Main objective
To assess productivity, chick mortality, clutch size and reasons of failure of waders that breed in Ria Formosa salt pans, Algarve, Portugal. Species of interest include Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, Common Redshank Tringa totanus, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna and Little Tern Sternula albifrons.
Available data
Data collection will take place in Olhão saltpans. Students will get training on species identification and data collection. They will take part in the seasonal monitoring of both populations, mainly during chick rearing period. Students will also have the opportunity to join the chick ringing campaigns. Data on biophysics parameters (e.g. temperature, salinity, tank depth, etc.) will be made available for analysis.
Proposed tasks
- Every 2-3 days visits to wader colonies for monitoring and data collection
- Analysis of available data
- Submit the work in a peer-reviewed journal (e.g. Airo)
Framework of the topic
- Is the topic part of an ongoing project/study? Yes – funded project
- Is there any financial support? Yes: fieldwork/material
Supervisor/tutor
Nuno Oliveira, Departamento de Conservação Marinha | nuno.oliveira@spea.pt
