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<b>THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY</b>
<p><b>JOB ANNOUNCEMENT- CORAL REEF ECOLOGISTS AND FISHERIES COMMUNITY SCIENTISTS</b>
<p>The Wildlife Conservation Society is developing a coral reef research
and conservation program for the countries of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
The initial part of this program will include a broad scale survey of 16
protected areas in these two countries. The ecology and cultural
institutions associated with coral reefs in and out of protected areas
will be surveyed. The primary goal is to determine the factors that
influence the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) and other
management institutions. WCS will conduct a comparative study of
reef conditions and management systems to determine:
<p>1) the ecological status of coral reefs in the region, looking for indicators
(the status of key resources, pests, pollution, coral bleaching and fishing
regimes) that directly impinge on or measure reef health;
<br>2) the management approaches of the institutions, both national and
small-scale socio-cultural organizations, associated with marine parks
and fisheries policies in the two countries;
<br>3) the relationship between coral reef ecology, fishing restrictions
imposed by socio-cultural institutions, and measures of resource extraction
and sustainability with respect to reef health; and
<br>4) socio-cultural factors (indigenous etiologies and behaviors) and
institutional structures that can help to promote (or degrade) conservation
and sustainability of coral reefs.
<p>To undertake this study WCS is organizing a small team of field scientists
to survey reefs, MPAs and cultural institutions. Applicants should
have a Ph.D. or a Masters degree and equivalent field experience.
Experience in the region, the fauna and languages will be considered an
asset. This team will work with a team of national collaborators
to help with the field program and will provide training to the national
team members. The team will also work with WCS country program personnel
in developing the survey. The positions will be held for a minimum
of 18 months and hold the title of "Associate Research Scientist".
The work will include extensive travelling in the two countries and living
under field conditions. These positions can lead to long-term appointments
with WCS. One of the team members will be named as the project leader
and will be given a coordinating role with appropriate compensation.
Annual salaries will be commensurate with experience and salary history.
In addition, to salaries, a major portion of living expenses incurred during
the field survey will be covered.
<p>The three positions and their major responsibilities are:<b></b>
<p><b>Coral Reef Fish Ecologist </b>­ Undertake visual counts of coral
reef fish in and out of managed areas using standard belt transects.
Use time-sampling procedures to develop species richness estimates for
each study site. Undertake assays of herbivory and predation on invertebrates.
Train national collaborators in the field methods. Assists with data
collection of general environmental parameters, assist the invertebrate
ecologist with transects and fish landing data collected by the Fisheries
Community Specialist. Perform data analysis and prepare publications
from the field study. Coordinate and share data with other team members
to develop a holistic view of reef ecology and human influences.
Actively share findings and information with collaborating governmental
and non-governmental organizations.
<p><b>Coral Reef Invertebrate Ecologist</b> ­ Undertake line and belt
transects of hard coral and sessile invertebrates including sea urchins,
starfish, sea cucumbers and coral-eating snails. Undertake time-sampling
procedures for developing species richness estimates at each site.
Train national collaborators in the field methods. Assist with data collection
of general environmental parameters; assist the fish ecologist with transects
and fish landing data collected by the Fisheries Community Specialist.
Perform data analysis and publications from field study. Coordinate
and share data with other team members to develop publications and a holistic
view of reef ecology and human influences. Actively share findings
and information with collaborating governmental and non-governmental organizations.<b></b>
<p><b>Fisheries Community Specialist</b> ­ This investigator will work
with a national collaborator and they will attempt to uncover the means
by which fishing regulations are established and enforced. This will
include direct observation of fishing practices; structured and more informal
individual and focus group interviews with fishers, fish marketers, park
and fisheries department personnel; in-depth interviews with community
leaders and elders; and review of any relevant secondary sources.
In addition they will collect basic socio-economic data for each study
site based on the "Rapid Assessment of Management Parameters for Coral
Reefs" (RAMP) which has been developed by the University of Rhode Island's
Coastal Resources Center (CRC). They will gather basic fisheries
statistics on the number of fishers using the landing site, the locations
and estimated sizes of the fishing grounds, and direct weight measurements
of fish and resources at the landing. In addition they will examine
and compare these data with national fisheries statistics and national
fisheries policies. Actively share findings and information with collaborating
governmental and non-governmental organizations.
<p>Interested individuals should submit a cover letter and full curriculum
vitae to Dr. T.R. McClanahan <crcp@africaonline.co.ke> and copy the
application to L. Lauck <llauck@wcs.org>. The application should
be sent as a single Word 98 email attachment with the applicants name as
the file name. The first two pages should be the cover letter followed
by the curriculum vitae that should not exceed six pages. The cover
letter should briefly state the job of interest, describe the applicants
past history, experience relating to this work, interest and availability
in undertaking this study. The curriculum vitae should contain past
educational, work and research experience, including a list of publications.
The application period will end July 30th and the work will begin in October
2001. For more information on WCS go to <A HREF="http://www.wcs.org/wild/">http://www.wcs.org/wild/</A>
then follow links to Worldwide Programs and Marine Conservation.
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