From K.Rankmore@massey.ac.nz Sun Feb 12 08:58:21 2012 From: Rankmore Krista To: marmam@devlists.uvic.ca Subject: [MARMAM] Common dolphin Photo-ID Volunteer Position in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:13:00 +0000 Message-ID: <257758$e20jb5@pd4mo1so-svcs.prod.shaw.ca> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="===============4503171104182357409==" --===============4503171104182357409== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Common dolphin Photo-ID Volunteer Position in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand=20 =20 A volunteer is needed to assist with a PhD study investigating the abundance,= social structure and site fidelity of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) in the= Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. This PhD project is part of the ongoing research = of the New Zealand Common Dolphin Project (NZCDP) and the Coastal-Marine Rese= arch Group (C-MRG) at Massey University Albany, Auckland. (http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz).=20 =20 PROJECT BACKGROUND:=20 =20 The Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, is an important habitat for common dolphins th= at are present in the Gulf all year and use the region extensively for foragi= ng, and as a calving and nursery ground. Common dolphins have been found to c= onsistently inhabit coastal waters making them vulnerable to the impacts of p= ollution, tourist interactions, recreational use and adjacent urban populatio= n growth. The aim of this project is to investigate the abundance, site fidel= ity and social structure of common dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.= =20 =20 DATES: June 2012 October 2012=20 =20 LOCATION: Auckland, New Zealand=20 =20 FIELDWORK:=20 The volunteer position entails assisting during field surveys and analysis of= common dolphin fin photo identification. The successful applicant will gain = valuable experience in conducting marine mammal field research, identifying i= ndividual common dolphins based on dorsal fin characteristics, and the use of= MS Access databases for archiving field data.=20 =20 Field work is physically and at times mentally demanding but it is a great op= portunity to gain knowledge in visual cetacean surveying, to get hands-on fie= ld experience in relation to survey techniques, photo-identification, behavio= ural observations, and improve practical skills (data analysis, photo-ID).=20 =20 Due to the training required, applicants should be available for a minimum of= 2 months, however all applicants will be considered. The placements commence= in June 2012. Fieldwork is weather dependent and can vary between weekdays = and weekends. Assistants need to be available full-time including weekends an= d be prepared to work long hours with early starts.=20 =20 RESPONSIBILITIES:=20 =20 Photo-identification of dolphins in the lab, including photo sorting, gradin= g, and matching, sighting data entry, assist in maintenance of long-term phot= o-id catalogue using a MS Access database and Finscan. Research assistants sh= ould be prepared to work long days in the office analysing of photographs and= matching them with the photo-identification catalogue (75% of the time).=20 =20 Assisting with boat-based photo-identification surveys of common dolphins fr= om a local dolphin watching vessel, collecting environmental, location, and b= ehavioural data for dolphin groups (25% of the time).=20 =20 This is a volunteer position, so there is unfortunately no monetary compensat= ion or living provisions. The successful candidate should arrange their own a= ccommodation in Auckland, living expenses, travel costs and visa. =20 =20 PREREQUISITES:=20 =20 Be reliable, adaptable, hardworking and patient as fieldwork is highly weath= er dependent. This means office based work during bad weather and long consec= utive days in the field when weather permits.=20 Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research=20 Fluently speak English=20 Be sociable, enthusiastic, and have a positive attitude=20 Strong interest in the marine environment and conservation=20 =20 =20 QUALIFICATIONS:=20 =20 Minimum of 18 years of age. The project is well suited to upper level underg= rads, recent grads and graduate students who have some background in Biology,= Marine Biology, Ecology, Zoology or related fields=20 Basic computer proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel and Access)=20 Field research including photo-identification experience is preferred but no= t required=20 Previous experience in survey techniques and especially in marine mammal res= earch is preferred but not required=20 Participants must be able to swim and should be comfortable working on boats= =20 First AID/CPR certification preferred but not required=20 =20 APPLICATION PROCESS:=20 Applicants should send a short email to me, using photo-id position as the su= bject line.=20 The email should include an outline of why you would like to work on this pro= ject, your qualifications and relevant experience. Please also attach a brief= CV including at least one reference acknowledging your relevant experience. = =20 Early application is recommended, as applications will be examined in order o= f reception.=20 =20 All the best,=20 Cheers ----------------------------------=20 Krista Rankmore=20 PhD Candidate=20 Coastal-Marine Research Group=20 Institute of Natural Sciences=20 Massey University=20 Private Bag 102 904=20 North Shore City 0745=20 Auckland=20 New Zealand=20 Tel: +64 (0) 9 414 0800 EXT 41520=20 Mob: +64 (0) 22 025 6290=20 Fax: + 64 (0) 9 443 9790=20 --===============4503171104182357409==--