PLEASE FORWARD!    Thank You!!!   PLEASE PUBLISH!

 

 

Senior scientist position in Theoretical Ecology & Network Analysis

Within a cooperation of the Dep. of Ecology/Ecosystem Modelling, Potsdam University (close to Berlin, Germany) and the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB, Berlin)

an up to 4-year position (last starting date 01.12.2008)

is available for a scientist with a strong background in theoretical aquatic ecology, with special emphasis on food web analysis. It is part of the EU Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge Project FEMMES (FEedback Mechanisms in Models for Ecological forecastS) and linked to the Graduate Initiative UPGradE and designated to advance the Centre of Ecological Modelling at PotsdamUniversity.

Details of the research to be conducted are open to discussion and should be linked to previous experiences and current research interests of the applicant and to ongoing research of the hosts. To complement the expertise already available research in community ecology (e.g. analysis of ecological networks, trophic interactions in multi-trophic systems), adaptability of ecological systems and their representation in mathematical models (preferentially based on systems of differential equations) and climate change research is particularly welcomed. The analyses may be based on unusually comprehensive, temporally and taxonomically highly resolved measurements of plankton biomass, production and feeding interactions in e.g. LakeConstance and LakeMüggelsee which already provided the basis for quantitative food web models which may be further analyzed. Related topics are also welcomed as is teaching of post-graduate students. 

The salary depends on the scientific experience and will include a substantial mobility allowance during the first two years. Language requirements: English fluent in speaking and writing, knowledge of German is not essential but helpful. The successful candidate is expected to hold a Ph.D. (preferentially since several years) and to have an excellent publication record in the field of conceptual ecology and modelling. Eligible are (1) Non-Germans who did not stay in Germany for > 1 year during the past 3 years, and (2) Germans who worked outside the EU or associated countries during at least 4 of the past 5 years.

Applications (including a CV, research proposal, and publication list) will be considered until the position is filled and should be sent by e-mail to Prof. Ursula Gaedke (Gaedke-KiJTPfjSHVUubQSw3dWLiw@public.gmane.org). The previous 3 EU fellows acquired funding to continue their stay in Potsdam. We are trying to establish a tenured professorship on biological network analysis at PotsdamUniversity. For further information see http://www.igb-berlin.de,  http://www.bio.uni-potsdam.de/professuren/oekosystemmodellierung (incl. EU-Project FEMMES), and http://brandenburg.geoecology.uni-potsdam.de/users/schroeder/upgrade/home.html (Ph.D. Initiative „UPGradE“) and/or contact us (Prof. Dr. Ursula Gaedke, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Am Neuen Palais 10, D-14469 Potsdam, Tel. +49 (0) 331 9771900;  Prof. Dr. Klement Tockner, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, 12561 Berlin, tockner-xHEHBf02mjHQLMG2gba6HQ@public.gmane.org, Tel.: +49(0)30 64181-601).

 

 

 

________________________________________
Stefan Saumweber
Universität Potsdam
Maulbeerallee 2
D-14469 Potsdam
Germany
Fon +49 331 977-1922
Fax +49 331 977-1948
http://www.bio.uni-potsdam.de/professuren/oekosystemmodellierung

A new paper was recently published in the book "Ecosystem Ecology Research Trends" (Editors J. Chen and C. Guo, ISBN: 97816041838):

"Interactions between marine mammals and fisheries: implications for cod recovery"

by:

Claude Savenkoff

Lyne Morissette

Martin Castonguay

Douglas P. Swain

Mike O. Hammill

Denis Chabot

J. Mark Hanson

ABSTRACT:

Abundance of many Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and groundfish stocks in the Northwest Atlantic declined to low levels in the early 1990s, resulting in cessation of directed fishing for these stocks, thus ending one of the largest and longest running commercial groundfish fisheries in the world. The stocks of the northern (nGSL) and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) were closed to directed cod fishing from 1994 to 1996 for the nGSL and from 1993 to 1997 for the sGSL, followed by the opening of a small directed fishery in the two systems. In the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, the ecosystem biomass structure shifted dramatically from one dominated by demersal fish predators (Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, redfish Sebastes spp.) and small-bodied forage species (capelin Mallotus villosus, mackerel Scomber scombrus, herring Clupea harengus, northern shrimp Pandalus borealis) to one now dominated by only small-bodied forage species. The decline of large predatory fishes has left only marine mammals as top predators during the mid-1990s, and marine mammals and Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides during the early 2000s. Large changes also occurred in the biomass structure and ecosystem functioning of the adjacent southern Gulf of St Lawrence (sGSL) but they were not as dramatic. Although predatory fishes decreased between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s, and prey consumption by seal species increased considerably, large cod remained among the most important single predators on fish in the sGSL. The changes in top-predator abundance driven by human exploitation of selected species resulted in a major perturbation of the structure and functioning of both Gulf ecosystems and represent a case of fishery-induced regime shift. Overfishing influenced community biomass structure directly through preferential removal of larger-bodied fishes and indirectly through predation release. Species interactions are central to ecosystem considerations. In marine ecosystems, predation can be the major ecological process affecting fish populations and piscivory is often the largest source of fish removal, usually larger than fishing mortality. In both northern and southern Gulf ecosystems, predation mortality exceeded fishing mortality for most groups in recent years because fishing mortality was intentionally reduced by fisheries closures. Seals have benefited from reduced hunting (harvesting and culling/bounties) since the 1970s. Consumption of fish by marine mammals exceeded consumption by predatory fishes in the two ecosystems in the recent time periods. Since the collapse of groundfish stocks, commercial fisheries and seals have become important predators on predatory fishes possibly slowing their recovery. In recent years, consumption by seals shifted towards species at lower trophic level (forage fishes and invertebrates), which were also the main target of fisheries. Thus, commercial fisheries and seals may have become important competitors of predatory fishes for the same resource.

PDF is available upon request to Lyne Morissette: lyne.morissette-/wvCPmv6SvYTjfjEsPSlEQ@public.gmane.org