Details

Category: 
Student subject
Function: 
Student (University)
Department: 
Aquatic Ecology
Contact: 
Liesbeth Bakker
Closing date: 
Thursday 11 August 2016

General context

Fish have strong effects on aquatic ecosystems and the aquatic plants. This can be through direct consumption, but also indirectly, by bioturbation and uprooting of plants, or by consuming grazers of algae that otherwise shade and outcompete the plants. However, whereas these effects are generally known, there is limited experimental or quantitative evidence of fish impacts on aquatic plant beds. At which densities are fish impacts relevant? How do all the different direct and indirect effects of fish add up to determine their impact?

Project outline

Several student topics are possible within the context of this project:

  • Field work is possible studying fish impacts on aquatic plants with grazing cages. To do this work diving experience is required.
  • A quantitative analysis of the relationship between fish densities and aquatic plant abundance is possible using data from waterboards and/or literature.
  • It is possible to write a thesis on the role of fish in shallow waterbodies integrating the separate effects that are known from the literature.

Duration (indicative)

4-9 Months.