Project Title: Resilience in marine : the effects of environmental and ecological context on mulitfunctioning and multistability.

Supervisor 1: Prof. Mark Emmerson (Queen’s University Belfast)

Supervisor 2: Dr. Nessa O’Connor (Queen’s University Belfast)

Background and significance of the research:

The lack of knowledge regarding how simultaneously contributes to ecosystem stability and functioning in complex ecological networks is a key challenge in . We now know that biodiversity is important because different species are capable of simultaneously maintaining multiple ecosystem processes through time and space (Gamfeldt et al. Ecology 2008, Isbell et al. Nature 2011). A similar understanding of how species contribute to multiple forms of stability, e.g. variability, resilience, , and persistence is lacking, yet similar mechanisms may prevail (Donohue et al. Ecology Letters 2013). This project is focused on assessing how species simultaneously contribute to a range of different ecosystem stabilities, rather than functions. Specifically, the project will assess how species traits, e.g. body mass or linkage density, explain variation in their contribution to multiple forms of stability.

The project will employ a newly commissioned large-scale marine mesocosm facility based at Queen's University Marine Laboratory. The mesocosm facility employs over 100 x 45 litre mesocosms that emulate intertidal rock pools and provides an unparalleled scale of replication. The multiple stabilities of assembled rock pool food webs will be experimentally assessed in relation to species traits, such as body size, linkage density and . The PhD is aligned with the Research Program (MERP) see http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/, and will contribute to an ongoing collaboration with partners in Switzerland, Spain and Ireland. There will be extensive opportunities for collaboration within these groups. The project will combine experimental and computer simulation based approaches to resolve and assess the stability of model marine food webs, developing new mathematical models to explore the relationship between biodiversity and multiple forms of ecosystem stability.

Research aims: 1. How do species traits affect multiple forms of ecosystem stability (variability, resistance, resilience, robustness and persistence)? 2. How do species traits affect multiple forms of ecosystem functioning (primary and secondary-production, nutrient dynamics, and respiration)? 3. How do concepts developed for ecosystem multifunctioning apply to multiple forms of stability? 4. Assess using computer simulations the role of traits for stability (reflecting experimental tests in mesocosms).

We propose a challenging PhD project that will explore how communities are structured in terms of who eats whom. This PhD project will mainly be based at Queen’s University Belfast although the candidate will be expected to work for periods of time with partners across the UK and Europe.

References:

Donohue et al. (2013) On the dimensionality of ecological stability. Ecology Letters, 16: 421-429.

Gamfeldt et al. (2008) Multiple functions increase the importance of biodiversity for overall ecosystem functioning. Ecology, 89: 1223-1231.

Isbell et al. (2011) High plant diversity is needed to maintain ecosystem services. Nature, 477: 199-202.

Eligibility

Applicants should be highly motivated, intellectually inquisitive and hard-working individuals with a minimum of a first class or upper second class degree in Marine Biology or Biology-based bachelor degree.

Masters qualification will be welcomed. Preference will be given to candidates with some experience with the investigation of the relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and food webs. It is considered advantageous, but not essential, for candidates to have some familiarity with marine ecosystems, data base management and mathematical modelling. A full and clean driver’s license is essential.

If you are resident in the UK or elsewhere in the EU, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that you refer to the terms and conditions of DEL postgraduate studentships (http://go.qub.ac.uk/delterms) to ascertain whether you are eligible for a studentship covering fees and maintenance or a studentship covering fees only. Please note that non-EU residents are NOT ELIGIBLE for DEL studentships.

Funding Notes:

Funding for this research has been secured and the PhD is available to start as soon as possible.

Informal enquiries should be sent to Prof. Mark Emmerson ([email protected])

Deadline for applications is 3rd July 2015.