Since its inception in 1968, the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) has been
the site for over 50 whole-ecosystem experiments to investigate the
effects of anthropogenic activities to aquatic ecosystems including:
flooding, drawdown, water diversion, eutrophication, acidification,
atmospheric mercury deposition, and aquaculture. As part of these whole
ecosystem experiments, extensive data have been collected for up to 43
years on fish populations, hydrology, water chemistry, food web
structure, primary production, zooplankton abundance, meteorology, and
many other factors.The breadth and completeness of these datasets
represent a truly unique opportunity to examine linkages between fish
productivity and the underlying food web.
We are seeking a highly-motivated individual to examine relationships
between fish production, primary production, secondary production, and
physical and chemical variables in these boreal lake ecosystems.The
successful candidate will use the ELA long-term datasets to quantify the
drivers of variation in fish productivity. Given the experimental
treatments imposed on ELA lakes, there are very good opportunities to
evaluate the effects of ecological stressors both in isolation and in
combination with potential background stress (e.g., climatic variability).
Start date for the position is September 2013, but depending on the
timing of release of funds and identification and availability of an
appropriate candidate, could begin earlier. This is a 2–year position
that will be based at the Freshwater Institute (Department of Fisheries
and Oceans) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is funded through NSERC’s
Visiting Fellowship program.
Candidates must have completed (or will soon complete) a PhD, with
experience in fish biology/ecology and/or limnology with a strong
quantitative skills in statistical and/or modelling approaches to
addressing ecological questions. Knowledge of mark-recapture methods
(e.g., program MARK) and familiarity with databases (e.g., MS Access)
are significant assets for the position.In order to be considered,
potential candidates must be eligible for, and submit an application to,
the NSERC visiting fellowship program
(http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PD-NP/Laboratories-Laboratoires/index_eng.asp).Interested
individuals should also send a cover letter, up-to-date CV, 3
representative publications and contact information for three references to:
Michael Rennie
Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
501 University Crescent
Winnipeg, MB
R3T 2N6 CANADA
michael.ren...@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
