The role of species-level biology in ocean-scale patterns of marine biodiversity

Supervisors: Dr Tom Webb and Professor Rob Freckleton

Key words: marine biodiversity; ecosystem properties; functional diversity; macroecology

Project Description

Much of our knowledge of marine biodiversity comes from simple summaries of species richness. However, some important ecosystem properties can better be captured by considering the distribution in space of taxonomic or functional diversity. Whilst studies of species richness have been conducted at very large (up to global) spatial scales, patterns in biological traits and functional diversity tend to be considered at smaller, community-level scales. Understanding the links between functional diversity and macroecology is vital, however, if we are to predict the responses of marine systems to global climate change, ocean acidification, and human activities including fishing and habitat modification. This is because any relationship between macroecological patterns and environmental change is likely to be indirect: human activities influence the spatial distribution of biological traits, and these biological traits affect the structure of macroecological patterns. For example, fishing appears to affect large benthic organisms more than smaller organisms; and this may in turn influence macroecology because small species are less spatially aggregated than large species.
This project aims to understand these links between human activities, functional traits, and macroecological relationships within marine benthic communities at the European scale. This builds on our existing work developing a database of the biological traits of marine benthic species, linked to information on the spatial distributions of several hundred European marine species. The primary approach will be to collate and analyse existing data using cutting-edge computational and statistical methods. Additional data collection, including sampling and photographic techniques, may also be necessary.

Starting date: 1 October 2010.

How to apply: Complete an on-line application form via University of Sheffield web site at http://www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/index.html. Send a full CV, via email to Mrs S Carter, s.a.carter@sheffield.ac.uk, or a hard copy to Mrs S Carter, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN.

Closing date for applications: 31 January 2010.