This is forwarded from Michael Noad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Please reply to him, not to me. --Dave Mellinger =====================================================================
The University of Queensland is seeking applications from volunteers to help with fieldwork on humpback whales in 2004. As in 2002 and 2003, fieldwork for HARC, the Humpback Acoustic Research Collaboration, will take place during the whales' southward migration in September and October. In addition to this, however, we will also be conducting a major land-based survey earlier in the year of the east Australian humpback population from Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Is, near Brisbane. -------------------------------------------- Point Lookout Survey This survey will run for 14 weeks from 23 May to 28 August and will be funded by the Federal Department of Environment and Heritage. It will be used to estimate the absolute abundance of the population and, in the context of previous surveys, to calculate the apparent rate of population increase. While the survey itself is entirely land-based, two additional projects will also be conducted: (i) acoustic recordings of whales will be collected via a radio-linked, moored hydrophone buoy, and (ii) over the peak five weeks of the migration (mid-June to mid-July), a boat will be used to collect photo-IDs, biopsies, and behavioural data. Volunteers will be expected to work and live as part of a large team. Individual volunteers will spend approximately five hours daily (in two shifts) counting and observing passing whales from the Point Lookout headland. Volunteers must pay for their own way to the study site but food (basic groceries) and accommodation are provided once there. They may have an opportunity to participate in the acoustic and boat-based data collection, but this will depend on timing and the attitude and abilities of individuals. Volunteers for the Point Lookout survey will need to be available for a minimum of two weeks. -------------------------------------------- HARC - the Humpback Acoustic Research Collaboration HARC is a large collaborative study involving the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the University of Queensland, and guest researchers from the Universities of Newcastle and Sydney. The project is funded by the US Office of Naval Research and DSTO. In 2004 fieldwork will take place from 18 September to 31 October at Peregian Beach, approximately 140km north of Brisbane. HARC is a multi-disciplinary study of the passing whales during their southward migration and is comprised of several projects. Projects that will involve volunteers include the collection of behavioural and positional data from a land station, the acoustic recording and tracking of singers using an array of hydrophone buoys moored offshore, and the boat-based collection of photo-IDs, biopsies and behavioural data. Other projects include the recording of ambient sea and surf noise (SIO) and the tagging of some individual whales with DTAGs, digital tags that record acoustic, depth and movement data (WHOI). Volunteers for HARC should be available for the entire 6 week study (although exceptional candidates may be considered for shorter periods). --------------------------------------------- ALTHOUGH APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR EITHER THE POINT LOOKOUT SURVEY OR HARC, A FURTHER NOTICE ABOUT HARC WILL BE POSTED ON MARMAM LATER IN THE YEAR AND APPLICATIONS FOR HARC WILL NOT BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED UNTIL THEN (around June). There is no due date on the applications for the Point Lookout survey although the first round of offers will occur before the end of March. Either project will suit young scientists with genuine interests in humpback whale behaviour, behavioural ecology, acoustics, communication, and population assessment. Successful applicants will: - have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research - be able to live and work constructively with others in a team - have a good level of physical fitness - be a competent swimmer - not have fussy dietary requirements (vegetarians excepted!) - be able to concentrate for long periods Preference will be given to those who: - have a degree in biology, marine science, or veterinary science - have previous marine mammal field experience - have previously used a theodolite Applicants should send an email introducing yourself to Michael Noad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dave Paton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Ceri Morris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Josh Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, and Becca Dunlop <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. The email should include: - which project you are applying for - dates when you will be available - a brief CV (usually as an attachment) - contact details of two referees (usually contained in the CV) As mentioned above, applications will be accepted for HARC, but will be put aside at this stage until later in the year - selection will occur in June or July. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael Noad BVSc PhD Lecturer Veterinary Anatomy School of Veterinary Science University of Queensland St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia Ph. (07)3365-2088 Mob. 0416-270567 Fax. (07)3365-1255 Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
