“MISTIC SEAS III – Developing a coordinated approach for assessing Descriptor 4 via its linkage with D1 and other relevant descriptors in the Macaronesian subregion”, is a project financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), through DG Environment (MFSD 2018 call) (MISTICSEAS3_GA.110661/2018/794676/SUB/ENV.C2). The project aims to address the assessment of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor 4 (Ecosystems, including food webs) at the Macaronesian sub-regional level following the criteria set up under the new Commission good environmental status (GES) Decision 2017/848/EC.
This scholarship is to contract a research with knowledge and solid experience in ecosystem models based on Ecopath and using Ecosim (EwE), namely, the compilation and organization of data, building and operationalizing (parameterization and balancing) of the model and explore scenarios in Ecosim relevant for the purpose of the project. It will be given relevance to experience also in incorporating the spatial dimension into the process through Ecospace. The applicant should have a solid theoretical knowledge of marine ecosystems and their interactions, especially in oceanic island associated environments. The work of the modeller will be supported by two post-docs researchers that will assist the modeller in data compilation, organization and processing to feed the model and the simulations, both with possible temporal and spatial components. The work may involve either the adaptation/improvement of an existing Ecopath for Madeira archipelago marine ecosystem and/or the development of a new model, in coordination with teams working in equivalent models in the Azores and the Canary Islands.
The selected applicant will temporarily integrate the Madeira Whale Museum team (partner of OOM – Madeira Oceanic Observatory), with experience in the ecological study of top predators, specially cetaceans, and their relationship with the marine environment, including, trophic relationships.
