MSc thesis topic: Why do animals make the “wrong” choices? Using drone data to understand the changing landscape of vulnerable herpetofauna.

Anthropogenic habitat alteration has affected
ecosystems worldwide, generally causing habitat loss and fragmentation and
decreasing habitat quality. Where human habitat modification leads to animals
preferring a habitat that leads to reduced fitness, this is an ecological trap.
The aim of the overarching study (the PhD study) is to find out if artificial
structures (related to water retention) are functioning as an ecological trap
for herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians). The first goal is to establish
weather the animals do have a choice, therefore the two habitat types –
natural and artificial – should be studied in the wider landscape. The natural
habitat type consists of both temporary and permanent ponds. Currently, it is
not known where the temporary ponds are located and when they form. Since the
study area is located in mountainous terrain, a drone is used to find the
temporary ponds. Ultimately, the aim is to find out where both habitat types
are located in the landscape and in relation to each other. It is important to
know what (environmental) variables are important for explaining the occurrence
and abundance of the habitat types. The acquired drone data can be used
together with existing data to develop amongst others probability maps, that
will give insight in where natural ponds are likely to develop. Besides helping
to establish if the artificial structures do indeed function as an ecological
trap, these maps will provide important insights that are useful for
conservation.

Objectives

• Analysing drone data together with other environmental data to explain habitat type occurrence and abundance
• Making useful probability maps for the occurrence of the habitat types

Literature

• Robertson, B. A., & Hutto, R. L. (2006). A framework for understanding ecological traps and an evaluation of existing evidence. Ecology, 87(5), 1075–1085.
• Hale, Robin, & Swearer, S. E. (2016). Ecological traps: current evidence and future directions. Proceedings: Biological Sciences, 283(1824), 1–8.

Requirements

• If you wish to join the fieldwork (acquiring herptofauna data and pond properties) a good physical condition is required. Fieldwork is optional and there is no funding available. Last year students applied for a research scholarship which covered most of their costs.
• Experience with mapping is preferred

Theme(s): Sensing & measuring; Integrated Land Monitoring