Adaption of the cultured Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) to climate change

The Blue Mussel Mytilus edulis is an important commercial species that has been shown experimentally to be highly sensitive to decreased pH. However, little is known about this species' tolerance to naturally occurring changes in pH nor the energetic costs associated with living in highly pH variable habitats. Scottish sea lochs provide habitats with varying degrees of naturally acidified and diluted seawater and hence an ideal natural experimental system to better understand the physiological and genetic mechanisms of calcification. This PhD is based in Oban, UK.

Wild and farmed M. edulis coexist in a highly varied pH / salinity habitat and it is assumed that some areas within sea lochs will be more favourable for shell growth than others. Where populations are isolated, for example in sea lochs, a degree of adaption will occur which enhances the fitness of the local population. This endemism will allow us to explore the mechanisms behind local adaptivity, for example to acidified water and infer to the broader consequences of climate-change on this aquaculture sector. Using a variety of morphometric, physiological, behavioural and genetic approaches this PhD will explore the fundamental research question: is there genetic resilience to low pH and salinity within the species or are populations simply adapted to local site conditions?
The Research Fellow will collate, map and summarise existing mussel production on the Scottish west coast, targeting populations of mussels from lochs with different gradients of pH and salinity exposure; they will determine genetic population connectivity in these populations within lochs and using both cross-transplantation and mesocosm experiments determine the putative adaption of the mussels to these habitats. They will also determine how differences in habitat between farmed (pelagic) and wild (benthic) impact various aspects of mussel morphometrics and physiology using field manipulations and mesocosm studies. Hence we are seeking a highly motivated student interested in marine ecology and population genetics, although full training in all methods will be provided. The Fellow will be required to drive extensively between sampling sites, so they will need to prove that they have a full clean drivers license which they can transfer to the UK. The ideal candidate will also be able to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. A high standard of spoken and written English is required.

This PhD position is part of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network entitled CACHE: Calcium in a Changing Environment, funded by the EU (ref: 605051) and co-ordinated by the British Antarctic Survey. The aim of this network is to take a co-ordinated multidisciplinary approach to understanding calcium regulation and shell production in four commercial bivalve species. The network comprises 10 partners from 6 European countries, including research institutes, universities and SMEs. As a member of the network, the student will be expected to work co-operatively within the network, participate in European training events and spend up to 30% of their training with another network partner. Full details of the network can be found at www.cache-itn.eu.

To apply for the position, please provide: (i) a letter of motivation including a maximum 1-page statement of your research interests, relevant skills and experience; (ii) a CV including publication list; and (iii) names and contact details of three referees willing to write confidential letters of recommendation. All materials should be emailed as a single PDF file to: [Email Address Removed] with 'PhD application' in the subject line.

Application deadline is February 28th 2014 and interviews will take place at the end of January 2014. The preferred start date is flexible and will depend on the timeframe of the most qualified applicant. For further information, please see http://www.cache-itn.eu/ or contact Kim Last via email [Email Address Removed] with any informal inquiries.

If you are interested in a second CACHE project, please list that in your application. Any candidates short-listed, but not offered a PhD position with their first choice, will be have their candidature papers automatically transferred to their second choice project to be included in the sift for that post, if the vacancy is still open.