KiaOra! A position is open for volunteers to assist with bottlenose and common dolphin field surveys in the East Coast Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, from November 2010 to April 2011. PROJECT BACKGROUND: Growing interest in observing and swimming with free-ranging cetaceans has contributed to a rapid growth of dolphin-based tourism operations. The present study aims to assess the effects of interacting activities on common and bottlenose dolphin behaviour within the East Coast Bay of Plenty waters. FIELD WORK: Observations and data collection will mainly be conducted from a 5.5m research boat equipped with an outboard engine. Surveys will be carried out in the coastal waters of the East Coast Bay of Plenty, starting from Tauranga. Fieldwork will be weather dependent and may vary between weekdays and weekends, so volunteers should be available full-time including weekends and be prepared to work long hours with early starts. Aboard the research boat assistants will be required to assist in boat handling and data collection (photo-identification, behaviour monitoring). Volunteers are also expected to participate in data entry and database/catalogue maintenance duties. Field work is physically and at times mentally demanding but it is a great opportunity to gain knowledge in visual cetacean surveying, to get hands-on field experience in relation to survey techniques, photo-identification, behavioral observations, and improve practical skills. PREREQUISITES: - Be reliable, adaptable, hardworking and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent. This means office based work during bad weather and long consecutive days in the field when weather permits. - Be prepared to work long days with early start in a small vessel. - Be sociable, enthusiastic and have a positive attitude. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: - A background in Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Zoology or related field - Basic computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel and Access) + ArcGIS - Field research experience with marine mammals (preferred but not required) - Must be able to swim - A full driving license (manual transmission) - Boat operation experience (preferred but not required) - An ability to work, live and communicate well with others Priority will be given to volunteers available for a minimum of 2 months, however all applicants will be considered. This is a volunteer position, so there is unfortunately no monetary compensation or living provisions. Volunteers will be responsible for travel to Tauranga and their own living expenses. Pick up from Auckland may be possible but will be dependent on arrival time. If you are interested, please send a letter of interest, a CV (with photo) and contacts for referees to a.m.meissner@massey.ac.nz<mailto:a.m.meissner@massey.ac.nz> Cheers, Anna ------------------------------------------------- Anna M. Meissner PhD student Coastal-Marine Research Group Institute of Natural Sciences Massey University Private Bag 102 904 North Shore City, 0745 Auckland, New Zealand Tel: +64 9 414 0800 ext 41520 Cell: +64 22 603 6646 Fax: +64 9 443 9790 Email: a.m.meissner@massey.ac.nz<mailto:a.m.meissner@massey.ac.nz> Web: http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz<http://cmrg.massey.ac.nz/> -------------------------------------------------