Environmental correlates influencing roost selection of the King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) in the Calakmul region, Mexico

The project consists of an internship at the Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY) in Mexico under the supervision of Dr. José Luis Hernández-Stefanoni. The goal of this project is to acquire the necessary skills, resources and data that will contribute to a master thesis in biology, at Sherbrooke University, Canada. The subject of the thesis is the selection of communal roosts by king vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) in the region of Calakmul, Mexico. This species uses specific habitats in the neotropical forests as their roosts, where they rest, clean, drink, and socialize. These sites are therefore likely key to the conservation of the species in the region. To study roost selection, data on landscape characteristics will be acquired by remote sensing, particularly LiDAR. This radar technology will be useful to acquire variables that are not available using multispectral imagery to characterize roosts in an integrated manner, accounting for vertical and horizontal vegetation heterogeneity. This project will lead to a new collaboration between the home and host supervisors which will allow them to benefit from new expertise and recognition in their field of research. The student will also acquire new skills on a novel tool in wildlife ecology.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sophie Calmé

Student:

Partner:

Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C.

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health)

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program: