December 2025 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

PhD position available (2026 start): Drone-based tissue sampling, body condition, and energetics of whales (WildBotics MSCA Doctoral Network, Theme 3)
by Fredrik Christiansen 21 Dec '25

21 Dec '25

Dear all, I am advertising a fully funded PhD position (DC10) within the ‘WildBotics – Autonomous Sampling with Robotics in the Wild for Nature Conservation’, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network project. The specific project is part of Theme 3 (WP3): Analysis of large, sample-based datasets for wildlife ecology & biodiversity conservation and will be hosted and enrolled at Aarhus University (Risø campus), Denmark, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark (Prof. Ulrik Pagh Schultz Lundquist) and the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (Prof. Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen). This PhD will develop and test a drone-based system for collecting skin and blubber samples from large whales, with a focus on bowhead whales in West Greenland. The approach aims to provide a less invasive alternative to current biopsy methods, enabling sampling of more elusive individuals and, where relevant, sampling from land. The system will be engineered at the University of Southern Denmark, in close collaboration with the PhD student, who will carry out extensive testing and ultimately field deployments. The project will therefore interface closely with technical developments from Themes 1 and 2 within WildBotics and contribute datasets for evaluating and training new robotic and analytical tools. Using the newly developed system, the PhD will collect tissue samples from bowhead whales (and potentially other species) to address questions related to nutritional status, body condition, bioenergetics, and prey consumption, contributing to the broader ecological objectives of Theme 3. While the first chapter of the PhD will focus on system development and validation, chapters 2 and 3 will address ecological questions that can be answered using these samples (e.g. pregnancy detection, sex-specific variation in prey consumption). We are therefore seeking an ecologist with a strong interest in working at the interface between ecology and engineering. Applicants should have a strong background or interest in ecology, physiology, and bioenergetics, and ideally ecological modelling. Experience with fieldwork, drones, data analysis, or programming (e.g. R) is advantageous but not essential. How to apply Applications must be submitted via the WildBotics recruitment portal: https://www.wildbotics.eu/recruitment<https://www.wildbotics.eu/recruitment?utm_source=chatgpt.com> The website provides full details on eligibility, required documents, and deadlines. Interested candidates are very welcome to contact me informally to discuss the project before applying. Application deadline: 7 January, 23:59 CET Dr Fredrik Christiansen Senior Researcher Marine Mammal Research, Department of Ecoscience Aarhus University Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark E-mail: f.christiansen(a)ecos.au.dk | Tel: +45 3133 2367 ResearcherID: O-3655-2017 ORCID: 0000-0001-9090-8458 Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=vkA5Y3EAAAAJ ResearchGate: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fredrik_Christiansen3

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New publication: Using drone-based infrared thermography for monitoring vital signs in dolphins
by Guido Parra Vergara 20 Dec '25

20 Dec '25

Dear colleagues, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our new open access publication in the Journal of Thermal Biology: White, C., Colefax, A. P., & Parra, G. J. (2026). Using drone-based infrared thermography for monitoring vital signs in dolphins. Journal of Thermal Biology, 135, 104353. ABSTRACT Monitoring wild animal health is essential for assessing environmental threats. Physiological parameters such as body temperature and respiration rate provide critical insights into an animal's condition but collecting these from free-ranging species is challenging. This study validated drone-based infrared thermography (drone-IRT) as a non-invasive method for estimating dolphin vital signs, evaluating its accuracy, reliability, and practical application. Using a multirotor drone with an integrated thermal camera, we obtained thermographic images of 14 common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care. Flights were conducted in Austral summer and winter at heights of 5 m–30 m, with the camera angled at 0° (zenith) and 50° pitch. Dolphins were either swimming freely or beached. From thermal images, we extracted temperatures based on the heat received from the blowhole, body, and dorsal fin, along with respiration rate estimates. Close-range IRT reference temperatures and environmental variables were recorded throughout each flight. Robust linear mixed-effects models assessed the influence of flight and environmental variables on measurement accuracy and precision. Spearman's rank correlation evaluated the relationship between drone-IRT blowhole temperature and rectal temperature. Drone-IRT measurements closely matched close-range IRT reference values. The most reliable temperature estimates occurred at a combined 10 m and a 0° angle (accuracy: −0.19 °C – 0.08 °C, precision: −0.07 °C – 0.08 °C). The most accurate respiration rate estimates were obtained at 10 m while dolphins swam freely. A weak negative correlation was found between blowhole and rectal temperatures (r = −0.19). This study demonstrates that drone-IRT is a reliable, non-invasive method for monitoring dolphins' surface temperature and respiration rates, but not rectal temperature. The article is available here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2025.104353 All the best, Guido ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guido J. Parra, PhD Associate Professor | College of Science and Engineering Research leader | Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL) Staff: http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/guido.parra Lab: www.cebel.org.au<http://www.cebel.org.au/> GoogleScholar<https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=7YisEoAAAAAJ> | ResearchGate<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guido_Parra> | LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/guido-j-parra-093217183/> Flinders University, GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia Tel: +61 8 8201 3565|email: guido.parra(a)flinders.edu.au<mailto:guido.parra@flinders.edu.au> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please consider the environment before printing this email

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New publication: Deep breath out: molecular survey of selected pathogens in blow and skin biopsies from North Atlantic cetaceans
by Helena Costa 20 Dec '25

20 Dec '25

Dear all, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent publication: "Deep breath out: molecular survey of selected pathogens in blow and skin biopsies from North Atlantic cetaceans" * Abstract: Cetacean morbillivirus, herpesvirus, avian influenza virus (AIV) and Brucella spp. have been linked to numerous cetacean strandings in the Northeast (NE) Atlantic. Yet, their prevalence in free-living cetaceans remains insufficiently investigated, particularly in northern regions. Between 2016 and 2025, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and, opportunistically, fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), were sampled in two foraging grounds in northern Norway (Skjervøy and Andenes), in Iceland and in Cape Verde. Blow samples (n = 76), skin biopsies (n = 45), and organ samples from one stranded pilot whale were collected and screened for cetacean morbillivirus, herpesvirus, AIV and Brucella spp, via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In northern Norway, cetacean morbillivirus, identified as the dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) strain, was detected in the blows of two asymptomatic groups of humpback whales, in the blow of one sperm whale in poor health and in the kidney of a stranded pilot whale. An alphaherpesvirus was detected in the blows of five humpback whale groups sampled in Norway, Iceland, and Cape Verde, while a gammaherpesvirus was detected in one humpback whale skin biopsy, sampled in Norway. No other samples tested positive to any of the pathogens, including AIV or Brucella spp. Our results demonstrate that minimally invasive sampling, particularly blow sampling, can be used for pathogen surveillance in free-ranging cetaceans. They also provide new insights into the circulation of cetacean morbillivirus and herpesviruses in cetaceans from the NE Atlantic. Continuous monitoring of pathogen exposure, alongside other stressors, will be crucial to assess the cumulative health implications for these cetaceans. The article is freely available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-05152-6 Cheers, Helena Costa DVM, PhD helena.g.costa(a)hotmail.com Nord University Bodø, Norway

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ECS festive newsletter
by Mariel ten Doeschate 19 Dec '25

19 Dec '25

Dear all, Thank you to everyone who has submitted an abstract/workshop for the 37th European Cetacean Society Conference 2026 (ECS2026) which will be held in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom, from the 20th - 24th of April 2026. Before we all break for the festive period, please find your latest ECS conference newsletter by clicking this link: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/CHwirJ1eUjGVLryA In this edition: - Updates on conference organisation from your local and scientific committee - Important information for abstract reviewers - And a call for more! - Discounted flights with Loganair to Dundee airport You will also find links to book discounted accommodation, as well as info on how to get to Dundee the easy way. For now, we wish you and your families a wonderful festive holiday. Kind regards, *ECS2026 Local Organising Committee* Ailsa Hall, Joanna Kershaw, Carol Sparling, and Mariel ten Doeschate

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Two recent publications on marine mammals and underwater noise
by Fannie Shabangu 19 Dec '25

19 Dec '25

Dear MARMAM Community I am pleased to announce the publication of the below two papers on marine mammals and underwater noise: 1. Shabangu FW, Yemane D, Stander N, Estabrook BJ. 2025 Underwater soundscape indicates low anthropogenic influence around two sub-Antarctic islands. Royal Society Open Science 12: 250677. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.250677 Abstract Contributions and effects of anthropogenic activities on the underwatersoundscape of the sub-Antarctic regions remain poorly studied. Over a 21-monthperiod (April 2021 to December 2022), we recorded underwater noise levels amid twosub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (PEIs) within an offshore marine protectedarea with the aim to quantitatively investigate the sources of underwater noiseand the impact of such noise on the detectability of marine mammal vocalizations.We measured underwater noise levels within the low (20–120 and 121–800 Hz),medium (801–25 000 Hz) and high (25 001–48 000 Hz) frequency bands. Wind speed wasthe primary predictor of low and medium frequency underwater noise levels,whereas iceberg volume was the primary predictor at the high frequency band.Probabilities of detecting vocalizations of Antarctic blue, fin, humpback, Antarcticminke and killer whales decreased with increasing noise levels. On thecontrary, probabilities of detecting sei and Madagascan pygmy blue whalevocalizations increased with noise levels. Overall, these novel resultsindicate that geophonic noise dominates the underwater soundscape of the PEIsin the absence of intense anthropogenic activities such as marine traffic, andthat the detectability of marine mammal underwater vocalizations isspecies-specific. 2. Shabangu, F.W. 2026.Sperm whale acoustic ecology around two sub-Antarctic islands. MarineEnvironmental Research 215: 107805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107805 AbstractSpermwhales are cosmopolitan in nature, but very little is known about theiroccurrence in the sub-Antarctic region. This study aimed to investigate theacoustic occurrence of sperm whales relative to environmental conditions andunderwater noise around two sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (PEIs) usingpassive acoustic monitoring data collected between early 2021 and early 2023.Sperm whale clicks were detected continuously throughout the study period withhigh presence of calls in February through August, highlighting the PEIs as anessential habitat with sufficient year-round prey for this species. Moreover,the February through August peak occurrence corresponds to the migration periodof males from Antarctica to the low latitudes for mating. Diel vocalizingpattern revealed high nighttime vocalization that varied slightly betweenseasons. Wind speed was classified by the random forest model as the mostimportant predictor of sperm whale acoustic occurrence, indicating possiblemasking and attenuation of whale signals by wind-induced noise and wind-inducedair bubbles respectively. Generalized additive model showed that theprobability of detecting sperm whale clicks decreased with increasing highfrequency band (25001–48000 Hz) noise, reflecting a significant influence ofthe high frequency noise on this species’ ecology. This is the first study todocument the acoustic presence of sperm whales around the sub-Antarctic PEIs,showcasing the capability of bioacoustics method to effectively study marine mammalsthat are rarely sighted. Sperm whales should be considered in the spatialmanagement and conservation plans of the PEIs given their year-round presencein this region. The sperm whale paper is openly accessible through this share link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1mIN5W5UJVTdv I wish you all and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2026. Kind regards,Fannie _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Fannie W. Shabangu, PhD (He/Him) Marine BiologistDepartment of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Cape Town, South Africa E-mail: fannie.shabangu(a)yahoo.com Research Fellow Mammal Research InstituteWhale Unit University of PretoriaHatfield, South Africa

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New publication on grey and harbour seal at-sea distribution in Northwest Europe
by Matt Carter 18 Dec '25

18 Dec '25

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to announce the publication of a new study in Journal of Applied Ecology: Carter et al. At-sea distribution of seals on the Northwest European Shelf: Towards transboundary conservation and management. The study presents at-sea distribution maps for seven European countries (UK, France, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark) alongside some additional resources for the UK (distribution maps for the UK constituent nations and dependencies, Seal Monitoring Units and Special Areas of Conservation). In addition to the maps, we present some analysis of transboundary movements and outline important considerations for offshore developments and management strategies. Link to paper: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.70236 Link to datasets: https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/datasets/datasets-from-carter-e… Abstract: Quantifying and mitigating transboundary effects of anthropogenic activity is a key challenge in environmental management, particularly for wide-ranging species such as large predators, fish and migratory birds, relying on habitats across multiple national jurisdictions. This challenge is especially complex in marine ecosystems, where the movement of species and impacts across borders is largely unobserved. Central-place foragers, such as pinnipeds and seabirds, exemplify this complexity: abundance is typically assessed on local (regional or national) scales on land, yet at-sea movements and drivers of abundance occur on broader transboundary scales. Resolving this mismatch is critical to effective conservation, especially in areas such as the Northwest European Shelf (NWES), which features globally important predator populations (including two pinniped species) alongside growing anthropogenic pressures and a mosaic of national maritime borders. We model an unprecedented GPS dataset from 236 grey (Halichoerus grypus) and 606 harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) tracked in waters of seven countries across the NWES (United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark). Using regional habitat association models, we generate at-sea distribution estimates for both species at 5?km resolution, scaled to haulout counts, producing country-specific and NWES-wide density maps. Analysis of the extent to which seals making foraging trips from one country occupy the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of other countries revealed substantial transboundary overlap, particularly for grey seals, and harbour seals in the southern North Sea. A case study apportioning grey seal density within three adjacent offshore marine protected areas in different EEZs revealed that, where total density in a given area is required, overlooking transboundary distribution can underrepresent numbers by an order of magnitude. This study provides the first comprehensive, regionally scalable distribution estimates for pinnipeds across the NWES and its constituent countries. The modelling framework is adaptable to other central-place and migratory species, supporting transboundary biodiversity assessments and international conservation policy. We discuss common limitations and misconceptions of species distribution estimates, highlight priorities for future work and underscore the need for transboundary efforts to manage wide-ranging species, providing a foundation for future ecological modelling and decision-making across shared ecosystems. Best wishes, <http://intheloop.newsweaver.com/intheloop/17cae036ofohmxeaknevkb/external?a…>Dr Matt Carter Research Fellow Sea Mammal Research Unit School of Biology University of St Andrews KY16 8LB

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New article on nutrient concentrations in minke whale faeces
by Brandt, Carla Freitas 18 Dec '25

18 Dec '25

Dear Colleagues, On behalf of my co-authors I am pleased to present our recently published paper: Freitas, C., Gundersen, K., Lindblom, L., Biuw, M., Haug, T., 2023. Nutrient concentrations in minke whale faeces and the potential impact on dissolved nutrient pools off Svalbard, Norway. Progress in Oceanography, 210, 102927. Abstract: There is increasing interest in assessing the impact of whales on nutrient and carbon cycling in the ocean. By fertilising surface waters with nutrient-rich faeces, whales may stimulate primary production and thus carbon uptake, but robust assessments of such effects are lacking. Based on the analysis of faeces collected from minke whales (n = 31) off Svalbard, Norway, this study quantified the concentration of macro and micronutrients in whale faeces prior to their release in seawater. Concentrations of the macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in minke whale faeces were 50.1 ± 10.3 and 70.9 ± 12.1 g kg−1 dry weight, respectively, while the most important micronutrients were zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). By combining measured faecal nutrient concentrations with estimated prey-consumption and prey-assimilation rates, we calculate that the current population of approximately 15, 000 individuals in the small management area (SMA) of Svalbard defecates daily 7 ± 1.4 tonnes (t) N and 10 ± 1.7 t P during summer. The molar ratio of N:P in minke whale faeces was 1.6:1, meaning that N was proportionally limiting, when compared to average elemental ratios of 16:1 in phytoplankton. In case of no N limitation in surface waters at that time, the release of elemental P through defecation in surface waters has the potential to stimulate 407 ± 70 t of carbon per day during summer as new or regenerated primary production in the SMA of Svalbard. This amounts to 0.2 to 4 % of daily net primary production in this region. This study provides the first assessment of nutrient concentration in whale faeces prior to their dissolution in sea water. Further research, namely on the amount of N released via urine and seasonal changes in excreted nutrients, is needed to better assess the full potential of whale nutrient additions to dissolved nutrient pools in surface waters at regional and global scales. The article is freely available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079661122001860 Kind regards, Carla Carla Freitas Institute of Marine Research, Norway

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Sea Watch Foundation 2026 Anglesey Internships (North Wales)
by mel.mckenzie＠seawatchfoundation.org.uk 18 Dec '25

18 Dec '25

Dear MARMAM Community, The Sea Watch Foundation is pleased to announce the release of their 2026 internships in Anglesey, North Wales. APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 ARE NOW OPEN The Sea Watch Foundation is seeking Research Interns and a Research and Intern Assistant for the 2026 season at its field office in Anglesey, North Wales, to engage in an exciting citizen science initiative to engage local communities and visitors in observing and recording marine mammals and birds as part of a marine conservation project. These are 5-week internship periods throughout our field season from April-October. This position will suit volunteers who have a strong interest in marine conservation and recognise the importance of raising awareness of the marine environment by involving the public from all age groups. The interns will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Raising Sea Watch Foundation’s profile locally (taking part in events, talking to the public) 2. Carrying out surveys of marine mammals and seabirds in the area of SW Anglesey and Caernarfon Bay, undertaking watches from land and participating in boat-based surveys 3. Engaging with local communities, encouraging and training citizen scientists to collect data on marine mammals and seabirds 4. Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch education and outreach activities 5. Participating in presentations and creating activities to take to local schools/groups, as well as using our specialised talks at local events 6. Assisting in the creation of educational/promotional materials (posters, displays, flyers, social media posts) 7. Participating in training courses in Anglesey and Gwynedd 8. Representing Sea Watch at public events around Anglesey and Gwynedd 9. Training and supervision will be provided by the Project Manager and Research and Intern Assistant for the duration of the intern’s stay. The Research and Intern Assistant will ideally be available for the entire field season, with the option to split the role into two positions if they are unable to commit to the full season. They need to demonstrate their ability to deal with varied tasks from overseeing research interns, public outreach to boat based survey and scientific data collection. They will be encouraged to take initiatives and support the Project Lead and Project Officers in all aspects of their work, as well as with education & outreach activities in the region which due to its natural beauty receives large numbers of visitors during the summer. For more information and how to apply, please see the links to our website below. Research Intern: https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/anglesey-research-intern/ Research and Intern Assistant: https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/anglesey-internships/research-and-int… Mel McKenzie Volunteer Coordinator Cydgysylltwr Gwirfoddolwyr Sea Watch Foundation Ynys Môn e:mel.mckenzie@seawatchfoundation.org.uk This role is funded by the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) as part of the Sea Watchers Môn project, transforming the way we support communities. [image.png]

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New open access publication on proteomic characterization of bottlenose dolphin urine
by Cusick, Kelly Nicole (Student) 17 Dec '25

17 Dec '25

Dear MARMAM community, My co-authors and I are pleased to share our recent publication, “Proteomic Characterization of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Urine,” in the Journal of Proteome Research, now available open access at Https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jproteome.5c00718<https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jproteome.5c00718> Abstract: Urinary proteins offer multifaceted insights into tissue repair, dysfunction, and renal health, with significant implications for both human and veterinary medicine. However, marine mammal medicine lacks comprehensive studies on urine protein composition. This study aimed to describe the urine proteome of wild common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at two Gulf of Mexico sites (Sarasota Bay, FL, and Barataria Bay, LA) and to compare urine proteins by sex. Ten urine samples (Barataria Bay, LA: N = 6; Sarasota Bay, FL: N = 4) were analyzed by nano LC-MS/MS. Peptide spectral matching identified 1872 protein families across all individuals (FDR < 0.01). Cystatin 11 was notably present in males (median rank abundance: 8.1%) and absent in females (median: 0.0%), with semen contamination elevating protein diversity in male urine. Two putative antimicrobial proteins, cathelicidin and lysozyme, accounted for 2.66% of the urine proteome, suggesting an innate immune defense mechanism. In total, 27 proteins that are recognized as acute kidney injury markers in humans, and 12 putative stone formation proteins were detected in dolphin urine. This research provides a reference database of urinary proteins that can be used to develop advanced methods for investigating dolphin renal health. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD054283. Cusick, K. N., Bland, A., Stacy, N. I., McFee, W. E., Takeshita, R., Wells, R. S., Smith, C.R., Schwacke, L. & Janech, M. G. (2025). Proteomic Characterization of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Urine. Journal of Proteome Research. Thanks, Kelly Cusick, M.S. College of Charleston

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Job Opportunity: Research Associate (North Atlantic Right Whales) at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
by Rood, Kari 17 Dec '25

17 Dec '25

Please see below for information regarding a Research Associate position in St. Petersburg, FL. https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/ST-PETERSBURG-RESEARCH-ASSOCIATE-FWC-7707284… Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Research-Marine Mammal Section Research Associate Salary: $45,000 annually Posting closes 1/4/2026 Position Overview and Responsibilities: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Fish and Wildlife Research Institute is seeking a Research Associate within the North Atlantic right whale research team. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and analyzing right whale and vessel traffic spatial and relational databases to improve knowledge of the distribution of right whales and the threats they face in the Southeastern U.S. The successful candidate will also be responsible for developing and managing web mapping applications to serve relevant spatial data to collaborators and other stakeholders. Additionally, the successful candidate may have supervisory responsibilities. Applicants with any of the following demonstrated experiences are encouraged to apply and may be given preference: applying scientific programming languages, such as R and Python; processing, managing, and analyzing AIS vessel traffic data or other large geospatial databases; developing and managing web mapping and data visualization applications; and conducting ecological analyses using hierarchical models, such as distance sampling, mark-recapture, and spatial capture-recapture. Applicants must apply at the posting link to be considered. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position include knowledge of marine mammal ecology, GIS methods and programs (ArcGIS Pro), scientific programming, spatial analysis techniques, data management principles. Ability to maintain, process, analyze, and interpret spatial and relational data using GIS and scientific programming languages. Skill in the use of personal computers, low code tools, GIS technology, scientific programming, and databases. Knowledge of wildlife biology, terminology, principles and techniques used in conservation research on wildlife species. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, plan and organize work assignments with minimal supervision, and communicate effectively with staff. Ability to effectively supervise others. Minimum Qualifications: 6 years professional experience in a closely related biological field or laboratory program is required. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and two years of experience in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics; or two years of experience as a Research Assistant - FWC; or, A master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the educational areas listed above can substitute for one year of the required experience; or, A doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the educational areas listed above can substitute for the required experience. Preferred Qualifications: Preference may be given to candidates who possess a master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics; Applicants with any of the following demonstrated experiences are encouraged to apply and may be given preference: applying scientific programming languages, such as R and Python; processing, managing, and analyzing AIS vessel traffic data or other large geospatial databases; developing and managing web mapping and data visualization applications; conducting ecological analyses using hierarchical models, such as distance sampling, mark-recapture, and spatial capture-recapture; and conducting spatial analysis using GIS software. Preference may also be given to candidates that have demonstrated experience with scientific project management, implementing wildlife conservation research and/or monitoring projects, candidates who have experience with fish and wildlife data collection and analysis, and natural resource and relational database management. Requirements: Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate. Office hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Not eligible for Telework. Responses to qualifying questions should be verifiable by skills and/or experience stated on the profile application/resume. Information should be provided regarding any gaps in employment. To view this posting and apply: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/ST-PETERSBURG-RESEARCH-ASSOCIATE-FWC-7707284…

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