Stream nutrient cycling in the context of global change (Reykjavik, Iceland)

A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position is available at Montana State University
for summer 2011 to study stream nutrient cycling in the context of global climate change with Drs.
Wyatt Cross and Jim Hood. The REU student will participate in NSF-funded project “Predicting
Effects of Climate Warming on Stream Ecosystems Using Metabolic Theory and Iceland’s Unique
Geothermal Environment” at Montana State University and in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Iceland project website:
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~wcross/Research/Iceland.html

The successful candidate will join an international group of ecologists examining the influence of
temperature on stream food webs and nutrient cycling. This research takes advantage of the
unique geothermal environment in Iceland. Stream in Iceland’s Hengill region exhibit wide
variation in ambient water temps due to spatial heterogeneity in geothermal activity. Our research
leverages this spatial heterogeneity in stream temperatures to 1) examine the influence of
temperature on food web and nutrient dynamics and 2) develop theory, grounded in ecological
stoichiometry and metabolic theory, for predicting the response of stream ecosystems to climate
change. The student will work as a part of our team in Iceland on collaborative fieldwork and
experiments. He/She will also develop an independent project.

The ideal candidate should be interested in perusing a career in ecology, hard-working, detail
orientated, and dedicated to his/her work. The student will start on June 15th, 2011 in Reykjavik,
Iceland. We will provide a stipend of $500/week for eight weeks, round-trip transportation to
Reykjavik, and support for lodging in Reykjavik.

Interested students should apply by Friday, February 25th, but applications will be accepted until
the position is filled. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students who
have received their bachelor’s degrees and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates are not
eligible. Applications should include an unofficial copy of transcripts, contact information for two
academic references, CV, and a one-page statement describing your interest in the REU position,
academic goals, and previous research experience.

Please send applications to:
Jim Hood
(Postdoctoral Researcher, Cross lab, Montana State University)
Email: james.hood1@montana.edu

Questions can be addressed to Jim Hood or Wyatt Cross:
310 Lewis Hall, Ecology Dept., Montana State University
email: wyatt.cross@montana.edu
website: http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~wcross/Cross_website/Home.html

Volunteers for South Africa

Volunteers needed as field assistants for the project:
Evolution and Socio-Ecology of small Mammals in the Succulent Karoo of South Africa
Open positions from July 2011 onwards

Opportunity: This is a great opportunity for anybody who wants to get more experience in field work relating to evolution, ecology and behavior before starting an MsC or PhD project.

Project: We study the evolutionary and ecological reasons as well as physiological mechanisms of group living, paternal care, communal nesting and social flexibility in the striped mouse. As this species is diurnal and the habitat is open, direct behavioral observations in the field are possible.

What kind of people are needed? Biology/zoology/veterinary students are preferred as candidates. Applicants must have an interest in working in the field and with animals. Hard working conditions will await applicants, as the study species gets up with sunrise (between 5 and 6 o` clock), and stops its activity with dusk (19 o` clock). Work during nights might also be necessary. Work in the field will be done for 5 days a week. Applicants must be able to manage extreme temperatures (below 0 at night in winter, sometimes over 40°C during summer days). Applicants must both be prepared to live for long periods in the loneliness of the field and to be part of a small social group.

Work of field assistants: Trapping, marking and radio-tracking of striped mice; direct behavioral observations in the field. Volunteers are also expected to help with maintenance of the research station (water pump, solar power, etc.)

Confirmation letter: Students get a letter of confirmation about their work and can prepare a report of their own small project to get credit points from their university for their bachelor or masters studies.

Costs: Students have to arrange their transport to the field site themselves. Per month, an amount of Rand 1000 (around 150 US$, 110 Euro) must be paid for accommodation at the research station. For students with their own undergraduate project, a fee of Rand 1250 (approx. 190 US$, 140 Euro) per month applies. Students must buy their own food etc in Springbok (costs of about R 2250, approx. 340 US$ or 250 Euro/month). Including extras (going out for dinner; shopping), you should expect costs of about 550 US$, 450 Euros per month. Students get an invitation letter which they can use to apply for funding in their home country (eg. DAAD in Germany, SANW in Switzerland).

Place: The field site is in the Goegap Nature Reserve near Springbok in the North-West of South Africa. The vegetation consists of Succulent Karoo, which has been recognized as one of 25 hotspots of biodiversity. It is a desert to semi-desert with rain mainly in winter (June to September).

When and how long: At the moment we are looking for volunteers for the period July / August to November / December. Volunteers are expected to stay at least 2 months, but longer periods of up to 6months are preferred.

How to apply? Send a short motivation letter stating why and for which period you are interested and your CV via email to carsten.schradin@ieu.uzh.ch.



More information under www.stripedmouse.com

Contact via e-mail: carsten.schradin@ieu.uzh.ch



Dr. Carsten Schradin
Research Assistant, Department of Animal Behavior,
University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 - (0)44 635 5486

Honorary Researcher at the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences,
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.



Working as a field assistant in Goegap Nature Reserve



A report by Romy Höppli, student at the University of Zurich, who staid in Goegap June to August 2008





Blue skies without a single cloud for six weeks – rocky mountains with little vegetation – yellow, orange and pink fields of flowers in whatever direction you look – small mammals, lizards and birds in our front yard and Mountain Zebras, Springbok and Ostrich right next door...

This was my time at the Succulent Karoo Research Station in Goegap Nature Reserve in South Africa! During six weeks from the beginning of July until the middle of August I've been living here, studying mice, experiencing nature like never before and being part of a small community where there was always something to laugh and joke about!

After arriving in Goegap, right the next morning my scientific adventure in South Africa began: Setting and checking traps, nest observations and radio-tracking were our daily routine. While I got bitten by the mice quite often in the beginning and my right middle finger was scarred all over, I improved quickly shaking the mice out of the traps, weighing them and checking the number of the ear tag. Other duties like cleaning the cages of the mice in the captive colony, washing the dirt from probably several months out of the traps, painting the new Wendy House and putting in a floor and curtains quickly added to our daily field work activities.

It was never boring in Goegap! There was always something to do: studying the striped mouse, listening to the interesting and funny stories every member could tell or just enjoying the time while reading a book or writing e-mails to friends to tell them about this unique experience. Here, the weekly trip back to 'civilization' in Springbok for shopping, sending e-mails and having lunch at „Nando's“ - the best (Portuguese) fast food I ever tasted - was always a highlight and the occasional trip to „Beaver's“, the towns funniest pub, where all the locals went to, was a good opportunity to dance, make party and enjoy the relaxed South African way of life!

My six weeks down here were full of great experiences and I enjoyed every single day! Hopefully, I will be able to come back to Goegap Nature Reserve one day!



__________________________________________________________
PD Dr. Carsten Schradin
Group Leader Behavioral Endocrinology and Eco-Physiology



Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
Department of Animal Behavior
University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 - (0)44 635 5486



Tel. secretary: +41 - (0)44 635 5271
Fax: +41 - (0)44 635 5490

Honorary Associate Professor

School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences



University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa





Head
Succulent Karoo Research Station, Goegap Nature Reserve, Private Bag X1, 8240 Springbok, South Africa

http://www.stripedmouse



http://www.ieu.uzh.ch/research/behaviour/endocrinology.html

IX INTERNATIONAL RANGELAND CONGRESS - IRC2011

"Diverse Rangelands for a Sustainable Society”
April 02 to April 08, 2011
Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
www.irc2011.com.ar

Dear colleagues:
Registration for the IX IRC2011 Conference is now open!
Please visit www.irc2011.com.ar to register. You can pay by the secure
Credit Card gateway or Bank Transfer.

If you need support to attend the Congress, please download the Delegate
Sponsorship Request forms from the Delegate Sponsorship tab. Once you
have completed all the requested information, please send it back to
irc2011@yahoo.com.

In order to book Hotels and Pre-Congress Tours, please click on the
separate link to the tour operator’s page or any of the links in the
Accommodation and Pre-Congress Tours tabs, and you will be redirected to
our tour operator's page:
http://www.coovaeco.com/congresos/Rangeland2011/Index.asp. There, you
will be able to select your hotel, check our Pre-Congress Tours,
download their complete itineraries and select the one you would like to
take.

Please forward this message to your friends and colleagues.
Best wishes!
Sincerely yours,

Ing. Agr. Maximiliano Carrillo
Secretariat AOC-IRC2011
Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
www.irc2011.com.ar

Full Professor - Ethology

The Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, University of Paris 13, is inviting applications for the position of Professor in Ethology, with tenure status and salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

This position opening follows the retirement of Professor Pierre Jaisson, the founder of the laboratory. Candidates should have a strong track record of international excellence and external grant funding. Candidates must have demonstrated ability to successfully mentor young investigators and to foster and strengthen collaborative research.
Research at the Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology focuses on several aspects of social behaviour, with both proximate and ultimate approaches.

The laboratory is open to all research themes that characterize modern ethology.
The successful candidate is expected to develop an original research program and to contribute to undergraduate teaching (biology and psychology curriculum).

Application procedure is electronic via a national portal. Interested candidates should contact Professor Patrizia d’Ettorre as soon as possible and in any case by 7 March 2011 for further information about application procedure.

Please send curriculum vitae and list of publications to:

patrizia.dettorre@leec.univ-paris13.fr

Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, University of Paris 13,
99 avenue J.B. Clément, F-93430 Villetaneuse, France.
Phone: + 33 1 49 40 32 59; Fax: + 33 1 49 40 39 75.

http://www-leec.univ-paris13.fr/accueil/accueil_en.php
The University of Paris 13 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Tropical Behavioral Ecology and Evolution Course in Panama

This course will provide an overview of the patterns and processes that
determine tropical biodiversity and of the evolutionary biology of key
invertebrate model systems. It is designed for graduate students at all
levels beginning with proposal preparation, research implementation, and
scientific manuscript preparation. The course will begin three weeks prior
to arriving in Panama (April 11-29th) and then continue with the field
component (May 1-25th). Please see the following links for more details:

http://www1.bio.ku.dk/forskning/oe/cse/kurser/STRI_Course_Flier29Jan11Final.pdf/
http://www1.bio.ku.dk/english/research/oe/cse/kurser/

or email Rachelle Adams: RAdams@bio,ku,dk or rmmadams@gmail.com

Field assistants in evolutionary ecology of two sympatric flycatcher species (Ficedula hypoleuca and F. albicolis).

Pied and collared flycatchers are closely related migratory passerines
that breed in Europe and co-occur on Baltic Islands of Öland and
Gotland. In the contact zone they tend to compete over nesting sites
and food resources; they also hybridize occasionally. A field work on
flycatchers gives an excellent and rewarding opportunity to be
involved in exciting research in evolutionary biology. It will give
you an insight into interspecific interactions between competing
species, impact of blood parasites on their hosts as well as into
hands-on research on long-studied wild bird populations. This position
is perfect for someone who seeks direct experience of a field-based
project.

The field stations are situated on Swedish island Öland. The field
work will involve measuring and sampling flycatcher chicks, nest-box
checking, song recording, collecting and managing breeding data. We
won?t cover travel or food expenses, but we offer a salary, free
accommodation and a transport once on-site.

Training will be provided in species recognition and data collection,
although previous fieldwork experience would definitely be an
advantage. Essential requirements:

(1) Fluency in English
(2) Willingness to spend long days working in the forest, sometimes in
harsh weather conditions
(3) Ability to work efficiently but carefully at the same time
(4) Enthusiasm and the ability to work closely as part of a team
(5) A driving license.

Field assistants should be able to spend in the field 6-8 weeks
between early May and late June 2011.

Applications should be received by the 6th March 2011, and must
include a cover letter and CV.

To request further information about this position, or to apply,
please contact Katarzyna Kulma (katarzyna.kulma@ebc.uu.se),
Department of Animal Ecology; Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC),
Uppsala University

email: katarzyna.kulma@ebc.uu.se

Research Experience for Undergraduates

The Office of Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Research, facilitating
student involvement in environmental research and education at the
University of Nevada, and the Great Basin Institute invite applications for
the summer 2011 REU program in natural resources – conservation and
socioeconomic issues, sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Overview of Program: Research teams will work in the eastern Sierra region
of Nevada, within the Lake Tahoe-Truckee River-Pyramid Lake watershed, on
studies ranging from fire effects on watershed restoration to anthropogenic
influences on water quality at Lake Tahoe. Participants will be exposed to
diverse scientific inquiries and technologies to gain insight into how
science informs land and water use policy, management and conservation
initiatives.

The program will take place during the ten consecutive weeks of 6 June
through 12 August 2011. Students in the program will be provided a stipend
of $4,250, along with housing on campus. The application deadline is Monday,
March 7, 2011.

Research Topics Include:
• Riparian and rangeland restoration
• Impacts and management of invasive species
• Rephotography (comparing past and current images of an area) analyses of
environmental change
• Resource management policy and implementation within the watershed

Eligibility: Qualified undergraduates, who will have junior or senior status
and will be a full-time student in the Fall 2011 term, with a combination of
coursework in the following disciplines are invited to apply: environmental
studies, natural resources, biology, ecology, hydrology, resource economics,
and statistics. We especially encourage applications from students at
primarily undergraduate institutions and from underrepresented groups.
Participants must be citizens or permanent legal residents of the USA.
Review of applications will begin on 28 February 2011. Applications received
after this date will be considered on a space-available basis.

Contact: For further information, email ugresearch@unr.edu or visit the
Office of Undergraduate and Interdisciplinary Research website
athttp://environment.unr.edu/.

AWI Accepting Grant Proposals for the 2011 Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards

March 25, 2011 is the deadline to apply for grants toward the development of innovative strategies for humane, non-lethal wildlife management and non-invasive scientific research.

Washington, D.C. -- AWI is now accepting applications for its 2011 Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards. This award program, named in honor of the organization’s late founder and president for over 50 years, provides $10,000 grants to award recipients to help spur innovative and creative research on humane, non-lethal tools and techniques for wildlife conflict management and the scientific study of wild species.

Habitat destruction and degradation, urban and suburban sprawl, and ongoing challenges posed by invasive species make conflicts between wildlife and humans inevitable. Homeowners, property managers, and biologists need effective, non-lethal, and humane strategies to deal with conflicts­whether the encounter involves coyotes, deer, Canada geese, bears, exotic species, or a host of other animals. Though humane techniques to address some situations have been developed, more are needed. Scientists and animals would also benefit from the development of non-invasive methods that facilitate more efficient and effective studies of wild species.

The Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards were established to stimulate and support efforts to discover new techniques, test existing products, develop educational tools, and devise new strategies to humanely defuse wildlife conflicts or devise non-invasive wildlife research methodologies. With this award program we aim to honor Mrs. Stevens’ legacy and inspire a new generation of compassionate wildlife scientists, managers and advocates.

For complete application requirements, plus examples of applications and related AWI Quarterly articles from past recipients, visit the AWI website at: http://www.awionline.org/csaward.

Position: Summer Field Assistant Arctic LTER

Date: February 2, 2011

Position Summary:

The Ecosystems Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory is seeking applicants for summer field assistant positions on an ongoing ecological research project. These positions will be located at the Toolik Field Station in northern Alaska. For additional information about the Arctic Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project, visit our website at http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/ARC/. Information about the Toolik Field Station is available at http://www.uaf.edu/toolik/.

Additional Information:

The following positions will be filled pending funding:

Chemistry Summer Field Assistant: The successful candidate will participate in research on the quantitative and qualitative analyses of nutrients in natural water samples. Duties include facilitating chemical measurements through the preparation of standards and reagents, and the maintenance of instruments for a multi-user laboratory at the Toolik Field Station. Some field work is involved. Prior chemistry experience is required.

Terrestrial Summer Field Assistant: The successful candidate will participate in research on tundra ecosystems. Duties include sampling and processing plant and soil samples, collection of precipitation and weather data, and maintenance of long-term fertilizer experiments and field greenhouses. Basic laboratory skills, familiarity with spreadsheet software, and some knowledge of plants and soils preferred.

General FA including Terrestrial, Aquatic, and/or Human Dimensions research: The focus of effort of this position is still to be decided. In any event the duties will involve field research, sampling, and basic data analysis, working under the supervision of one or more senior project collaborators in terrestrial, lake, stream, or Human Dimensions research.

Basic Qualifications:

Applicants should be recent college graduates, (BS or MS) with significant course work and/or field experience in ecology.

Candidates for these jobs should be available to live at Toolik Field Station for 2-3 months during June, July and August. Travel to Toolik Field Station is paid for by the grant as well as the cost of room and board at the station and a salary.

Preferred Qualifications:

Some background in terrestrial ecology, soil science, aquatic ecology, hydrology, chemistry, fish ecology and/or ecosystems ecology is preferred.

Physical Requirements

Applicants should be in good health, capable of rigorous outdoor activity and prepared to live in a field camp where cooperation with others is essential, personal privacy is limited, and living accommodations are spare and simple.

Required Applicant Documents:

Resume/CV, Cover Letter, References

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Unofficial transcripts are required documents, but may be either uploaded with your Resume and Cover Letter or faxed to the Human Resources Office, 508-289-7931. If faxing, please reference the title and number of this posting.

APPLY ONLINE AT: https://mbl.simplehire.com An Equal Opportunity Employer

PhD in Evolutionary Theory and Disease

This PhD will investigate evolutionary aspects of disease. Many diseases
have at their root a failure of one level of biological complexity to
exert sufficient control over a lower level; examples include cancer
(failure of the body to control replication of cell-lines) and certain
genetics disorders such as Down's syndrome (failure to ensure fair
chromosomal segregation during gamete formation). Still other diseases are
caused by pathogens that must cooperate in order to achieve and sustain
the infection of a host; one well-known example of this is acquired
antibiotic resistance in some bacterial strains. Over the past 50 years
theory to describe the evolution of social behaviour between genetic
relatives, and across multiple levels, has been developed. The theory,
however, is typically abstract, and aims to determine conditions under
which altruism will or will not succeed due to natural selection. The
challenge of this project will be to translate such theory and consider
its potential application to understanding diseases. New theory on
evolution in finite populations may also need to be applied or developed.

This project is deliberately underspecified, and the successful
candidate will be an exceptional individual, who will have great freedom
to pursue directions that interest them and seek out novel research
collaborations. They will have a background in a numerate discipline such
as mathematics, computer science, or physics, ideally with some knowledge
of probability, statistics and stochastic modelling. A demonstrated
interest in biology and medicine is a definite advantage. They will become
part of the newly established Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab
at the University of Sheffield, Department of Computer Science, under
the direction of Dr James Marshall.

About the Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab

The Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab is an interdisciplinary
collection of individuals interested in how and why behaviours evolve. We
are interested in behaviours and behavioural mechanisms, and their
evolutionary function. We apply a range of theoretical approaches,
from mathematics and statistics, decision theory, computer science,
and physics. Particular topics of interest are currently the evolution
of social behaviour, such as altruism and cooperation, and optimal
decision-making mechanisms in groups, such as social insects, and in
individuals. The Lab is part of the Department of Computer Science,
University of Sheffield, and is physically based in the interdisciplinary
Kroto Research Institute.

Applications are invited from UK home students and EU citizens. Fees and
a stipend will be paid for the duration of the studentship. Apply online
or contact Dr Marshall if you require further information. Closing date:
Feb 27th.


Bibliography

[1] Burt, A. and Trivers, R. (2006) Genes in Conflict: the Biology of
Selfish Genetic Elements. Harvard University Press.
[2] Foster, K.R. (2005) Hamiltonian medicine: why the social lives of
pathogens matter. 308, 1269-1270.
[3] Merlo et al. (2006) Cancer as an evolutionary and ecological
process. Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 924-935.
[4] Okasha, S. (2006) Evolution and the Levels of Selection. Oxford
University Press.



James A. R. Marshall
Department of Computer Science
University of Sheffield
http://staffwww.dcs.shef.ac.uk/people/J.Marshall/

James Marshall

PhD scolarships in New Zealand

Scholarships for Graduate Studies at School of Biological Sciences,
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

Topic: Predation risk and the evolution of odours in island birds

Two fully funded Ph.D. scholarships are available to study the evolution of
odours in island birds and role these may play in increasing predation risk
from introduced mammalian predators.

Background to project:
Some New Zealand birds appear to have strong odours. For example, even to
the insensitive human nose, kiwi smell like ammonia, while the odour of the
kakapo has been likened to a dusty violin case. Strong odours are unusual in
birds, but common in mammals, which use odours for communication and
locating food. Preliminary work has revealed that strong odours may be
widespread among New Zealand birds, and that these odours arise from the
preen waxes produced in the uropygial gland. Preen waxes function to
maintain feathers, but may also attract predators that use olfaction to
locate prey. The first objective of this project is to determine if there
are differences in the composition of preen waxes between island and
continental birds and if these are the result of their differing
evolutionary histories with predatory mammals. The New Zealand area provides
an ideal system for studying odours and predation risk as the preen wax
composition can be compared across a number of island birds that evolved
without mammalian predators and their close phylogenetic relatives that
co-evolved with predators in continental Australia. The second objective of
this project is to then test whether differences in odours now put island
birds at greater risk from introduced mammalian predators. This study will
not only increase our understanding of the evolution and function of odours
in birds, but also determine whether these odours are now playing a
previously unrecognised role in the decline of island birds.

1) Ph.D. Project 1: Does the composition of preen wax and the ontogeny of
preen wax production vary with predation risk?
Predation is the greatest source of nest failure for continental birds, and
it is not unusual for 50-80% of nests to be lost to predators. Most
predation is due to mammals which locate nests through the odours of eggs or
nestlings. In contrast, birds on many oceanic islands, including New
Zealand, evolved in the absence of predatory mammals. This difference in
risk should select for reduced odours in continental species, in order to
camouflage nests from predators locating prey by olfaction. In this part of
the project, the candidate will test this hypothesis by comparing the
composition of preen waxes of a variety of island and continental birds. If
predation has shaped the evolution of avian odours, then the preen waxes of
island species should be relatively more volatile than those of their
closest continental relatives. Differences in the ontogeny of preen wax, and
the seasonal pattern of preen wax production are also expected to differ
between island and continental species. This project will involve field work
in New Zealand, Australia and several offshore islands.

2) Ph.D. Project 2: Do the odours of island birds increase their risk of
predation from exotic mammalian predators?
The vulnerability of island birds to exotic predators (e.g. rats, feral
cats) is well known and has been attributed to their behavioural naivety
towards novel predators and life histories that limit their ability to
tolerate high predation rates. As island birds also appear to have more
conspicuous odours than continental birds that co-evolved with mammals, the
production of more volatile preen waxes may also increase the probability
that island birds and their nests are detected by exotic mammalian
predators. In this part of this study, the candidate will test if the odour
of island birds and their nests increases the risk of predation by exotic
mammalian predators using a variety of field and lab-based studies. Field
work is required in New Zealand, Australia and offshore islands.

Applicants for either position require either a B.Sc. Honours or M.Sc. in
Biology. Candidates must be prepared to work in remote field locations and
travel for several months at a time. Scholarship includes stipend of $NZ
25,000 per year and cost of tuition fees. Duration of scholarship is 3
years. Non-residents of New Zealand will be required to obtain a student
visa for the period of study.

Application deadline: 1 March 2011
Start date: by negotiation but before 1 June 2011

To apply: Please send C.V. and cover letter to Dr. James Briskie (address
above) or by email (Jim.Briskie@canterbury.ac.nz).



This email may be confidential and subject to legal privilege, it may
not reflect the views of the University of Canterbury, and it is not
guaranteed to be virus free. If you are not an intended recipient,
please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of the message
and any attachments.

Please refer to http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/emaildisclaimer for more
information.

jim.briskie@canterbury.ac.nz

PhD Scholarship in Aquatic ecology

Dispersal barriers in an invasive bloom-forming alga

Job description
The aim of the research project is to identify the barriers to dispersal
in a microalgal species that forms blooms in freshwater lakes. This
research has implications for the understanding of the dispersal of
microalgae and microorganisms in general, as well as for predicting
the occurrence of new algal blooms. The approach is to determine
the importance of physical versus biological dispersal barriers by
analyzing the genetic diversity patterns. The current hypothesis is
that physical dispersal barriers are important for generating genetic
differentiation. Instead, differentiation among microalgal populations
might be explained by so called founder effects. Founder effects refer
to the dominance of strains or species that arrive first to a new
habitat. In laboratory and mesocosm experiments, priority effects and
invasion sequence will be investigated in the algal species Gonyostomum
semen. The position will be based at the unit of Aquatic Ecology,
Department of Biology, Lund University, in southern Sweden. The PhD
project is a part of a larger project financed by Formas (The Swedish
Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences, and Spatial
Planning), and will involve collaboration with other PhD students and a
group at Gothenburg University (Ass. Prof. Anna Godhe). The project is
suitable for applicants who would like to combine ecology and population
genetics with molecular biological tools. The practical work will
include PCR-based techniques, analyses of population genetic data,
algal culturing, and microscopy. Experimental work will be performed
both in the laboratory and in the field. In addition, the PhD student
will be able to join the Research School in Genomic Ecology (GENECO) in
Lund. This program will give access to a network of other PhD students
and researchers in genomic ecology, annual meetings, workshops, travel
grants to visit other institutions, as well as a career mentor.


Eligibility/Entry Requirements
Requirements for this position are an MSc or comparable degree
in ecology preferably with an aquatic and/or molecular ecological
specialization. The successful candidate will have very good experience
in molecular techniques. A driver's license is required, as is very good
knowledge of written and spoken English.

For further information please contact:
Karin Rengefors, Professor
+46 46 2228427
karin.rengefors@limnol.lu.se

Type of employment: Limit of tenure, 18 months, after that doctoral
employment
Extent: 100 %
Location: Department of Biology (Ecology), Lund
First day of employment: 2011-03-01 or as soon as possible
Official Records Number: NPA 2011/9


Basis of Assessment
Regulations for employment as a postgraduate student can be found in the
Swedish Statute Book (SFS 1998:80). Only those admitted to postgraduate
studies can be appointed to such a position. When appointing applicants
to such a position, first and foremost their ability to benefit from
postgraduate studies must be taken into consideration. In addition to
pursuing postgraduate studies, the doctoral student may also perform
other duties, including research, teaching and administration, according
to the specific regulations.

Application Procedure

Last Day of Applying
2011-02-06

Please apply on-line on:
http://admin.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=22598&Dnr=375341&Type=E

Appointment Procedure

Complete information about the application process can be found
here:http://www.naturvetenskap.lu.se/o.o.i.s/11729 Applications for
advertised positions must be received by the date specified in the
announcement. Lund University promotes an equal opportunities code. We
encourage both men and women to apply for this position.

Applications will be destroyed or returned (upon request) six months
after the decision of employment has become final. Applications from
the employed and from those who appeal the decision will not be returned.



Karin Rengefors, PhD
Professor in Limnology
Director of the Graduate School in Genomic Ecology (GENECO)
Limnology, Biology Department
Lund University
Ecology Building
22362 Lund, Sweden

e-mail: karin.rengefors@limnol.lu.se
phone: + 46462228427
URL: http://www.limnol.lu.se/
New! International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA)
http://www.issha.org

Avian field assistant

AVIAN FIELD ASSISTANT needed for study in Grand Teton National Park,
Wyoming, from approximately June 1 - July 24, 2011. We are looking for a
highly motivated volunteer field assistant to help with a study on
multimodal communication in the dark-eyed junco. Applicants must be very
enthusiastic about fieldwork and animal behavior, able to work well with
others, and willing to work long hours, including early mornings, six days a
week. Applicants must be in good physical condition and have a tolerance for
high elevation weather conditions (hot days, cold nights) as the work
involves carrying equipment and hiking, sometimes over rough terrain at
elevation. Duties will include behavioral observation, nest searching,
identification of color-banded birds, capturing and sampling birds using
mist-nets and walk-in traps, song recording, video recording, and assisting
with radiotelemetry. Previous experience in one or more of these areas is
strongly preferred, but not required. Potential for designing an independent
research project not pertaining to the main project goals is negotiable.
Housing and food will be provided. Further stipend support contingent on
pending grants. To apply, please email a CV, statement of interest and
experience, and contact information for three references to Danielle
Whittaker (djwhitta@msu.edu) and Dustin Reichard (dgreicha@indiana.edu).
Review of applications will begin March 1, 2011 and continue until the
position is filled. Please do not hesitate to contact in advance of
application with questions!

Animal Welfare Studentship

The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare is now inviting applications for the 2011 UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholarships. The aim of this scheme is to enable students to pursue their interests in animal welfare and to provide them with the opportunity to conduct relevant research or other (e.g. educational) projects. Students will usually be undertaking courses in the agricultural, biological, psychological, veterinary or zoological sciences. However, we would also welcome applications from students from other disciplines and who are interested in carrying out a project in animal welfare.


Projects must be relevant to improving the welfare of farm, laboratory, companion, zoo, or free-living wild animals whose welfare is compromised by human factors, and may be carried out within the UK or overseas. Successful applicants will be awarded up to £1600 to cover subsistence and project expenses.



Application forms and further information are available from the ‘Grants & Awards’ page of the UFAW website: www.ufaw.org.uk, or please email: scioff@ufaw.org.uk.



Please note that the closing date for applications is: 28th February 2011.



With best wishes



Elizabeth Carter

UFAW Scientific Officer

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Herts AL4 8AN, UK
Email: scioff@ufaw.org.uk
Office: +(0)1582 831818 (tel), 831414 (fax)
Registered Charity No 207996 (Registered in England) and Company Limited by Guarantee No 579991

The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) is an independent registered UK charity that works to develop and promote improvements in the welfare of all animals through scientific and educational activity worldwide.

Science in the service of animal welfare

PhD on Confidence in Collective Decision-Making

This PhD will investigate links between neuroscience, social insect collective behaviour, and decision theory. Theories of optimal decision-making have successfully been applied to individual-level decisions, both in explaining data from experimental subjects, and in analysing the optimal performance of neurobiologically realistic models. A key feature of many such models is that sensory evidence is compared against some internal threshold in determining what choice to make. The magnitude of this difference could be thought of as a measure of confidence in the decision; if the evidence was close to the threshold then an error may have been made and confidence in the decision should be low, but if the evidence was way above the threshold, then an error is unlikely and decision confidence should be high. Decision confidence has proved to be useful in understanding behaviour and neural activity in individuals [1]. At the same time, recent complementary work has applied optimality theory developed for neural models to the collective behaviour of social insects, such as ants and honeybees, when searching for a new potential nest site [3]. There are many similarities between the interaction patterns of social insect colonies, and neural populations in the brain [2][4]. The proposed PhD project will further extend these analogies, by examining the potential role of individual and collective decision-confidence in models of house-hunting by ant and honeybee colonies.

The successful candidate will have a background in a numerate discipline such as mathematics, computer science, or physics, ideally with some knowledge of probability, statistics and decision theory. A demonstrated interest in biology is a definite advantage. They will become part of the newly established Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab at the University of Sheffield, Department of Computer Science, under the direction of Dr James Marshall. It is anticipated that there will be opportunities for interaction with empirical social insect researchers to inform and test the theory developed during the project.

About the Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab
----
The Behavioural and Evolutionary Theory Lab is an interdisciplinary collection of individuals interested in how and why behaviours evolve. We are interested in behaviours and behavioural mechanisms, and their evolutionary function. We apply a range of theoretical approaches, from mathematics and statistics, decision theory, computer science, and physics. Particular topics of interest are currently the evolution of social behaviour, such as altruism and cooperation, and optimal decision-making mechanisms in groups, such as social insects, and in individuals. The Lab is part of the Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, and is physically based in the interdisciplinary Kroto Research Institute.

Applications are invited from UK home students and EU citizens. Fees and a stipend will be paid for the duration of the studentship. Apply online or contact Dr Marshall if you require further information. Closing date: Feb 27th.

References
---
[1] Kepecs, A. et al. (2008) Neural correlates, computation and behavioural impact of decision confidence. Nature 455, 227-231.
[2] Lindhart, E. (2009) Ants and neurons. SEED Magazine (http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/ants_and_neurons/)
[3] Marshall, J.A.R. et al. (2009) On optimal decision-making in brains and social insect colonies. Journal of the Royal Society: Interface 6, 1065-1074.
[4] Marshall, J.A.R. and Franks, N.R. (2009) Colony-level cognition. Current Biology 19, R395-R396.

---
James A. R. Marshall
Department of Computer Science
University of Sheffield
http://staffwww.dcs.shef.ac.uk/people/J.Marshall/

Permanent position of Assistant Professor (France)

Evolution, Morphology, Evolutionary Biology, Paleontology
The Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE) opens a « Maître de
conférences » position (permanent position of Assistant Professor) at
the « Paléobiodiversité & Evolution » lab, part of Biogéosciences
unit (UMR CNRS) in Dijon (Burgundy, France).

Candidates are expected to develop a research program on the study
of mechanisms leading to the emergence of particular phenotypes by
favoring multi-scale approaches from the microevolutionary level
(function, adaptation) up to the macroevolutionary level (historic
contingency). The understanding of complex biological systems can be
now approached through the concept of shape modularity and integration
providing a relevant link between developmental processes and evolution.

The position concerns either a paleontologist or an evolutionary
biologist (ecology, population biology) considering his(her) project at
the interface between micro- and macro-evolutionary researches. Solid
knowledge in morphometry and statistics are expected.

Teaching program will include Evolution, Morphometry, Paleontology
courses, in particular in the Master BSE (Biologie Santé Ecologie)
of the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes and in the lectures given in
Palébiodiversité & Evolution lab in Dijon.

The review process will be held in Spring 2011, and the position
will begin end of 2011 (pending final decision of French Academy
of Sciences). The official announcement and the list of requested
items for formal application will be posted later on at the EPHE web
site (http://www.ephe.sorbonne.fr/). At the moment, provide only a CV
(including teaching experience and publications) and a letter of interest
to Sophie Montuire.

Contact : Dr. S. Montuire (head of the Paléobiodiversité & Evolution
» lab or Dr. M. Veuille (head of the Life and Earth Sciences Section
of EPHE).


Sophie.Montuire@u-bourgogne.fr
Tél : +33 (0)3.80.39.63.47
http://www.u-bourgogne.fr/BIOGEOSCIENCE/

http://www.ephe.sorbonne.fr

veuille@ephe.sorbonne.fr/veuille @mnhn.fr
Tél : +33 (0)1.53.63.61.65/66

Travel Awards

The Society for the Study of Evolution announces awards for international
travel, including International Events awards and funding for SSE
students/postocs to attend the 2011 ESEB meeting.

http://www.evolutionsociety.org/awards_International.asp

Society of Systematic Biologists Ernst Mayr Award (Graduate Student Award)

The Ernst Mayr Award is given to the presenter of the outstanding student
talk in the field of systematics at the annual meetings of the Society of
Systematic Biologists. The award consists of $1000, a special certificate,
and a two-year subscription to the journal Systematic Biology.

Who is Eligible. Members of the Society who are students or have completed
their Ph.D. within the last 15 months are eligible. Applicants may be from
any country, but must be members of SSB, and are advised to join the
Society as soon as possible to be considered (to join go to:
http://systbio.org/?q=node/6). Previous Mayr award winners are not
eligible.

Application Procedure. Applications should be sent to the current SSB
Awards Committee Chair (Sydney Cameron), at ssb-apps@life.illinois.edu.
E-mail submissions are required. IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE E-MAIL, please
indicate the SSB award category as "Mayr Award" followed by first name
initial and last name.

Applicant Procedure:

1. To be eligible for this award, you will need to email a 400-word
abstract of your talk to the SSB Mayr Awards Committee
(ssb-apps@life.illinois.edu) by April 1, 2011. All candidates will be
notified of their status no later than April 10, 2011. Please note that
the cut-off date for talk submission is April 17, 2011, which coincides
with the final day for "early bird" registration of the annual Evolution
meeting, this year "Evolution 2011", hosted by the University of Oklahoma
in Norman, OK. This gives you at least a week between notification of
acceptance by the committee and talk submission deadline date.
2. If selected as a Mayr Award candidate, create a login on the Evolution
2011 registration site and register for the meeting.
3. After receiving verification of registration payment, you will receive
a special code via email that will allow you to login to the Evolution
2011 Presentation Submission site. When you submit your title and keywords
you will be given an option to declare your candidacy for the SSB Ernst
Mayr Award.
4. Your presentation will be placed in the Ernst Mayr Student Presentation
Award session for Evolution 2011. Again, you must first register and pay
for the meeting before we can place your talk into the session.

Judging. Based on the submitted abstracts, the Mayr Awards Committee
(appointed by the Awards Chair) will select a maximum of 16 applicants for
inclusion in the Ernst Mayr Award session, which will be held at a single
venue as a continuous session.

Talks will be judged on creativity, quality, excellence of research, and
quality of presentation. Abstracts should clearly indicate methods used,
conclusions, and the relevance to systematics. Presentations focusing on
other areas of biology (ecology, behavior, genetics, populations or
molecular biology, etc.) that lack a strong systematics emphasis are not
eligible.

Co-Authors. The paper may be co-authored. It is understood that the ideas,
data and conclusions presented are primarily and substantially the work of
the student presenter, and the intention is that the student presenter
will be senior author on the published version of the paper.

Notification of Winner. The winner of the award will be announced at the
SSB business meeting in Normal and again during the banquet awards
ceremony (complimentary ticket provided) at the conclusion of the
Evolution Meetings, whereupon the winner will be given an award
certificate. An announcement of the winner will also be published in
Systematic Biology.

--
Sydney A. Cameron
Assoc. Prof.
Department of Entomology
and Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology
University of Illinois
320 Morrill Hall
505 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

ofc ph. 217-333-2340
lab ph 217-333-2170
cell ph 217 766-5631
scameron@life.illinois.edu

www.life.illinois.edu/scameron

Society of Systematic Biologists Graduate Student Research Award

The Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB) announces the 2011 annual
Graduate Student Research Award competition. The purpose of these
awards is to assist students in the initiation (first two years)
of their systematics projects and in the collection of preliminary
data to pursue additional sources of support (e.g., Doctoral
Dissertation Improvement Grants from the National Science Foundation)
or to enhance dissertation research (e.g., by visiting additional
field collection sites or museums). Applicants may be from any country,
but must be members of SSB, and are advised to join the Society as
soon as possible to facilitate their applications (to join go to:
http://systbio.org/?q=node/6). Previous awardees may not re-apply,
but previous applicants who were not selected for funding are
encouraged to re-apply. Awards will range between $1,200 - $2000
and approximately seven to ten awards will be made. The list of
awardees below includes examples of successful proposals for you
to download.

How to apply
All application materials must be in electronic format. Applicants
and those writing letters of recommendation are required to use pdf
format, rather than Word or some other application, to minimize
difficulties in file transfer. Applicants should send all materials
(except letters of recommendation) in a SINGLE pdf file. Letters of
recommendation should
be sent separately by the referees in pdf format or in the text of
an e-mail; please include the FULL NAME OF APPLICANT in recommendation
letters.

Applicants must submit

1. a curriculum vitae (one page)
2. brief research proposal including objectives, methods,
significance, and schedule (max. three single-spaced pages including
literature cited and any figures and tables)
3. budget and budget justification (1 page)
4. and arrange for two letters of recommendation; one letter must
be from the student's current graduate advisor.

The research proposal must clearly state the current stage of the
proposed research and the current year and status of the student.
PLEASE INCLUDE APPLICANT'S CONTACT E-MAIL ADDRESS AT THE TOP OF THE
APPLICATION ITSELF. Both Masters and Ph.D. students in their FIRST
TWO YEARS are eligible. Systematics is interpreted broadly to include
questions below and above the species level, molecular and morphological
approaches, and issues of pattern and process. Funding is not limited
to any particular aspect of research, but rather is available for
field, museum/herbarium, and/or laboratory work.

Please email all application materials and queries to SSB Awards
Committee ssb-apps@life.uiuc.edu . IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE E-MAIL,
PLEASE INDICATE "Student Research" FOLLOWED BY FIRST INITIAL AND LAST NAME.

To be considered for this year's award, application materials, including
letters of recommendation, must be received electronically no later than
March 31, 2011.




--
Sydney A. Cameron
Assoc. Prof.
Department of Entomology
and Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology
University of Illinois
320 Morrill Hall
505 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

ofc ph. 217-333-2340
lab ph 217-333-2170
cell ph 217 766-5631
scameron@life.illinois.edu

www.life.illinois.edu/scameron

Natural Resources Internship Program

The Mountain Studies Institute, as part of the San Juan Collaboratory,
announces its fourth year of the Natural Resources Internship Program!
This is a paid 10-week opportunity to live and work in the beautiful San
Juan Mountain Region of Southwest Colorado. The internship is open to
students and recent graduates, and is an excellent career-building
experience for those interested in research and management of natural
resources. There are multiple positions, ranging from field hydrology to
community energy efficiency to water quality monitoring. Many previous
interns have continued on to graduate school or have been hired through
connections made at their internship. Internship dates are June 6 – August
12, and the application deadline is March 30. More information and the
application form can be found at: http://www.mountainstudies.org/index.php?
q=content/san-juan-natural-resources-internship-program


Qualifications: Potential interns should be college juniors, seniors, or
recent graduates with a background or strong interest in environmental
science, natural resource management, ecology, hydrology, water resources,
or related field. Most positions require a willingness to work in a field
setting, with potential for difficult hiking, challenging weather
conditions, or high-elevations. Interns should be able to work both
independently and as part of a team, have good communication skills, and a
positive attitude!

Contact: Carolyn Livensperger, Mountain Studies Institute; (970)382-6908;
info@mountainstudies.org

RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS

USDA Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Research Station

The Positions:
• Research assistants for lab work and field work looking at
invasive species and fire ecology studies of the Reno Great Basin Ecology
Laboratory thorugh the University of Nevada, Reno.
• Work includes collecting field data and laboratory processing of
collected materials and data entry. You may be eligible for academic
credit—talk to your advisor.
• Hours: Full time (40 hrs/wk) from mid/late May until classes
resume at the end of August. Part time after this period.
• Pay: $10.50 - $15.50/hr depending on education and experience.

Qualifications:
• Ability to do strenuous activity outdoors under all weather
conditions
• Interest in working with plants and soils.
• Familiarity with plant and soil lab processing techniques
(training provided).
• Computer skills, especially MS Excel.
• Send Cover letter, Resume, Contact information for three
references and transcripts (Unofficial-OK) to David Board

Contact:
David Board, Ecologist
dboard@fs.fed.us
Forest Service, RMRS
920 Valley Rd., Rm. 5
Reno, NV 89512
775.784.5329

Field assistant in ornithology project

FIELD ASSISTANT needed, 01 May - 15 Aug (flexible) to aid DR. ELLEN KETTERSON in a study of the
breeding biology of Dark-eyed Juncos at Mountain Lake Biological Station in SW Virginia.
Responsibilities may include mist netting, blood sampling, nest searching, behavioral observation,
GPS, and data entry. Applicants must be able to distinguish small colored leg bands in the field,
enjoy working outdoors (even in bad weather), be self-motivated, able to work well with others, and
willing to do minor manipulative research with animals. The work schedule involves long hours for
six days a week, and is challenging, but fun. A good attitude and strong work ethic is essential. Prior
avian field experience is strongly preferred. Transportation allowance, room, board, and stipend
(amount dependent upon experience and level of funding for project) is provided.
Email Sarah Wanamaker, sarawana AT indiana DOT edu, with subject ‘Field Assistant Position’. Please
include a summary of your background and your reasons for applying for this position, as well as the
names and email addresses of 3 people who might evaluate your work or potential. Applications will
be accepted until position is filled.

Oportunidad de Tesis doctoral en la Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD- CSIC, España)

Andy Green ( http://www.ebd.csic.es/andy ) y Ciro Rico, de la EBD-CSIC, http://www.ebd.csic.es ) buscan un candidato JAE-predoc para realizar una tesis (la convocatoria se abrirá muy pronto).

Tema: La tesis trata sobre los procesos mecanísticos clave que permiten a los invertebrados invasores establecerse frente a nuevas condiciones ambientales. El objetivo general es evaluar el papel que juegan la presión de propágulos, la mayor tolerancia fisiológica y la menor influencia de enemigos naturales, en el establecimiento exitoso de especies invasoras y el declive de especies nativas. Los organismos de estudio son dos crustáceos invasores (una especie de camarón (genero Palemon) y otra de anostraco (genero Artemia) con un impacto mayor sobre sus congéneres nativos europeo y mediterráneo respectivamente.

Este estudio fue diseñado para probar la hipótesis general de que la presión de propágulos, la más elevada tolerancia fisiológica y la liberación de parásitos nativos en la especie invasora (enemy release hypothesis), pueden ser factores claves que promueven su establecimiento exitoso y el declive de las nativas. Más específicamente, queremos investigar cuatro predicciones relacionadas con esta hipótesis: (1) El camarón Asiático P. macrodactylus ha sido introducido mediante el agua de lastre del tráfico marítimo en repetidas ocasiones y en múltiples lugares de Europa desde Asia, su continente de origen, y desde el Pacifico americano. (2) El éxito de las dos especies invasoras esta basado en su capacidad de tolerar niveles de estrés ambiental superiores a los de las especies nativas. (3) Los genes involucrados en la respuesta adaptativa frente a las condiciones ambientales de nuevo hábitat presentarán niveles de expresión génica diferentes en ambas especies. (4) La liberación de parásitos del hábitat de origen de las especies invasoras junto con una baja infestación de parásitos nativos, y consecuentemente la reducción en la expresión de los genes relacionados con el sistema inmunológico, les confiere una ventaja competitiva en el nuevo hábitat en relación a sus congeneres nativos.
El candidato debe tener un fuerte interés en ecología y evolución, especialmente en invasiones biológicas. El estudiante adquirirá experiencia en trabajo molecular, especialmente en expresión de genes y genética de poblaciones. El estudiante también realizará experimentos en acuarios y mesocosmos, así como trabajo de campo.

Perfil ideal:
- Estudiante muy motivado con titulación superior o master en Ecología, Ciencias Ambientales, Evolución, Genética o similar.
- Excelentes notas (>2/4); la publicación de artículos es una ventaja añadida.
- Experiencia en trabajo molecular (expresión de genes, genética de poblaciones, o similar) sería de gran interés.
- Buen nivel de Inglés escrito. Es esencial hablar inglés o español.

Buscamos candidatos con un excelente expediente academico y de ser posible experiencia en el manejo de tecnicas de biologia molecular.

Los candidatos deben enviar a ambos, Andy Green (ajgreen@ebd.csic.es) y Ciro Rico ( ciro@ebd.csic.es ), su CV, detalles de las notas y una carta (en español o inglés) explicando su interés y su adecuación para el puesto. También deberán enviar el nombre y los detalles de contacto de dos personas de referencia.

PhD in Animal Ecology

Influence of climatic fluctuations
on Common Eider life history
and population dynamics: variation within and between
populations.

Project description
In the context of global warming, understanding the
response of wildlife to climatic fluctuations is
crucial. To date, most studies examining the impact of
changing climate on wildlife have focused on
the response of a single population. However,
heterogeneity among populations may exist, which
could affect our understanding of climate change
consequences. Moreover, heterogeneity in the
way individuals react to changes in climatic conditions
(i.e. their phenotypic plasticity) is also critical
to understand how populations may cope with a warming
climate. Consequently, to understand and
predict wildlife response to ongoing climate changes, it is
necessary to understand and take into
account both differences among populations and among
individuals.
The goals of this project are (1) to assess and understand
the responses to changing climatic
and oceanographic conditions at the individual and
population level, and (2) compare the responses
among three populations of an Arctic breeding seabird,
the Common Eider Duck Somateria
mollissima. The Common eider is a seaduck known to be
sensitive to climatic conditions. It has a
circumpolar distribution breeding mainly on small islands
in Arctic and boreal marine areas in Alaska,
Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Western Europe (Norway),
and the Barents Sea region. The project is
based on long ]term longitudinal individual data (>15
years) collected in three Arctic or sub ]Arctic
populations (Svalbard, Norway; Southampton Island,
Canada; Grindoya, Norway). Statistical and
mathematical modeling will permit to assess the effect of
climate among and within these
populations using capture ] recapture data and
population counts, and understand the demographic
processes by which climate may affect population using
matrix models. An experimental
manipulation of the temperature experienced by female
eiders during incubation is also planned.
The project will be done in collaboration with Stephanie
Jenouvrier (WHOI ]USA, CNRSFrance),
Joel Bety (UQAR, Canada), Kjell ]Einar Erikstad (NINA,
Norway), Geir W. Gabrielsen (NPI,
Norway), Grant Gilchrist (Environment Canada), Oliver
Love (U. Windsor, Canada), Mark Forbes (U.
Carleton, Canada) and Sebastien Descamps (NPI,
Tromso). The main location will likely be in Canada
but this may be discussed with the candidate (a location
in USA, France or Norway is also possible). In
any case, regular trips to Tromso (Norway) and Boston
(USA) are expected. Fieldwork in the different
eider populations is also strongly encouraged.

Start : as soon as possible (ideally, before May 2011)
Salary: annual scholarship between 17000 and 20000
CAD for 3 years.
Qualifications : The candidate should have strong skills in
statistics and modelling (e.g., survival
modelling based on capture ]mark ]recapture data,
matrix models, time ]series analyses). English will
be the main language of communication, thus fluent
English is essential. Good leadership as well as
the ability to work in collaboration with different teams is
also required.

To apply, send before February 20th, 2011 a CV, the
name and coordinates of 2 references and a
short letter of motivation (1 page, in english) including
some examples of questions that you would
like to develop during the course of this PhD to :
Sebastien Descamps ] Norwegian Polar Institute
Polar Environmental Centre, 9296 Tromso, Norway
sebastien.descamps@npolar.no
http://npweb.npolar.no/person/Descamps