Two positions are available in the Institute of Marine Science and the University of Auckland. For more information, please contact Prof. Simon Thrush at simon.thr...@auckland.ac.nz; http://www.marine.auckland.ac.nz/people/simon-thrush
*Coastal ecosystem services and the functional performance of ecosystems* A PhD research project is available working on ecosystem services in coastal marine habitats. Coastal marine ecosystems support many services: habitat formation, sediment stabilisation, improving water clarity, storing carbon and processing nutrients. The research will focus on ecosystem functions that underpin critical services and seek to develop models of how the performance of specific ecosystem functions scales to changes in ecological and environmental conditions. Based on a conceptual analysis of selected ecosystem function performance curves, it is anticipated that field studies will be designed to assess the efficacy of these models. Work for the project may involve being based either at the University’s city campus or at Leigh Marine Laboratory. See: www.science.auckland.ac. nz/phd ; www.auckland.ac.nz/applynow ; www.postgraduate.ac.nz ; www.international.auckland.ac.nz ; www.scholarships.auckland.ac.nz *Cumulative impacts and the resilience of coastal ecosystems* A PhD research project is available working on the potential for thresholds in estuarine and coastal soft-sediment ecosystems. The research will involve a mix of data analysis investigating non-linear change in spatial and time-series data and changes in ecosystem interaction networks. The research will also involve field experiments that attempt to investigate the response of ecological interaction networks to cumulative stressors. A PhD scholarship is available as part of the Tipping Points project in the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge. This will provide an opportunity for interaction with staff and students from Waikato, Canterbury and Otago Universities, NIWA and the Cawthron Institute. To enrol for a PhD at University of Auckland See: www.science.auckland.ac.nz/phd ; www.auckland.ac.nz/applynow ; www.postgraduate.ac.nz ; www.international.auckland.ac.nz ; www. scholarships.auckland.ac.nz
