Multi-disciplinary connectivity investigation of Priority Marine Features in Scottish waters using bio-physical modelling and population genomics

海洋保护区（MPAs）是为保护和养护一系列物种和栖息地而指定的。然而，海洋保护区网络的有效空间管理依赖于了解海洋保护区内受保护特征之间的联系及其与网络外物种和栖息地的关系。从事这个项目意味着你将提高我们对敏感物种在苏格兰水域的分布和持久性的了解。您将专注于优先海洋特征（PMFs；在苏格兰海域被确定为具有保护重要性的物种），特别是火焰贝壳（Limaria hians）和马贻贝（Modiolus Modiolus）。之前的工作（Millar et al. 2018）已经确定了关于这些物种的知识空白，这些物种是底栖动物，成年后是无底栖的，但依赖于远洋幼虫期进行运输。这个多学科项目在不同领域提供优秀的职业建设培训，使用尖端的生物物理和栖息地建模，结合新的种群基因组方法。生物物理模型可以作为检查底栖生物种群连通性的工具，因为幼虫是通过水流运输的。该项目的建模部分将使用苏格兰大陆架模型的输出，结合拉格朗日粒子跟踪fism代码来跟踪虚拟粒子。详细的基因组分析（例如利用单核苷酸多态性，SNPs）可以提供当代连通性，遗传多样性，有效种群规模以及种群持久性中的局部适应作用的估计。这些数据的新整合可以用来验证幼虫扩散模型的结果，其目的是解释种群连通性背后的机制。这项工作可以为以证据为基础的管理提供信息，例如在世界上最大的火焰壳床所在地卡隆湖及时提出新的海洋保护区建议（2018年3月）。这个令人兴奋的项目适合具有良好的遗传学/基因组学背景和/或物理海洋学，生物物理学和栖息地适宜性模型知识的候选人。你将加入阿伯丁大学的学院学术环境，并在政府实验室获得经验。作为一名研究科学家，您将参与计划的实地考察，并成为由国内和国际合作者组成的充满活力的学术团队的一部分。阿伯丁是北海的一个多元化的城镇，提供了一个良好的居住环境，很容易进入未受破坏的陆地和海洋环境。

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated for the protection and conservation of a range of species and habitats. However, effective spatial management of MPA networks relies on understanding the linkages between protected features within MPAs and the relationship that they have with species and habitats outwith the network. Working on this project means you will improve our understanding of sensitive species with regard to their distribution and persistence in Scottish waters. You will focus on Priority Marine Features (PMFs; species identified as being of conservation importance in Scotland's seas), specifically flame shells (Limaria hians) and horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus). Previous work (Millar et al. 2018) has identified knowledge gaps with regard to these species, which are benthic and sessile as adults, but rely on a pelagic larval phase for transport. This multi-disciplinary project offers excellent career building training in diverse fields, using cutting edge bio-physical and habitat modelling in conjunction with novel population genomic approaches. Bio-physical models can be used as a tool to examine connectivity of benthic populations since larvae are transported by currents. The modelling component of the project will use output from the Scottish Shelf Model in combination with the Lagrangian particle tracking FISCM code to track virtual particles. Detailed genomic analyses (such as utilising single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) can provide estimates of contemporary connectivity, genetic diversity, effective population size, and the role of local adaptation in population persistence. The novel integration of these data can be used to validate the larval dispersal model outcomes, which aim to explain mechanisms behind population connectivity. This work can inform evidence-based management in cases such as the timely proposal for a new MPA at Loch Carron (March 2018), home to the largest flame shell beds in the world.This exciting project would suit a candidate with a good background in genetics/genomics and/or knowledge of physical oceanography, bio-physical and habitat suitability models. You would join a collegiate academic environment at the University of Aberdeen and gain experience at a government laboratory. As a research scientist you would participate in planned fieldwork and be part of a vibrant academic team of national and international collaborators. Aberdeen is a diverse town on the North Sea, offering a good residential environment with easy access to unspoilt terrestrial and marine environments.