Genetic and Acoustic Diversity in an Invasive Parrot
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
- Application deadline
- Year-round applications
About the project
About the Project The ring-necked parakeet Psittacula krameri is one of the world’s most successfully introduced species. Native to the Indian sub-continent and sub-Saharan Africa, this species is the UK’s only naturalised parrot, and populations are continuing to increase rapidly across Europe. P. krameri are highly gregarious, and vocalizations play an important part in their ecology. In parrots, vocalizations are typically learned during rearing, which can give rise to regional accents, similar to those observed in humans. Studying patterns of acoustic variation in vocal learners can reveal important insights into the cultural basis of vocal development. Through a combination of bioacoustics and field observations, this project will explore the ecology of an invasive species of local and global conservation concern and contribute to our broader understanding of vocal development in a highly social species. It will engage public communities, utilise citizen science, and contribute to conservation management strategies. Supervisor: Dr Amy Leedale