Vacancy: PhD position
Arctic meltdown affects tropical seagrass meadows via migrant shorebird
Global warming is most pronounced in the Arctic. Hence,
Arctic-breeding migrants might carry over the ecological effects of
climate change to their tropical wintering grounds. Although recently
discovered, reductions in body size are already considered a
universal response to climate change. Red knots (Calidris canutus),
medium-sized shorebirds breeding as High Arctic as possible, are no
exception to this rule. Over the past 30 years, their bodies have
been shrinking, notably with respect to body mass and bill length.
Preliminary analyses revealed that at their main wintering site (Banc
d'Arguin, Mauritania, West-Africa), small individuals with a short
bill are now shifting niche by consuming readily accessible seagrass
rhizomes instead of deeper buried shellfish. Here we will (A)
experimentally unravel the coupling between body size and diet; (B)
link survival rate to body size and diet; and (C) quantify the
top-down effects of rhizome-grazing on seagrass.
Whilst the field work will be carried in Mauritania, the laboratory
and desk work will mainly be carried out at the Department of Marine
Ecology, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (Texel,
the Netherlands; <http://www.nioz.nl>http://www.nioz.nl). However, in
this MARES-EU funded project, regular visits will be made to the two
partner universities, University of Aveiro (Portugal) and the
University of Gda sk (Poland).
Profile
The subject is open to highly motivated students that have a
background in (marine) ecology, preferably with affinities to birds.
The proposed fieldwork in Banc d'Arguin will be embedded in large
expeditions in which a consortium of international researchers is
involved. Henceforth, the candidate should be a team player, but, at
the same time, should be able to work independently under seemingly
pleasant, but sometimes tough, field circumstances. Because this
project involves Dutch, Portuguese and Polish partners, the
regulations set by MARES-EU demand that candidates should have
obtained their master degree outside the Netherlands, Portugal and Poland.
Employment details
The candidate will be employed by NIOZ for a period of three years,
under the collective agreement of Dutch universities and research
institutions. This includes a gross monthly salary of 2,800 including
an 8%%-vacation bonus and end-of-year payment.
To apply:
<http://www.mares-eu.org/index.asp?p=1846&a=1846>http://www.mares-eu.org/index.asp?p=1846&a=1846
For more information:
<http://www.mares-eu.org/index.asp?p=2174&a=1853&mod=phd&id=207>http://www.mares-eu.org/index.asp?p=2174&a=1853&mod=phd&id=207
E-mail <mailto:jan.van.g...@nioz.nl>jan.van.g...@nioz.nl for
remaining questions
