---

Supervisor:

Prof. Dr. Stephanie Kramer-Schadt

Lab Address:

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Department of Ecological Dynamics, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin

---

Project description:

Understanding the factors that determine parasite distribution patterns and transmission routes is crucial at the ever-increasing interface between humans, livestock and wildlife. Different livestock management systems, from free-range, organic to intensive, represent such a close boundary. Especially in free-range farming systems, moving wildlife might come in direct contact with livestock or their parasites in contaminated soils; however, the extent of this transmission route is yet unknown.

The project aims to elucidate whether certain animal farming systems increase the spill-over risk, especially of soil-transmitted helminths, from livestock to wildlife, and whether certain environmental factors mediate prevalence and transmission. To this end, we will sample wildlife, livestock (fecal, gut) and farms (soil) along an environmental gradient and develop a large-scale study together with hunting associations to collect samples from game species around the farms. There will be the possibility to do a movement and contact study with a telemetry system between wildlife and livestock.

The candidate will learn state-of-the-art parasitological methods (e.g., flotation, egg counts) together with spatial data analysis, including movement data. Infection in wildlife will be analyzed together with gut microbiome composition applying up-to-date biodiversity metrics and joint species distribution models.

The suitable candidate should be willing to conduct field and lab work; have a strong background in data analysis (e.g., R language); and be able to work independently. A background in wildlife ecology and a hunting license are an asset, but not mandatory.