Ph.D. or M.Sc. opportunity in Behavioural Ecology at the University of Manitoba. My lab (http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~watermaj/research.html) is looking for graduate students to study mating tactics, sociality and parasitism in Cape ground squirrels in southern Africa and other species of North American ground squirrels. The purpose of this research is to test critical hypotheses about the evolution of social behavior and sexual selection using a combination of behavioural, physiological and molecular techniques. In the past, we have used field and laboratory methods to examine alternative reproductive tactics, parasitism, mating systems, and the costs and benefits of grouping in Africa ground squirrels. Students with interests in studying sociality, cooperative breeding, sperm competition, interspecific interactions, as well as the impacts of parasites and diseases on sociality are encouraged to apply. The project on the cooperative breeding Cape ground squirrel requires students to spend time at a field site in South Africa. Experience with laboratory techniques and field work would be an advantage but is not required. Interested applicants should email a CV, unofficial transcripts and a preliminary statement of research interests to Dr. Jane Waterman ([email protected]), Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.
