Department of Biology recruits a PhD student for the study of biodiversity changes of marine flora (seagrasses and macroalgae) and fauna (mobile fauna and infauna) after ecosystem restoration by sand-capping, stone reef establishment and eelgrass transplantation. The position is for three years and is supported by a grant from Aage V. Jensen Nature Foundation.
Danish estuaries are in a critical ecological condition caused by decades of excessive discharge of nutrients. This have resulted in a biodiversity crisis with massive loss of eelgrass and associated fauna in the impacted areas. At the same time, the sediments in eutrophic areas have changed from sand to organic-rich mud that can only support few flora and fauna species. The deteriorated Danish estuaries with bare muddy bottoms devoid of eelgrass also lack other 3D structures as stone reefs to support fish and other mobile fauna, because stone fishery for constructing harbors and other infrastructure has been intensive for hundreds of years. In recent years, however, efforts have been made to restore these damaged ecosystems by reducing nutrient discharge, performing sandcapping, building stone reefs and transplanting eelgrass. However, the knowledge about the effect of these actions on flora and fauna biodiversity is still limited.
The research of the candidate will focus on the changes in ecological conditions for flora (seagrasses and macroalgae) and fauna (sedentary benthic infauna and mobile pelagic fauna) after the establishment of the abovementioned three restoration approaches in Danish estuaries. The research will include 1) monitoring of flora and fauna dynamics inside and outside restored areas; 2) evaluation of eDNA as a monitoring tool; and 3) assessment of the broader ecological consequences of ecosystem restoration in estuaries. The research will have focus on the impact of restoration activities in Odense Fjord, Gyldensteen Coastal Lagoon and other Danish coastal waters. The selected candidate will be integrated in the research team of the Marine Ecology Group that manages large-scale ecosystem restoration projects in several Danish estuaries.
The candidate must have an MSc degree in biology or equivalent and should have a background in marine ecology with experience in biodiversity. The candidate will spend much time performing samplings in the field through snorkeling activities, and measurements in laboratories at the University of Southern Denmark. The candidate must be able to communicate the research results in Danish to the broader public.