A field assistant position in insect behavioral ecology is available February-March 2009. The successful applicant will help investigate parent-offspring communication in treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) at Ordway-Swisher Biological Station (OSBS). Treehoppers are phloem- feeding insects; the focal species occurs on several species of oaks at OSBS.
A treehopper family develops over the course of about a month on an oak branch. The mother defends her 30-50 offspring from invertebrate predators during this time. Mother and offspring communicate via vibratory signals through the branch, and offspring signals appear to elicit defensive behavior from the mother. The goals of this research are to determine the function(s) of signals produced by the mother after predator encounters and investigate whether familial predator response strategies change over the course of offspring development. The successful applicant will assist a University of Missouri doctoral candidate in all aspects of field research, including locating treehopper families, conducting vibratory playback experiments, and taking morphological measurements. Research will be conducted in the field at OSBS. Applicants will be expected to camp at the station, which is approximately 30 miles east of Gainesville, FL. This is a non-pay position but camping fees will be covered and meals provided; hot showers and wireless internet are available at OSBS for campers. Applicants with background and interests in ecology, evolution and behavior are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants should be patient and able to work long hours with good attention to detail. Interested applicants should email Jennifer Hamel at [email protected].
