Ecology-climate feedbacks due to evolution of phytoplankton cell size and shape
This page is used to stock & communicate information related to the project "Phytback", funded by the ANR (ANR project 10-BLAN-1709-01)
Postdoc position "Modelling phytoplankton ecology and evolution in complex ocean models"
A one-year post-doctoral position (with potential extension) is available in the group of David Claessen at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris (France), in the équipe "Eco-evolutionary mathematics".
The postdoc will be working in the context of the ANR-funded research project called “PHYTBACK - Ecology-climate feedbacks due to evolution of phytoplankton cell size and shape”. While the importance of phytoplankton ecology for the global carbon cycle is well established, the role of their evolution is much less so. The project aims to refine the definition of ecological processes and to allow for adaptation of phytoplankton cell size and shape in global circulation models, as well as in more strategic models for freshwater systems. Phytoplankton communities are size-structured, and ecological functioning depends strongly on cell size and shape. Furthermore, phytoplankton size will influence the effectiveness of the biological carbon pump, through which carbon is sequestered from the atmosphere into the ocean interior by cell sinking. Phytoplankton ecology will be modelled by accounting for physiological structure (cell size, shape, nutrient quota) of phytoplankton communities and the size structure of the entire food web. The models will be used to formulate quantitative, testable predictions, that will be put to the test in experimental setups (outdoor freshwater mesocosms) and by using ecological and genomic data from the Tara Oceans expedition. The post-doc project aims at modelling phytoplankton evolution in a 3D global circulation model (MITgcm) in collaboration with researchers at MIT, the ENS in Paris and the University of Pierre
and Marie Curie in Paris.
The candidate should have a strong background in theoretical ecology, mathematics or physics. Experience with ecological modelling, programming (C, Fortran), dynamical systems theory, numerical tools (bifurcation analysis, simulation) is highly appreciated. Candidates from mathematics or physics should have a proven interest in ecological and evolutionary problems. Experience with empirical systems is equally
appreciated.
Potential candidates should send their application by mail to David Claessen with a statement of interest, a Curriculum Vitae and contact informations for two referees.
The position will remain open until filled ; however applications received by November 1st 2013 will be given priority. The starting date is flexible (in 2013), with an early date preferred.
PHYTBACK project abstract
Some of the strongest interactions between ecological and climatic processes concern phytoplankton. While the importance of phytoplankton ecology for the global carbon cycle is well established, the role of their evolution is much less so. Adaptation is of particular importance in predicting the system’s response to climate change, since it will modulate the ecological response to environmental change. Recent global ocean circulation models account for phytoplankton ecology. Here we propose to refine the definition of ecological processes and to allow for adaptation of phytoplankton cell size and shape in such models, as well as in more strategic models for freshwater systems. Phytoplankton communities are size-structured, and ecological functioning depends strongly on cell size and shape. Furthermore, phytoplankton size will influence the effectiveness of the biological carbon pump, through which carbon is sequestered from the atmosphere into the ocean interior by cell sinking. In addition, phytoplankton dynamics and evolution depend on interactions with higher trophic levels in the pelagic food web and these ecological interactions are generally also size structured. All these properties are shared between marine and freshwater systems. Phytoplankton ecology will be modelled by accounting for physiological structure (cell size, shape, nutrient quota) of phytoplankton communities and the size structure of the entire food web. We will study a range of models covering spatial scales from the global ocean to lakes. Different theoretical issues will be tackled using models at different spatial and temporal scales. The models will be used to formulate quantitative, testable predictions, that will be put to the test in experimental setups (outdoor freshwater mesocosms) and by using ecological and genomic data from the Tara Oceans expedition. The overall theoretical issue to be addressed is : does adaptation accelerate or mitigate the impact of climate change on the global carbon cycle ?
Participants in the Phytback project
- MIT EAPS (Boston) : Mick Follows, Stephanie Dutkiewicz
- ENS Bioemco (Paris) : Eric Edeline, Gérard Lacroix
- ENS Molecular Plant Biology (Paris) : Chris Bowler, Leila Trichine
- ENS Ecology & Evolution, CERES-ERTI (Paris) : Ben Ward, Regis Ferrière, Silvia De Monte, Stéphane Legendre, Boris Sauterey, David Claessen (project coordinator)
- LOCEAN (Paris) : Francesco d’Ovidio
- ENS LMD, CERES-ERTI (Paris) : Michael Ghil
Kick off meeting, 25 and 26 October 2010
- Programme of the meeting
- Minutes of the meeting
- Slides : Overview (David Claessen), Chris Bowler, Regis Ferriere, Silvia De Monte, Tasks 1 and 2 (David Claessen)
