Parent Sector : Field Office
Duty Station: Bangkok
Type of contract : Non Staff
Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months
Recruitment open to : External candidates
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 10-APR-2022
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
1. Background and Rationale
Coral reefs, one of the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems, have been threatened by anthropogenic impacts, climate change and ocean acidification. Without biodiversity, the ecosystem will lose resilience and be unable to sustain the provision of goods and services. Hence, monitoring biodiversity and associated communities in coral reef ecosystem is essential for forecasting ecosystem vulnerability to disturbance.
As part of the efforts in monitoring the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystem, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) promotes the use of Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) as a standard method to examine and monitor the most diverse community of organisms on a coral reef, the cryptobiota. The design of ARMS aims to simulate the structural complexity of a reef to attract colonizing marine invertebrates. The Standard Operating Procedures for ARMS could be found here (http://file.iocwestpac.org/OA/SOP/Chapter%203/Chapter%203-draft%20ARMS%20SOP-01%20Nov%202018.pdf )
Along with ARMS, Calcification Accretion Units (CAUs) are also used to evaluate how the changes of carbonate in seawater affect calcification and accretion rates of calcareous and fleshy algae. The principle is that the calcification rates of crustose coralline algae (CCA) are correlated to seawater aragonite saturation state. Predictions of reduced coral calcification rates imply that coral reef communities will experience ecological phase shifts as calcifying organisms are negatively impacted by fluctuating seawater chemistry. The Standard Operating Procedures for CAU could be found here (http://file.iocwestpac.org/OA/SOP/Chapter%204/Chapter%204-draft%20CAU%20SOP-01%20Nov%202018.pdf)
To meet the demands and develop capacity of Member States and their research institutions for monitoring ecological impact of ocean acidification on coral reefs, we would like to develop an audio-video material introducing the use and processing of ARMS and CAUs. The product will be shared widely with interested institutions in the region, and also ensure the data that could be collected and comparable over the long years.
2. Key Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for the Asia and Pacific, and the direct supervision of the Head of the WESTPAC Office, the incumbent shall perform the following duties:
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UNESCO, 24 March 2022. More information.
