Wyoming Toad Field Technician Position Background: The Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri) is a critically endangered species that is endemic to the Laramie Basin. The species was abundant in the 1950s and 1960s but began declining in the 1970s until the last known individuals were brought into captivity in the 1990s to establish a captive breeding program. Individuals from the captive breeding program have been reintroduced into the wild but breeding populations have not been reestablished.
Location: Position is based out of Laramie, Wyoming and the main field site is Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge located approximately 15 miles southwest of Laramie. Additional water quality survey sites are located throughout the Laramie Basin. Description: One field technician is needed to assist with research on the factors limiting survival and reestablishment of the Wyoming toad. The technician will assist with building and installing mesh tadpole enclosures at the field site prior to tadpole arrival. Primary duties will include daily feeding and monitoring of Wyoming toad tadpoles and metamorphs held in field enclosures. Technician will also be responsible for assisting with photographing, staging (gosner stage), and measuring tadpoles and metamorphs as well as swabbing metamorphs for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) which causes chytrid fungus in amphibians. Additional duties include but are not limited to: data entry in Microsoft Access, insect sampling, plant identification, water quality monitoring, and analysis of water samples and skin swabs using PCR to detect Bd and E coli. Field technician will gain valuable experience using a variety of field methods while contributing to recovery of a critically endangered amphibian. Qualifications: Qualified applicants will have the willingness and ability to work extremely long hours and be very flexible with their schedule as it is highly dependent on the needs of tadpoles and metamorphs. Applicant must also have the ability to endure harsh field conditions, pay extreme attention to detail, and meet high standards of animal care. Priority will be given to students currently enrolled in an ecology, wildlife biology, or rangeland management program with past field experience. However, more important is an interest in the research to be conducted, a strong work ethic, and the ability to assist with meticulous data collection for recovery of an endangered species. Qualified applicants will also have a valid drivers license with a clean driving record. Compensation: Field technician will be paid ~$360 per week (depending on experience) and provided with a field vehicle. Duration: mid-May thru late-August (with the possibility to start earlier) To Apply: Send a letter of interest, résumé, and contact information (name, email, and phone number) for three references to Julie Polasik at [email protected]. Application deadline is March 25, 2013. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted until a suitable candidate is found.
