M.S. Project Virginia Tech Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences This study will explore the top-down and bottom-up influences on shorebird productivity, survival, habitat use, and foraging dynamics in relation to beach management practices at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (MCBCL) in coastal North Carolina. We will focus our studies on Wilsons plover, least terns, and red knots (abundance and distribution only). Our objectives are threefold: 1) To understand the biotic and abiotic variables that drive shorebird foraging and nesting distributions, abundance, reproductive output, and survival on MCBCL, 2) To relate trends in shorebird foraging and nesting distributions, abundance, survival, and reproductive output to variation in land use and management practices, and 3) To understand those elements of meso-predator ecology on barrier islands needed to enhance shorebird and turtle conservation and most efficiently control predators as needed (e.g. seasonal distribution and abundance of predators). This project is one component of a larger ecosystem-based collaborative research project, the Defense Coastal Estuarine Program. There will be simultaneous studies on-going in barrier island, terrestrial, aquatic, and marsh systems. This will be a collaborative effort between Virginia Tech, MCBCL, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, and University of North Carolinas Institute of Marine Sciences. Incumbent will be part of two active labs at Virginia Tech focused on avian and mammalian population and behavioral ecology. Other lab members are studying piping plovers, red knots, caracaras, fossa, and lemurs. The graduate program at Virginia Tech currently has graduate students working on a wide range of resource conservation issues.
Duties: Complete study design in consultation with co-major professors (Sarah Karpanty and Jim Fraser) and MCBCL biologists; collect behavioral and ecological data to test hypotheses and fit models; supervise technicians; operate trucks and boat; coordinate with MCBCL, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other researchers; analyze data, write reports and publish research results in refereed journals with advisors. Fieldwork involves long hot days, early mornings and nights. Incumbent will live at a field site for a portion of each year. This will be an excellent project for someone wishing to make a research contribution to basic science and, simultaneously, to the solution of critical threatened species conservation problems. Position is subject to receipt of funding, expected in July 2007. Start date is August 10, 2007. Qualifications: B.S. in Wildlife Science, Ecology, Conservation Biology or closely allied field, with excellent grades, test scores and references. Ability to get along with cooperators and to work in a military setting. Previous field experience required, preferably with birds. Experience with bird capture and handling preferred. Evidence of writing skill and a commitment to scientific publication. Coursework or experience with population and/or behavioral ecology desired. Willingness to work long hours in the hot sun. To apply: email C.V., 1 page letter of application, degree title and GPA for all degrees, GRE scores and names and contact information for 3 references including field supervisor and academic references. Finalists will be asked to participate in a phone interview and to send transcripts. Send information to Sarah Karpanty, [EMAIL PROTECTED] and Jim Fraser ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) simultaneously. Candidate selection will begin July 2nd, 2007 and continue until position is filled.
