SEEKING RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

PROJECT: Enhancing the ecological and genetic basis for the conservation and management of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific 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-Pacific 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-Pacific 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:

1. Have a background in biology, marine science, animal behaviour or a related field
2. Previous field experience with photo-identification and boat handling skills would be advantageous but not a prerequisite.
3. Be enthusiastic, hard-working, team oriented, have a positive attitude and a genuine interest in marine mammal ecology and behaviour.
4. 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.
5. Be prepared to rise early in the morning and work long hours in a small boat.
6. 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. Parra (g.parra@uq.edu.au) by Monday, the 19^th of March.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guido J. Parra, 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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~