About the Project
Freshwater ecosystems host some of the greatest diversity on earth, yet they are amongst the most threatened ecosystems globally. During the four decades from 1970 to 2012 the overall population decline of freshwater megafauna is estimated as close to 90%. The persistent and alarming global decline in freshwater megafauna populations is an outcome of the continuous exposure of their habitats to numerous existing and emerging threats across the globe which will likely persist and accelerate in the future because of challenges climate change and food security.
Asian river dolphins are no exception, the six river dolphin populations comprised of four species are amongst the world’s most threatened mammals and all are listed as endangered or critically endangered on the Red List. These charismatic vertebrates require relatively large geographic areas and adequate habitat quality to support viable populations, hence they are often used as potential umbrella species based on the assumption that their effective protection would also benefit other aspects of biodiversity that share similar habitat with them.
The Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor) is endemic to Pakistan and was only recognised as a distinct species in 2021. It numbers less than 2000 individuals, that persist in five populations fragmented by dams. The species has suffered an 80% decline in range since the 1800s and now occurs in about 700km of river and as such is one of the world’s most threatened mammals. The reason for that decline is thought to be due primarily to complex interacting issues surrounding demand of expanding human populations for drinking water and to support irrigated agriculture, amid acerbating concerns over climate change. Despite these many challenges, long-term monitoring of Indus dolphins has shown that of the remaining dolphin populations are in fact increasing in abundance, while others are stable or declining. The possibility of conservation translocations to repopulate former habitat or supplement declining populations is being considered but basic data on anthropogenic threats, habitat, and prey availability from across the current and former range is needed to provide data to underpin such plans.
This PhD project is designed to answer questions that are of vital importance for conservation and management of freshwater dolphins in the Indus River. It is applied research and an interdisciplinary project with the primary aim to understand and quantify the spatial variation in some of the most important anthropogenic threats to the Indus River dolphin. The following four objectives are the main focus of the work:
1. Investigate spatial patterns of plastics and solid waste along the Indus River and its potential impacts on river dolphins.
2. Explore Indus River dolphin prey and fisheries in different sections of the Indus River.
3. Investigate and describe Indus River dolphin echolocation and foraging behaviour
4. Understand behavioural and underwater noise impacts from motorboats on Indus dolphins
It is hoped that the work will allow the student to draw together the four different threads described above into a coherent final discussion that can provide 1) an understanding of how key anthropogenic threats and environmental conditions influence the presence and density of dolphins in different sections of the Indus River, and 2) make recommendations regarding areas with suitable habitat and minimal threats that might be suitable destinations for conservation translocations.
The student will investigate existing long-term dolphin sightings data and acoustic data sets from the Indus river region. The work will provide the student with a number of skills including dolphin behavioural observations, fish sampling, plastic sampling, analysis of passive acoustic data, and statistical analyses and coding. This project will suit students that are interested in developing quantitative ecology skills for application to species conservation and monitoring problems. Familiarity with the study area and ability to speak the local language would be an advantage.
Candidates must submit an online application by 14th February 2024 at the following link: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/apply/postgraduate/research/. You should apply to the School of Biology, which is where the Sea Mammal Research Center is housed. The application should include:
– CV
– Transcripts (undergraduate and/or master’s degrees)
– Names and contact details of two referees
– English language qualifications, if applicable (this does not need to be completed at the time of application)
– Statement of Purpose (max 800 words)
In the statement of purpose (max 800 words), applicants must:
1) demonstrate their interests in specific aspects of the project, including interdisciplinary interests; and 2) outline their skills and experience that make them suited to undertake the research outlined.
Note that it is not our expectation that candidates already have skills in acoustics or statistics, instead we are looking for candidates who are interested in working at and developing skills in these disciplines. We are interested in growing a diverse and inclusive research group and encourage applications from any/all backgrounds and communities.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed in late February or early March and decisions made in late March. For project enquiries, please contact Dr Gill Braulik (gtb7@st-andrews.ac.uk).
Application enquiries can be directed to Rachel at pgrecbiology@st-andrews.ac.uk.
