PhD / Post-doc GRANT PROPOSAL, 2009-2013

We are looking for researchers interested in applying to the 2nd 2008 call for PhD or Post-
Doctoral Fellowships from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
(http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/apoios/bolsas/concursos/individuais2008) to address the relationships
between freshwater biodiversity and ecological functions.

The work will be developed both at the Molecular and Environmental Biology Research
Centre -CBMA- in the Biology Department of Minho University (Portugal) and at the Biology
Department of Mount Allison University (Canada).
The CBMA (cbma.bio.uminho.pt/index.php?menu=39&language=eng&tabela=geral) and the Biology
Department of Mount Allison University (www.mta.ca/faculty/science/bio/faculty) have been
involved in projects on the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
Attention has been given to anthropogenic impacts (e.g., eutrophication, heavy metal
pollution, global warming) on communities and stream ecosystem processes focusing on
plant-litter decomposition and decomposers (invertebrates, fungi and bacteria).

Project summary

Climate change and other anthropogenic modifications of our environment threaten
biodiversity and thereby essential functions of ecosystems. An indispensable first step for
evaluating the potential impact of these changes is to inventory current biodiversity, and to
determine how keystone species in one region may be replaced by those from neighbouring
or more distant regions.
In our project, we will compare fungal communities and their functions in Portugal and
Canada. Even though the countries are widely separated, their streams share many of the
same fungal species. Does this imply that aquatic fungal species lack a biogeography? To
answer this, we will compare selected DNA sequences from conspecific strains in the two
countries. Then we will test if morphologically identical species from the two regions have
identical functions. For that, we will test conspecific strains for their decomposing enzymatic
activities. Finally, we will use a combination of field and laboratory experiments to test if
there are there similar function/diversity relationships in the two regions.
Candidates should send by e-mail until the 4th of September:
1) a short motivation letter
2) detailed CV with list of publications
3) indicate one researcher that may provide references
Foreign researchers with suitable profile are welcome to apply.
Contact: Cláudia Pascoal (cpascoal@bio.uminho.pt)
Board of supervisors:
Fernanda Cássio
cbma.bio.uminho.pt/index.php?menu=99&submenu=0&language=eng&tabela=pessoaldetail&user=14
Cláudia Pascoal
cbma.bio.uminho.pt/index.php?menu=99&submenu=0&language=eng&tabela=pessoaldetail&user=22
Felix Bärlocher
www.mta.ca/faculty/science/bio/faculty/felixbaerlocher.html