This PhD will investigate how and when porpoises use Scottish fish farm sites. Studies will focus on the occurrence and behaviour of porpoises around fish farm infrastructure (cages, moorings and buoys) compared with similar but unoccupied locations. Studies will also include how use changes over time and in space and whether activities and status of the farms alters porpoise use.
A strong candidate will have experience with the collection and analyses of behavioural and acoustic data on marine megafauna and familiarity with the finfish aquaculture sector.
Application deadline: 12 June 2017
Contact: Ben Wilson
E-mail: Ben.Wilson@sams.ac.uk
This PhD will investigate how and when porpoises use Scottish fish farm sites. Studies will focus on the occurrence and behaviour of porpoises around fish farm infrastructure (cages, moorings and buoys) compared with similar but unoccupied locations. Studies will also include how use changes over time and in space and whether activities and status of the farms alters porpoise use. If porpoises are drawn to these sites, effort will be directed to identify the attractors. Finally, implications of these findings will be considered relative to porpoise conservation-management efforts. The primary research tool for this study will be Passive Acoustic Monitoring using single moorings or arrays.
A strong candidate will have experience with the collection and analyses of behavioural and acoustic data on marine megafauna and familiarity with the finfish aquaculture sector. Experience of quantitative analytical methods (e.g. Generalized Additive Modelling) and programming (e.g. MATLAB) will be an asset. The project is expected to start on 1 October 2017.
Source: CCMar, Portugal