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Project properties |
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| Title | Physiological and behavioural responses of bivalves to environmental stressors |
| Group | Marine Animal Ecology |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 12-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Edwin Foekema |
| Examiner(s) | Tinka Murk, Reindert Nijland, Ronald Osinga, Rosa van der Ven, Diede Maas |
| Contact info | edwin.foekema@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2024/02/23 |
| End date | 2025/02/23 |
| Description | This project can be a BSc thesis, an MSc thesis, an MSc internship or an MSc research practice.
By combining sensors we simultaneously monitor activity, heartrate, respiration and food intake of mussels, cockles and oysters. You will conduct experiments in which the bivalves are being exposed to environmental stressors such as heatwaves, suspended solids, microplastics, or chemical contaminants. The exact choice of stressors and species depends on the stage of this ongoing project at the moment you start your proejct. Your role will be tailored to your level (Bsc/Msc) and your learning goals. The overall goal of this research project is to increase our insight in how bivalves respond to a broad range of environmental stressors, and what this means for their metabolisms and energy expenditure. In parallel we hope to get more insight in differences in responses between individual bivalves (‘characters’). The results will be for example be helpful to predict the impact on bivalve populations of for instance climate change, to understand the success of some invasive bivalve species, and can facilitate brood stock selection in shellfish aquaculture. During this project you will collect data with the aim to form the basis for a scientific publication with you as co-author. The project takes place at Wageningen Marine Research in Den Helder, and there is reimbursement available: euro 544,- per month (full time, 36h/week), and an additional option for partly compensation in housing costs. More info: https://www.wur.nl/en/value-creation-cooperation/next-level-animal-sciences/show-nlas/sensors-measure-animals-energy-levels.htm |
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