EastBio: One for all: ecosystem services trade-offs in inland aquaculture agroecosystems

The Project

Aquaculture is rapidly expanding and increasingly integrated in the landscape – while much of the attention is on mariculture, most of the current production worldwide is performed in artificial coastal brackish and inland systems. Aquaculture therefore makes use of arable land and freshwater resources in some of the most productive and diverse areas of the world. Further, freshwater and brackish environments have been at the centre of ongoing debates due to their economic and environmental value. Overall, aquaculture participates in the modification of the landscape and the stability of ecosystems via intensive and/or extensive practices.

Although there is a body of research to select production sites, the focus is on optimisation and resilience to environmental fluctuations rather than understanding the changes in landscape ecological processes over time. Polyculture and other integrated systems are ancient practices that aim to better integrate aquaculture in the environment while minimising impacts, however the focus is at the farm level. Further, while aquaculture planning has a legislative guidance, the focus on biodiversity and landscape connectivity is minor and the cost-benefits not clear for practitioners. 

In this PhD, you will use metaecosystem theory to identify the ecosystem services trade-offs of sustainable aquaculture associated with inland practices. Notably, you will investigate the landscape processes of stability and resilience to climate change in terms of production, biodiversity and spread of disease and invasive species using computer models and simulations. The project will be broken down in several steps: (1) literature review, (2) model construction, (3) parametrisation and validation, (4) model application to test hypotheses. In this project, you will get training in biodiversity and conservation, community ecology, landscape planning, aquaculture production and meta-population modelling. Specifically, you will seek to identify optimal landscape designs to inform decision makers to better integrate aquaculture to face modern environmental and societal challenges.

This PhD will be undertaken at the University of Stirling under the supervision of Dr Noel Juvigny-Khenafou, Dr Darren Green, Dr Gavin Abernethy and Dr Akira Terui (University of North Carolina, Greensboro, USA) in a rich and diverse environment. The project will allow for the development of your own ideas, and, although largely computational, there will be opportunities for field work with partners in Indonesia, Uganda or Kenya depending on availabilities.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in either ecology, environmental modelling, mathematics or aquaculture, an inquisitive mind and the ability to think outside the box. Willingness to persevere with coding is necessary.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are available on the EastBio how to apply webpage.

How to Apply

To apply for an EastBio PhD studentship, please follow the guidance on the EastBio how to apply webpage. EastBio can provide you with support for your application and details are available on the webpage.

Informal enquiries about the project and your application should be addressed to the project supervisor, Dr Noel Juvigny-Khenafou - noel.juvigny-khenafou@stir.ac.uk

After you have approached the project supervisor and discussed your application with them, you should:

1) Complete the online EastBio Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey; the survey will automatically generate a unique number that you should copy and paste on the relevant section of your EastBio Application Form.

2) Download and fill in the EastBio Application Form. You can only apply for one EastBio PhD project.

3) Download and send the EastBio Reference Form to your two academic/professional referees, and ask them to submit the references directly to pgr.ioa@stir.ac.uk by 17 January 2025

4) Submit your complete application, along with academic transcripts and certificates to pgr.ioa@stir.ac.uk by 17 January 2025