MSc Internship Opportunity at Nantes University: Landscape Connectivity and Fragmentation in European Macrotidal Estuaries
- Host institution: Nantes Université (ISOMer)
- Supervision: Vona Méléder
- Partners: Harokopio University of Athens, GIP Seine-Aval, University of Twente
- Duration: 5–6 months, starting in March 2026
- Profile: Master student with strong GIS / geomatics expertise
- To apply: send a CV and a cover letter to vona.meleder@univ-nantes.fr before 10/12/2025
Objectives of the Internship
The student will begin by conducting a comprehensive inventory of all spatial datasets available for each estuary, including habitat maps, topographic and bathymetric data, remote sensing products (e.g., Sentinel-2), and existing ecological layers. This step has been started at least for the Loire and the Scheldt, but should be completed to understand data availability, resolution and coherence across systems, and to prepare harmonised geodatabases that can support multiestuary comparison. Building on this foundation, the student will then reproduce and adapt the REWRITE methodology to evaluate landscape/seascape structure. This will involve classifying intertidal habitats, generating 2 standardised spatial layers, and calculating a suite of landscape metrics—such as Number of Patches, Edge Density, and Patch Richness Density—using FRAGSTATS or equivalent R tools. The analysis will be carried out at different spatial scales (patch, habitat, seascape) to capture both local fragmentation patterns and broader connectivity gradients.
A key component of the internship will be the comparative analysis of these estuaries, aiming to
identify commonalities and differences in fragmentation processes, connectivity hotspots, and
structural weaknesses. This comparison will also explore how landscape/seascape structure relates to ecological
functions relevant to REWRITE, such as carbon fluxes, habitat resilience or biodiversity support. Finally, the student
will formulate operational recommendations for restoration and rewilding, possibly including the identification of
priority zones for restoring connectivity, potential barriers or opportunities for rewilding, and maps or cartographic
outputs tailored for participative workshops with stakeholders.
Methods and Tools
- GIS: QGIS and/or ArcGIS Pro
- Landscape metrics: FRAGSTATS, R (landscapemetrics)
- Remote sensing: Sentinel-2, orthophotos, Lidar
- Geodatabase harmonisation and spatial analysis workflows
Candidate Profile
- Strong skills in GIS and cartography
- Interest in coastal/estuarine systems and landscape ecology
- Ability to work with multi-source spatial datasets
- Autonomy and scientific writing abilities
