PRR Project

Summary

This job application aims to promote research and development on applied ecology and conservation of mammalian carnivores prone to raise conflicts with human activities, with special emphasis on the geographical location of BIOPOLIS-InBIO, i.e., Portugal by focusing extant large carnivores as the Iberian wolf, but also conducting related research on different large carnivore species, other worldwide regions, or distinct scenarios of human-wildlife conflict. The working plan encompasses the following tasks:i) Coordination of research projects on large carnivores occurring in different ecological settings and focusing topics such as population census, long-term monitoring of demographic and genetic traits, ecological requirements, health status, predator-prey interactions and human-wildlife conflicts. This should be accomplished by using a multi-methodological approach based on field procedures for direct or indirect detection of target species, such as camera-trapping, acoustic surveys, non-invasive genetics and GPS telemetry.ii) Development and improvement of methods for genetic and ecological monitoring of wild carnivores, such as development of innovative procedures for non-invasive sampling, determinant variables on faecal samples to improve the success on species and individual genetic identification, and procedures to minimize stress and injuries related to capture-marking of wild wolves.iii) Study of a wide range of human-carnivore interactions using a multidisciplinary approach grounded on biological, sociological and anthropological sciences in order to access, for example, socio-economic dimension related to livestock depredation, behavioral responses to human activities and ethnographic traits related to traditional beliefs and practices of local communities towards carnivores.iv) Applied research on wolf ecology in human-dominated landscapes with two main goals. First, to produce effective prescriptions regarding the sustainable development of anthropogenic activities, mainly related to infrastructure development, livestock industry, hunting, forestry and outdoor tourism. Secondly, to promote knowledge-transfer among public institutions (e.g., national authorities for Nature Conservation), private companies (e.g., wind farm promoters, forestry) and other decision-makers and stakeholders related to wolf conservation (e.g., Municipalities, NGOs, Livestock breeders), aiming to define best-practice guidelines and zoning of human activities as a mean to mitigate impacts and conflicts.v) Active participation in: 1) global scientific networks to promote innovative and cutting-edge research on large carnivores; 2) advisory activities to decision-makers related to management and conservation of large carnivores, either at national, European or international level; and 3) science dissemination initiatives and participatory processes involving local communities and general public.vi) To attract external funding from private or public sources, either in Portugal or in other countries, to conduct applied research on human-wildlife conflicts.Given the tasks described above, the selected candidate must hold a doctorate degree in Biological Sciences and related scientific areas, and have wide scientific experience on applied research, project coordination, international collaboration networks and science dissemination activities focused on human-wildlife conflicts and large carnivores, particularly Iberian wolves. Therefore, a consolidated research practice in the field of Conservation Biology is a crucial requirement, as well as previous experience in: 1) ecology and conservation of large-sized mammals; 2) long-term monitoring and applied research focusing mammalian carnivores, particularly wolves; 3) socio-economic contexts related to carnivore conservation in human-dominated landscapes, such as human-wildlife conflicts, stakeholder involvement and etnobiology; 4) use and innovative development of methodologies for mammal survey and wildlife monitoring, namely sign surveys, visual/acoustic detection, camera-trapping, telemetry, non-invasive genetics and ecological modelling; and 5) attract funding and assure coordination of research projects on large carnivores and other wildlife, in Iberian Peninsula or other worldwide regions.The challenge to coexist with large-sized carnivores, which often have an important ecological role, wide movements, conflicts with human activities and threatened status, will become an increasingly important topic for biodiversity conservation given our progressively crowded planet. Therefore, investing in this scientific area by conducting applied research in different ecological settings where human-wildlife conflicts occur, either in the human-dominated landscapes of Europe or in remote wilderness areas with economically depressed rural communities, is urgently needed to create knowledge on how to sustainably coexist with large carnivores and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.