[Coral-List] 2 PhD Opportunities, Envision DTP, UK

Sal Keith sally.a.keith at gmail.com
Thu Nov 14 10:57:43 UTC 2019


We are delighted to offer a two fully funded PhD projects through the Envision DTP between Lancaster, Nottingham and Bangor Universities, UK 
http://www.envision-dtp.org/ <http://www.envision-dtp.org/>

1. ANGRY DAMSELS: do species interactions after overfishing enhance or inhibit coral reef recovery?

Reveal the role for animal behaviour in driving ecosystem processes, using coral reefs as a model system. 

The project aims to reveal the impact of heightened aggression between fish species on coral reef resilience and recovery. You will work with project Partner Operation Wallacea at their Honduras field sites to take advantage of pioneering stereo-video methods to generate 3D-heatmaps of fish behaviour across a gradient of fishing pressure, and to conduct field experiments on damselfish aggression. With these data, you will develop an ecosystem-based model to assess the impact of cross-species interference on future reef resilience and recovery. Model outputs will inform management strategies to maintain optimum relative fish abundances for recovery.

The project is based in the thriving LEC-REEFS group at Lancaster University (https://lec-reefs.org/ <https://lec-reefs.org/>) under the supervision of Dr Sally Keith, and is co-supervised by Dr. Gareth Williams (Bangor University) and Dan Exton (Operation Wallacea).

Eligibility: Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in subjects such as Ecology, Marine Biology or Natural Sciences. Applicants with Masters degrees, relevant research experience, or publications will be highly competitive. Exposure to statistical analyses and ecological modelling desirable. Applicants should hold a minimum SCUBA diving qualification of PADI Rescue Diver, with PADI Divemaster or equivalent preferred. Unfortunately, our funding is limited to UK or EU students only.

Further info: http://www.envision-dtp.org/2019/angry-damsels-do-species-interactions-after-overfishing-enhance-or-inhibit-coral-reef-recovery/ <http://www.envision-dtp.org/2019/angry-damsels-do-species-interactions-after-overfishing-enhance-or-inhibit-coral-reef-recovery/>


2. ALIENS IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE: using robots to study and manage invasive lionfish

Explore the ecology of invasive lionfish on mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) and subsequently improve conservation management. 

The project aims to exploit exciting new capabilities in robotics through the charity Robots in Service of the Environment to (1) determine the role of MCE lionfish in population dynamics, (2) quantify impacts of invasive lionfish on the wider MCE fish community, and (3) use spatially-structured demographic models to develop best management practice for culling lionfish.

The project is based at the University of Nottingham under the supervision of Dr Richard Field, and is co-supervised by Dr. Sally Keith (Lancaster University) and Dan Exton (Operation Wallacea).

Eligibility: Applicants must have aptitude for marine fieldwork and data analysis, plus good writing skills. Importantly, they should have enthusiasm for nature, scientific curiosity and willingness to make the most of opportunities on offer. Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level, or equivalent, in a subject such as Biology, Marine Biology, Geography or Natural Sciences. Unfortunately, our funding is limited to UK or EU students only.

Further info: http://www.envision-dtp.org/2019/aliens-in-the-twilight-zone-using-robots-to-study-and-manage-invasive-lionfish-on-caribbean-mesophotic-coral-ecosystems/ <http://www.envision-dtp.org/2019/aliens-in-the-twilight-zone-using-robots-to-study-and-manage-invasive-lionfish-on-caribbean-mesophotic-coral-ecosystems/>


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