This project is no longer listed in the FindAPhD database
and may not be available.
The geographic range and abundance of a species depends on its physiological flexibility and tolerance to temperature. Hence, knowledge of physiological ecology is necessary in order to understand the changes in distribution and diversity of organisms due to ocean warming. Because of their short life cycles, plankton are particularly sensitive to environmental change and there is growing evidence that climate change can modify both the distribution and the timing of the peak abundance of marine plankton. For instance, over the last five decades there has been a progressive increase in the presence of warm-water species into the North-East Atlantic and a decline of colder-water species related to changes in sea surface temperature (Beaugrand et al 2002). Yet the way in which geographical distributions and the timing of peak abundances are constrained by temperature is still poorly understood. This, despite the important consequences such changes have on biodiversity, food-web dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. This PhD project will investigate the phenotypic flexibility and tolerance of metabolic rates (respiration, egg production, development, mortality) of key marine zooplankton species to temperature, combining laboratory work, data synthesis and modelling. The student will undertake metabolic experiments over a seasonal cycle (at a coastal station near Plymouth) and at different latitudes (during research cruises to the North Atlantic). The information obtained will be compared with a decadal dataset collected using the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) http://www.sahfos.ac.uk/ to determine the “fundamental” and “actual” niche of key species. The results from this project will help to understand the physiological mechanisms determining patterns of distribution of plankton species and marine biodiversity loss.
Applications are processed as soon as they are received, so early application is encouraged. NB applicants who wish to start their studies in October 2012 should submit their application by 31 July 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered for the January 2013 entry point if the project is still available.
Funding Notes:
Self funded applicants only.
References:
Hays,G.C., Richardson,A.J., Robinson,C. (2005) Climate change and marine plankton. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 20 (6) 337-344
Castellani,C., Robinson,C., Smith,T., Lampitt,R.S. (2005) Temperature affects respiration rate of Oithona similis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 285 129-135
Beaugrand,G., Reid,P.C., Ibanez,F., Lindley,J.A., Edwards,M. 2002. Reorganization of North Atlantic marine copepod biodiversity and climate. Science 292, 1692-1694, doi: 10.1126/science.1071329