Theory predicts both positive and negative effects of temperature variability on animal populations, but the underlying mechanisms for most species are still poorly understood. Further, there is a considerable lack of data on how different populations of the same species might show contrasting responses or, possibly, adaptations to environmental variability. In the ECOVAR project, we are aiming to improve our knowledge about the effects of temperature variability, and in this connection we are looking for a motivated master student who wants to join the team.
The master project that we are offering will involve detailed laboratory studies with the freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna, with the main goal to assess whether populations from contrasting habitats with respect to thermal environments show diverging responses to temperature variability.
According to the interests and wishes of the potential student, the project can also involve:
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Field work (to gather populations of Daphnia magna from different habitats).
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Photography/filming (to measure size and/or swimming/filtering rates).
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Statistics and advanced population modelling (demographic population models).
Two potential habitats of Daphnia magna: a rock pool (left) and an eutrophic city pond (right). Photo: Dag O. Hessen (left), Catharina Broch (right).
The project will thus give the student a strong training in experimental work and, potentially, some field work experience, insights into photographical techniques and population modelling.
This master project is suitable for students that follow the master program in Ecology and Evolution or in Marine biology and limnology.
Supervisors: Professor Dag O. Hessen, Professor Tom Andersen, Yngvild Vindenes (researcher), Catharina Broch (PhD).
Interested?
Contact: Dag O. Hessen (d.o.hessen@ibv.uio.no), Tom Andersen (tom.andersen@ibv.uio.no), Yngvild Vindenes (yngvild.vindenes@ibv.uio.no) and/or Catharina Broch (catharina.broch@ibv.uio.no).