PhD position: Effects of climate change on marine invertebrates - University of Manchester
Advisors: Tucker Gilman, John Fitzpatrick, Richard Preziosi, Ceri Lewis (Univ. of Exeter) Start date: September 2014 Project description: Human activities are changing the Earth’s climate and the Earth’s oceans. Air and water temperatures are increasing, and the uptake of CO2 into seawater is causing oceans to become more acidic. These changes are expected to be detrimental to marine invertebrates, a diverse group of species (e.g., sea urchins, corals, clams) that are often keystones in their ecosystems. Most marine invertebrates release their sperm and eggs directly into the water, where gametes meet and fertilization takes place. There is growing evidence that environmental change can impair gamete function and the fertilization process. However, whether these climate-mediated changes in marine invertebrate reproduction will affect population persistence and ecosystem stability is difficult to intuit. Mathematical models are urgently needed but do not exist. In this project, the student will combine mathematical and computational modelling with empirical testing to understand how climate change affects marine invertebrates and the ecosystems they support. With guidance from Tucker Gilman and Richard Preziosi, the student will develop advanced analytical models and individual-based simulations of marine ecosystems. With guidance from John Fitzpatrick and Ceri Lewis, the student will test the model predictions in vivo. This work will take advantage of the University of Manchester’s Computational Shared Facility and of the University of Exeter’s Aquatic Resource Centre. Students with backgrounds in life sciences, physics, mathematics, or computer science would be well-suited for this project. Application deadline: 6 December 2013 Further information at: http://www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/research/researchgroups/computationalandevolutionarybiology/people/?alias=gilmanr Or by email from [email protected] --
