Title: Mechanistic, individual-based, modelling of benthic species
distribution in the context of global changes; a comparative approach,
multi-species and multi-site
Deadline for application: May, 29th
For further information, please email either Pr. Fred Jean
(fj...@univ-brest.fr), Yoann Thomas (yoann.tho...@ird.fr) or Cédric
Bacher (cedric.bac...@ifremer.fr)
Location: LEMAR, University of Brest, France
Starting date: September, 2018
Abstract : In a context of climate change, understanding the responses
of species to environmental variations and the consequences on their
individual performances and biogeography is essential. Species
distribution models (SDMs), by the formulation of relationships between
the organism and its environment, offer a way to explore this response
for different types of environmental stress and at different scales of
time and space. Individual-based (IBM) mechanistic SDMs explicitly
incorporate known processes at the individual level (e.g. metabolism,
life-history traits, phenology) and allow to evaluate the species
response to environmental variations through their physiological
tolerances (e.g. range of thermal tolerance, energy acquisition,
response to stress). The IBMs also make it possible to study the
emergence of observed characteristics at the population level (e.g.
demographic structure and dynamics), based on individual behaviors and
interactions between individuals during their life-cycle. In this
context, this thesis project aims to develop a mechanistic and
individual-based model of population dynamics, allowing to simulate the
response of benthic species to different environmental stressors, in the
context of global changes. The bentho-pelagic species have a complex
life-cycle, with a dispersive pelagic larval phase, followed by an adult
phase fixed on the substrate. These species, because of their fixed way
of life, are very vulnerable to the variability of environmental
conditions. The aim will be to test and prioritize the factors driving
the populations dynamics and spatial distribution, depending on the
species, habitat and stressor. The development of a generic approach
will provide a conceptual framework for a comparative approach to the
response of various species, in a variety of ecosystems and habitats.
The research effort will focus on benthic species of major ecological
and economic interest, such as mussels, oysters, clams and pectinids.
These species are recognized as biodiversity supports (i.e. reef
building), key drivers of the benthos-pelagos coupling, and are
emblematic of fishing and aquaculture activities in coastal ecosystems.
