please post the following ad:
Graduate Opportunities (MSc and PhD) - 2010-2011
Winter Survival and Population Dynamics of Wild Atlantic Salmon
Dr. Rick Cunjak of the Canadian Rivers Institute and the University of
New Brunswick, Canada, is looking for independent, resourceful, and
motivated individuals to conduct unique research.
The Atlantic salmon is an indicator of aquatic ecosystem health. The
proposed research has a strong conservation focus and attempts to
identify the effect of natural environmental stressors (ice, variable
flows) especially as these stressors may be exacerbated by potential
climate change scenarios (e.g., mid-winter break-ups and flooding) and
anthropogenic stressors (flow regulation). Results should improve
understanding of the relationships between environmental factors and
stream biota, and our ability to protect populations at risk.
Project #1, PhD student
To answer the question "Is egg survival of Atlantic salmon a function
of winter severity, flow regulation and stream size"?
Predictions are that: a) winter severity (physico-chemical disturbance
within the redd) will increase with stream order, and depress egg
survival; and b) survival to emergence is positively related to winter
discharge but inversely related to groundwater contribution.
Secondly, it is hypothesized that winter flow regulation will lead to
an increase in winter thermal units (degree days) and that
overwintering eggs/alevin development will be accelerated but
emergence will be de-coupled from invertebrate (food) availability.
This is a field-based research study planned for New Brunswick
rivers, mostly the Miramichi River, and involving the use of egg
incubation baskets, emergence trapping and in situ water quality
assessment using micro DO probes. As well, some of the work may be
carried out in regulated rivers in Newfoundland as part of the NSERC-
funded Strategic Network Grant (HYDRONET) investigating hydroelectric
impacts.
Deadline for receipt of applications : July 16, 2010.
Project 2, MSc student
To assess the winter condition and survival of Atlantic salmon parr
and pre-smolts under conditions of variable stream discharge
(simulating flood events).
Predictions are that: a) winter condition and survival will be lower
after periodic high discharge events; and b) the probability of
completing smoltification will be inversely related to winter severity
(variable discharge).
This is primarily lab-based research, carried out at the DFO-operated
Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility near Fredericton, New Brunswick. The
response of immature and mature parr to variable stream discharge
(sudden flow increases 3-4 times during winter) will be assessed by
quantifying survival, growth and condition (lipid content assessed by
measuring bioimpedance). In the second year, the effect of flow
fluctuation on the ability to complete smoltification will also be
assessed. Experience handling salmonid fishes and setting up lab
experiments will be definite assets.
Deadline for receipt of applications : November 01, 2010.
Project 3, PhD student
To answer the question "Is winter a population bottleneck?" by
discerning between mortality and emigration for Atlantic salmon parr,
and determining the implications for fish population dynamics.
Predictions are that:
a) parr emigrating downstream between autumn and early spring or
during episodic winter floods have similar condition, growth and
survival as resident parr; b) reproductively spent male (precocious)
parr experience lower winter survival than immature parr;
c) parr survival is lowest in winter; and
d) density-independent (environmental) factors explain more parr
mortality than density-dependent (biological) factors.
The project will involve significant periods of winter field-work,
mostly in the Miramichi River basin of New Brunswick, with some
manipulative experimentation in laboratory settings and modeling
population dynamics using the long time series of data accumulated at
Catamaran Brook. Monitoring of fish movement will be done using PIT
(passive integrated transponder) technology with fixed stations and
active tracking of tagged individuals. Experience with PIT technology
or biotelemetry, and mark-recapture population models will be a
definite asset.
Deadline for receipt of applications : November 01, 2010.
Applicants for all three positions will have a strong academic record
and significant field experience working with wild stream fishes,
preferably in the area of ecology and/or population dynamics. Graduate
students will be located at the Canadian Rivers Institute (CRI) at the
University of New Brunswick (UNB) in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The
CRI is an interdisciplinary research institute with >60 students and
scientists from diverse academic and government departments
interacting to resolve complex problems in aquatic science. Full
funding for salary and research is available for a 4-year term (PhD)
and 2.5-year term (MSc).
International students are encouraged to apply. UNB offers a full
waiver of the international student fee supplement for graduate
students registered in doctoral programs.
Ideally, the successful candidates will start in September 2010 or
January 2011 (Project 1) or in the spring/summer of 2011 (Projects 2
and 3). Interested individuals should send a letter expressing their
research interest(s) and a full CV (with the names of references) to:
Dr. Rick Cunjak,
Canada Research Chair in River Ecosystem Science
Fellow, Canadian Rivers Institute (www.unb.ca/cri/)
Department of Biology, and Faculty of Forestry and Environmental
Management
P.O. Box 4400
University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick, CANADA. E3B 5A3.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 506-452-6204
