The candidate will incorporate at the research group “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Group MedRecover” (www.medrecover.org) at the University of Barcelona supervised by Dr. Bernat Hereu, associated professor at the Department of Evolutionary biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences. The main goal of MedRecover research group is to contribute to the conservation of marine benthic communities in the Mediterranean through innovative and original approaches. The MedRecover group is focused on the study of emblematic rocky benthic communities thriving between 0 and 300 m depth such as the fish community, macroalgals beds, coralligenous banks and deep cold coral assemblages.

The group identifies and characterizes impacts on marine biodiversity and the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas, and develops the capacity to foresee future changes and implement restoration measures in marine communities. To achieve these objectives, MedRecover has adopted a multidisciplinary approach to integrate different levels of biological organization, from individuals to communities, as well as relevant time and space scales.

The RESMED+ project aims to enhance the management and conservation of fishery resources by exploring new tools for an integrated management of the territory. This will involve coordination between different managers and the stakeholders in the area.

The study will investigate the ecology and movement of various species of coastal and demersal fish, including rays and sharks, their habitat use throughout their life cycle, and the marine connectivity on a transboundary scale. We will use acoustic telemetry and satellite tracking techniques, within the Catalan Tracking Network (www.marcatgemari.cat).

RESMED+ is an EU INTERREG project, continuation of RESMED (www.resmed.cat), coordinated by the University of Barcelona and the University of Perpignan, focused on the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia and France. This project involves French and Spanish fisheries and territorial administrations responsible for coastal management, as well as the marine protected areas in the cross-border region (Montgrí-Medes NP, Cap de Creus NP, Banyuls MR and Gulf of Lyon NP), and includes the various stakeholders in the area (fishermen, diving, leasure…).

Responsibilities

The main proposed tasks to be carried out are listed below.

• Support the design, implementation and delivery of an acoustic telemetry project in the transboundary NW Mediterranean, including the tagging of fish, rays and sharks.
• Lead on the analysis of the telemetry data generated from the acoustic array to characterize the movement patterns and habitat use of fish and sharks.
• Disseminate findings of the Project RESMED+ through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at professional conferences, community presentations, and the production of popular science articles and social media posts.

The team currently possesses a wealth of unpublished information and data on the movement of over 25 littoral fish species on a transboundary scale, as well as historical fish monitoring data, detailed habitat mapping, oceanographic data and socio-economic data that will enable the development of interesting scientific and applied management inputs.

The International Research Projects Office at the University of Barcelona offers support to applicants (eligibility check, info sessions, feedback on the draft proposal) and has recently launched a Mentoring programme specifically designed for MSCA applicants (subject to availability)

The project manager from IRBio offers support the applicant during the writing proposal with the supervisor and the International Research Project Office.

Education, Skills and Other Requirements

• PhD in a relevant area or equivalent experience
• A strong quantitative background and/or prior experience in working telemetry data
• Diving license and experience in scientific diving and boat license is desirable although not indispensable
• An interest and understanding of the role and importance of marine science and conservation, with ideally knowledge of the Mediterranean and coastal waters.