[REDE CETACEOS - MAMMAR] Estagio: Golfinhos, Australia

[antonio mig]

SEEKING RESEARCH ASSISTANTS
     
   PROJECT: Enhancing the ecological and genetic basis for the conservation and management of Australian snubfin and Indo- Pa cific humpback dolphins.
     
   I am seeking a skilled research assistant for the 2007 field season to assist me in collecting behavioural and genetic data on Australian Snubfin and Indo- Pa cific humpback dolphins off the northeast coast of Queensland ,  Australia . The field seasons for 2007 will last 4 months starting in May and ending in August. Our fieldwork will be based in the city of Townsville , northeast Queensland . Because of the training required, applicants must be willing to commit to the project for a minimum of 4 weeks. Applicants willing to participate for the whole 4 months will be given preference.
     
   BACK GROUND: Knowledge about the ecology and anthropogenic threats to  Australia 's coastal dolphins is scant, particularly for rare tropical species such as the snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) and the Indo-  Pa cific humpback (Sousa chinensis) dolphins. Recent research carried out by GJP in Cleveland Bay, northeast Queensland, indicates that Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins occur in small, localised populations close to coastal and estuarine environments. This information suggests that populations of both species are vulnerable to anthropogenic mortality and potentially rapid population declines. This study aims to improve the basis for the conservation and management of snubfin and humpback dolphins by: 1) developing spatial models of habitat suitability, 2) identifying areas of potential conflict with anthropogenic activities, and 3) assessing the level of genetic structure among populations of snubfin and humpback dolphins in  Queensland waters.
    
   FIELD WORK: All observations and data collection will be conducted from a 5.6m aluminium boat equipped with a 100HP. Assistants should be prepared to work long hours (06:00 to 16:00 hours depending on weather conditions) and be expected to participate in the following duties: photo-identification, video, behavioural, and biopsy data collection, fin-matching, and database maintenance. Aboard the research boat assistants will be required to assist in boat piloting and handling, and participate in all regular duties related to the maintenance of the boat and research equipment. Field work is demanding but you will have a great opportunity to observe two of Australia ’s rarest coastal dolphins and also gain hands-on experience in relation to survey techniques, photo-identification, behavioural observations, and genetic sampling of marine mammals. Such experience will prove valuable to anyone hoping to pursue a career in wildlife ecology, animal behaviour, and conservation
 biology.
 
 
   APPLICANTS SHOULD: 
   
   Have a background in biology, marine science,      animal behaviour or a related field 
   Previous field experience with photo-identification      and boat handling skills would be advantageous but not a prerequisite. 
   Be enthusiastic, hard-working, team oriented,      have a positive attitude and a genuine interest in marine mammal ecology      and behaviour. 
   Be adaptable, flexible and patient as fieldwork      is highly weather dependent. This means: 1) sometimes we will be stuck      onshore for long periods of time, 2) sometimes we will have long      consecutive fieldwork days, and 3) fieldwork during weekends may be      required.
   Be prepared to rise early in the morning and      work long hours in a small boat. 
   Be able to commit for a minimum of 4 weeks      (though applicants willing to commit for the whole 4 months will be      preferred) 
  Unfortunately I am unable to provide salary or housing and research assistants will be responsible for travel to Townsville and their own living expenses. Food and living space will be provided during fieldtrips outside of the Townsville area. If you are interested, please provide a short CV with references and a letter explaining your interest in the project and career goals to Guido J. Pa rra (g.parra  uq.edu.au) by Monday, the 19th of March.
     
     
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Guido J.  Pa rra, PhD
   Postdoctoral Fellow
    School of  Veterinary Science
  University of  Queensland
   St Lucia, QLD 4072,  Australia
 
 Ph: (07) 3365-3066  Mob: 0437630843
 Fax: (07) 3365-1255  Email: g.parra  uq.edu.au
   Webpage: http://www.uq.edu.au/vetschool/index.html?page=47564&pid=47559 
   Behavioural Ecology Research Group: http://www.uq.edu.au/berg

 
---------------------------------
The fish are biting.
 Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing.
-------------- próxima parte ----------
Um anexo em HTML foi limpo...
URL: http://cetaceos.net/pipermail/mammar_cetaceos.net/attachments/20070221/62fb2132/attachment.html