Join a world-leading, cross-continental research team
The University of Exeter and the University of Queensland are seeking exceptional students to join a world-leading, cross-continental research team tackling major challenges facing the world’s population in global sustainability and wellbeing as part of the QUEX Institute. The joint PhD programme provides a fantastic opportunity for the most talented doctoral students to work closely with world-class research groups and benefit from the combined expertise and facilities offered at the two institutions, with a lead supervisor within each university. This prestigious programme provides full tuition fees, stipend, travel funds and research training support grants to the successful applicants. The studentship provides funding for up to 42 months (3.5 years).
Eight generous, fully-funded studentships are available for the best applicants, four offered by the University of Exeter and four by the University of Queensland. This select group will spend at least one year at each University and will graduate with a joint degree from the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland.
Project Description
Background
Invasive alien species devastate biodiversity and food production systems. A major challenge for biosecurity and environmental governance is that invasive impacts differ enormously from place to place, a phenomenon which is only just being realised. The green / European shore crab (Carcinus maenas) illustrates this problem perfectly. Green crab is one of the world's 100 worst invaders (IUCN). Green crab destroys habitat and predates native marine biodiversity, particularly economically important shellfish and crabs. Green crab contributed to the demise of the east coast USA shellfish industry, costing US $22.6 million/yr through shellfish predation alone. The crab also concerns indigenous peoples by threatening traditional seafood harvest. However, green crab’s impacts vary greatly. It causes little damage on the US west coast, immense damage on the east coast, invades different habitats in different locations (e.g., mangroves in Australia but nowhere else), and its abundance fluctuates wildly between years.
Green crab’s ongoing global spread, exacerbated by climate change, is likely inevitable. However, management could be targeted effectively if we understood the crab’s impacts on different ecosystems, locations, and industries, and how impacts are mediated by environmental change. More generally, identifying principles underlying impacts in a given environment could improve prioritisation and management of the thousands of invaders that threaten food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity worldwide. To achieve this we must understand the ecological process that determine invader impact, model the effectiveness of management solutions, and engage with seafood and fishery industries.
Aims:
Provide the first comprehensive analysis of drivers of variation in invasive impacts at continental and global extents.
To quantify environmental and biotic drivers of green crab impacts in its native range (UK), an area where it is rapidly invading (Australia), and throughout its global invasive range.
Forecast environmental futures for biodiversity, livelihoods, and food security under multiple biosecurity and management scenarios.
The student will work in both the UK and Australia to:
1. Create the first database of green crab’s global distribution and abundance.
2. Develop the first systematic assessment of variation in invasive impacts for any invader, breaking new ground in an emerging area of scientific understanding.
3. Evaluate environmental effects on the species’ current and future spread and abundance globally, using cutting-edge statistical modelling
4. Ask which environmental and biotic drivers underpin green crab range and abundance, through surveys in Australia and UK and joint Species Distribution Models. Forecast under climate change.
5. Ask whether variation in impacts is due to differing biotic interaction networks, through analysing green crab gut contents and constructing prey interaction networks.
6. Contrast management solutions in consultation with aquaculture, fisheries, and conservation agencies.
7. Develop existing links with environmental governance organisations and industries, so as to roll out a longer term project improving environmental governance of invaders in the UK, Australia, and beyond.
Find out more about the PhD studentships https://www.exeter.ac.uk/quex/phdstudentships/opportunities/
Successful applicants will have a strong academic background and track record to undertake research projects based in one of the three themes of: Healthy Living, Global Environmental Futures and Digital Worlds and Disruptive Technologies.
The closing date for applications is midnight on 24 May 2021 (BST), with interviews taking place week commencing 12 July 2021. The start date is expected to be 10 January 2022.
Please note that of the eight Exeter led projects advertised, we expect that up to four studentships will be awarded to Exeter based students.
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