Master Thesis Opportunity: Modeling the River Continuum Concept in a Changing World

(Bachelor Thesis might be possible upon request)

The River Continuum Concept (RCC) is a well-known ecological theory that describes how the composition of macroinvertebrate feeding groups changes along the course of a river, from its source to its mouth. Despite its wide recognition, surprisingly little work has been done to quantify these changes using straightforward, data-driven models.

In this project, we aim to assess how these feeding group patterns vary not only along natural river gradients but also under different levels of human impact. In near-natural systems, riparian vegetation limits the input of light, fine sediments, and nutrients. In contrast, rivers in agricultural or urban areas often receive excess fine particulate organic matter upstream due to runoff and the absence of vegetative buffers. These changes can lead to altered invertebrate communities, such as increased dominance of collector and filter feeder groups.

To investigate this, we are looking for an enthusiastic Master's student with an interest in freshwater ecology and ecological modeling. Some experience with R, statistics, and GIS is ideal—but more importantly, you should be curious and motivated to work with ecological data and understand large-scale patterns in biodiversity.

If this sounds like something you enjoy working on, feel free to reach out:

Contact: Dr. Willem Kaijser