MSCA Individual Fellowship applicants ”Global spatial ecology of the world’s smallest and elusive seabird: the storm petrels across the Mediterranean and the North East Atlantic Ocean”

Understanding the spatial ecology of free-ranging fauna is needed for the effective conservation of global biodiversity. Patterns of distribution and trophic ecology differ among species, and at the inter- and intra-population levels, each of which is faced with different anthropogenic threats. In addition, merging spatial and trophic ecology with integrative taxonomy has enormous potential for defining accurate Conservation Units (CU).

SEAGHOSTS aims to build on limited knowledge of the spatial and trophic ecology of the storm petrel species (Hydrobatidae and Oceanitidae) and their populations breeding in Europe. Specifically, it aims to assess the major at-sea threats storm petrels face on their Mediterranean and NE Atlantic breeding grounds and on their suspected Southern Atlantic wintering grounds. These threats include climate change, renewable energy infrastructures, aquaculture, contamination, including plastic exposure. Storm petrels are excellent sentinels of the marine ecosystem because: (a) they are highly pelagic, covering vast distances for foraging and migrating, (b) feed on low trophic level prey, which make them to respond sooner than larger seabirds to environmental changes, (c) are long-lived, and (d) they are extremely sensitive to anthropogenic threats. Until now, their small body size and secretive behaviour has posed a major constraint on their study.

Here, we will combine available biologging, genetic and isotopic data with newly collected data over the project to fill important geographic gaps across Europe. This transnational project will combine ultraminiaturized tracking devices, habitat modelling, bulk and compound-specific stable isotope analysis, diet DNA metabarcoding analysis, geometric morphometrics, and microplastic determinations. This multidisciplinary methodology, combined with multi-colony and multi-species monitoring, will provide new essential knowledge on year-round, metapopulation distributions of storm petrels, and on how diverse human activities at sea may affect oceanic habitats of seabirds. Overall, this knowledge will help identifying priority conservation areas across international boundaries, ie Marine Protected Areas.

This highly collaborative project aims at collating diverse new and existing datasets on the tracking and trophic ecology of seabirds to contribute to the current gap of knowledge for the green transition, development of aquaculture, and quantification of plastic exposure at sea. The transnational value of this research is well proven by the list of the 16 partner institutions from twelve countries, which cover the main colony distribution of the European-breeding storm petrels, from Norway to the Canary Islands, and from the Azores to Greece. This new knowledge on seabird distributions, sensitivity maps, isoscapes and management practices (including their data and tools) will add relevance for the entire society. In fact, the most effective conservation and management measures of sealife can be only ensured through international cooperation and coordination.

Support for applicants
The University of Barcelona has an established and outstanding ERC training program in which the candidate will participate.

The International Research Projects Office at the University of Barcelona offers support to applicants (eligibility check, info sessions, feedback on the draft proposal) and has recently launched a Mentoring program specifically designed for MSCA applicants (subject to availability)

The project manager from IRBio offers support the applicant during the writing proposal with the supervisor and the International Research Project Office.

Eligibility criteria: Described in the Guide for Applicants of MSCA

Application deadline (internal):  June 30th, 2024

Required documents CV and motivation letter, 2 recommendation letters

Send your application to: Raül Ramos, ramos@ub.edu