The Dynamics of Freshwater Food Webs Under Multiple Threats

世界各地的水生生态系统为人类提供关键服务，包括淡水、食物资源和储存碳的能力，从而调解气候变化。了解淡水生态社区如何应对多种同时发生的威胁，包括温度变化，农业径流，入侵物种和收获是至关重要的，以保持这些服务的提供。这个博士将专注于一个独特的长期数据集从温德米尔湖上的物种相互作用超过项目广告四个营养级和50+物种。该博士项目旨在应用现代统计建模和食物网建模方法，以深入了解淡水生态系统中驱动弹性和抵抗环境变化的机制，或缺乏这种机制。除了建模之外，博士学位还将填补低营养级的关键数据空白，包括浮游植物和浮游动物功能组。具体来说，博士学位的目标是解决浮游动物和浮游植物的功能组，分类和体型，以帮助与核心生态理论相结合，将体型，代谢，生产和觅食对物种丰富群落生物量动态的影响（MultivariateAutoregressive models）到时间分辨Windermeredata，重点是营养级联，入侵物种的影响，气候变化，污染物。这一目标提供了一个超越谢菲尔德和CEH的合作，包括来自美国华盛顿大学的Stephanie汉普顿博士，他是这些模型的专家。目标3 -参数化一个建立的跨5个营养级的多营养多物种动力学模型，以探索生态理论是否可以预测在真实的时间序列中看到的对入侵物种的反应。温度变化和污染物。存在额外的机会来扩展工作，包括微生物群落和探索生态系统功能的变化。学生将加入一个活跃的研究小组，使用Julia和R编程语言进行统计和数学建模来回答关于生态系统面临的多种同时威胁如何影响其功能和服务的主要问题。他们将成为位于谢菲尔德的支持性和生产性实验室的一部分，并受益于与英国生态和水文中心以及外部合作伙伴的关系。这种培训和研究机会的结合为研究工作提供了一个很好的平台。

Aquatic ecosystems around the world provide criticalservices to humanity including freshwater, food resourcesand the capacity to store carbon and thus mediate climatechange. Understanding how freshwater ecologicalcommunities respond to multiple simultaneous threatsincluding temperature changes, runoff from agriculture,invasive species and harvesting is critical to maintain theprovision of these services.This PhD will focus on a unique long-term dataset fromLake Windermere on species interactions across more thanProject Advertisementfour trophic levels and among 50+ species. The PhDproject aims to apply modern statistical modelling and foodweb modelling methods to derive deep understanding ofthe mechanisms driving resilience and resistance toenvironmental change, or the lack thereof, in freshwaterecosystems. In addition to the modelling, the PhD will alsoaim to fill critical data gaps in lower trophic levels includingphytoplankton and zooplankton functional groups.Specifically, the objectives of the PhD areObj1 - resolve functional groups, taxonomy and body sizein zooplankton and phytoplankton to help align with coreecological theory linking body size, metabolism, productionand foraging to biomass dynamics of species richcommunities.Obj2 - Applying modern statistical models (MultivariateAutoregressive models) to the time resolved Windermeredata, with a focus on trophic cascades, invasive specieseffects, climate change, contaminants. This objective offersa collaboration beyond Sheffield and CEH, including Dr.Stephanie Hampton from University of Washington, USA,an expert in these models.Obj 3 - Parameterise an established multi-trophic multi-species dynamical model across 5 trophic levels to explorewhether ecological theory can predict the kinds ofresponses seen in real time series to invasive species,temperature change and contaminants.Additional opportunities exist to extend the work to includethe microbial community and to explore shifts inecosystem function.The student will join an active research group usingstatistical and mathematical modelling using Julia and Rprorgramming languages to answer major questions abouthow multiple simultaneous threats to ecosystems impact onthe functions and services they provide. They will be part ofa supportive and productive lab in Sheffield and benefitfrom established relationships with the UK Centre forEcology and Hydrology and external partnerships. Thiscombination of training and research opportunities providesan excellent platform for reserach careers in and out ofacademia.