Ecosystem Science/Park Ecologist Internship: Parks Canada, St. Lawrence Islands National Park, Ontario (SLINP)
Position is open to CANADIANS and PERMANENT RESIDENTS who have completed at least a Bachelor's degree and are under the age of 30. Resumes and compelling cover letters should be sent by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] as soon as possible. Successful candidates will be interviewed in August 2008 and may be asked for school transcripts. Salary: $1674/month Term: September 2008-February 2009 Knowledge and Skills the Intern May Acquire: Knowledge of ecosystem science, monitoring and management Knowledge of information and data management, interpretation and analysis Analytical skills Ability to work in a team Communication skills Technical skills using MSExcel/Access, ArcGIS/ArcReader, Vubis [EMAIL PROTECTED], and RefWorks Publication in scientific journals Networking with Government employees Opportunity for pilot study/data collection for MSc or PhD in SLINP Description of the Internship: The intern at St. Lawrence Islands National Park will be mentored as an Ecosystem Scientist/Park Ecologist with Dr. Emily Gonzales. Ecosystem science isn’t rocket science…it’s much more complex than that…but also very enjoyable and rewarding with many transferable skills and networking opportunities. Similar to the ecosystems themselves, the tasks change with the seasons (see detailed description, available by request from [EMAIL PROTECTED]). Projects include monitoring of black rat snakes, deer management, vegetation monitoring, enhancement of Common Tern nesting sites, and watershed GIS analyses. The intern will collect field data on plants and animals in forests, wetlands and streams. Monitoring information will also be processed in the lab and will require management, organization, interpretation and analysis. Our goal is to mentor a youth intern in the monitoring and assessment of multiple ecosystems from beginning to end – from data collection and input to analysis, visualization, and interpretation. The area where many organizations lack capacity is in quantitative analysis and evaluation. Perhaps the most valuable skill that an intern will gain is exposure to scientifically defendable, quantitative project designs. The intern will work on 10 established projects and then receive mentorship in their own restoration project. He/she will select an invasive species and area in the Park, research the most effective removal techniques, then design a project with before and after monitoring of control and experimental plots. The intern will be guided through concepts such as sample size, power analysis, how to reduce non-target variability, and basic statistical analyses. The networking opportunities at St. Lawrence Islands National Park provide connections for a wide diversity of career choices. St. Lawrence Islands National Park places a strong emphasis on its partnerships with other organizations and has several multi-agency projects. Therefore, the intern will meet university researchers, employees with the Provincial government, municipal government members and staff with non-profit organizations. Over 40 Park staff will also interact with the intern – including aquatic and terrestrial ecologists, education officers, GIS specialists, administrative and operations staff, nature interpreters, park wardens, resource conservation officers, and species at risk communicators. Minimum Candidate Qualifications: University degree (BSc., BA, MSc.) in relevant field (ecology, geography, botany, zoology, biology, environmental studies/sciences/biology) Familiarity with ecological principles Self-motivated, responsible, high work ethic and good judgement Experience working in inclement weather and tolerance of insects, reptiles, and getting dirty A Year in the Life of an Ecosystem Scientist Spring On the ground habitat restoration and enhancement begins in the spring with the arrival of nesting birds. Projects include monitoring and enhancing Common Tern nest sites and planting native plants to improve fish and songbird habitat. Spring is also for snakes. Travelling by boat and car, the ecosystem scientist visits (non-poisonous) snake hibernacula (special location where many snakes come together to hibernate) to capture and monitor the emerging reptiles. Summer In 2004, Parks Canada initiated a long-term, multi-ecosystem, landscape level monitoring programme. Data is collected in the field and processed in the lab throughout the spring and summer. A diversity of metrics and indicators of ecosystem health are collected from long-term wetland, stream, and Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) forest ecosystem plots. This data assists managers and policy-makers with decision-making; therefore, data quality is essential. The intern would receive thorough training in standardized methods for the plot-based monitoring of forest vegetation (trees, shrubs, ground vegetation, seedling regeneration, canopy and bole condition), and the monitoring of soil decomposition, anurans, plant phenology, water quality, benthic invertebrates, epiphytic lichens, and other metrics. Not only does this data inform Biosphere Reserve health, but also contributes to the detection of change at EMAN sites across Canada. The standardized protocols can be found at http://www.eman-rese.ca/eman/ecotools/protocols/ for EMAN and http://obbn.eman-rese.ca/PartnerPages/obbn/index.asp?lang=en-ca for the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN). The intern will have an in-depth and hands-on exposure to ecological monitoring and gain a diversity of transferable, employable skills. In addition to learning the scientific protocols and data management, he/she will receive training Canada Labour Code (II) training, WHIMIS, Health and Safety, and orientation training at the beginning of the work term. All staff receive a formal orientation and are trained in first aid, CPR, and boat and fire safety. Training also includes field and lab taxonomy and equipment use (radio tagging, water quality sensors, microscopes). Autumn Autumn tasks revolve around data entry, analysis, information management, and geographic information systems (GIS) - critical skills in the ecosystem scientist’s toolbox. The intern will be trained in widely used software programmes: MSAccess for data management, MSExcel for basic statistical analyses, ArcGIS for mapping and spatial analyses, Vubis [EMAIL PROTECTED] for library cataloguing, searching, and circulation, and RefWorks for literature management. Winter In winter, deer and vegetation management programmes in partnership with the Haudenosaunee help interns learn about partnerships with First Nations. Report and proposal writing during the winter months round out the interns’ suite of skills. The intern will contribute to internal Parks Reports as well as peer reviewed scientific publications. Description of Organization: On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations. National Parks are a country-wide system of representative natural areas of Canadian significance. National Parks have existed in Canada for well over a century and St. Lawrence Islands National Park, conceived in the 1870’s, was one of the first. St. Lawrence Islands National Park includes 25 islands, 88 islets, and 3 mainland properties in the St. Lawrence River between Kingston and Brockville in Eastern Ontario’s Thousand Islands. Located on the Frontenac Axis, the boat-access only islands are actually the worn-down tops of ancient mountains and form a conduit from the Adirondack Mountains to the Canadian Shield. The Park has a rich and complex natural and human history and is home to many species at risk. Note: Other internship positions are available for Canadians for departments within the Federal Government, see: http://youth.gc.ca/yoaux.jsp?&lang=en&auxpageid=1120 This particular position should be posted on the website above by next week but resumes and cover letters can be sent anytime. Emily Gonzales, PhD Ecosystem Scientist/Park Ecologist St. Lawrence Islands National Park 2 County Road 5, RR 3 Mallorytown, Ontario Canada K0E 1R0 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 613-923-5741 Cell: 613-802-8270 Fax: 613-923-1021
