NIOZ, the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, is the Dutch
national oceanographic institute, and it is one of the most important
oceanographic institutes in the world. NIOZ is uniquely located on
the beautiful island of Texel on the Wadden
Sea coast. It employs over 250 staff: research scientists, lab
assistants, technicians, ship crews, and auxiliary staff. NIOZ is one
of the nine institutes that are part of the Netherlands Organisation
for Scientific Research (NWO).
The department of Marine Ecology, which studies the structure and
functioning of marine foodwebs, has a vacancy for a PhD student
"Ecological effects of predation by intertidal shorebirds on marine
benthic communities"
In the current biodiversity decline, predators are often the first to
disappear. Predators are thought to play a positive role in
biodiversity maintenance as they prevent certain prey species in
achieving dominance, relaxing resource competition among prey, hence
promoting prey growth rates, prey coexistence and diversity. Losses
of species at the highest trophic levels in communities may therefore
cause extinctions and shifts in size structure at lower trophic
levels. However, this role of predators is still often
underappreciated, largely because many ecosystems have already lost
their top-predators and/or human-induced disturbances now blur the
positive predation effects. Furthermore, the role of migrant
predators structuring communities along their migratory route has
mostly been neglected.
For this reason, this project explores the effects of predation in
one of the most pristine and undisturbed intertidal ecosystems in the
world, the Banc d'Arguin (Mauritania, West Africa). Here we will
study the structuring role of molluscivore shorebirds, notably the
red knot (Calidris canutus), on the intertidal benthic community. The
decline of wintering population of knots at Banc d'Arguin (due to
habitat-destruction elsewhere along the flyway) coincides with an
increase in the knot's main prey species and a decline in overall
mollusc diversity. Taking an experimental approach, we will explore
whether these are causal relationships. For example, by excluding
knots from small-scale study plots, the PhD-student will focus on how
prey competition and species coexistence are affected by predation.
Modelling tools will be employed in order to explore the consequences
at the ecosystem level.
REQUIREMENTS
We are looking for an enthusiastic young biologist interested in
scaling-up from behavior to community ecology, both empirically but
also theoretically. The candidate should be able to cope with the
primitive and sometimes harsh field conditions when working in
Mauritania. Affinity with birds is not a requirement, and neither is
a command of French, but both will be seen as assets. The assignment
should lead to the completion of a PhD-dissertation at the University
of Groningen through Prof. T. Piersma.
We offer a full-time PhD position for 4 years, a pension scheme, a
health insurance allowance, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, year-end
bonus and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the
Collective Employment Agreement of the NWO Research Institutes.
Further information on the project and the position can be obtained
from Dr Jan van Gils ([email protected] or otherwise from Jolanda
Evers, Human Resources (Email: [email protected], phone +31-222-369371)
General information about NIOZ can be found at: http://www.nioz.nl
Application:
Applicants should sent a cover letter with motivation for this
project, CV, a statement of research interest and the name and email
address of two referees, to the Human Resources Department attended
to Ms. Jolanda Evers, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
(NIOZ), P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands or
preferably by e-mail to: [email protected]
Closing Date: 8 March 2010 or until a qualified candidate is identified.
