Tuesday 22 October 2024

PhD studentship: Environmental effects on extra-pair mating in birds

 

PhD studentship based in Taiwan 2025-2029


About the Project:

Extra-pair mating occurs when an individual mates with one(s) outside of his or her pair bond. It is a
prevalent behaviour in birds and has been reported in more than 75% of studied socially monogamous species. However, the causes and consequences of this common behaviour remain unclear.

In birds, extra-pair mating increases male reproductive success (Dunning et al., 2024), while females face trade-offs, like reduced paternal care from their social partners (Schroeder et al., 2016). Adaptive explanations suggest that females obtain indirect benefits such as good genes and genetic compatibility to offset the costs, but supportive evidence is limited (Hsu et al., 2014; Hsu et al., 2015).

Alternative hypotheses suggest that extra-pair mating could be initiated and/or sustained by context-dependent paternity benefits, where extra-pair offspring enjoy higher fitness under specific scenarios, or within- or between-sex correlation, such as positive selection on male extra-pair mating and female responsiveness to within-pair copulation. Our preliminary analyses with theoretical modelling highlight the context-dependent paternity effects (Yeh & Hsu, under review), shedding light on the evolution of extra-pair mating in birds. However, more empirical studies to evaluate these effects in wild populations are essential.

Research Objectives

This PhD project aims to understand how various environmental factors influence extra-pair mating. It will explore the biotic factors, including within-species effects and the interaction with other species (e.g. predation risk), as well as abiotic factors, such as bioclimatic effects. The long-term study dataset will provide this project with an ideal opportunity to explore various environmental effects and their interactions with extra-pair mating.

Methodology

Fieldwork will be taken on an offshore UK island where a wild population of house sparrows has been monitored for over twenty years. Activities will involve nest searching, banding, and social interaction observations. The PhD will analyse data using advanced statistical models to explore how environmental conditions impact mating behaviour.

Candidate Profile

This PhD project will be based at the Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan. Applicants must be able to undertake fieldwork in the UK as part of a joint project. Applicants should review the minimum entry requirements for the NCKU 2025 Fall Admission. Ideal candidates are motivated, independent, and interested in evolution and field biology. Experience with fieldwork and statistical analysis is essential.

Funding

This PhD project will be funded by various sources. A successful candidate awarded the competitive Veritas et Conscientia Scholarship from NCKU for the first year will be guaranteed NT$360,000/yr (the basic living expense for taxpayers in Taiwan in 2023 is NT$202,000), supported by both the NCKU scholarship and the supervisor’s research grant for the first three years. From the 4th year onwards, we will support the PhD candidate in applying for the competitive scholarship from NCKU, as well as from various resources.

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV, the name of two referees, a concise statement of your research interests, and the transcripts of your BSc and MSc as a single PDF file to Dr Yu-Hsun Hsu (yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw). All documents should be in English. The deadline for application is 30th November 2024. An online interview will be held soon after that. After the interviews, the successful candidate must go through the official application process for NCKU 2025 Fall Admission (the application platform will be open in January 2025).

For more information concerning this position, please contact Dr Yu-Hsun Hsu (yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw).

Application Information for NCKU: NCKU 2025 Fall Admission and application instructions

Related Information

Dr Yu-Hsun Hsu

Related publication

Yeh, J. D. & Y.-H. Hsu. Extra-pair mating may evolve under changing environments. Under review

Hsu, Y.-H. 2022. Consequences of infidelity in non-human animals in T. Shackelford, and T. DeLecce, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Infidelity. Oxford University Press.

Hsu, Y.-H., M. J. P. Simons, J. Schroeder, A. Girndt, I. Winney, T. Burke, and S. Nakagawa. 2017. Age-dependent trajectories differ between within-pair and extra-pair paternity success. Journal of Evolutinary Biology 30:951-959.

Hsu, Y.-H., J. Schroeder, I. Winney, T. Burke, and S. Nakagawa. 2015. Are extra-pair males different from cuckolded males? A case study and a meta-analytic examination. Molecular Ecology 24:1558-1571.

Hsu, Y.-H., J. Schroeder, I. Winney, T. Burke, and S. Nakagawa. 2014. Costly infidelity: Low lifetime fitness of extra-pair offspring in a passerine bird. Evolution 68:2873-2884.

 

Related collaboration

Dunning, J., A. Sanchez-Tójar, A. Girndt, T. Burke, Y.-H. Hsu, S. Nakagawa, I. Winney, and J. Schroeder. 2024. Extrapair paternity alongside social reproduction increases male lifetime fitness. Animal Behaviour 213:117-123.

Schroeder, J., Y.-H. Hsu, I. Winney, M. J. P. Simons, S. Nakagawa, and T. Burke. 2016. Predictably philandering females prompt poor paternal provisioning. American Naturalist 188:219-230.

Department of Life Sciences in NCKU 

Office of International Affairs in NCKU





 

Monday 16 September 2024

Evolution Meeting 2024 (by Paggy Lin / 林佩臻)



人生第一次出國參加正式的研討會!!! 

算是美國很大的演化相關研討會,兩千多人有六成來自美國XD 


第一次一個人出國到這麼遠的地方,真的很興奮。蒙特婁的環境比起其他加拿大區域更像歐洲一些,也讓人比較能夠稍微放鬆。



研討會開始前一天先到了會場拿名牌,居然是掃QRcode當場印製,主辦方直接建了一個app,把所有研討會期間所有資訊整理並即時更新到其中,甚至可以做筆記跟收藏想聽的演講,真的很方便~~ 從第一天開始就被開場演講洗禮,正式意識到這是所有人都對演化生物學有興趣的場合。大家在討論事情的時候都很具體的描述自己對一些名詞的理解,或是如何用他發現的結果重新定義這個領域的名詞,在研討會期間不停地重塑我演化對於這個世界定位的想像。



雖然不知道是不是完全都是如此,但我有興趣且有遇到的講者都很有意願分享研究衍生出來的問題,或是回答我這個小菜鳥一些我沒有接觸過的基礎模型概念,而且都能描述的精準好理解,英文不算是到非常流利的我都能很輕易地跟大家交流。不只是在內容上視野被打開,其實也同時大量瀏覽了許多優秀的演講及海報風格,值得學習的地方有好多。 





主辦方有許多貼心的小地方,讓我體驗到一個這樣規模的研討會應該能到什麼樣的規格。例如在休息期間每天都會有不同屬性的小聚會,可能是研究屬性、來自哪裡、身分認同,甚至還有是屬於獨自前來的參與者。我居然在亞洲研究者的小聚會中看到旺旺餅乾!!太貼心了吧~~ 

另外也設置了小孩託顧的空間跟專業單位,以及一些性別友善的措施,整體都讓人覺得很舒服。 








晚上的海報階段,來自不同地方不同學術階段的與會者,帶著小點心站在海報面前了解我們的研究。原本以為自己會很緊張,但在分享了幾次之後,抓到自己的節奏,也感受到大家的友善,居然成功的溝統無障礙,也得到了一些回饋跟鼓勵(好感動)。居然還遇到了老師的研究所同學(Echo 編:其實是我碩班時的強者學姊啦,容仟學姊可是我在 microsatellite 跨物種測條件路上的師父之一呢!感恩的心~,世界好小(? 


在偏實際應用的領域待了一陣子之後,能夠回答單純對於科學問題有興趣,並進而發展研究內容的世界裡,其實很容易被感動。那種一步一步跟最一開始學習到的一樣,從觀察發想、建立假說、設計方法到分析結果的順序被嚴謹的執行著,身處在這樣大家邏輯清晰的在討論抽象概念的環境就覺得好幸福哦,根本就是間接讓人有想繼續做研究的動力來源。



雖然可能身處不同角色時,參加這樣的會議會有不同的體驗心得,不過對我來說,在這段期間所接收到的一切都值得珍惜。好幸運能得到這樣體驗機會,超級謝謝老師的嗚嗚嗚  (Echo 編:參加好的研討會是不是很感動,回來之後會動力滿滿呢! 💪)

(還好我目前還喜歡在這個世界裡0.0還好有遇到願意帶我一起學習的老師

(雖然現在進度各種延宕中 (Echo 編:好說好說,我們一起繼續努力吧~)


現場同時段的演講場次高達17個,整個會議期間一直跑來跑去,很久沒有像這樣一整天純粹的吸收新資訊的感覺了,非常充實滿足,而且很開心主辦方有把大多數的場次內容錄影下來,回來之後還能繼續沉浸在快樂裡,補上可惜沒聽到的平行場次內容。大家也可以來看看! https://www.youtube.com/@evolutionmeetings5042


Tuesday 11 October 2022

成大生科系演化生態學實驗室 (許祐薰老師) 徵求宜蘭水鳥調查志工數名 Opportunity to volunteer in shorebird survey in Yilan!

團隊中的印度籍博班生 Shalini Jain 是個對水鳥研究有著多年經驗和高度熱忱的學生,但她上週開始在宜蘭的水鳥調查遇到了哪些障礙? 1. 鳥太害羞很難找 2. 語言障礙 3. 下雨太多天,壓縮能做調查的時間 4. 以上皆是 答案是: 4,以上皆是! 因此我們要來臨時徵求一下近期在宜蘭能和 Shalini 一起做調查的小幫手。調查日期是從10/17-11/17,希望至少能參與加起來七天(不需要連續七天),行政流程來得及的話可以提供調查當天的食宿,交通工具則以腳踏車為主(Shalini 才剛到台灣一個多月,還沒考機車駕照XD)。 宜蘭有著好山好水好多鳥,再請大家幫忙引薦推薦一下,謝謝! PS. 因為小幫手是要直接跟著 Shalini 一起做調查的,能和她用英文溝通會是一大特質,加上有點臨時,準備時間較短,所以請有意願的冰又直接跟她聯繫,謝謝!

Monday 19 September 2022

成大生科系演化生態學實驗室 (許祐薰老師) 徵求兼任助理/臨時工兩名 Two part-time job vacancy in the Evolutionary Ecology Group (Dr. Yu-Hsun Hsu) in NCKU

 

工作內容: 協助整理資料與數據。
Work description: Data collection and data entry 

工作時數: 每週 6-10 小時,可視課程與考試狀況調整。
Working hours: 6-10hr a week, the working hours can be adjusted to your available time.

薪資: 採時薪制。起薪 $168/小時,若能協助收集英文文獻中的數據 and/or 建立資料庫,可調薪,調幅另議。
Salary: start from $168/hr. The salary can be increased if the applicant(s) is capable to search for articles and databases, extract data from published articles and/or to establish a new database.

工作期間: 自111年10月起,希望能持續至少六個月。
When to start: From Oct 2022 onwards, candidates who can continue for at least 6 months will be preferred.

有意申請者,請聯絡許祐薰老師(yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw),來信標題請註明 "申請工讀機會",並於信中提供簡要自我介紹。
Perspective applicants please directly email Dr Hsu via yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw, with your email title "Application for part-time research assistant", and a brief introduction of yourself in your email.

更多關於實驗室的資訊: https://sites.google.com/site/yuhsunhsu/home
More information about our research group: https://sites.google.com/site/yuhsunhsu/home

Monday 24 January 2022

End of Year (for the year of Ox in 2021)!

許祐薫(Hsu, Yu-Hsun)

24th Jan, 2022


After a super busy semester where everyone was pushing their limits on their research projects and new methodology, along with courses, exams and symposiums, and under the pandemic, finally we reached the end of year for the Year of Ox!


End of Year student presentation at CABE - checked!

Well done, Andreas, Chengwei, Paggy and Peilun!

 

End of Year Progress report - checked! 

It's the very first time we ever had a lab meeting longer than 1 hour! We had a good discussion, but let's aim on limiting it within 1 hr next time. ;)


End of Year Lab Lunch Out - checked! 

It was also a farewell to Tammy and Hongwei. Thanks to your contribution in the past 1-1.5 years. Have fun in Kingmen & for marine mammals, respectively! (Sorry, Andreas, you missed out the fun. Next time!)





End of Year Lab Clean-Up - checked!
- with rock music, of course.





and... Bubble tea after the lab clean-up - CHECKED! 



Happy up-coming Lunar New Year, everyone! May the force be with you! :D

Saturday 22 May 2021

誠徵專任研究助理(一位)

工作基本資訊:

        點:台南市國立成功大學生命科學系演化生態研究室(許祐薫助理教授)

起始時間:2021 年即日起 (或洽談)

聘        期:一年,期滿可洽談續聘

        資:依學歷(碩士/學士)及成功大學專任助理薪資規定(https://www.most.gov.tw/most/attachments/4c42938a-7c8d-47b1-8807-08d6f0956bd9

        件:大學或碩士畢業,不限相關系所,但針對下述四項工作內容必須有至少兩項的經驗,願意積極學習並執行其他項工作內容。


工作內容性質:

 1. 行政工作

好的行政工作能讓實驗室各項研究順利進行,你將是全實驗室最重要的人物(比老師重要)!需要做事效率飛快和溝通能力極高的你,因為每次拿起話筒播給行政單位都是種種難關(汗~),協助研究項目相關人員的聯絡和溝通,是需要跟梁靜茹借一點勇氣的。還有,腦袋瓜也需要非常靈光,因為行政程序會讓你的腦神經被秒殺:)

2. 分生實驗

抽 DNA,跑 PCR,再加上一些序列和基因型分析,讓我們可以一窺演化在 DNA 序列上留下的印記

3.  田野調查

拿著專業的工作證,走進野外,調查野外族群數量和分佈,必要時也會短期協助追蹤紀錄動物的行為,一窺豆娘和鳥類數百萬年來演化出的行為與適應。

4. 資料科學

從已發表文獻和公開資料庫擷取資料,建立,維護及使用資料庫,從巨觀的角度出發,探索環境與動物行為生態之演化的關係。

 

應徵方式:請備齊以下資料,以  E-mail  寄給許老師(yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw

1.     自介,一頁為限,內容包含自我介紹,以及詳細描述與上述工作內容性質相關的經驗與技術。

2.     履歷:兩頁為限,列出學經歷,條列和本工作相關的經驗與技術,並提供兩位推薦人姓名,與申請者關係,以及推薦人的聯絡方式(email為佳)。

3.     郵件主旨請用 : "姓名"+"應徵研究助理"

 

適合對象:如果你剛好有以下特質,那不要猶豫了,請趕快來申請吧!

·      大學或碩班畢業,喜歡做研究,但還沒下定決心簽下去

·      興趣廣泛,希望做一份工作可以同時用到分生,田野和資料處理技術

·      熱愛挑戰,喜歡解決問題

·      希望工作內容豐富,但同時又想保有每天的下班時間和週末的私人生活品質

 

若有任何疑問,請直接用 email 聯絡許老師(yuhsunhsu@ncku.edu.tw)。

實驗室網站:https://sites.google.com/site/yuhsunhsu/

 

Monday 17 May 2021

1st Online Lab Meeting!

許祐薫(Hsu, Yu-Hsun)

18th May, 2021


因應台灣的疫情快速升溫,台南也上升成準三級,成大從昨天開始全面改成線上上課,lab meeting 因為會超過五個人群聚,所以就迎來了實驗室第一次線上視訊 lab meeting 啦!

視訊軟體使用心得:

1. 一開始大家先上 Webex 會議室,但蠻多人的訊號很差,講話會變音跟有雜訊,其他人聽不清楚。
2. Google Meet 訊號比較好,但對於沒有另外使用耳機麥克風的人來說,收訊就會變差。
3. App 結論:團體 meeting 的話使用 Google Meet 比較好,但個人 meeting 的話我還是偏好 Skype,收訊清楚,又不用預先設定會議跟邀請。

使用團體線上會議比實體會議沒效率,因為聲音和表情都會發生些微的延遲,在對談上比較容易中斷,討論的流暢度會降低。另外,只要同個會議中有人的視訊有問題,會改成打字在對話框,那就會出現視訊討論跟對話框討論並行的現象,思考比較容易被打斷(雖然對話框會出現很好笑的對話XD)。平常大約40分鐘的文獻報告與討論,今天在討論並不是很熱烈的情況下依舊花費了一個多小時。不過線上會議有其優點,除了防疫之外,還可以減少舟車勞頓,而且跨國合作的研究討論也都是用線上會議進行。

下週 lab meeting,來挑戰回復到我們實驗室一貫的一小時 KO 吧!

早上九點的 meeting(<--- 這學期竟然只有週二的這時間是全員沒課!),蠻多人看起來睡眼惺忪,只有朝威偷偷把背景換成很帥氣的宇宙圖XD。有圖有真相,來張線上群聚照吧!



PhD studentship: Environmental effects on extra-pair mating in birds

  PhD studentship based in Taiwan 2025-2029 About the Project: Extra-pair mating occurs when an individual mates with one(s) outside of his...