PRR Project

Summary

The current position involves research on biological invasions with a focus on the interactions of multiple invaders in estuarine ecosystems. The aim of this position is to assess the ecological impacts of systems affected by multiple invasions. This proposal includes different approaches: - environmental monitoring of invasive alien species (IAS) populations; - assessing the ecological impact of systems affected by multiple invasions, by isolating the effect of the selected IAS to understand their impact when isolated and when co-occurring with other IAS; - provide designed and analytical frameworks, along with a set of designed mesocosm experiments to assess the ecological impact (e.g. biodiversity, changes in the food web) of systems affected by multiple invasions; - develop ecosystem-level models, adding the impacts of global change scenarios (e.g. increased temperature) to simulate the consequences for the interactions among IAS; - use of ecological tracers (e.g. stable isotopes) to evaluate the influence of the IAS in the food web processes; - propose management guidelines (e.g. population control, river inflow control, mitigation) that could improve the conservation of ecosystems invaded by multiple IAS. The research to be conducted will be based on field and experimental work and strongly rely on data analysis and modelling.The profile of this position will advance the state of the art by addressing the combined effects of multiple invasions alongside with the effects of climate change, which might generate unexpected consequences for the invaded ecosystems, with potential amplified effects on selected IAS populations. Research under this position will mainly provide valuable field-based and experimental evidence to evaluate the interactions between multiple IAS. Although scientific research on biological invasions has led to a comprehensive understanding of how a single species affects ecosystem properties in recent decades, understanding the consequences of the presence of multiple IAS in an ecosystem remains underdeveloped, despite their importance for conservation and management. Many ecosystems today are affected by multiple invasions, and there is mounting evidence that the invasional meltdown hypothesis (IMH) is occurring, where one invader influences the invasion of other(s). The impacts of this phenomenon can be additive, synergistic, or antagonistic. Although IMH is one of the most discussed hypotheses in invasion science, some gaps still exist (e.g. lack of studies at community and ecosystem level). This position will contribute to tackle gaps related to biological invasions, environmental management and conservation of estuarine ecosystems, and will provide valuable field-based and experimental evidence to test IMH.The candidate should have a PhD degree in Ecology or Marine and Environmental sciences with a strong background in biological invasion. The candidate should have proven track record in: - quantifying the ecological impacts of aquatic IAS, at different ecological levels (e.g. populations, communities and ecosystems); - evaluating the spatio-temporal and functional changes associated to the introduction of IAS; experimental ecology (field, laboratory and mesocosm experiments); - taxonomic identification of aquatic organisms; - modelling; - data processing aiming to link data from different sources within the models to advance predictive capacity of the effects of pressures (e.g. climate change) on the ecosystem; - theoretical and quantitative ecology skills. Additionally, the candidate should demonstrate involvement with student mentoring, science dissemination and outreach activities. Knowledge on stable isotope analysis will be valued.This position is important for the institution for several reasons. First, this proposal is in line with CIIMAR´s scientific strategy: Global change and ecosystem services. It is of strategic interest to CIIMAR as it develops innovative and important research in the field of biological invasions providing methodologies and frameworks to significantly improve the risk assessment of IAS required for sustainable management and conservation of estuarine ecosystems. Secondly, biological invasions in one emergent topic, as research on IAS is still not yet well established at CIIMAR (there are few researchers working independently with this topic), this proposal aims to strongly supports CIIMAR groups working on estuarine conservation and management. Therefore, this support will increase the quality of the research carried out by the teams integrated in the Global change and ecosystem services line, which is of strategic importance for the research institution. Thus, innovative scientific knowledge on multiple invasions can help CIIMAR become a leading institution for managing and conserving Portuguese estuarine ecosystems. The results of this proposal will also help develop science-based guidance for management and conservation of estuarine ecosystems.