Centre for Conservation Ecology & Environmental Change

PhD Studentships

Centre for Conservation Ecology & Environmental Change is pleased to offer the following studentships:

Predicting the population ecology and ecological status of riverine cyprinid fishes

Anthropogenic activities have long had profound influences on river habitats, including modifying channel form and shape. Despite these widespread practises, the effects on the ecological status of the river - including that of fish - are poorly understood and yet are crucial in underpinning activities undertaken in the implementation of legislation, including the Water Framework Directive. This is due to existing habitat association models rarely considering the ecological processes underlying the optimal habitat choice of fish. They are unable to predict the effects of the change in the river management on the survival, reproduction or dispersal of individuals, processes that in combination determine overall population size and consequently, their ecological status. Individual-based models (IBMs) have been developed to overcome these problems.

Download the project details and more information (PDF – 66.7kb)

Informal enquiries:
Dr Rob Britton (rbritton@bournemouth.ac.uk).

The application deadline for this studentship is 30 April 2010.

Ecology, impacts & control of New Zealand Pygmy Weed (Crassula helmsii)

Attempts are often made to control invasive species without first gaining an understanding of their ecological roles in the invaded ecosystem and how these may change over time. Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne is an aquatic plant that has been introduced to the UK and elsewhere and is now widespread in a broad range of fresh and brackish waterbodies. Conservation organisations and land managers are concerned about the spread of C. helmsii and many attempts have been made to eliminate it. However, the perception of C. helmiii as a problem species is not based on any rigorous research into the effects of C. helmsii on native aquatic plants and conservation bodies are therefore spending substantial amounts of money and time on controlling a plant, without a full understanding of its effects. Even very fundamental ecological interactions such as the effects of C. helmsii on native aquatic plants have not been well researched; its effect on animal species and on ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling are almost entirely unknown.

Download the project details and more information (PDF – 66.1kb)

Informal enquiries:
Dr Anita Diaz (adiaz@bournemouth.ac.uk).

The application deadline for this studentship is 30 April 2010.

Modelling regional turnover in tropical tree species diversity under climate change scenarios

Tropical biodiversity is threatened by the combined impacts of climate and land use change. Conservation of species diversity has traditionally focussed on the number of species found at a single site. However studies of the turnover of species and assemblages over large spatial scales are now needed in order to inform conservation planning at a regional level. The approach requires data from numerous sources to be combined. Contemporary computer intensive spatially explicit modelling techniques also provides novel insight. Data from around 1500 floristic inventories in Mexico, Belize, Honduras. El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama have now been collated as part of the ongoing BIOTREE-NET project based at the University of Granada. The GLOBIO3 model is used by the Netherlands Envrionmental Assessment Agency (PBL) in Holland in order to assess human-induced changes in biodiversity, in the past, present, and future at regional and global scales. This study links data and models through the analysis of beta diversity of tropical tree species from Panama to Southern Mexico. The work will provide opportunities to test contemporary theories regarding the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of tropical diversity on a large data set. Results will be published in high impact journals such as Global Ecology and Biogeography and Global Change Biology.

Download the project details and more information (PDF – 54.8kb)

Informal enquiries:
Dr Duncan Golicher (dgolicher@bournemouth.ac.uk).

The application deadline for this studentship is 30 April 2010.

Further information on how to apply can be found here.

Candidates for the fully-funded PhD studentship must demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 3 years. All candidates must satisfy the School's minimum doctoral entry criteria for studentships of: an honours degree at Upper Second Class (2.1) and/or an appropriate Masters degree. An IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum is essential for candidates for whom English is not their first language.

In addition to satisfying basic entry criteria, the Research Centre will look closely at the qualities, skills and background of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project.

If you would like to contact a member of staff to find out more information then please email the project supervisor identified with a particular area of study.

Alternatively, you can also arrange to view the School and its facilities by emailing the administrator, Louise Pearson.