Urgent : 12 months Post-doc position : Impact of climate change on the functioning of exploited coastal ecosystems in Corsica, France
Eric D. H. Durieux
Postdoctoral Researcher Position: Project Title: Impact of climate change on the functioning of exploited coastal ecosystems in Corsica
Duration: 12 months
Location: UMR SPE 6134, Environmental Sciences Laboratory (https://spe.universita.corsica/), UAR 3514 CNRS Stella Mare (https://stellamare.universita.corsica/), University of Corsica, France
Start Date: January 2024
Salary: Around 2000-2100 euros net per month
Project Description:
The research project aims to study the impacts of climate change on exploited coastal ecosystems in Corsica, with a particular focus on marine species of economic, ecological, and invasive interest. Globally, the impacts of climate change on marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning have been the subject of numerous studies over the past two decades. However, at a more local scale, there is a significant need to document these effects as a decision-making tool for public policies. This postdoctoral project aims to model Corsican coastal ecosystems subjected to different climate projection scenarios RCP8.5 of the IPCC. To do this, the project will rely on the development of a global Corsican model from four generic Ecopath sub-models representing current conditions (Vanalderweireldt et al. 2022).
The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for developing and extending ecosystem models based on Ecopath and EcoTroph approaches to characterize the overall dynamics of Corsican coastal systems and their connectivities in response to various anthropogenic pressures (fishing, coastal water warming, invasive species proliferation). The postdoctoral researcher’s objective will be to develop the five ecosystem models and produce future projections that will characterize both invasive species proliferation and future trophic biodiversity. The project will build on previous work carried out on the East coast (Vanalderweireldt et al. 2022) and the Bonifacio marine reserve (Vanalderweireldt et al. in prep). The project will be supervised by an international collaboration of experts in marine ecology, modeling, and fisheries resource management.
The main objectives of the project are as follows:
• Assess the effects of climate change on the distribution, abundance, and productivity of key marine species in Corsican coastal ecosystems.
• Analyze the responses of coastal ecosystems to environmental changes induced by climate change.
• Discuss the impact of invasive species proliferation on the functioning and resilience of Corsican ecosystems.
• Identify potential risks for Corsican fisheries due to climate change and propose adaptation strategies to reduce these risks.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
• Developing and calibrating Ecopath and EcoTroph-type ecosystem models for all Corsican coastal ecosystems, based on already established generic sub-models.
• Producing future projections (2050) of coastal ecosystems under different scenarios of anthropogenic and climate pressures.
• Analyzing the results of the models and projections to identify key keystone compartments and resilience factors of coastal ecosystems.
• Reconstructing historical models (1960, 1980) to assess the evolution of coastal ecosystems over time.
• Data analysis and programming (R and/or Python).
• Writing reports and scientific articles.
• Supervising Master 2 students.
• Presenting project results at conferences and meetings with stakeholders, including fishers, managers, and policymakers.
• Collaborating with other researchers in the laboratory and international partners to carry out the project.
• Organizing and supervising field missions (mainly UVC monitoring).
Desired Profile:
• PhD in marine ecology, oceanography, marine biology, or environmental informatics.
• Experience in research on coastal ecosystems and marine species of interest.
• Skills in data analysis and modeling.
• Knowledge/interest in issues related to climate change and fisheries resource management in the Mediterranean.
• Excellent command of English and French, both oral and written.
• Ability to work in a team and communicate with various audiences.
• Scientific diving (hyperbaric certificate Class 1B) is also an advantage.
• Autonomy, rigor, and sociability.
To apply, please send the following documents to Eric Durieux, Senior Lecturer at the University of Corsica Pascal Paoli (duri...@univ-corse.fr), and Lucie Vanalderweireldt, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toulouse III, Paul Sabatier (lucie.vanal...@cnrs.fr):
• Detailed curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications.
• Cover letter explaining your interest in the project and how your experience and skills match the requirements of the position.
Application deadline: June 27, 2023
For any questions related to the position, please do not hesitate to contact Eric Durieux (duri...@univ-corse.fr) and Lucie Vanalderweireldt (lucie.vanal...@cnrs.fr).