WCS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

[CRCP]

THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT- CORAL REEF ECOLOGISTS AND FISHERIES COMMUNITY
SCIENTISTS

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:

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;
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;
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
4) socio-cultural factors (indigenous etiologies and behaviors) and
institutional structures that can help to promote (or degrade)
conservation and sustainability of coral reefs.

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.

The three positions and their major responsibilities are:

Coral Reef Fish Ecologist ? 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.

Coral Reef Invertebrate Ecologist ? 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.

Fisheries Community Specialist ? 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.

Interested individuals should submit a cover letter and full curriculum
vitae to Dr. T.R. McClanahan <crcp at africaonline.co.ke> and copy the
application to L. Lauck <llauck at 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
http://www.wcs.org/wild/ then follow links to Worldwide Programs and
Marine Conservation.


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