![]() We are seeking a master student with an interest in diet and trophic ecology to analyse and interpret stomach contents and stable isotope data for large Wadden Sea fishes. This MSc project is part of the Waddentools Swimway Wadden Sea project which aims in part to improve our understanding of the importance of the Dutch Wadden Sea in the lifecycles of large migratory fishes. ![]() This thesis project will involve the collection and laboratory analysis of various tissue samples and stomach contents of fish, and analysis of corresponding data using R statistical software. trutta), is a piscivorous species that exemplifies a diadromous lifestyle which includes long-distance movements between fresh and salt water. To examine variation in fish diet across a range of life history strategies, three target species have been chosen which exemplify a distinct set of ecological traits: i) the European sea bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax) is a piscivorous species that resides temporarily in the Wadden Sea during the productive summer months, ii) the thicklip grey mullet ( Chelon labrosus) is an additional summer resident that feeds primarily on diatoms and herbivorous material, and iii) the sea (brown) trout ( Salmo t. The goal of this project is therefore to analyse the stomach contents (indicator of short-term diet) and stable isotope signatures of various tissues (indicators of past diet and trophic position) to provide a first impression of the dietary components and temporal shifts in diet exhibited by individuals captured throughout the study region. As part of a broader study aimed at addressing this question, an understanding of the basic dietary trends of adult fishes is a foundational piece of this scientific puzzle. The Dutch Wadden Sea is a productive summer foraging ground used by a variety of fish species, however, very little is known about the specific role that Wadden Sea habitats play in the life cycles and migratory pathways of large mobile fishes (see figure below). The need to eat may be universal among fish, but what, when, and where they eat can be important indicators of the roles fish play in aquatic food webs and can provide insight into understanding their behaviours, life histories, and even movement patterns.
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