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FY2014 [Comprehensive Studies on the Evolution of Life and the History of the Earth] Recruitment of Scientists/Research Scientists/Postdoctoral Researchers/Engineers

JAMSTEC will be recruiting a total of 10 positions as Scientist/Research Scientist/Postdoctoral Researcher/Engineer who will be engaged in the third medium-term plan.

[Research fields]
Comprehensive Studies on the Evolution of Life and the History of the Earth.

Subsurface Geobiology Advanced Research
This group is conducting researches on the as-yet-unknown environment and biosphere existing in sunlight-independent deep earth, its function and role in the current earth, and its role on the evolution of the earth and life.
In detail, the group will work on:
・exploration on as-yet-unknown biosphere using advanced oceanographic research instruments and methodology.
・determing limits of life and biosphere and boundary habitats and conditions between habitable and uninhabitable.
・clarification of functions and roles of the as-yet-unknown ecosystems in the global energy and element cycles.
・elucidating unique biological interactions (symbioses and/or co-nutritional mechanisms).
・engineering use of extreme environment, biosphere and biological macromolecule which applied to the extreme environment (e.g. Clean chemical processes, fabrication of new materials and biomimetics) and engineering research on artificial life.

Marine Ecosystem Structural Analysis Research
This group is conducting researches and technology developments aiming to discover biological evolutionary mechanisms, biological interactions, and the structure and function of ecosystems in the deep sea. This group uses and develops cutting-edge survey technologies and methodologies to discover the relationships between symbioses and evolution, effects of environmental parameters on biological community structure and stability, and material and energy flows in deep marine benthic and pelagic ecosystems.

Earth History and Biogeochemistry Research
This group is conducting researches on the processes in the formation of the current oceanic environment, especially those relating to bioelements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen. The research includes developments of novel methodologies to tackle this topic. This group also pursues deep understanding of the relationships between biological activities and the oceanic environment, and their changes in the history of the Earth.

Please visit our website for the details of the research fields:
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/biogeos/e/

Scientist: To contribute to the Agency, Scientists are expected to have world-leading performance ability to accomplish research as an independent scientist.

Research Scientist: To contribute to the Agency, Research Scientists are expected to take a leading role in research, technology development, and technology innovation.

Postdoctoral Researcher: To contribute to the Agency, Postdoctoral Researchers should be able to demonstrate ability to conduct creative research independently.

Engineer: To contribute to the Agency, Engineers are expected to manage, improve and advance the infrastructure. Establishment of technology based on a background of general technical knowledge such as information system, improvement of technical management functions is also inclusive.

*The group to be assigned will be determined based on the applicant’s expertise.
*There may be change in affiliation in case of reorganization in the Agency.
*There may be a possibility to change the positions above. The details are currently under consideration.

For more details, please visit the website

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Job: Analysis of phytoplankton functional types in the Gulf of Lions from satellite data and study of their influence on spatio-temporal dynamics of small pelagic fish

Analysis of phytoplankton functional types in the Gulf of Lions from satellite data and study of their influence on spatio-temporal dynamics of small pelagic fish

Throughout the world, small pelagic fish stocks are known to fluctuate a lot. Yet, the mechanisms responsible for the important spatio-temporal variability in these stocks remain mostly unknown. Environment is often supposed to be the main driver of small pelagic dynamics, thus assuming a bottom-up control of their populations. This project aims at testing this hypothesis by evaluating the potential link between plankton and small pelagics in the North-West Mediterranean Sea (NWMS). The first step will be to assess the phytoplankton composition of the NWMS since 1997 using PhySat algorithm based on ocean colour satellite data. The study of its spatio-temporal distribution through geostatistics and wavelet analyses should yield important insights on potential changes or shifts in plankton community composition during the last 15 years. Then, the link between phytoplankton spatio-temporal distribution and abiotic conditions (such as temperature, meso-scale dynamics) will be investigated. The final step of this project will be to test the main hypothesis of a bottom-up control of small pelagic fish by comparing the phytoplankton production datasets and those of abundance, biomass and condition indices of small pelagics obtained since 1993.

Keywords: phytoplankton, remote sensing, functional type, bottom-up process, optic reflectance, Physat, environmental effects, spatial dynamics.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate in possession of a PhD in marine biology, oceanography or fisheries science. Skills in scientific computation and modelisation are necessary, as well as in remote sensing data manipulation. A good knowledge of plankton would also be highly appreciated. Finally, a good level of English writing is expected.

Contacts: claire.saraux@ifremer.fr; sylvain.bonhommeau@ifremer.fr or herve.demarcq@ird.fr

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Underwater optical environment in the Upper Gulf of Thailand

Matsumura, Satsuki,Siripong, Absornsuda,Lirdwitayaprasit, Thaitherworn

Coastal marine science. Vol.30No.1, 2006.4, pp. 36-43

Abstract

Because the composition of coastal water is full of variety by each region, relationship between chlorophyll-a (chl.a) concentration as a indicator of primary productivity derived by satellite ocean color data and in situ data of chl.a may not be same always. Those relations or algorithms should be verified at each coastal water for managing coastal environment. Coastal ocean color algorithms should be built up at each coastal water or at least should be verified by wide range field data for practical application at each region. Intensive research cruises were conducted at the Upper Gulf of Thailand. Optical survey using PRR (Profiling Reflectance Radiometer) showed the character of the Upper Gulf water. Under water optical algorithms for that water were suggested by these survey data. Optical depths in the Gulf of Thailand were also measured to know the compensation depth for primary production. Although the transparency measured by Secchi disk is not so large and surface water looks very turbid, the light energies are reaching to near bottom at almost all stations of the upper Gulf. It suggests that the turbidity of this water were mainly composed of scattering material like as clay mineral rather than absorbing material like as phytoplankton pigment or CDOM.

Keywords:

  • coastal water algorithm
  • PAR
  • compensation depth
  • chlorophyll-a
  • CDOM
  • SS
  • satellite
  • remote sensing

Download the PDF Paper

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Fourth WESTPAC Summer School on the Monsoon Onset Monitoring and its Social & Ecosystem Impacts (MOMSEI), Terengganu, Malaysia, 19-23 August 2013

BACKGROUND
Asian Monsoon plays a significant role in the agriculture and the livelihood of people in the wider Southeast Asian Basin and its neighboring countries since it brings most of the rainfall to this region. Naturally, while Asian Monsoon deviates from its normal pattern, it causes severe disasters such as floods and droughts, even resulting in the disruption of agricultural operation and the displacement of inhabitants. In addition, the extraordinary late monsoon onset leads to an extended length of high sea surface temperature, and thus increasing the risk of coral bleaching. In this sense, it is vital to improve the monitoring capability on monsoon onset in the wider Southeast Asia region for the societal and ecosystem benefit.

To this end, in view of the fact that the Asian Monsoon is evidently influenced by and coupled with the ocean, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) initiated one pilot project entitled “Monsoon Onset Monitoring and its Social and Ecosystem Impact” (MOMSEI) in 2009 within its South East Asia Global Ocean Observing System (SEAGOOS) with objectives to improve the understanding and forecasting of Asia monsoon and its multi-scale variability at regional level through the conduct of air-sea interaction in the Monsoon birthplace and the analysis of the possible link of monsoon onset with its impact on marine ecosystem.

In light of the increasing demand of capacity building, three MOMSEI Summer Schools were held, respectively in Qingdao China 26-30 July 2010, Phuket Thailand 15-19 August 2011, and Qingdao China 6-10 August 2012 to bring the up-to-date monsoon science to young scientists from participating countries. In particular, besides the participants from MOMSEI participating countries, the MOMSEI Summer School-II and III also received total eleven trainees from countries bordering the Bay of Bengal, such as India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka in close cooperation with the GEF/FAO Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) project.

Following the success of and strong interests received from the previous three Summer Schools, WESTPAC decided to organize the four MOMSEI Summer School in Terengganu, Malaysia, 19-23 August 2013 with the kind host of the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia).

TRAINING CONTENTS
The MOMSEI Summer School-IV will consist of four-day lecture Session, half day field trip and half day wrap-up Session.

The Lecture Session will include three parts, i.e. Basic Science of Asian Monsoon; Asian Monsoon Onset Monitoring, Coral Monitoring, possible links between onset anomalies and coral bleaching; and MOMSEI project.

Session-I: Basic Science of Asian Monsoon
• The overview of Asian Monsoon
• Asian Monsoon intra-seasonal to inter-decadal variations
• El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO)’s impact on Asian Monsoon

Session-II: Asian Monsoon Onset Monitoring, Coral Monitoring
• Asian Monsoon Onset Monitoring and Coral monitoring
• Monsoon’s impact on coral ecosystem

Session-III: MOMSEI Project Introduction
• MOMSEI Science Plan
• MOMSEI Implementation Strategy and Status

Session-IV: Field trip

A half day field trip will be arranged by the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu to visit the relevant laboratory facilities and/or other infrastructures, which will be of help for all trainees to acquire in-situ experience on the operation of relevant oceanographic instruments, collection of data, etc.

Session–V: Wrap-up

MOMSEI Summer School will conduct a half day wrap-up session to encourage the trainees to briefly present their research experience, and feedbacks on MOMSEI and MOMSEI Summer School.

TRAINEES
This Summer School is open to those who have a Master’s Degree and/or working experience in oceanography, meteorology, marine biology and ecosystem. Due to the limitation of available funding support, the priority will be given to those from MOMSEI participating countries. The applicants should have a good command of English.

For those who wish to join the Summer School, please send your CV, the Application Form, no later than 15 June 2013, to Dr. Li Zhi (lizhi@fio.org.cn), Dr. Mohd Fadzil bin Mohd Akhir (mfadzil@umt.edu.my), and with a copy to Mr. Wenxi Zhu (w.zhu@unesco.org), Head of WESTPAC Office.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Limited financial support for the most economic round-way travel and local expenditures is available upon request. Priority will be given to those selected trainees from the MOMSEI participating countries.

All funded trainees are required to reserve and purchase their round-trip tickets at economy class between their home country and Terengganu, and bring the original receipt of air flights and boarding passes to the Local Secretariat upon arrival. Reimbursement will be made during/after the Summer School.

DATE AND VENUE
The Fourth Summer School will take place on 19-23 August 2013 at the Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.

WORKING LANGUAGE
The Summer School will be conducted in English.

VISA
Some trainees traveling to Malaysia are perhaps required to have the entry visa to Malaysia in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Please check the visa requirements with the Malaysia Embassy/Consulate in your country and apply for the entry-visa. The Local Secretariat and the WESTPAC Office will be glad to provide you any assistance if needed.

TRANSPORTATION
Please send your itinerary and passport information to the Local Secretariat no later than 5th August 2013. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu will arrange pick-up and drop-off service at the Kuala Terengganu Airport.

LOCAL CONTACT PERSON

Dr. Mohd Fadzil bin Mohd Akhir
Institute of Oceanography and Environment
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia
Email: mfadzil@umt.edu.my

We are looking forward to seeing you in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Annoucement in pdf
Application Form in word

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Jobs: Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Bigelow Laboratory

Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Bigelow Laboratory
Bigelow Laboratory invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to study the influence of ocean acidification on the biological processes that govern the concentrations and hence emission, of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the surface oceans. The work is associated with a recently funded NSF-project involving large-scale experiments on natural waters, with a focus on identifying the key processes involved and understanding the extent to which they may change in the future.Minimal requirements are a Ph.D. in marine science, environmental microbiology or environmental chemistry.  Preferred qualifications are an ability and interest to work across biological and chemical disciplines, to link molecular regulation to biogeochemical processes and an interest in predictive model development.

The preferred candidate will have published (or submitted) their dissertation chapters in peer-reviewed journals. Work will be based at the new Bigelow Laboratory campus in East Boothbay, ME (www.bigelow.org). The position will involve extended (2+ months) fieldwork in the first year. Annual salary is negotiable based on experience. The position is a full-time, 3-year appointment.

Send CV, cover letter with brief description of research interests, and contact information for 3 references tojobs@bigelow.org. Please reference PD-2013-2 in the subject line.  For full consideration, the application should be received by August 20, 2013 and the position will remain open until it is filled.  Please contact Dr. Stephen Archer at ( sarcher@bigelow.org) with specific questions regarding this position. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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News: Thai navy deployed to fight oil spill

The Star, 28 Jul 2013

BANGKOK: Thai naval vessels joined efforts Sunday to stop hundreds of barrels of oil from a pipeline leak in the Gulf of Thailand reaching the kingdom’s beaches.

Roughly 50,000 litres of crude oil spilled into the sea on Saturday about 20 kilometers (12 miles) off the coast of the eastern province of Rayong, operator PTT Global Chemical said.

The company, part of state-owned giant PTT, said 10 ships were involved in an urgent clean-up and it was confident of containing the leak.

“The aerial photos taken early morning Sunday show that the area of the spill was reduced,” the company said in a statement, estimating that up to about 20,000 litres had been cleaned up.

At the same time there were fears about the effect of the chemicals used to disperse the crude oil.

“We still have some concern about the chemical being used, even though it is clear that the oil leak will not reach the beaches or coral,” said Phuchong Saritsadeechaikol, director of the government’s Marine and Coastal Resource Conservation Center in Rayong.

Another PTT subsidiary was involved in a huge oil spill off northwestern Australia in 2009 that was the country’s worst ever offshore drilling accident.

The slick from the Montara oil field spread as far as Indonesian waters and environmentalists said it grew to almost 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 square miles).

An Australian government inquiry blamed widespread and systematic shortcomings at the oil company for the spill. -AFP

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Spatial and seasonal variability of Chlorophyll-a and associated oceanographic events in Sabah water

Abbas, Alaa A.,Mansor, Shattri B. ; Pradhan, Biswajeet ; Tan, C.K.,2012. Spatial and seasonal variability of Chlorophyll-a and associated oceanographic events in Sabah water.The Second International Workshop on Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Applications (EORSA 2012), pp 215-219. DOI 10.1109/EORSA.2012.6261168.

Abstract

This study investigated the spatial and temporal distributions of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in Sabah coastal water using satellite data, and identified the associated oceanographic events which caused large scale water enrichment in the surface layer. Results showed that surface Chl-a experienced seasonality in Sabah waters. At the northwest coast, very obvious increase in the Chl-a was observed from January to March, attributed to wind-driven coastal upwelling during the northeast monsoon (NEM). The southeast coast depicted high Chl-a at Labuan offshore water, related to the reversing direction of Baram River plume towards Sabah during NEM. Labuan bay water had higher Chl-a during the southwest monsoon (SWM) due to the effect of discharged materials from the Padas River during the rainy season at Labuan. On the other side, a slight increase in surface Chl-a was illustrated along the entire northeast coast during NEM, with higher concentrations at the southern part compared to the northern region. The high Chl-a at the southern part (southern Sandakan) was owing to alongshore water transport from the northern region driven by NEM winds and effect of discharged materials from the Kinabatangan River during the rainy season at Sandakan. Water characteristic at the southeast coast was highly influenced by surface water transport from the Sulu and Sulawesi seas and prevailed surface currents. Both inshore and offshore waters off Semporna had peak Chl-a in December, related to Sulu Sea water transport towards Semporna and occurrence of cyclonic eddy at the offshore water during early NEM. Tawau water showed very high Chl-a throughout the year due to the effect of coastal discharge. The discharged material near Tawau was transported to a wider area offshore during SWM. That in turn caused another peak Chl-a at Semporna inshore water in August during SWM.

Keywords:

  • Asian monsoon
  • Sabah water
  • chlorophyll-a
  • seasonal variation
  • upwelling
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An extensive Cochlodinium bloom along the western coast of Palawan, Philippines

Rhodora V. Azanzaa, ,Laura T. Davida,Roselle T. Borjaa,Iris U. Baulaa,Yasuwo Fukuyob
a The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
b Asian Natural Environmental Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2007.12.011

Abstract

A massive fish kill and water discoloration were reported off the western coast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines in March 2005. Phytoplankton analysis revealed a near monospecific bloom of the dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides, with cell concentrations ranging from 2.5 × 105 to 3.2 × 106 cells per liter. Ground truth data were supplemented by processed satellite images from MODIS Aqua Level 2 data (1 km resolution) from January to April 2005, which revealed high surface chlorophyll-a levels (up to 50 mg/m3) offshore of west and southwest Palawan as early as February 2005. The bloom extended 310 km in length and 80 km in width at its peak in March off the central coast (Puerto Princesa). By April, the bloom declined in intensity, but was still apparent along the northern coast (El Nido). Fluctuations in chlorophyll levels off the western coast of Sabah, Malaysia and Brunei during this time period suggested that the bloom was not limited to the coast of Palawan. Satellite imagery from Sabah in late January revealed a plume of chl-a that is believed to be the source of the C. polykrikoides bloom in Palawan. This plume drifted offshore, advected northward via the basin-wide counterclockwise gyre, and reached nutrient-rich, upwelled waters near Palawan (due to a positive wind stress curl) where the dinoflagellate bloomed and persisted for 2 months from March to April 2005.

Keywords

  • Cochlodinium polykrikoides;
  • Fish kills;
  • Philippines;
  • Remote sensing

 

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Toksin air merah masih ada pada kerang

  Jabatan Perikanan Sabah mengumumkan bahawa sampel kerang yang dikumpul dari pelbagai tempat di  negeri ini masih mengandungi paras bahaya toksin fenomena air merah.

Pengarahnya, Rayner Stuel Galid berkata, keputusan menunjukkan bahawa tahap ketoksikan kekal memudaratkan iaitu dalam 700 MU (Unit Mouse), 300 MU lebih tinggi daripada paras yang dianggap selamat untuk manusia

“Memakan kerang yang mengandungi toksin air merah menyebabkan keracunan makanan dan boleh membawa maut,” kata Rayner.

“Hanya Jabatan Perikanan dapat mengesan kehadiran toksin dalam kerang dan ujian dijalankan di makmal khas kami. Toksin tidak dapat dikesan oleh penglihatan, bau atau rasa dan ianya tidak boleh dikeluarkan melalui cucian teliti atau memasak,” katanya.

Fenomena air merah atau Red Tide adalah istilah yang biasa digunakan untuk alga bloom berbahaya (HAB). HAB berlaku apabila koloni tumbuh-tumbuhan laut atau pertumbuhan alga terkeluar dari kawalan. Satu sel tunggal boleh menyebabkan pembiakan beberapa ratus sel-sel dan keadaan air yang sesuai akan menyebabkan pengeluaran toksin yang boleh melemahkan manusia. Bahan toksin ini membunuh ikan dan menjadikan kerang-kerangan tidak selamat untuk dimakan. Bloom ini juga sering menukarkan air menjadi merah, dengan itu istilah “air merah” pun berlaku.

Menurut Rayner, keadaan cuaca panas dan basah baru-baru ini menyebabkan tempoh fenomena air merah di Sabah berpanjangan.

Fenomena ini pertama kali dikesan pada November tahun lalu dan sampel kerang dikumpulkan dari Kuala Penyu, Tuaran, Sipitang dan pantai Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu menunjukkan tahap yang lebih tinggi racun pada Mac tahun ini.

Orang ramai dinasihatkan untuk menahan diri daripada menjual dan mengambil semua jenis kerang atau dwicangkerang seperti tiram, kupang, kerang, kepah atau krustasia seperti udang dan ketam.

Rasa semut-semut atau sensasi mencucuk dalam mulut dan lidah, sakit kepala, loya adalah tanda-tanda keracunan air merah atau keracunan paralitik kerang-kerangan (PSP). Simptom boleh bertambah dari kebas kepada kehilangan kawalan anggota badan yang membawa kepada kegagalan pernafasan.

Kesan tanda-tanda toksik adalah cepat dan gejala awal biasanya berlaku dalam tempoh dua jam selepas memakannya. Rawatan perubatan mesti segera dilakukan. Setakat ini, fenomena air merah telah mengorbankan tiga nyawa di Sabah. – Insight Sabah

Diterbitkan pada Jun 08, 2013

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Amaran Air Merah di Pantai Barat Sabah

  Satu amaran kesihatan yang melarang orang awam makan kerang, dikeluarkan berikutan penemuan kewujudan air merah di sepanjang pantai barat Sabah.

Pengarah Jabatan Perikanan, Rayner Stuel Galid mengingatkan orang ramai untuk tidak makan kerang yang dikutip dari kawasan-kawasan terjejas selepas ujian rutin menunjukkan kepekatan tinggi toksin keracunan paralitik kerang (PSP). Beliau turut memberitahu para nelayan untuk tidak mengumpul atau menjual kerang beracun ini.

Menurut jabatan itu, sampel kerang yang diambil dari perairan Kota Kinabalu, Pulau Gaya, Teluk Sepanggar, Teluk Likas, Papar, Putatan, daerah Tuaran dan daerah sejauh Kuala Penyu juga diuji positif bagi toksin PSP.

Spesies kerang terdedah kepada keracunan PSP termasuk semua spesies kerang iaitu kerang (Kerang), tiram (Tiram) dan kupang (Kupang). Selain itu, Rayner berkata, sampel air laut dari kawasan yang terjejas juga mendedahkan kepekatan tinggi PSP yang menyebabkan organisma. Beliau melaporkan bahawa sebelum ini, kejadian air merah di Sabah menunjukkan kepekatan toksik dalam kerang-kerangan adalah setinggi 8,000MU (mouse unit) di atas paras 400MU yang dianggap tahap risiko minimum untuk kegunaan manusia.

Data terbaru yang dikumpul daripada sampel kerang menunjukkan kepekatan berbahaya tahap toksik dengan 4,010 MU di Papar dan 1,270MU di Tuaran.

“Ada kemungkinan tinggi yang air merah itu akan merebak ke daerah-daerah berdekatan di masa depan. Juga dijangka bahawa kerang akan menjadi lebih toksik berikutan dinoflagellates menjadi lebih banyak di laut,” kata Rayner.

Walaupun kebanyakan jenis ikan, udang dan spesies ketam selamat dimakan, jabatan menyarankan pengguna untuk membuang insang dan semua bahan daripada perut semua jenis ikan dan memastikan ia dibasuh dengan teliti. Bagaimanapun, katanya, mana-mana ikan kering, ikan masin dan lain-lain produk ikan yang diproses adalah selamat untuk dimakan.

Air Merah digambarkan sebagai keadaan di mana penapis pemakanan kerang mengumpul toksin akibat pemprosesan semulajadi alga marin.

Menurut Rayner, gejala keracunan PSP bermula dengan cucukan sensasi dalam mulut, sakit kepala, loya yang berlaku dengan pantas dalam masa beberapa minit atau sekurang-kurangnya sejam selepas makan kerang yang terjejas. Bergantung pada jumlah yang dimakan kerang tercemar, toksin menyerang sistem saraf pusat manusia, yang boleh membawa maut.

Tiada penawar untuk keracunan PSP dan orang ramai digesa mendapatkan rawatan perubatan dengan segera di klinik atau hospital berdekatan jika mereka mengalami sebarang gejala yang dinyatakan.

“Jabatan kami akan bekerja rapat dengan Jabatan Kesihatan untuk menjalankan persampelan dan ujian lanjut kehidupan laut yang dikutip di kawasan-kawasan lain dan akan terus memantau keadaan” kata Rayner. – Insight Sabah

Diterbitkan pada Disember 18, 2012

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