Marine Protected Areas are becoming a widely used tool in marine management. Like  other  European  nations,  Scotland  is  currently developing proposals  for  a network  of  MPAs for  the  protection  and  enhancement  of  marine  biodiversity. Benthic species are  the major  focus  of  these  MPAs.  Positive  effects  inside  a protected area can include the removal of unintended mortality due to fishing and other  pressures  so  as  to  promote  recovery  of  vulnerable  benthos. Wider environmental benefits may also be realised if this increased biomass of priority species spills over  from  the  protected  area into  adjacent  waters  or  serves  to enhance the production  (export)  of  early  life  stages to  other  areas  of  habitat. Currently empirical evidence for spill over and export from MPAs is too limited to provide robust advice on the wider environmental effects of protection.  The aim of  this project,  using  data  collected  from newly  proposed MPA  sites,  is  to test whether  MPAs  enhance  benthic  communities  in  surrounding  waters  through larval  export  and  spill  over.   To  do  this,  the  project  will  use  visual  census  and benthic sampling techniques to monitor abundance of priority benthic species as part  of  a Marine  Scotland  Science before/after  control/impact  (BACI)  study. Aslarval  behaviour  will  affect  their  potential  for  dispersal,  investigations  of benthic larvae  in  the  field  and  laboratory  will  be  conducted.  Changes following  the implementation of MPAs will be examined within a gradient analysis framework. Potential gradients relating to larval export will also be tested against biophysical models.  
 
The project will provide the student with broad training in field survey techniques, analysis  of  larval  behaviour, experimental  design  and potentially  biophysical modelling and enable  him/her  to bring  a  new  dimension  to  the  growing  need  to maintain the biological diversity and health of Scotland’s seas.   It  is  envisaged that  the  field  research  for  this  project  will  involve  periods  at  sea  on  Marine Scotland Science’s research vessels. The  student will primarily be  based  at Marine  Scotland  Science,  Aberdeen  but  will  spend  some  time on  the  Scottish west  coast.  The  successful  PhD  candidate  will  be  offered  a  full-time  Ph.D. position  for  a  period  of  three  years,  contingent  on  a  satisfactory  performance, with the specific intent that it results in a Ph.D. degree and scientific publications. 
 
If you are interested in this PhD project please send a CV and covering letter to Dr  Peter Wright (P.Wright@marlab.ac.uk),  Marine  Scotland  Science by  the  10th September 2012.