Germany : PhD candidate in the Department of Plant Ecology

A PhD candidate is sought for the project Shade trees in cacao  agroforestry systems: influence on roots and net primary production
with the Department of Plant Ecology, University of Göttingen,
Germany.

The project

The presence of shade trees in agroforests is often assumed to
negatively affect growth and yield of cacao plants through competitive
water use. In contrast, results from a previous collaborating project
suggest no such negative effects due to clear differences in vertical
partitioning of soil water uptake among cacao and shade trees. Our
earlier project indeed showed different vertical rooting patterns and
a different soil drought response of shade and cacao trees. However,
there are still few information about systematic differences in fine
root biomass, vertical rooting pattern, and below-ground productivity
of cacao and shade tree species under different soil moisture regimes.
The proposed project intends to test the hypotheses that (1) the
vertical segregation of the root systems of cacao and shade trees is
more pronounced under low than under ample water supply, (2) both
Gliricidia and native shade trees have deep root systems contributing
to complementary soil water uptake, and (3) below-ground carbon
partitioning into fine root biomass and turnover is higher in cacao
agroforests at drier sites. The project shall compare cacao
agroforests with no shade tress, Gliricidia shade trees, and native
shade trees under contrasting rainfall. We will investigate standing
fine root biomass, vertical root distribution and the occurrence of
'deep roots', and above- and below-ground productivity.
The application of stable isotope (deuterium) techniques will help to
clarify the importance of single 'deep roots' for the trees' water
uptake. We will particularly cooperate with a project addressing
ecohydrology of these stands.

The contract

The project is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and
currently financing has been approved for first 18 months, and may be
extended to a total of 36 months. Gross salary is 65% of TVL 13.
The anticipated start date is 15 November 2010.

The applicant

The applicant should have a M.Sc. degree in biology, forestry,
ecology, geography or related disciplines. Good English writing
skills and an independent scientific work style are mandatory.
Team players with some living experience in South East Asia are most
welcome.

Please send your application before 15 September 2010 to
Dr. D. Hertel, Department of Plant Ecology, (dhertel@gwdg.de).

More information about our working group can be found under:
http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/sh/71395.html

The University of Göttingen seeks to increase the participation of
women in areas in which they are currently underrepresented and
therefore explicitly encourages applications from female candidates.
Disabled persons with equivalent aptitude will be favored.

Further Information

Application Deadline : 15 September 2010

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Posted on 2010-08-25 05:33:16

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