earth s ice-free land area is being directly used by humans, and an additional 37% is surrounded by human-modified areas. Land-use change, along with other human-induced global change drivers, is accelerating the rates of extinction of most taxa. Researchers are beginning to experimentally

2 investigate how these changes in biodiversity affect ecosystem services, such as water purification, climate regulation, and food production, but do not yet understand the effects of species loss in real ecosystems. Pollination is a critical ecosystem service and relies upon multiple species of pollinators. This project aims to understand the threats to the pollinator species that provide this critical ecosystem function and assess the consequences of their decline in real ecosystems. We are assessing pollination stability in natural systems in southern Spain. This data will allow us to infer direct mechanisms on how pollinators respond to global change drivers and its implications for the ecosystem functioning. Further Project information: The Erasmus + participant would join a dynamic group of researchers and technicians and learn how to design balanced data collection, read and extract relevant data from the literature and participate in monitoring plant-pollinator networks in the Doñana Natural Park using hand nets. While the main tasks would involve field work and insect monitoring, there would also be some lab work measuring pollinator and plants functional traits. Ignasi Bartomeus 2) BEHAVIOURAL ANALYSIS OF THE INCUBATION OF THE LESSER KESTREL (FALCO NAUMANNI) VIA VIDEO SEQUENCES Project Horus - The lesser kestrel and global change: applying new technologies to the remote monitoring of an endangered species (horus.ebd.csic.es) is a research project developed by researchers at Doñana Biological Station (CSIC). It aims to develop a system for automatic real-time monitoring of a colonial falcon, the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni). The colony is located in an agricultural landscape, a good scenario for the changes facing the species living in these habitats in the Mediterranean basin at the prospect global change (climate change and land use change). The main area to be monitored is the nest, so we have built special nest boxes that we call "smart nest-box", equipped with electronic components for real-time monitoring of the individuals which use them to breed. The nest-box is equipped with infrared barriers to detect if an individual enters or leaves the nest, an RFID tag reader (radio-frequency identification) or PIT (passivated integrated transponder) that

3 identifies the individual, with an electronic scale that weighs the individual, and a video camera that records videos and photos every time it detects a movement in the nest-box. This system is complemented by the use of a video camera with optical zoom, allowing us to observe what happens outside the colony. All information collected is processed and stored on computers for their use through web applications, being able to be accessed in real time through the Internet. Further project information: Analysis of the temporal pattern of incubation, the role of sexes, the laying and hatching pattern, the relationship between the incubation behaviour and successful reproduction The system records, for each movement inside the nest, a photograph and a 10 seconds video sequence triggered by the movement sensor activated in the camera positioned inside the nest. The main objective of the placement is to study the incubation process, measuring the duration of the visits, the time of incubation and other activities and behaviours that the individuals carry out at the nest; this information is collected via a staged sequence of data gathering and conducted via a mobile device (PDA). Some experience of database and/or spreadsheet programs at user level is desirable. Dr. Javier Bustamante 3) CAPACITY OF ORGANISMS TO INFLUENCE THEIR OWN EVOLUTION: FRUITFLIES ADAPTING TO CHANGING HABITATS We are investigating the capacity of organisms to influence their own evolution by choosing habitats that provide a good match with their individual characteristics. We will first select populations of Fruitflies (Drosophila melanogaster) for their ability to choose the correct habitat type. We then expose these flies to novel habitats, and see how this influences their genetic structure, their competitive ability, and their mate choice. The purpose of the placement will be to (A) assist with research on (i) the evolution and consequences of habitat choice, and (ii) the evolution of sexual ornaments via sensory bias. We study these questions with Fruit flies. (B) Assist with development of strategies and materials for greater online presence of the research group.

4 The placement is based at the Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville. Further project information: Activities include behavioural observations and other data collection, as well as creation and maintenance of selection lines. There will also be the opportunity to develop a small personal project and/or to analyse some data, if desired. Development of strategies and materials for greater online presence of the research group. The position would be suitable for someone with training, experience or interest in the fields of ecology and evolution. Pim Edelaar 4) TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS OF VECTOR-BORNE PATHOGENS Project Description: We analyze the factors associated to the transmission dynamics of vector-borne pathogens among wildlife and the factors associate to the attractiveness by mosquitoes towards different hosts. Further project information: The participant will be trained in molecular techniques for detection of pathogens and identification of the origin of mosquito bloodmeals using DNAbarcoding. They will also participate in experiments to compare the attraction of mosquitoes towards different odors.

5 Jordi Figuerola 5) SPECIES TRAITS OF WOODY PLANTS IN URBAN PARKS Project Description: The main aim of this work will be to identify major traits of ornamental plants used in urban parks in Spain and whether there are differences between native and exotic species. The participant will collate morphological information of woody plants in bibliographic and Internet sources from public gardens in Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla. Gardens in Sevilla (and probably nearby cities) will also be visited for species identification. The main tasks will be to conduct plant species inventories in public gardens, describe plant traits, manage and organize extensive plant databases and conduct simple tables, graphs and diagrams. The placement is suitable for someone who is well organized and with excellent skills in Botany, being able to identify major tree and shrub species. Montserrat Vilà and Álvaro Bayón

Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC (EBD)

Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC (EBD) Address: Calle Americo Vespucio, s/n, 41092, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla Doñana Biological Station is a public research institute belonging to the Consejo Superior