SEEKING RESEARCH ASSISTANTS FOR THE

CETACEAN RESEARCH UNIT, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

 

Program:          The South West Marine Research Program is a long-term, multi-faceted project on the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins of South West Australia. This program is based in Bunbury (south of Perth) and is a collaboration between Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit and numerous industry and non-profit partners. The research, of PhD and masters students, focuses on dolphin population dynamics, abundance, social structure and behaviour, habitat use, conservation genetics and foraging ecology.

 

http://mucru.org/research-projects/south-west-marine-research-program/

 

PhD Outline:   Here, I am specifically seeking ONE research volunteer to assist from now until April 2013 on my PhD project focussing on population dynamics and predictive habitat modelling of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in Bunbury. Long-term data will be used to investigate population dynamics and habitat use, in order to aid in future conservation and management efforts.

Benthic habitat mapping and photo identification fieldwork is conducted from Busselton to Binningyup within a 540km² area consisting of coastal beaches, inshore bays, estuarine inlets and a river. Using a rigid sampling design, this research is conducted year round via standardised line transect surveys (up to 5nm offshore) from a small research vessel.

This experience will be most useful to students or anyone hoping to pursue a career in behavioural ecology, population biology or marine science.

 

                        http://mucru.org/group-members/kate-sprogis/

 

Office:             Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit, South West Marine Research Program office based at the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury.

http://www.dolphindiscovery.com.au/

Duties:            Field: benthic habitat mapping, spotting wildlife, data collection, boat driving, photo identification

Office: Data entry, fin matching, project organisation

Computer programs used for data are: FinBase, ACDSee, Logger, Microsoft Access, Excel and Word.

 

Assistants should:

Be adaptable and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent. Fieldwork will vary between weekdays and weekends. When the weather permits fieldwork could be long and on consecutive days.

 

Preferred   skills/traits:PRE

1. Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, animal behaviour or a related field.

2. Previous field experience with wildlife (field data collection, photo-identification, boat handling skills).

3. Be enthusiastic, team oriented and have a positive attitude as well as a genuine interest in wildlife science.

 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide monetary compensation or living provisions and research assistants will be responsible for their own travel to Western Australia and living expenses. Please note, the Bunbury backpackers provide good discounts for assistants of the Dolphin Discovery Centre.

 

If you are interested in volunteering or interning, please provide a short CV and a cover letter to the attention of research assistant Krista Nicholson (k.nicholson@murdoch.edu.au).