Master 2 internship position: Finding meiofaunal bioindicators for the effects of deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone

Background
Despite the imminent possibility of deep-sea mining, little is known about both the communities that live at the seafloor, and the effect of mining on these communities. A time series of samples has been taken across an area in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ; An area of abyssal plains in the Pacific Ocean, containing abundant amounts of mineral-rich polymetallic nodules) that was test-mined by the prototype nodule collector “Patania II”. Using sediment samples taken from both different affected areas and nearby control areas we aim to describe the meiofaunal community (animals between 32 µm < 1000 µm; a size class known to contain animals that serve as good bioindicators to anthropogenic disturbances), in the hope of discovering bioindicators for the different community states (healthy, damaged by mining impact and damaged by sediment burial).

Research aim
During your internship you will study meiofaunal indicators of certain states of the community at the deep-sea lab of Ifremer, centre de Brest. The research will focus on the nematode community composition, and functional profiles of the nematode communities. Using multivariate analyses you will attempt to single out the species most likely to be indicators of the two different types of impact (direct impact by mining, indirect impact by sediment burial). You will work on the latest round of samples, taken in December 2024. Estimated lab- to desk-time ratio would be about 2 to 1, but can be discussed depending on interests of the student.

Approaches/techniques
Depending on the state of relevant machines either:
(1) You will use a flow-cytometer and 3D microscope to capture images of meiofaunal nematodes for identification up to genus level.
(2) You will make permanent slides of meiofaunal nematodes and use a light microscope for identification up to genus level.
You will use this data to compare the local communities of four different areas/treatments using multivariate analyses.
You will use known functional traits to incorporate this into the community comparison.

Remarks
Although this position takes place in France, due to the fluency of the daily supervisor this position will be mostly (preferably completely) in English.
As this internship supports the science of a PhD-project, the work done by the intern may contribute to a publication.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you have.