SEEKING FIELD ASSISTANTS FOR RESEARCH ON SOUTHERN AUSTRALIAN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS IN METROPOLITAN ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Fieldwork dates:
Volunteers are needed beginning the 1st
May 2014 until the 31st of August 2014.
Application deadline:
14th March 2014
Project title:
Ecology of the endemic southern Australian bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops australis) in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia.
Institution:
Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL); Flinders University; South Australia
www.cebel.org.au /
www.facebook.com/CEBELresearch
Overview:
I am seeking experienced field assistants to assist with boat-based photo-ID and biopsy sampling of bottlenose dolphins in metropolitan Adelaide in South Australia, beginning the
1st of May 2014 until the 31st
of August 2014.
* Commitment to the full duration, or large periods, of this time will be
highly favoured.
This project aims to collect baseline information on the abundance, habitat use and social structure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops australis) in metropolitan Adelaide to improve the
scientific basis for their conservation and management.
This is an opportunity to gain experience in field techniques for small cetacean research and contribute
to a project with very high conservation and management value.
Duties:
Searching for dolphins, driving of the boat, photo identification, assistance in biopsy sampling, recording field observations, equipment cleaning and, data entry (incl. fin matching).
Expectations:
Field assistants need to be adaptable and patient as weather is highly dependent. Field work will vary between weekdays and weekends, and assistants will need to be prepared for early morning departures (6-7AM) and long days (6-8
hours) on the water for multiple consecutive days. Expect
up to a week between days off, as field work is weather dependent. If the weather isn’t right we will NOT be conducting the surveys and will be postponed. Between field days there will be the opportunity
for data entry and fin matching of identified individuals.
Prerequisites:
·
Experience of working on a small boat (highly desirable, Coxswain certificate will be
highly favoured);
·
Experience of photo-ID survey techniques (highly desirable);
·
Experience of field research on small cetaceans (highly desirable);
·
Enrolled in or completed a degree in biology, marine science, animal behaviour or a related field (desirable)
·
No history of debilitating seasickness (essential);
·
Be team-oriented, patient, and have an enthusiastic attitude to hard work, long hours and collecting data on the natural environment (essential);
·
Fluent in English (highly desirable).
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide monetary compensation or living provisions, and research
assistants will be responsible for their own travel to South Australia and their living expenses.
If you are interested, please send a CV, a brief covering letter outlining your relevant experience, and contact details of two relevant referees (with subject header “Field Assistant Application”) to
nikki.zanardo@flinders.edu.au by
Friday 14th March 2014.
Kind Regards,
Nikki
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Nikki Zanardo
PhD Candidate
Cetacean, Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab
&
Molecular Ecology Lab
School of Biological Sciences
Flinders University
(
Tel +61 8 8201 2357 |
* nikki.zanardo@flinders.edu.au
:
www.cebel.org.au |
: www.molecularecology.flinders.edu.au
My Page:
http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/nikki.zanardo
