Ocean acidification is occurring throughout the world’s oceans due to the release of terrestrially sequestered CO2 into the atmosphere and the subsequent diffusion of that anthropogenically released CO2 into the ocean.
There is a significant concern that ocean acidification could disrupt the productivity of fishery species. This pattern of ocean acidification (OA) is co-occurring with long-term increases in the temperatures of the world’s oceans that have already been shown to impact distribution and abundance of marine organisms. High latitude seas are predicted to be most affected by the combination of rising temperatures and OA. Previous work on OA interactions with other environmental factors in Alaska groundfish has focused on the potential for OA-induced changes to prey production to exacerbate the direct physiological effects of OA on early life stages. There has yet been little research examining the interaction between OA and elevated temperatures on fish productivity. To address this understanding gap, we will examine the interactive effects of OA and elevated temperatures on three fish species that are critical to Alaska and Arctic fisheries and foodwebs: Pacific cod which supports a major regional fishery and has previously been shown to be sensitive to OA; yellowfin sole which supports the world’s largest flatfish fishery; and Arctic cod which is a keystone species throughout Arctic ecosystems.
The incumbent will work as part of a research team examining the interactive effects of temperature and CO2 on the early life stages of Alaska fishery species and will be responsible for conducting laboratory experiments, biological measurements, statistical analyses, and production of peer-reviewed manuscripts. Experiments will examine the growth and survival responses, with the incumbent expanding the scope of research with additional response metrics and experimentation based on individual interest, experience, and expertise. Candidates with experience in the experimental culture of marine organisms will be strongly encouraged to apply. Anticipated start date December 2021.
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