Masters Position Available in Insect Biodiversity/Detrital Food Webs I have funds available for one masters student for a project on insect biodiversity and trophic interactions in boreal mixedwood forests. This project is part of a larger project examining patterns of biodiversity at multiple spatial scales in northwestern Alberta, Canada. For this project, we will build on the established biodiversity dataset collected at the EMEND project (http://www.emend.rr.ualberta.ca/english/homepage_e.html) by analyzing trophic position of arthropod species using stable isotope analysis (C and N). We will concentrate on detrital-based communities because of the complexity of interactions (particularly among predators) as well as the importance for understanding the interaction between biodiversity and ecosystem function. While the fieldwork will be conducted in Alberta, lab work will be done in Montreal at the University of Québec at Montreal.
For this project, strong quantitative skills and a background in entomology and ecology are a plus. This position is available immediately, but students could begin autumn 2006. We are a bilingual lab with a strong interest in conservation of biodiversity, community ecology and invasion biology. UQAM provides a unique and positive environment for students in ecology and there are numerous opportunities to interact with other research groups such as the NSERC-UQAM-UQAT Chaire in Sustainable Forest Management and the newly formed Centre détude de la Fôret in Montreal. For More Information Contact Tim Work Sciences Biologiques Université du Québec à Montréal [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.unites.uqam.ca/gref/twork/ 514-987-3000 poste 2448
