Internship
Climate change responses of native and nonnative bivalves in the Wadden Sea
Nonnative Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, has slowly established populations in the Wadden Sea, which represents its northernmost range. Manila clam has a history of invasive behaviour and disruption to biodiversity in Southern Europe, and it is uncertain if this pattern will continue in a Northern European context. Thus, understanding how Manila clam compares physiologically to native Wadden Sea bivalves is pertinent to evaluate plausible scenarios in a new environment.
Project goals
- Investigate differences in response to temperature, food concentration, and turbidity changes between Ruditapes philippinarum and Cerastoderma edule in a series of laboratory experiments.
- Define performance curves and environmental niches for both species.
We are looking for a student who
- Has a strong interest in marine ecology and how species respond to changing environments.
- Enjoys laboratory work and is eager to learn new techniques.
- Works independently and brings enthusiasm to their work.
This thesis/internship will be a part of a larger effort involving researchers from multiple institutions investigating how changing environmental conditions will affect marine bivalves in the Wadden Sea. You will work in a small team at Wageningen Marine Research (Den Helder) collaborating with a PhD student and a senior researcher.
Start date
- May/June 2025, preferably