Sign in

Grant C. McDonald

@gcmcdon.bsky.social
168 followers 160 following 14 posts

Sex, conflict, sociality, evolution, plovers. Associate Professor UVMB. Budapest. (he/him)

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
German Ornithological Society @dornitholges.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Now online in Journal of #Ornithology Open access Who chooses the nest? An experimental test of nest cover selection link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Who chooses the nest? An experimental test of nest cover selection - Journal of Ornithology
Nesting site selection has key fitness consequences for both parents and their offspring. Despite previous investigations of the factors influencing the nesting decisions of varied taxa, the relative ...
095
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Who chooses the nest? An experimental test of nest cover selection @dornitholges.bsky.social rdcu.be/87QHTxgqRbfa
030
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Laura Ross @laurarossevo.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
My lab @ Edinburgh university is recruiting a postdoc to work on the weird and wonderful germline-specific chromosomes of flies. elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid... collaboration with @germline.bsky.social and yukiko yamashita funded by @novonordisk.bsky.social please repost!
16665
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Nest site selection is a key reproductive decision in ground-nesting birds. In hot climates, nest shade strongly shapes parental incubation behaviour. Understanding these effects is important in predicting the reproductive impacts of rising global temperatures onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
No Evidence That Nest Cover Shapes Incubation Schedules in a Mediterranean Shorebird Population
We investigated how nest cover is associated to incubation behaviour in a Mediterranean biparental population of Kentish Plovers using 24-h video recordings from 24 nests with variable nest cover tha...
121
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Guillaume Dillenseger @dillensegerg.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Our comparative analyses with @bksandercock.bsky.social and colleagues is now included in July issue of Oikos, and is making the cover, with a stunning picture of one of my great friend Verca. Read the paper here: nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
043
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Oikos @oikosjournal.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Our cover for July! 🏖️🦢 A global review of more than 100 shorebird species reveals that annual survival has declined significantly, particularly among adults, highlighting growing conservation concerns and the need for long-term monitoring. vist.ly/59qeb 📷Veronika Švestková
A bird with detailed plumage in flight on the OIKOS journal cover.
02711
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
10/10 no notes inpreparation.substack.com/p/opinion-i-...
inpreparation.substack.com
Opinion: I Was Not Allowed To Type Prompts Into ChatGPT During My Chalk Talk And This Is Discrimination
By Dr. Rachel Simmons, Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University
254
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Guillaume Dillenseger @dillensegerg.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Read the story behind our study with @justinedelautre.bsky.social @ankitha-jayanth.bsky.social @ckecz.bsky.social #lapwings #shorebird #predation
053
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Good to see some push-back www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Show us the evidence for the value of medical AI - Nature Medicine
Claims that medical AI is improving care must be backed by appropriate evidence.
073
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · 21/04/2026
Are you the less lucky of the co-first or co-last authors? @shougroup.bsky.social makes the case for changes to the way that equal contribution information is sent to indexing sites such as #PubMed. 🧪 #AcademicSky #publishing
plos.io
We need to correct the wide-spread omission of equal contribution in article indexing
Equal contribution designations (co-first and co-last authorship) is on the rise, yet this information is routinely lost, creating inequity in recognition and crediting. This Perspective calls for…
0165
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Colin Beale @cmbeale.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Are you a national of an African country? Looking to study birds of prey at one of three leading ornithological research university across the contient? This might be for you! raptorresearchfoundation.org/grants-award...
Poster advertising the Arican Raptor Leadership Grant - African antionals applying for MSc or Hons courses at AP LEventis Ornithological Research Institute (Nigeria), Fitzpatric Institute of African Ornithology (UCT, South Africa) or Mohammed V University (Morocco) are invited to apply via https://raptorresearchfoundation.org
11528
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Journal of Avian Biology @avianbiology.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
New paper: do GPS tags affect small shorebirds? In Kentish plovers, solar-powered devices showed no detectable effects on behaviour, reproduction, or short-term survival. ➡️ vist.ly/4xcxr #ornithology #biologging #birds #survival #reproduction
Photo of a Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus. Source: Wikimedia commons.Fig. 2 from the article: Incubation behaviour does not differ between nests with untagged and tagged parents. Fig. 3 from the article: Reproductive outcomes were similar between tagged and untagged groups during the 2023 breeding season.
0168
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
𝙱.𝙺. 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚘𝚌𝚔 @bksandercock.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
New article in Oikos with a global review of annual survival for waders comparing estimation methods and phylogeny. Survival increases with body mass but decreases with migration distance and during past 40 years. Team led by @dillensegerg.bsky.social. #ornithology #waders doi.org/10.1002/oik....
Annual survival of waders versus adult body mass, migration distance and year of study
02514
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Do you work with breeding shorebirds? Do you collect FID data? Do you have data already or collecting data this year? We are seeking data contributors for a new project investigating the diversity of nest defence strategies across breeding shorebirds. Get in touch if interested! #wader #shorebird
024
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Journal of Avian Biology @avianbiology.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Valdebenito et al show that three constitutive immune system parameters remain stable across the non-breeding season in Hudsonian godwits ➡️ nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com…
Hudsonian godwit. Photo: Jose ValdebenitoFig. 1 from the article: Body condition (a) and constitutive immune function (b)–(d) in post-arrival and pre-migratory Hudsonian godwits Limosa haemastica sampled within their non-breeding season in Chiloé.
022
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Do you work with breeding shorebirds? Do you collect FID data? Do you have data already or collecting data this year? We are seeking data contributors for a new project investigating the diversity of nest defence strategies across breeding shorebirds. Get in touch if interested! #wader #shorebird
024
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Matthew Silk @mattjsilk.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Just over a week left to apply for this PhD project (unfortunately UK students only). If you're interested then please get in touch!
0109
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
🚨Postdoc opportunity🚨: The impact of global change on parental care systems Interested in Shorebirds? Global change? Parental care? Fieldwork? 🐣☀️ Come join us in Budapest! Interested candidates - get in touch! Deadline Feb 28 2026
098
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
EvolDir @evoldir.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Post-doc position open in 2026 at UVMB Budapest to study the effects of global change on parental care in shorebirds. PhD in life sciences required. Apply via email to Grant McDonald: grant.mcdonald@univet.hu. More info: univet.hu/en/about/staff/mcdonald-g…. #job
univet.hu
McDonald Grant C. - University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest
INTRODUCTION Grant C. McDonald is an evolutionary ecologists studying how the social organisation of animal societies governs male and female reproductive strategies. He obtained his PhD from the University of Oxford where he studied how variation in social and sexual networks impact on patterns of sexual selection and sexual conflict. His current research explores the
057
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
🚨Postdoc opportunity🚨: The impact of global change on parental care systems Interested in Shorebirds? Global change? Parental care? Fieldwork? 🐣☀️ Come join us in Budapest! Interested candidates - get in touch! Deadline Feb 28 2026
098
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Eleanor Bath @eleanorbath.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
We're advertising a PhD project on how social isolation influences aggression in flies. Based at Durham, co-supervised by @clarahowcroft.bsky.social . Despite what the ad says, this is also open to international applicants! Any questions, shoot me a msg! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
Angry and Alone: How Social Experience Shapes Female Aggression in Flies at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Angry and Alone: How Social Experience Shapes Female Aggression in Flies at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com
01622
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Michael Roast @roasty247.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
🧵1/5 Our new paper is now published in @avianbiology.bsky.social! The first GPS tagging study of Kentish Plovers in Maio investigated the potential impact of tagging, finding no detectable impacts across multiple aspects of behaviour, reproduction & survival. doi.org/10.1002/jav....
Kentish Plover with a solar-powered GPS tag just before release, Maio, Cape VerdeKentish Plover with a solar-powered GPS tag just before release after a nocturnal capture, Maio, Cape Verde
1144
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
International Wader Study Group @waderstudy.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
📰 Wader News #waders #shorebirds Solar-powered GPS tags show no detectable harm to Kentish Plovers ⬇️ www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/S...
041
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Jen Perry @jennyperry.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
New post doc funding opportunity: Are you outside Canada & interested in a post doc on insects & environment/climate? Our lab studies insect evol & ecol, esp reproduction/sexual selection. Our university seeks a nominee. Let's chat! nserc-crsng.canada.ca/en/news/laun...
nserc-crsng.canada.ca
Launch of new Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards
As announced in Budget 2025 -
056
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Researchers share their findings about the effects of tracking devices on survival etc., so that others can learn how to study waders as safely as possible. 1/4 New paper suggests that Kentish Plovers are not affected by tracking devices. nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1... BUT ...
1297
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
We assessed the effects of solar-powered GPS devices on behaviour, incubation, reproductive outcomes, and apparent survival, in an emerging avian model, Kentish Plovers. We found no effect of tagging on behaviour or life-history indicating tagging is unlikely to manifest in demographic consequences
062
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
New research in @avianbiology.bsky.social: "No detectable deployment impacts of solar-powered GPS devices for long-term use on a small shorebird" nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #Shorebird #Wader #GPS #Reproduction @roasty247.bsky.social
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
No detectable deployment impacts of solar‐powered GPS devices for long‐term use on a small shorebird
Portable devices, or biologgers, attached to animals are designed to record data on unobservable aspects of animal behaviour, physiology and ecology. However, wearing such devices is expected to be c...
156
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Jen Perry @jennyperry.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
MSc position in my lab. Come study the evolutionary & behavioural ecology of insects! @stfx-university.bsky.social
02024
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Now in Animal Behaviour @asab.org‬ "Inconsistent fear: repeatability in flight initiation distance and neophobic behaviour differs in a ground-nesting bird" #OA #Shorebird #ParentalCare authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
172
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Now in Animal Behaviour @asab.org‬ "Inconsistent fear: repeatability in flight initiation distance and neophobic behaviour differs in a ground-nesting bird" #OA #Shorebird #ParentalCare authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
172
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Francisco (Paco) Garcia-Gonzalez @pacogarciagonzalez.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Our new study, published in Scientific Reports and led by Abril Alexander, suggests the possibility that monogamy may remove constraints on reproductive tissue investment imposed by intense sexual selection. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
122
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 24/03/2025
LOOKING BACK in IBIS The causes and implications of sex role diversity in shorebird breeding systems | onlinelibrary.wiley.... Tamás Székely et al | #ornithology 🪶
082
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
EvolDir @evoldir.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
PhD opportunity in parental care and social ecology focusing on ground-nesting plovers in Cabo Verde, supervised by experts at the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest. Apply by March 31, 2025: univet.hu #phd
univet.hu
Állatorvostudományi Egyetem Budapest
Alapítva: 1787
001
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
Evolution Letters @evolletters.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Rethinking the relationship between the sex ratio and sexual selection doi.org/10.1093/evle... Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by @gcmcdon.bsky.social, @daniedmunds.bsky.social, @stuartwigby.bsky.social, and @jennyperry.bsky.social 📷: Dani Edmunds
An image of a fruit fly created by collage.
01913
Grant C. McDonald @gcmcdon.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Does the ratio of males to females predictably influence the ability to monopolise mating partners? Is male sexual selection more intense when femaleIs are rare? 🪰 We investigated by manipulating sex ratios in polyandrous fruit flies in our new #OA manuscript published in @evolletters.bsky.social
Manuscript imageImage of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) credit: Sanjay Acharya
1228
Reposted by Grant C. McDonald
𝙱.𝙺. 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚘𝚌𝚔 @bksandercock.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Field excursion out to Hortobágyi after a PhD student conference on Evolution and Biodiversity at the University of Debrecen. ebird.org/checklist/S2...
091