FYI
--
Rita Melo Franco Santos, PhD
Research Assistant
<https://maps.google.com/?q=Am+Handelshafen+12+%0D%0A+27570+Bremerhaven+%0D%0A+Germany&entry=gmail&source=g>
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS),
University of Tasmania (UTAS),
20 Castray Esplanade,
Battery Point, 7004
Hobart, TAS
Australia
<https://maps.google.com/?q=Am+Handelshafen+12+%0D%0A+27570+Bremerhaven+%0D%0A+Germany&entry=gmail&source=g>
Email / skype: ritinhamf@xxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:ritinhamf@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Phone number: +61 0451 644 313
Currículo Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/4572356147467993
________________________________
PhD opportunities in kelp forest restoration
Like many temperate regions worldwide, the overexploitation of sea urchin
predators has led to the destruction of kelp forests by sea urchins on shallow
reefs in northern New Zealand. The urchin barrens formed (right) are an
indicator or tohu of overfishing, and the loss of mauri from shallow reefs.
While long-term marine protection has been shown to reverse these patterns,
research is needed to develop alternative strategies to managing this problem
and restore these important ecosystems.
We are looking for two PhD students to work on the following projects that
investigate alternate approaches to restoring kelp forests in New Zealand:
1. Large-scale removal of sea urchins to restore kelp forests
Sea urchins from urchin barrens have poor roe quality and are therefore of
little economic value for commercial fishers or as kaimoana for Maori. This
project will be carried out in partnership with fishers and iwi, and aim to
develop strategies and methods for both restoring kelp forests and enhancing
sea urchin quality. It will investigate factors influencing the recovery
potential of kelp forests through the experimental removal of sea urchins at
coastal and offshore locations in the Hauraki Gulf. The recovery of kelp
following urchin removal will be examined through in situ monitoring and drone
imagery.
2. Translocating and tracking large rock lobster to restore kelp forests
This project will investigate the potential of restoring large sea urchin
predators on reefs as a means of restoring kelp forests. This will expand on an
existing project acoustically tracking rock lobster in and around the Cape
Rodney to Okakari Point (Leigh) Marine Reserve, and involve tracking the
movement of large rock lobster translocated into urchin barrens. Movement and
feeding behaviour of translocated and naturally occurring lobster will be
compared.
Candidates should have a BSc Honours, Master’s Degree or equivalent, with
excellent grades, and appropriate research experience. Both projects will
involve the use of small boats and scientific diving. Students will require a
Rescue Diver qualification and preferably have previous scientific diving
experience. Experience in the use of spatial (GIS) and statistical software are
also desired.
Three year scholarships are available that include a $27,900 annual stipend and
annual tuition fees. Both positions will be based at the University of
Auckland’s Leigh Marine Laboratory.
For more information feel free to contact Assoc Prof Nick Shears
(n.shears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx), Assoc Prof Craig Radford (c.radford@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
or Professor Andrew Jeffs (a.jeffs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx), who will all be involved in
the supervision of these projects.
