STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
> Master?s thesis at UQAC: Temporal dynamics of intertidal macroalgal productivity of the St. Lawrence
Master?s thesis at UQAC: Temporal dynamics of intertidal macroalgal productivity of the St. Lawrence
Context
Coastal zones—due to their economic, cultural, and recreational importance—are some of the most inhabited and human-influenced regions on the planet. Nonetheless, they contain habitats that fulfil multiple critical roles for the functioning of marine ecosystems and offer diverse ecosystem services to humans. Macroalgae are at the base of rocky intertidal ecosystems; their biomass can be very high and their establishment dynamics quite rapid. We know that ice-scouring abrasion during winter and spring strongly structures the benthic communities by removing a significant amount of macroalgae from the coasts. Although very large areas are stripped during these events, the impact and extent of these disturbances on coastal systems remain unknown.
Objectives
This project aims to evaluate the historical dynamics in the presence of macroalgae in the intertidal environment and estimate and validate the biomass, productivity, and the time of resilience of these intertidal habitats. This work, a collaboration between UQAC, UQAR, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, will generate important results in ecology and add new insight into the links between biodiversity, functions, and services offered by ecosystems.
The candidate must hold a BSc in biology, marine science, environmental science, or other related fields. They should have a strong academic record with relevant achievements. They must also demonstrate strong organizational skills as well as good scientific writing and oral communication abilities.
The review of candidates will begin in December 2020 for a program start in January or May 2020.
Interested persons are kindly asked to submit their candidacy (by email only) to: mathieu.cusson@uqac.ca. The submitted email must include:
- A cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest for this MSc project;
- A curriculum vitae containing all relevant information for the proper evaluation of the candidate (including the contact information of two (2) references).
