Competitive traits and trade-offs in harmful cyanobacterial populations (vacature in het Engels)

Project overview

Eutrophication and climate change may increase the frequency and intensity of harmful cyanobacterial blooms. One of the negative consequences of harmful cyanobacterial blooms is that some of them produce toxins. Microcystis is a common bloom-forming and toxin-producing cyanobacterium. However, it does not mean Microcystis blooms are always toxic. Microcystis comprises both toxic and non-toxic genotypes. The toxicity of blooms depends on whether toxic genotypes will outcompete others and dominate during bloom formation. 

This project aims to understand the difference in competitiveness of multiple Microcystis genotypes (intraspecific variation) by studying their nutrient growth kinetics. For this, we will measure key traits, such as growth affinity (an indicator of competitiveness at low nutrient levels) and potential trade-offs. Besides classical culturing methods, there might be the opportunity to assess these traits in novel microfluidic platforms.

What you will do

• Conduct batch experiments to investigate the nutrient growth kinetics of multiple Microcystis genotypes
• Measure various parameters (e.g. cell biovolume, C:N ratios, toxins
• Analyze and process the experimental data

Qualifications

• MSc or BSc students (University or HBO)

Practical information

• Location: Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen
• Duration: at least 5 months

Application

For more questions, please feel free to contact Chaohong (Harley) Lin at h.lin@nioo.knaw.nl

If you are interested in this project, please send your CV to Harley and Dedmer van de Waal (d.vandewaal@nioo.knaw.nl).