Social Foraging and Life at the Metabolic Edge

Supervisors:
Prof. Meg Crofoot (University of Konstanz, MPI-AB),
Dr. Tracy Montgomery (MPI-AB, University of Konstanz)

Organisms are energetically limited, meaning that the allocation of energy among critical biological processes –growth, reproduction and maintenance – is subject to strong selective pressures. For group-living animals, the needs of individuals to maintain their own energy balance can come into conflict with the demands of their social environment. Movement is both key to the acquisition of energy and a major driver of energy expenditure, and for social animals, movement decisions—when, where and how to move—are subject to a collective decision-making process.

We have collected a multi-scale dataset that integrates the movement and social dynamics of a population of Verreaux’s sifaka (16 groups of Propithecus verreauxi; a folivorous lemur that lives on metabolic edge) with remotely sensed, landscape-level information about the ecological structure of the habitat.

We are now seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our research team in working to understand how group-living animals, living under extreme energetic constraints, balance individual and group-level priorities in their movement and foraging decisions.  Importantly, this is a data (not a field!) project and does not include fieldwork as part of the PhD. These positions are fully funded for 4 years, and are open to students of any nationality.

Project Details. The successful candidate will work with their supervisory team to develop a project that integrates multiple large data streams:

1. Biologging data
   1. GPS, which provides high-resolution movement data for the majority of adults and subadults in up to 16 neighboring social groups
   2. Tri-axial accelerometers, which provide information on individual energy expenditure and behavior
2. Remote sensing data
   1. Five-band multispectral drone imagery taken every few weeks during biologging collar deployments, which provides information on the distribution and nutritional content of forage
   2. Aerial and ground-based LiDAR data, which capture variation in forest structure
3. Ecological data
   1. Long-term phenology measurements (>10 years), which provide information on the forest over time.
   2. Locations of key tree species on which sifaka forage and sleep

Potential research questions include:

• How do spatial and temporal variations in food resource availability influence sifaka foraging strategies, movement and habitat use?
• How do social groups coordinate to track and defend limited resources that vary across time and space?
• How do animals navigate tradeoffs between energetic requirements and social processes
• What are the implications of these behaviors for conservation and management of the species?

Research activities will include the quantitative analysis of biotelemetry and environmental remote-sensing data. Start date is flexible between June and October of 2025.

Supervision and Research Community. Students will join the International Max Planck Research School for Quantitative Behavior, Ecology and Evolution (IMPRS-QBEE), a cooperative doctoral program between the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the University of Konstanz, and will be co-supervised by Prof. Meg Crofoot (University of Konstanz, MPI-AB), Dr. Tracy Montgomery (MPI-AB, University of Konstanz) and/or other department scientists or collaborators. The University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior together form a thriving research community representing a global hotspot for collective behavior and animal movement research.

Qualifications. This call is open to candidates from all academic backgrounds who can articulate how their background and training prepare them to conduct their proposed research project. Ideal candidates should have a positive attitude, enthusiasm for learning, and demonstrated ability to engage in independent research. A collaborative spirit and the ability to work as part of a team are essential. A Masters degree in ecology, anthropology, computer science, physics or other relevant subject is desirable, but is not required to apply. Applicants who have not completed a Masters will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Doctoral Committee and might be requested to complete additional course-work.

The working language of the group is English, and German language skills are not a requirement.

Location. Konstanz is a small, vibrant city located on the border between Germany and Switzerland, on the shores of the Bodensee (Lake Constance). It is easy to get out into the beautiful German and Swiss countryside and the Alps, as well as to neighboring Zurich and Munich.

Application Process. Applicants should apply via the IMPRS application system (due November 24th, 2024), and are also required to include a CV and a research statement (see below for details).

Research Statement Instructions. Applicants should include a 1-2 page research statement that addresses the following points:

1. Describe your main research interests, how they developed, and how they relate to the proposed research project.
2. Describe 1-2 hypotheses you would like to test (or analyses you would like to perform) in the context of the described project, and indicate how you would address them using the existing datasets.
3. Explain why you want to pursue a Ph.D. and what you hope to gain through the process (including specific skills, experiences, perspectives—1/2 a page)

Supervisors. Prof. Meg Crofoot and Dr. Tracy Montgomery, University of Konstanz & Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

APPLY HERE NOW!