Post-Doc en Neurophysiologie

Référence : ESF-3614
Date de début de parution : 25/11/2008
Date de fin de parution : 31/01/2009

Employeur : Laboratoire Neurosciences Sensorielles Comportement Cognition (UMR 5020)
Contrat : CDD
Lieu de travail : Lyon, Rhône-Alpes, France
Salaire : NC

Le laboratoire Neurosciences Sensorielles Comportement, Cognition a pour mission de comprendre comment le cerveau traite l’information sensorielle olfactive et auditive chez les mammifères. Les approches chez l’animal et chez l’Homme abordent cette question à partir d’une large palette d’outils s’étendant des neurosciences cellulaires aux neurosciences intégrées et cognitives

Mission

Ce poste, d'une durée d'un an renouvelable une fois, est financé par l'Agence Nationale de la Recherche. Le candidat retenu travaillera dans l'équipe "Intégration des signaux sensoriels et processus dynamiques" dont le thème principal porte sur l'étude de la dimension temporelle du traitement des informations olfactives à différents niveaux d'organisation des voies olfactives centrales.

Le projet proposé vise à étudier la dimension spatio-temporelle de la représentation des odeurs au niveau du bulbe olfactif.

L’approche expérimentale est basée sur l’enregistrement optique (colorants potentiels-dépendants ou imagerie intrinsèque) de l’activité cérébrale.

Profil

Le candidat doit être titulaire d’un doctorat en Neurosciences et doit posséder une expérience de l’imagerie in vivo chez les rongeurs. Idéalement, le candidat doit aussi avoir une connaissance de la physiologie du système olfactif.

Candidature

Envoi d'un CV par email à l'adresse suivante
litaudon@olfac.univ-lyon1.fr

En savoir plus : cliquer ici

VOLUNTEER FIELD ASSISTANTS

Behavioral ecology of lance-tailed manakins in Panama. Three positions are available 15 Feb to 25 Jun 2009 for an ongoing behavioral study of female mate choice in lance-tailed manakins (Chiroxiphia lanceolata) in Panama. Females of this small, lekking bird "shop" among males that display in cooperative pairs on dispersed display territories. Assistants will be involved in work investigating questions such as how indirect genetic benefits affect female mate choice, why dominant males tolerate subordinate cooperators, and how male experience affects display performance. Assistants' responsibilities include daily maintenance of an automated telemetry system tracking, conducting many hour-long behavioral observations at display sites, nest-searching through dense secondary-growth forest, and mistnetting birds for banding and blood sampling, as well as data entry and organizational tasks. Experience in one or more of these areas is strongly preferred. Applicants should have a very strong interest in birds, animal behavior, and field biology. This position is particularly suitable for people interested in graduate studies in behavioral ecology. The field crew will live and work on a remote island off of Panama's Pacific coast and share one-room housing, and can expect to have no internet or phone access for up to two weeks at a time: experience working in isolated field settings and/or living in close quarters is highly desirable. Applicants should be enthusiastic and physically fit: the terrain is steep, the weather is very hot and humid, and there's an abundance of biting insects and a healthy population of snakes. Expect to work long days (7am-6pm six days a week), be woken at 4 am by howler monkeys on a regular basis, and see some amazing bird behavior. Round-trip airfare to Panama (max of $1000), food, housing, and required transportation within Panama will be provided, as well as a one-time $500 bonus to help defray any additional personal expenses (e.g. health insurance coverage or independent travel costs). For more information on the research, see http://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty-duval.php To apply, send: 1) coverletter explaining your motivation to work on this project, 2) resume, 3) email and phone numbers of three references to: DR. EMILY DUVAL, Florida State University Department of Biological Science, (EM: ehduval AT bio.fsu.edu), Review of applications will continue until positions are filled. Please note that because assistants receive extensive on-site training, only applications for the entire field season can be considered.

WILDLIFE TECHNICIANS

Conduct monitoring and management activities for breeding Piping Plovers. These temporary positions will run from 30 Mar 2009 (firm) through Sep 2009 at Assateague Island National Seashore in Berlin, MD. Positions will focus on plover breeding activities and disturbance control but will also address resident goose management, census of other breeding shorebirds, data management and status updates. Sea Beach Amaranth census and management will occur in the fall. Requires a B.S. in wildlife, natural resources management or related field. Applicants should have a strong interest in birds and have the ability to find and monitor small cryptic species up to 200 meters away with the aid of optics, and the ability to hear and differentiate specific calls of the primary species. The incumbents will be required to use and carry optical equipment for long periods of time over a soft terrain in a humid environment, carry loads of 10-20 kg, utilize a spotting scope while exposed to periodic hatches of biting insects, maintain composure when dealing with area closure violators, working independently and as part of a closely coordinated team. On-site housing with shared living space is available for a moderate fee. A valid drivers license and ability to operate over sand vehicles is also required. Applications for and additional information about these positions will be posted on the USAJOBS website: (URL: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/index.asp) beginning 12 Jan 2009 and will be available for 12 days. Search for Biological Science Technician, GS-5 or GS-6, at Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Maryland. All applications must be submitted through the website. JACK KUMER, Wildlife Specialist at: (EM: jack_kumer AT nps.gov) can answer questions about the positions, but has no control over the application or rating process.

TWO FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER WILDLIFE INTERNS

Needed to support avian monitoring with the National Park Service on the Maryland portion of Assateague Island National Seashore. These 16 week positions have a negotiable preferred start date of 30 Mar 2009. A great opportunity to build monitoring and management skills by working with a high density plover breeding colony on an evolving barrier beach habitat. Piping Plovers are small, ground nesting shorebirds that are federally listed as a Threatened species. Limited work with other migrant and breeding birds and with predator management. Position requires: a strong interest in bird conservation; ability to locate and monitor cryptic shorebirds by sight, call and tracks, and precocial chicks at 100-300 meters; use of optical equipment; the ability to work in close-knit groups and independently with minimal supervision; must be attentive to details; ability to accurately complete data sheets, a 0600-1430 work day; walking in loose sand under direct sunlight carrying moderate loads; exposure to high humidity, blowing sand and occasional biting insects; operation of ORV's (valid driver's license required). Interested applicants should either have or be working towards a B.S. degree in biological science, ecology, natural resources management, conservation biology or related field. A subsistence reimbursement and free on-site housing are provided to interns. Applications and additional information about these positions will be posted on the Volunteer.gov website (URL:http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/) Contact TAMI PEARL, Biological Science Technician, Assateague Island National Seashore, (PH: 410-641-1443 ext. 217, EM: tami_pearl AT nps.gov) with any questions.

SPOTTED/BARRED OWL SURVEYORS

Kingfisher Ecological, Inc. is looking for field biologists to conduct spotted owl and barred owl surveys in Oregon. Employment starts mid-Mar, 2009, and runs through the end of Jul to mid-Aug. Applicants must have minimum B.S. in Wildlife Science or related field or previous field experience. The job involves a lot of night driving (standard transmission 4x4 vehicles), working alone at night in remote forest areas and navigating mountainous terrain. Orienteering skills required include the use of map and compass. Must have good hearing. Work schedule varies throughout the season, and includes working days, nights, and/or early mornings. Housing is provided on some crews. Pay- $12 - $19/hour depending on experience. Via e-mail attachment, submit resume and 3 current reference names with contact information (MSWord format) to (EM: ellingsonamy AT comcast.net) or mail to 3126 SE Hathaway Drive, Corvallis, OR, 97333. (PH:: 541-752-4105). Closing date: when positions are filled.

FIELD BIOLOGIST

This is a permanent position to assist in a long-term monitoring program on the federally endangered Black-capped Vireo. The work takes place at Fort Hood, an 87,890-ha military installation adjacent to the city of Killeen, Texas. The Field Biologist will be involved in a variety of monitoring and research activities. Main tasks will be to assist a Conservation Biologist in the training and supervision of a seasonal field crew, conduct field work, and assist with preparation of reports and manuscripts for publication. The Field Biologist will also manage equipment and supplies necessary for field work. Pay is $35,000/year. Applicants must be in good physical condition, have good hearing, and be able to see the full spectrum of colors. Work will often start before sunrise and involve walking many kilometers under field conditions including intense sun, heat, chiggers, fire ants, cacti, snakes, and abundant poison ivy. Basic qualifications include the following: * Bachelor’s degree in science-related field and 2 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. * Valid driver’s license. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee’s motor vehicle record. * Experience recording data. * Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite software. * Experience coordinating multiple projects and managing timeframes. Experience in bird identification, finding nests, mist-netting, and banding are preferred. To apply you must complete an online application. Please fill in all fields of the online application (even if the information is included in your resume) AND upload your cover letter and resume as a single Word or PDF document that includes contact information (phone numbers and e-mail addresses) for 3 references. Visit http://www.nature.org/careers. Click “how to apply”, “view positions” and then conduct an advanced search for Job Opening ID #10624. Application deadline 12 Dec 2008. The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

WILDLIFE RESEARCH PROGRAM MANAGER

The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services program is recruiting a Wildlife Research Program Manager to be located at the Center's headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado. NWRC's mission is to apply scientific expertise to develop methods and information to resolve human-wildlife conflicts related to agriculture damage; domestic animal health (diseases transmitted by wildlife); human health and safety (wildlife disease, aviation); property damage; invasive species; and threatened and endangered species. For more information on current NWRC research, please visit (URL:http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/). Position Duties: The Program Manager has supervisory oversight to approximately 40 research and support personnel in the Agriculture and Resource Protection Research Program. Employees are located in Fort Collins and at five remote field stations. The incumbent's responsibilities include the following: • Develop plans, policies and procedures for research under his/her supervision; • Provide administrative and technical leadership to the planning, directing and coordinating all aspects of the research; • Develop and maintain a knowledge of the character, magnitude, history, and distribution of human-wildlife conflicts; familiarity with techniques, procedures, and literature used by other agencies and individuals for the resolution of such conflicts; • Design and recommend for approval multi-year plans for bird and mammal research and direct the approved areas of study; • Maintain liaison and working relationships with WS operations, Federal and state agencies, cooperators and other interested parties. Position Location: NWRC’s 43-acre headquarters campus in Fort Collins, Colorado, includes chemistry and disease laboratories, a wide range of outdoor animal holding pens, indoor animal test facilities for tropical and temperate simulated natural environments, and a biosafety-level 3 laboratory and animal test facilities. Salary: Approximate starting salary for this position ranges from $85,000 (GS-13) to $101,000 (GS-14), plus benefits. To Apply: The position will be advertised from 3 Nov - 15 Dec 2008 on the USAJobs web site (URL: http://www.usajobs.gov) as a Supervisory Biologist (GS-401) / Supervisory Wildlife Biologist (GS-486). The position will also be listed on the NWRC web site (URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ wildlife_damage/nwrc). To apply, please visit the web site and submit your application online. For Additional Information, interested candidates may contact: DR. MARK E. TOBIN, Assistant Director (PH: 970-266-6036, EM: Mark.E.Tobin AT aphis.usda.gov).

FIELD SCIENCE COORDINATOR

Job Number: 11-91-08, Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center. Posting Dates: 7 Nov – 15 Dec 2008. Job Summary: Columbus State University has an opening for a Field Science Coordinator in the Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center (OMELC). The Field Science Coordinator reports directly to the Executive Director of OMELC. Columbus State University seeks an experienced avian biologist to design, organize and implement a species inventory and monitoring plan for Oxbow Meadows Environmental Park on the Chattahoochee River adjacent to Fort Benning in south Columbus, Georgia. The Field Science Coordinator will design and manage the monitoring program; create and manage a zero-based budget; write and obtain program funding through grants and enterprise; recruit, train and supervise staff; and conduct data analyses and submit findings to a peer-reviewed publication. Minimum Qualifications: Minimum qualifications include a graduate degree in ecology, conservation biology, ornithology, wildlife management, or significant comparable work experience; avian research experience and an understanding of biological indicators, habitat management, and ecological monitoring; bird-banding experience and a bird banding permit; quantitative skills, including familiarity with occupancy modeling, power analyses, and spatial analyses; experience partnering with government agencies and NGOs; experience hiring, supervising, and managing student assistants and volunteers; and outstanding communication skills. The successful candidate will work well with people and the news media; have strong quantitative skills, and have an entrepreneurial spirit and grant-writing success. Experience at a bird observatory is highly desirable. This position will require weekend and some evening work. Must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a valid Georgia driver’s license. A successful criminal background check will be required as a condition of employment. Salary Range: The salary is $40,000 annually based upon education, training and experience. Application Procedures: For full consideration, submit a CSU employment application, resume, brief cover letter and e-mail addresses of three (3) references to: Human Resources Office, Columbus State University, 228 Richards Hall, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907- 5645. Applications may be obtained from the CSU Human Resources Office or Columbus State University’s Website (URL: http://www.colstate.edu), click Employment. Applications must be received in the Human Resources Office by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Columbus State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, Committed to Diversity in Hiring.

FIELD TECHNICIANS (several)

Needed for 3–6 months each (negotiable - but 6 month commitment preferred) Jan 2009–Sep 2009 to assist in an ongoing study of the endangered Mariana Crow on the island of Rota, Northern Mariana Islands. Responsibilities will include conducting censuses in remote areas of the island, nest-searching and monitoring, resighting and identifying color-banded individuals, mist-netting, banding, and radio-tracking. Field work involves strenuous hiking over steep, uneven terrain (karst), long field days in tropical heat and humidity, exposure to wasps and other insects. Desired Qualifications: previous ornithological field experience, excellent observational skills, good with maps, ability to drive a manual 4WD vehicle, capability to perform physical tasks including hiking across difficult terrain, and a background in wildlife biology or a related field. Applicants should be self-motivated, enthusiastic, enjoy working with others in close quarters, and have a good sense of humor. Those applicants with experience in trapping, banding, applying transmitters to and tracking birds, as well as those with intensive experience nest-searching and monitoring in densely forested habitats will be given priority. Benefits include round-trip airfare to Rota (reimbursed), housing, and $1600.00–$2000.00/mo depending on qualifications and experience. To apply, e-mail a cover letter, résumé, and the contact information for at least 3 references to: DR. KEN LEVENSTEIN (EM: KML1007 AT u.washington.edu).

WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST (ORNITHOLOGIST)

US Fish and Wildlife Service. Job Announcement Number: R7-09-222149-ZD. Salary Range: $48,148.00 - 75,025.00 USD per year. Open Period: Thursday, 13 Nov 2008 to Thursday, 4 Dec 2008. Series & Grade: GS-0486-11/12. Position Information: Full Time Career/Career Conditional.
Promotion Potential: 12. Duty Locations: 1 vacancy - Kodiak, AK. This position is in Region 7 (Alaska), at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge located on Kodiak Island, Alaska. The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 1.87 million acres on the southwestern two-thirds of Kodiak Island. Headquartered in Kodiak, the primary purpose of the Refuge is conservation of fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity including, but not limited to: Kodiak brown bears, salmonids, sea otters, sea lions, and other marine mammals and migratory birds. If selected for this position, you will serve as the lead wildlife biologist for the refuge’s ornithological program. Duties will be primarily associated with a combination of field and office work to design, conduct, and analyze scientific studies pertaining to birds and their habitat; to reach conclusions and make recommendations; and to produce and deliver reports and presentations of findings and recommendations. Goals of the Refuge’s program have emphasized, and will continue to emphasize, management and research of aquatic migratory bird taxa such as sea ducks, seabirds, and shore birds. Fieldwork will involve extensive periods based on land in remote camps, and on ocean waters based on the Ursa Major II, the Refuge’s 48-foot marine vessel. You will lead the ornithological section of the Refuge’s biological program, which concerns bird and bird habitat resources of significant local, regional, and national importance. For more information visit (URL:http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/ftva.asp?seeker=1&JobID=77245171).

Scientific Project Manager

Hiring Organization:
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary


Position Description:
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is implementing a national census to determine the distribution and abundance of the Western Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes verus within Sierra Leone. In addition to assessing population size, the data collected will be used to develop a population and habitat viability assessment (PHVA) and establish and develop appropriate plans for chimpanzee protection and conservation of habitat. The census is intended to take place from January 2009 with up to six months field work and a further two month analysis and report completion. The overall project co-ordination will be led by the sanctuary team and Professor John F Oates will be the Scientific Advisor.
The Scientific Project Manager will be responsible for delivery of the agreed methodology in the field, management of field based survey staff and analysis of the field data and report preparation. They will be expected to spend significant periods in the bush during the field work, returning to Freetown for analysis and reporting.

Qualifications/Experience:

Masters degree in a related field (PhD considered a plus)
Written and spoken fluency in English with good communication skills, both written and verbal
Relevant field experience, preferably gained in Africa
Strong organizational and proven managerial skills
Excellent reporting skills and strong computer skills are essential
Strong analytical skills preferably with previous experience in the use of DISTANCE software
Must be a results oriented team player with strong interpersonal skills, an ability to work well with and motivate a wide variety of people and have a flexible and positive attitude.
Need to be physically fit and have the ability to live and work in challenging, bush environments.

Previous fundraising experience preferred

Will be expected to remain in Sierra Leone for the duration of the project

Salary/funding:
US$3,000 / month to include all travel and costs

Application Deadline:
Monday 1 December 2008. Applicants should send a CV and covering letter by email as Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachments with the email subject

Contact Information:
Bala Amarasekaran
PO Box 469
Freetown
Sierra Leone
Telephone Number: +232 76 611211
Website: http://www.tacugama.com
E-mail Address: info@tacugama.com

Assistant Manager of the Limbe Wildlife Centre, Cameroon

Hiring Organization:
Pandrillus Foundation

Date Posted:
2008-11-20

Position Description:
Project Mission:

The Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation project situated in Southwest Cameroon, and area with one of the highest biodiversity levels in Africa. Cameroon is home to two subspecies of gorillas and chimpanzees and possesses the second highest primate diversity in Africa. As such, the LWC is of critical importance in its work supporting wildlife law enforcement and advocacy, and as a national resource for conservation education. The project is mandated to accept all wild animal species native to Cameroon, including mammals, birds and reptiles, but the majority of animals are primates (chimpanzees, gorillas, drill monkeys, guenons, mangabeys, etc.).


Project Context:

The LWC was created in 1993, and is a partnership between the NGO Pandrillus Foundation (www.pandrillus.org) and the Ministry of Forests & Fauna (MINFOF) of the Government of Cameroon. Day to day management of the centre is a cooperative effort between Pandrillus personnel and civil servants representing the Ministry. The lead Pandrillus staff is the Project Manager whose national counterpart is the Conservator. The Assistant Manager’s counterpart is the Assistant Conservator.


Major functions of the Assistant Manager:

To manage the daily operations of the LWC in support of the Project Manager and the Conservator. This involves overseeing the health and welfare of over 180 animals (including enclosure design and construction, environmental enrichment and nutritional care), developing and implementing conservation education programs and working in close collaboration with the Govt. of Cameroon to implement national wildlife laws. The Project Manager and Asst. Manager are responsible for supervising 35 staff.

Overall this is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to become integrally involved in a dynamic and exciting wildlife conservation project in Cameroon.

Main Responsibilities:

• Overseeing health and welfare of all animals resident at the project
• Developing new, and maintaining existing, funding relationships with international and national donor agencies
• Developing and implementing other fund-raising initiatives
• Report writing
• Coordinating the development of the conservation education program
• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Maintaining the LWC website
• Assisting the veterinary staff with medical procedures
• Managing the LWC’s volunteer program

Working relationships:
The LWC collaborates with many international, national and regional partners.

• Internal: The LWC project is collaboration between the Pandrillus Foundation and the Govt. of Cameroon and as such the management work closely with the Ministry of Forests and Fauna (MINFOF). Pandrillus staff in Cameroon are answerable to the Pandrillus directors.

• External: The LWC is a member of the Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (PASA). The institution and Pandrillus work closely with other NGOs active in conservation locally and regionally, as well as NGOs and other bodies working internationally for wildlife conservation and animal welfare.

Qualifications/Experience:
Preferably, a university degree in a biological science (conservation biology, zoology etc.).

The position would be suitable for a veterinary surgeon wishing to work in project management (the LWC employs a full-time Cameroonian veterinary surgeon and a veterinary nurse/technician, who would benefit from the experience that another vet may bring).

However, a university degree is not a pre-requisite for the position and experience working in the following areas is also desirable:

• captive care and/or wildlife management
• animal keeping/handling, preferably zoo or wild animal
• laboratory diagnostics
• administration and accounting
• fundraising and proposal writing
• conservation education
• website design/maintenance
• building/construction
• vehicle mechanics
• developing country experience

This list is not exhaustive and we do not expect candidates to have previous experience in all of these areas, but the job will involve working in all aspects of the project and so a broad range of abilities is sought.

Attributes:
Strong leadership skills, flexibility and adaptability, energetic yet calm, knowledge of wildlife, welfare and conservation issues (particularly with respect to African primates). The ability to follow direction, and the spirit of teamwork are important. Ideally, the successful candidate will have experience working in a developing country. The spoken language of the region is English, although knowledge of French is very desirable.

Salary/funding:
This is a voluntary position

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
All living costs (food and accommodation) are provided by the project. However, travel to Cameroon plus medical insurance will need to be paid for by the volunteer. Volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of 12 months. Thereafter, should the candidate commit to staying longer, a return flight home and other benefits will be awarded.

Term of Appointment:
Minimum 1 year (subject to a three-month performance review)

Application Deadline:
15th December 2008

Comments:
Applications: a covering letter describing why you wish to take up this position, a CV, and the details of at least 2 referees are accepted via email to the address listed below. A personal interview with a Pandrillus staff or representative may be required for short-listed candidates.

Contact Information:
Felix Lankester
Limbe PO Box 878
Cameroon

Telephone Number:
+237 99266278

Website:
http://www.limbewildlife.org

E-mail Address:
info@limbewildlife.org

Community & Wildlife Volunteer in South Africa

Hiring Organization:
Umpalazi: Community & Wildlife Project

Date Posted:
2008-11-14

Position Description:
The Umpalazi: Community & Wildlife Project invites you to become apart of an experience that combines community upliftment with wildlife conservation. Become a part of this amazing opportunity, and give back, along with fellow volunteers from all over the world. Volunteers will have a unique opportunity to work closely with South African wildlife, primarily the South African Vervet Monkey. This will be a joint project with the Animal Protection and Environmental Sanctuary (A.P.E.S.) as co-founders, Dawn Magowan and Rodney Pendleton, will be moving to Umpalazi with their sanctuary to provide their wildlife with a better release site and to immediately get volunteers involved with wildlife conservation. Volunteers will have a direct and positive impact on the conservation of wildlife and the environment.

The property is in disrepair as it has been unoccupied for a year; therefore, there is much to work on. Some of the project duties include:

* Painting; Small-scale building; General repairs, fencing; Dam-wall reconstruction etc.
* Fixing/constructing animal enclosures
* General animal care
* Monkey food preparation & enclosure cleaning
* Rescue and rehabilitation of monkeys and other animals, both domestic and wildlife.
* Closer observation/contact with the monkeys that cannot be released due to injury.
* Visits to local Zulu schools regarding environmental education, maintenance work etc.
* Livestock food preparation & feeding (including domestic pets - dogs, cats, cows, a goat, ducks, geese, chickens, etc..)
* Snare/Trap clearing (in nearby forest/bush areas)
* Participation in an up-coming project involving more intensive snare/trap clearing in forest plantations, invasive weed removal and other environmental management activities.
* Walk & Game counting ( there is a wide variety of game in the area); Bird watching

Skills training of local Zulu community members (funds permitting)whenever possible:
* The aim is not only to create jobs to help improve the standard of living and the lives of local rural people, but also to provide long-term community upliftment.
* The local rural Zulu community members will join this initiative to learn various skills from the volunteers. This is an excellent upliftment project that will create a positive ripple effect throughout the whole community.
* The individuals involved thus have the opportunity to build on their skills, providing an income and/or the ability to teach others.
* Any help would be welcome and appreciated.

WHAT TO BRING:
* Inexpensive clothing and other supplies can be bought locally, so there is no need to overload yourself; the following list is to help get an idea of what you will need:
* Runners/hiking shoes; everyday footwear.
* Raincoat, sun block & sunhat (broad-rimmed) can be bought locally.
* Personal items that are essential.
* Sleeping bag, pillow case etc.
* Clothing for changeable weather (i.e. usually warm during the day; cold at night )
* Nothing too revealing as Umpalazi is situated in a rural and conservative area.
* Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided. This includes boots, overalls and gloves.

LOCAL FACILITIES:
* The following can be found at Greytown:
* Bank, Internet Café, Photo Developers, Supermarket & other stores (i.e. 'PEP', 'AHEERS').
* Hotel, Restaurants, Post Office, Greytown Museum.
* Doctor, Dentist, Pharmacy, Police Station.

Note: Umpalazi does not have access to electricity, therefore it does, and will provide for a more environmentally friendly way of living. Funds permitting, solar and gas facilities and a generator will be installed, supplying what little electricity is necessary.

There are also opportunities to live with a Zulu family (for a day etc.), and visit other attractions in KwaZulu-Natal (i.e. CROW, Game Reserves, St.Lucia Wetlands etc.)

Qualifications/Experience:
* A love of animals and the environment.
* A willingness to learn and be a part of a communal environment.
* Previous experience (I.e. carpenter, zoologist, etc.) is appreciated but not necessary.

Salary/funding:
Cost (GBP): £610 per month
* 50% deposit is required upon acceptance to the Umpalazi Project.
* The remaining 50% is required at least 2 weeks before intended arrival date.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
* All meals are provided (excluding snacks, sweets etc.)
* Basic but comfortable accommodation is provided.
* Volunteers will initially stay at the Animal Protection and Environmental Sanctuary (APES) until Umpalazi is up and running.
* Male/female accommodation is separate unless in a couple.
* Laundry will be done once weekly.
* In-country orientation/Training
* In-country staff support

Term of Appointment:
Minimum 4 weeks

Application Deadline:
none

Contact Information:
Danielle Enright, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa

Website:
http://www.umpalazi.org

E-mail Address:
de@umpalazi.org

Dolphin behaviour and Dolphin-Assisted Therapy, Eilat, Israël

This course will deliver an insight into their behaviour, how to train a dolphin, Dolphin-Assisted Therapy and dolphin husbandry. It will show the reality, the work and the science behind the myth. The course will last 10 days with two half days off.

basic Course 2009

The course will last 10 days with two half days off.

The next course will be:

2. - 11. February 2009

The dolphin is one of the most mystified animals by the humans. Humans associate them with extraordinary abilities such as love and healing power.

But what is behind all these stories and myths? There is a simple animal, adapted to the water, playful, social and special in its approach to people. They are wild animals which are initiating the
contact to us.

This course will deliver an insight into their behaviour, how to train a dolphin, Dolphin-Assisted Therapy and dolphin husbandry. It will show the reality, the work and the science behind the myth.

Content of the course

The course is based on 3 modules.

Animal and dolphin behavior module:


• Introduction to Marine Biology

• Introduction to the Gulf of Aqaba

• Dolphin Behavioral Research. Past and current research projects around the world

• Methods in Ethology: Systematic Collection of Data, with Special Reference to Social Behaviour

• Ethogram Workshop: Observing animals

• Guided project in Dolphin Behavior based on observation

• Dolphin vocal communication

• Cetacean Social Behaviour and Ecology, with Special Reference to Bottlenose Dolphins

• Cetology: Evolution of whales and dolphins, adaptation to the marine environment

• Behavioral development and mother influence in bottlenose dolphins

• Dolphin Conservation Dolphin training and husbandry module:

• Veterinary considerations in maintaining dolphins in captivity

• Animal Training and training dolphins in Dolphin Reef

• The Open sea project

• Evaluating the human experience in swim with dolphin programs; methodological approaches

• Dolphin recognition and identification. Identification of the dolphins at Dolphin Reef

• First Aid to Marine Mammals: How to Deal with Stranded Cetaceans

• Releasing Dolphins into the Wild, with special emphasis on two case studies performed in 1996 and 2004

Dolphin Assisted Therapy module:

• Animal Assisted therapy

• Supportive experience with the aid of the dolphins

• Preparations, executing and discussion of systematic observations of therapy sessions

• A swim with the dolphins

• Impression of the swim

• Autism and Therapeutical Methods with the Assistance of Dolphins

• Discussion and analysis of specific case studies where dolphin assisted therapy was used

• Scientific Seminar on Dolphin Therapy

• Observation of therapy sessions
The exact program will be hand out by the beginning of the course.
Variations and changes in the program are possible.

Aim of the course

Main goals of the course are: To give an introduction to the mentioned subjects and to demonstrate the work that is done here, both for the behavioral work and the therapy and to have researchers from all over the world in the Dolphin Reef.

general Information

The course will be held at the Dolphin Reef Facility in Eilat. The Dolphin Reef Eilat is situated in the southern part of Israel on the coast of the Red Sea. The Dolphin Reef is a very special tourist place with the possibility to swim and to dive with the dolphins. It offers also a unique chance to observe the impressive social life of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and the friendship between humans and dolphins. In the Dolphin Reef eight dolphins (six females and two males) live together the whole year in a spacious area from about 14.000 square meters separated from the open sea with a net.

These dolphins can live their social life like hunting, playing, mating and fighting and the humans are visitors in their world.

(Further information: http://www.dolphinreef.co.il)

Besides the tourist aspect additional factors let experience the human-dolphin bond.

Here dolphins get trained independent from food. Five times a day the dolphins get their food. After the feeding a training session takes place with one of the dolphins which wants to play, to get pet or wants to learn a behavior. When they are busy with their daily life they don't come. The bond between the trainers and the dolphins is built on trust and friendship.

This relationship and friendship makes a very special program possible called ‘Supportive Experience with the Aid of Dolphins’ for children suffering from many different disorders and diseases: cancer, behavioral problems, sexual abuse, Down's Syndrome, autism, ADD. ADHD, and all kinds of physical and mental retardation initiated by Sophie Donio (Established 1991).

The program is called 'Supportive experience with the aid of the dolphins' instead of 'therapy with dolphins' because the aim is not trying to heal people but to give moral support and to make children smile. It is a long term program and children aged from six years and above can participate.

(Further information: http://www.dolphinreef.co.il)

And there is the research facility also situated in the Dolphin Reef. It is called ‘Dolphin Research Laboratory' and was founded in 1994, in special cooperation with the University of Berlin, Germany and was led by Dr. Frank Veit, University of Berlin, till 2006. Since 2007 the head of the research laboratory is Dr. Nadav Shashar, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus.

The scientific research facility examines various aspects of dolphin behaviour and communication and the work of the lab is strictly non-invasive, meaning that no experiments are carried out here that could possibly harm or harass the animals.

Internship program

A successful participation in the course will be on accreditation for participation in our internship program offered by the therapy and the research department.

If you want to participate in our internship program it is necessary to mention this when you register for the course. It is important to know either you are interested in the Dolphin Therapy or in the research work on Dolphin Behavior, and for how long you want to stay. You can make your own research, then it would be necessary to know which aim and subject your research will be or you want to intensify your experience and to get to know better the work with the dolphins in the Dolphin Reef. If needed we are open for questions and to help making the choice.

The course will be a basic one and will be interdisciplinary. Participants will have very different backgrounds like from interested layman to Ph.D. students
Our own background is biological or psychological one.

Swimming with the dolphins

As mentioned, the course is an educational one, but one swim with the dolphins is included to give a better insight in the different world of the dolphins. For those that want to do more swims, they can do so on the half days off for a reduced fee.

The Course fee

The price for the course itself is Euro 975.- including all lectures, course material, excursion to the Underwater Observatory, one swim with the dolphins, two meals during the days - (breakfast and lunch), and coffee and tea.

A deposit of Euro 200 has to be paid in advance for registration.


The course will be held in English with possible assistance in Hebrew, French, and German. The course will consist of lectures presented by the scientists of the Lab, by the training team as well as invited experts. There will be observations of dolphin behavior, of therapy sessions and of hands- on exercises and practicals.

The program will start in the morning (8.00 or 9.00) and will finish in the afternoon\evening (16.00 to 18.00). Additionally, we offer a fringe program at some of the evenings.

who can participate?

It is open to all people from the age 18 and above, with no special qualifications concerning scientific experience. To ensure individualized instructions, the number of participants is limited. A certificate of attendance will be provided at the end of the course. Students, which take the course for academic credit, may be required to take a final examination.

Registration form : http://www.dolphinreef.co.il/Portals/0/therpy_Registration
form.pdf

Accommodations

We can recommend some nice and available accommodations.
Accommodations are not included in the course fee.

Headed by

The course will be headed by Ms. Sophie Donio - Head of the Therapy Department at the Dolphin Reef Facility, Dr. Nadav Shashar - Marine Biologist at Ben Gurion University and Head of the Dolphin Research Laboratory in Eilat and Magister Marie Christine Cepicka (M.Sc.- in marine biology) and a member of the laboratory and therapy team for the last 2 years.

For further information or questions, please send an email to Marie Christine Cepicka: yemaya99 [ à ] gmx.at

Field Research Assistant: Olive Baboon Feeding Behaviour, Nigeria

Hiring Organization:
Roehampton University

Date Posted:
2008-11-12

Position Description:
A position is available for a research assistant to help with a study of feeding behaviour in two troops of habituated olive baboons at Gashaka-Gumpti National Park, North East Nigeria. You will be required to assist with full-day observations of the troops which will include recording the activities of all group members as well as making detailed observations of the feeding behaviours of focal animals. Other activities will include collecting food, urine and faecal samples and assisting with setting up and observing food-baited platform scales in order to remotely weigh the study animals.

The study area is set in a mosaic habitat of woodland, grassland and lowland, gallery and montane forest. Due to the location of the two study troops, accommodation will be at two sites, one at a research station near Gashaka village and the other approximately 10km from the village at a field station in the forested Kwano area. More details about the study site, accommodation and the Gashaka Primate Project can be found here: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/gashaka/park/

This position is ideal for someone interested in gaining field experience as preparation for post-graduate study. You will learn various field methods relevant for the study of behavioural ecology, animal nutrition and the remote monitoring of animal health and condition.

Qualifications/Experience:
Priority will be given to applicants with an undergraduate degree in biology, anthropology or a related discipline and to those with previous fieldwork experience, especially if this has involved work within the tropics and/ or at remote field sites.

The applicant should be:
- physically fit
- willing to work for long hours in difficult terrain
- interested in primate behaviour
- hardworking and conscientious
- comfortable working in isolated field conditions
- able to maintain a positive attitude under what can be difficult conditions

Salary/funding:
No salary.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Research assistants must pay for their own inoculations, prophylaxis, health insurance, field clothes, and personal expenses. A contribution will be made towards food and lodging at the field site and, depending on the outcome of several external grant applications, a contribution may also be made towards travel and visa costs.

Term of Appointment:
6 months

Application Deadline:
The project will start in February/ March 2009. Applications should be submitted by 3rd December 2008.

Comments:
If you are interested, please submit the following by email:
1) your CV
2) an application letter
3) names and email addresses of 2 referees

Contact Information:
Emily Lodge
School of Human and Life Sciences, Whitelands College, Roehampton University, Holybourne Avenue
London SW15 4JD
United Kingdom

Telephone Number:
+44 (0)20 8392 3549

E-mail Address:
e.lodge@roehampton.ac.uk

Lettre Tee

La Lettre Tee 117 est consultable en ligne à cette adresse : http://www.reseau-tee.net/lettre-tee.htm

A signaler ce mois ci, un Zoom "Effets du changement climatique sur l'emploi, les formations et les métiers du développement durable"...

PhD position, in the Group of Attention, Action and Perception, at

Applications are invited for one PhD student in the Group of Attention, Action and Perception (http://www.pcb.ub.es/homepcb/live/en/p2153.asp ) at the Parc Científic of University of Barcelona (Spain).

The post is part of BRAINGLOT (http://www.pcb.ub.es/brainglot/), a Spanish Research Network on Cognitive Neuroscience (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 Scheme, Spain Ministry of Science and Education). The project is conceived with an open and multidisciplinary vocation, as one of its major anchor points places the stress on the mutual influence (both in terms of cognitive and neural processes) between perception, multisensory integration, and the executive control attention.

This is an excellent opportunity for professional growth for those interested in the fields of psychology, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience or related disciplines including computer science.

The position is available for candidates interested in conducting psychophysical studies on multisensory integration. Complementary to those, the candidate will have the opportunity to participate in research projects adopting other methodologies, such as human electrophysiology, fMRI, eye tracking, or testing neuropsychological patients, among others.

We are seeking highly motivated applicants with an interest in the Cognitive Neurosciences and who have (or are close to have) a degree in Psychology, Life Sciences, or related fields. Essential to the post are good communication and writing skills (in English). Some laboratory experience with psychophysics / experimental psychology, as well as computer programming skills, will be valued. Only applicants from the European Union will be considered.

The position is funded for 4 years, beginning as soon as possible. Approx. salary is 15,000 Eur/year (before taxes).

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Please send your applications, or any informal enquiry to Joan Lopez- Moliner (j.lopezmoliner [ à ] ub.edu) or Salvador Soto-Faraco (salvador.soto [ à ] icrea.es ). To apply, include the following information: - C.V. - the names and contact email/phone of two academic referees who would willing to write letters of recommendation - a cover letter describing your research interests Joan -- Joan López-Moliner Grup de Recerca Neurociencia Cognitiva Departament de Psicologia Bà sica Universitat de Barcelona Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 171 08035 Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain e-mail: J.LopezMoliner [ à ] ub.edu http://www.ub.edu/pbasic/visualperception/joan skype: jlmoliner phone: +34 93 3125143 fax: +34 93 402 13 63

Intergroup conflict and within-group cooperation in wild banded mongooses.

Applicant: Michael A. Cant Funding Scheme: NERC

Background:

A key objective in evolutionary biology is to understand the factors that promote cooperation in social groups1. Theory suggests that intergroup conflict is a major force favouring the spread of cooperative strategists in non-cooperative populations2-4. These models help to explain crossspecies patterns of cooperation4, but it remains unclear whether they are useful to understand individual variation in behaviour. For example, recent models predict that individuals who contribute most to intergroup aggression will also contribute most to within-group cooperation4. However, this prediction ignores possible hormonally-mediated trade-offs in the expression of cooperative versus aggressive behaviour5,6, and the possible individual and group-level benefits of a division of labour between helping or fighting7. Thus, while there is widespread theoretical agreement about the importance of intergroup competition for cooperation, little is known about how such competition shapes individual behaviour in natural populations. This project will address this shortfall in knowledge using a model mammalian system: the banded mongoose, Mungos mungo, in which there is extreme variation in individual contributions to both intergroup aggression8 and cooperative offspring care9-12. The project will be based at the long-term study of wild banded mongooses in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda13, where all protocols necessary for its success have previously been validated.

Aims:
The project will address two main questions:
1. Are there behavioural or physiological tradeoffs between intergroup aggression and helping? Data will be collected on individual contributions to two forms of cooperative care (babysitting and pupfeeding) and to intergroup aggression (using both natural and staged encounters8 ) and hormonal samples will be collected in parallel (for testosterone and cortisol measures). The data will be used to explore (i) the social and hormonal predictors of cooperative and aggressive behaviour, (ii) whether trade-offs exist between these behaviours, and (iii) whether these trade-offs may be mediated by hormonal underpinnings.
2. Does intergroup competition promote cooperation and/or role specialization? The project will include a strong theoretical element using game theory and structured population models to explore the effect of intergroup conflict on the evolution of cooperation in viscous populations such as those of vertebrates (including humans). Cant has wide experience with these models14-16 and will guide the student’s theoretical investigations alongside their empirical research.

Programme of work:
Year 1: field training and data collection (6 months), laboratory training and analysis (2 months), theoretical training and background research (4 months). Year 2: field data collection (8 months), theoretical work and data analysis (4 months). Year 3: laboratory analysis (2 months); data analysis and writing up (10 months).

Strategic relevance of the research to NERC:
The project directly addresses NERC's mission to deliver world-leading environmental research at the frontiers of knowledge. It addresses NERC's Biodiversity theme by advancing our understanding of animal behaviour in the wild, provides strong inter-disciplinary post-graduate training, and will foster valuable links between conservation research institutions in the UK and the USA. The project will also address NERC's goal of disseminating insights into the natural environment to the wider public: the applicant’s recent research on social evolution has received press and radio coverage in over 15 countries16.

Student Support:
M. Cant is ideally placed to supervise this project. He is at the forefront of theoretical research on conflict and cooperation in animal societies, and leads research on banded mongooses. Along with his post-doc S. Hodge and three full-time field assistants, Cant will provide field training, logistical support and access to the long-term database, and will offer training in the mathematical modelling of behaviour. Hormone assays will be carried out in the laboratory of with Steve Monfort (Conservation Research Center, Smithsonian Institution, USA), who has collaborated previously to analyze banded mongoose samples and has agreed to assist this project.

Details of CASE/Industry partner: N/A

References: 1. Nowak, M. 2006. Science 314, 1560-1563; 2. Hamilton, W.D. 1975. pp 133-153 in: R. Fox (ed), Biosocial Anthropology, Malaby Press, London. 3. Alexander, R.D. 1978. Ann Rev. Ecol. Syst. 9, 449-474; 4. Reeve, H.K. & B. Holldobler. 2007. PNAS 104, 9736-9740; 5. Komdeur, J. 2006. Ethology 112: 729-747; 6. Wingfield, J. C. et al. 1990. Am. Nat. 136: 829-846; 7. Wilson, E.O. 1971 The Social Insects. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass; 8. Cant, M.A., Otali, E., & F. Mwanguhya. 2001. Ethology 108, 541-555; 9. Cant, M.A. 2003. J. Zool. 259:115-121; 10. Gilchrist, J.S. 2004. Behavioral Ecology 15, 952-960; 11. Hodge, S.J. 2005. Proc Roy Soc Lond B 272:2479-2484; 12. Bell, M.B.V. 2007. Current Biology 17, 717-721; 13. Cant, M.A. 2000. Anim. Behav 59:147-159; 14. Cant, M.A. & R.A. Johnstone. 2000. Am Nat. 155, 406-416; 15. Johnstone, R.A. & M.A. Cant. 2008. Am Nat.172, 318-330. 16 Cant, M.A. & R.A. Johnstone 2008. PNAS 105, 5332-5336.

Application details
You should have (or expect to gain) a 1st class or high 2:1 class degree and excellent academic references. Applications only accepted from UK/EU nationals. UK citizens and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the studentship will receive both fees and stipend scholarship, other EU nationals will receive a fees scholarship only.
Applicants should send a covering letter explaining your suitability for this post, along with a CV including contact details of two academic referees to:
Mrs S. Mudge,
Postgraduate Secretary,
School of Biosciences,
University of Exeter,
Geoffrey Pope Building,
Stocker Road,
Exeter EX4 4QD
or by email to BS-PGadmissions@exeter.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is 28th November 2008. We aim to interview short‐listed candidates in the week commencing 12th January 2009

Predatory behaviour of coral reef fishes and the implications for prey population dynamics

Dr Alastair Harborne

Relevant funding scheme: NERC

Background:
Fisheries are a key ecosystem service provided by coral reefs1, but little is known about the population dynamics of most species. It is well established that juvenile fishes experience high mortality rates, and that predation is an important process contributing to juvenile mortality. Furthermore, predation of recruiting fish is frequently density dependent and this is important for regulating populations2. However, why predation is density dependent has received little attention, despite its importance to prey population dynamics.
Holling3 described three potential relationships between predation rates and prey densities. Type 3 functional responses are particularly important because they can lead to density-dependent responses of prey species, and can stabilise predator-prey models4. Type 3 responses can also be generated by predators ‘switching’ among prey species depending on their relative density (i.e., taking a higher than expected proportion of the abundant species). Reef fish communities have many of the properties characteristic of Type 3 interactions5, but the presence of this important functional response has never been documented.

Aims of the project:
(1) Investigate in aquaria the functional response of a predator to varying prey density in (a) a one prey system and (b) two prey system;
(2) Demonstrate that functional responses seen in aquaria are also exhibited by predators in highly-controlled experiments in marine environments; and
(3) Model the implications of the empirical data on the population dynamics of the prey species.

Key hypotheses that will be tested are:
H1: The functional response of a reef fish predator when exposed to increasing densities of prey can be characterised as Type 3 because of factors such as increased hunting efficiency.
H2: Because of the use of ‘search images’ for prey, reef fish predators exhibit switching behaviour when exposed to varying proportions of different prey, also leading to Type 3 functional responses.
H3: Functional responses of reef fish predators lead to density dependent mortality of prey species, and this stabilises the population dynamics of the interaction.

Programme:
Fieldwork would be based at the Cape Eleuthera Institute (The Bahamas). Research will focus on
three species common in The Bahamas: the predator Cephalopholis fulva and two of its prey species, Chromis cyanea and Thalassoma bifasciatum. Initially, the student will survey patch reefs to establish realistic prey densities for the aquaria experiments and pilot the aquarium trials to quantify, for example, the optimal time period for each trial. The first aquaria experiments will consist of a minimum of three replicate predators in three different tanks being presented with a specific density of one of the prey species, and the density will then be increased in each subsequent trial (e.g., 5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 prey per tank). By repeating the experiment for the other prey species, this will establish the functional response of the predator to each individual prey species. The second series of aquaria experiments will expose the predator to both prey species simultaneously in different proportions (e.g., 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25) and total densities to investigate switching behaviour.
The aquaria experiments will then be repeated in situ on small, caged, isolated patch reefs specifically built from live rock. Finally, the empirical data will be used to parameterise the range of theoretical models developed within this fielde.g.,6 to gain a more generic understanding of predator-prey interactions on reefs.

Strategic relevance of the research:
This project addresses two of the seven science themes in NERC’s Strategy for 2007-2012 (‘Biodiversity’ and ‘Sustainable use of natural resources’). The PhD would complement current population ecology research on parrotfishes within Prof. Mumby’s Marine Spatial Ecology Lab (MSEL), and more generally other work on predator-prey systems within the School. I believe the PhD would lead to a range of questions that would be appropriate for Research Council Standard Grants, including consideration of how predator-prey interactions are affected by decreasing habitat quality driven by factors such as climate change.

Student support:
This would be Harborne’s first post-graduate student, but the student would benefit from integration with other PhD students within MSEL. Dr David Hodgson, co-investigator, has extensive experience of working with predator-prey systems, including empirical modelling. Hodgson is a valued cosupervisor to several Biosciences PhDs, and contributes training in quantitative aspects of ecological research.

1. Moberg, F. & Folke, C. Ecol. Econ. 29, 215-233 (1999). 2. Hixon, M. A. & Webster, M. S. in Coral reef fishes: dynamics and diversity in a complex ecosystem (ed. Sale, P. F.) 303-325 (Academic Press, San Diego, 2002). 3. Holling, C. S. Canad. Entomol. 91, 385-398 (1959). 4. Begon, M. et al. Ecology (Blackwell Sceintific Publications, Boston, 1990). 5. Cornell, H. Am. Nat. 110, 317-320 (1976). 6. Abrams, P. A. & Matsuda, H. Popul. Ecol. 46, 13-25 (2004).

Application details
You should have (or expect to gain) a 1st class or high 2:1 class degree and excellent academic references. Applications only accepted from UK/EU nationals. UK citizens and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the studentship will receive both fees and stipend scholarship, other EU nationals will receive a fees scholarship only.
Applicants should send a covering letter explaining your suitability for this post, along with a CV including contact details of two academic referees to:
Mrs S. Mudge,
Postgraduate Secretary,
School of Biosciences,
University of Exeter,
Geoffrey Pope Building,
Stocker Road,
Exeter EX4 4QD
or by email to BS-PGadmissions@exeter.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is 28th November 2008. We aim to interview short‐listed candidates in the week commencing 12th January 2009

Costs and benefits of cooperative behaviour in a wild bird: the role of oxidative stress

Applicant: Andrew Young Funding Scheme: NERC

Background:
Seeking to explain the evolution of cooperative behaviours, such as helping to provision the offspring of others, is a key focus of behavioural ecological research and demands an understanding of the costs that helping entails and the benefits enjoyed by recipients1. It is now clear that helpers can suffer survival costs and that their recipients often experience survival and fecundity advantages1,2. However, the mechanisms underlying such effects are poorly understood. One key possibility is that helping, and being helped, alter the oxidative balance of individuals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are primarily produced as a bi-product of aerobic metabolism, can cause serious damage to biomolecules. Under normal circumstances ROS are controlled by the body’s antioxidant defences, but activities that incur increased ROS production, such as hard physical work, risk overwhelming these defences. Such oxidative stress is believed to be an important mechanism underlying impaired reproductive performance and ageing3.
Remarkably, the role that oxidative balance has played in the evolution of cooperative societies has yet to be investigated. Helping to provision offspring is hard work2, and may therefore result in oxidative stress. Helping also commonly lightens the workloads of parents2, however, and so may reduce parental oxidative burdens and allow them to transfer this benefit to the production of new offspring. This ‘oxidative loadlightening’ could therefore constitute a general mechanism promoting the evolution of animal cooperation.

Aims:
I propose the first investigation of how oxidative balance may mediate the costs and benefits of cooperative behaviour. Using my existing study population of 30 cooperative groups of sparrow weavers, Plocepasser mahali, and three biochemical assays already established at Tremough, the project will test:
(1) The effects of offspring provisioning rates on oxidative balance both in parents and helpers. Brood size manipulations will be used to experimentally increase and decrease the workload faced by family groups, allowing us to relate variation in provisioning rates to blood markers of oxidative damage (malondialdehyde) and key measures of antioxidant activity, including enzymatic (superoxide dismutase) and non-enzymatic constituents (‘Total Antioxidant Capacity’ assay4).
(2) To what extent do helper contributions improve the oxidative balance of parents? To test for effects of helping on the oxidative balance of parents (assays as above), independently of the total workload of the group, we will experimentally reduce helper contributions using tail-weights5.
(3) Do load-lightened mothers produce new offspring with reduced oxidative burdens? Birds can influence the oxidative balance of their offspring by altering the levels of antioxidants deposited into egg yolk6. We will test whether recipients of help (mothers) produce more antioxidant-rich eggs, and the consequences of this for the oxidative balance, growth and survival of chicks (assays as above).

Sparrow weavers are ideal subjects as helpers lighten parental workloads7 and my own work has
proven the feasibility of all necessary field techniques (e.g. blood sampling and brood size manipulations).

Programme of work:
Year 1: fieldwork in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa (run aim 1 experiment and collect data for aim 3); lab and data analysis at Tremough. Year 2: fieldwork (run aim 2 experiment and
collect data for aim 3); lab and data analysis at Tremough. Year 3: finish lab and data analyses and write up.

Strategic relevance:
The project falls squarely within the NERC’s remit, addressing both the behavioural ecology and environmental physiology key science topics, and, by seeking new links between cooperation, workloads and aging in a charismatic social species, is likely to attract a high quality student and generate topical and newsworthy findings (my own research on cooperative societies has already attracted media coverage in 15 countries). The project will also foster new collaborative links between myself and Dr Jon Blount (see below), dovetail synergistically with my existing NERC funded research on the hormonal regulation of vertebrate cooperation, and provide valuable data to strengthen future research council grants.
A NERC studentship would also facilitate the development of my own research group, and would be timely as I currently hold a NERC Research Fellowship and have yet to take on a PhD student within the School.

Student Support:
The student will receive strong inter-disciplinary training, covering field behavioural and
physiological techniques, experimental design, biochemical analysis, data analysis and paper writing. Dr Jon Blount will co-supervise to provide lab assay training and to guarantee supervisory support beyond the tenure of my fellowship. Field and lab costs will be met from the NERC studentship fieldwork, exceptional consumables and RTSG funds, and any shortfall will be met from my existing fellowship support.

[1] Clutton-Brock (2002) Science 296, 69-72 [2] Heinsohn (2004) Cooperative Breeding in Birds pp. 67-80 [3] Beckman & Ames (1998) Physiol. Rev. 78, 547 [4] Wood et al (2006) J. Sci. Food Agric. 86, 2057 [5] Wright & Cuthill (1989) Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 25, 171-181 [6] Blount et al (2004) Proc. Roy. Soc. B. 271, S79-81 [7] Lewis (1981) Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 9, 83-93.

Application details

You should have (or expect to gain) a 1st class or high 2:1 class degree and excellent academic references. Applications only accepted from UK/EU nationals. UK citizens and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the studentship will receive both fees and stipend scholarship, other EU nationals will receive a fees scholarship only.
Applicants should send a covering letter explaining your suitability for this post, along with a CV including contact details of two academic referees to:
Mrs S. Mudge,
Postgraduate Secretary,
School of Biosciences,
University of Exeter,
Geoffrey Pope Building,
Stocker Road,
Exeter EX4 4QD
or by email to BS-PGadmissions@exeter.ac.uk

The closing date for applications is 28th November 2008. We aim to interview short‐listed candidates in the week commencing 12th January 2009

Do sex-differences in foraging area explain the link between ocean climate change and survival in the Northern Fulmar?

Ocean ecosystems are going through rapid and dramatic transformations, driven primarily by changing climate and patterns of harvesting. Seabirds are key indicators of the state of these systems, and many species are currently undergoing serious declines. Individual-based studies of several North Atlantic seabirds have shown that climate-related variation in adult survival may be driving population change, but understanding of these effects is hampered by a lack of data on distribution and foraging ecology during the winter. We recently detected sex-differences in the influence of climate on adult survival of northern fulmars. This project will study the at-sea distribution of fulmars and test the hypothesis that differences in survival are due to sex differences in winter foraging areas. The student will use geolocation data loggers and analyses of chemical signatures in feathers to compare male and female winter distribution. New insights into at-sea distribution will facilitate the identification of key foraging habitats and important marine conservation areas within the NE Atlantic. The project involves collaboration between staff with expertise in marine top predator ecology and environmental chemistry, and will provide the student with opportunities to develop both field and laboratory skills, and expertise in GIS analysis.

Funding Notes
Candidates must be eligible for UK/EU fee status (EU students MUST have been in the UK for at least three years prior to commencement of studentship) and should hold a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree, a Masters degree or an equivalent qualification.

To apply send an application form, downloadable from http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/pgapp.doc along with a letter and an up-to-date C.V. (no longer than 2 sides of A4)

Send to Ms M Schumann, School of Biological Sciences, Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU. E-mail is the preferred mode of application – m.schumann@abdn.ac.uk

Cherel, Y., Phillips, R.A., Hobson, K.A. and McGill, R. (2006). Stable isotope evidence of diverse species-specific and individual wintering strategies in seabirds. Biology Letters 2, 301-303.

Grosbois, V. & Thompson, P.M. (2005) North Atlantic climate variation influences survival in adult fulmars. Oikos. 109, 273-290.

Phillips, R.A., Silk, J.R.D., Croxall, J.P. and Afanasyev, V. (2006) Year-round distribution of white-chinned petrels from South Georgia: relationships with oceanography and fisheries. Biological Conservation 129, 336-347.

Plus d'infos ici
Et d'autres offres de l'université d'Aberdeen:
Nitrate assimilatory gene evolution in mycorrhizal fungi

Extinctions of symbiotic fungi in alpine and subarctic ecosystems

Are animal movements the main factor that causes both transmission and maintenance of gastrointestinal pathogens in cattle and sheep?

What have we bred?

Field assistant, Bristol Zoo Gardens

Hiring Organization: Bristol Zoo Gardens-


Position Description:
We are looking for a field assistant fluent in French and English (or French and German) to work on a field study in Northwest Madagascar. This study will involve aspects of behavioural ecology and conservation of the Sahamalaza Peninsula sportive lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis). This is a potentially Critically Endangered species, which was only described in 2006. This will be the first field season of this project, and as a result the assistant will not acquire extensive data collection skills. However, this will be an excellent opportunity to experience what is involved in the set-up of a field-based project and the assistant will gain experience in radiotracking, recording vocalisations and behavioural observations, along with experience working with local guides.

Qualifications/Experience:
The most essential skill for applicants is fluency in conversational French and English (or French and German). Qualifications and experience in the general areas of biology, zoology or conservation are preferred but are not required, as all the necessary skills will be taught during the fieldwork.

In general, applicants should:
- have a strong interest in behaviour and conservation,
- be in good physical and mental condition,
- be comfortable working and living in basic accommodation (camping) far from amenities and in a relatively isolated location,
- be confident working closely with people from a very different culture, in a developing country,
- be enthusiastic and have a good sense of humour!

Salary/funding:
Applicants will need to pay their own round-trip airfare to Madagascar and for travel to and from the research station. Assistants are also responsible for the costs of a visa to work in Madagascar, for health insurance and immunizations.
Accommodation and meals at the field site will be provided.

Term of Appointment:
The position is for a minimum of 3 months commencing in mid April 2009 and ending July 2009 (these dates are negotiable to some extent) with the possibility to extend. Successful applicants will require an interview either in person or via telephone.

Application Deadline:
Applications will be considered as soon as they are submitted and interviews will commence immediately.

Comments:
Applications should include:
1. CV including relevant coursework, previous field/outdoor experience, and where/how you can be contacted
2. A covering letter with details of your suitability for this position
Please send all applications to: c.xanthosternos@googlemail.com

Contact Information:
Melanie Seiler
Clifton
Bristol BS8 3HA
United Kingdom

Telephone Number:
+44(0)1179747358

Fax Number:
+44(0)1179736814

Website:
http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation

E-mail Address:
c.xanthosternos@googlemail.com

Field Manager

Hiring Organization:
Wildlife Conservation Society, Takamanda-Mone Landscape Project

Date Posted:
2008-11-05

Position Description:
We are seeking a management level staff member to assist in field-based administration of various conservation programmes within the South West Province of Cameroon. Your office base will be in the town of Limbe. Your work area will be within the landscape regions used by the Cross River gorilla within the SW and NW Provinces of Cameroon, working in very close collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife; often in isolated forests, or visiting remote villages. You will be hired to oversee field projects including, though not limited to: Management of the Kagwene Research Camp in the Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary (including a strong component of community assignments) and development of the proposed Takamanda National Park. You will be required to take a responsible scientific approach to all your field based activities and a sensible diplomatic approach to all your government and community related projects. The position will commence on 2nd January 2009.

Qualifications/Experience:
Requirements:
•English speaking Cameroonian with French as a second language. Excellent written scientific English.
•MSc degree (or above), and/ or 3-5 years of professional experience, in biology, environmental, or conservation related work.
•Trustworthiness and financial diligence with receipts and reconciliation of funds.
•Team management experience.
•Project management experience (you must have a proven track record in planning, implementing and reporting on field activities in a professional and competent way).
•Experience with community development / involvement in conservation.
•General computing skills.
•High level of fitness/health and no aversion to tough field work.

Desirable attributes:
•Inquiring mind.
•Experience in working in an international environment to international standards (in team settings, on a one-to-one basis and via internet).
•Publication record.
•Lecture and meeting facilitation skills.
•Experience with GIS.

Salary/funding:
Salary will be discussed in relation to the abilities of the successful candidate.

Term of Appointment:
An initial 3 months assessment period will hopefully be followed by a 1 year fixed-term contract.

Application Deadline:
30/11/2008

Comments:
Please apply via e-mail to Dr Y Warren (ymkewarren@yahoo.co.uk) using your surname and M2008 as message heading. Attach to the e-mail an up-to-date CV and letter of intention (≤ 3 A4 sides) with answers to the following questions:

1.What personal characteristics would you bring to the project?
2.What technical experience would you bring to the project?
3.What experience do you have in working with local communities?
4.What experience do you have in working with government?
5.Please give us brief details of the last piece of scientific research you carried out.
6.Please give us brief details of your experience managing teams of people.
7.Please give us brief details of your computing skills.
8.Please give us an example of your work ethics.
9.What is your current level of physical fitness?
10.Give us an example of your organisation skills.

Contact Information:
Ymke Warren
C/o Limbe Botanic Garden, PO Box 437, South West Province
Limbe
Cameroon

Telephone Number:
+ 237 593 61 99

E-mail Address:
ymkewarren@yahoo.co.uk

Post-doc in primate behavioral research

Hiring Organization:
University of Chicago

Date Posted:
2008-10-30

Position Description:
One post-doctoral position is potentially available in the Behavioral Biology Laboratory of the Institute for Mind and Biology at the University of Chicago (lab director: Dario Maestripieri; lab web site: http://primate.uchicago.edu).
The position involves research in behavioral neuroendocrinology with free-ranging rhesus monkeys on the island of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. The position is for 18 months. To be considered for the position, email a copy of
your CV to dario@uchicago.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately. The position could be filled anytime in 2009 or 2010.

Qualifications/Experience:
Qualifications include a PhD in biology, psychology, or anthropology, experience with primate behavioral research in the field or in captivity, preferably with macaques or baboons, experience with collection and hormonal assay of fecal samples, knowledge of scientific literature in behavioral neuroendocrinology, and scientific publications in journals such as Animal Behaviour or Hormones and Behavior.

Salary/funding:
NIH post-doctoral salary

Term of Appointment:
the position could start anytime in 2009 or 2010

Application Deadline:
no deadline

Contact Information:
Dario Maestripieri
5730 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
USA

Telephone Number:
(773) 834-4104

Fax Number:
(773) 702-0320

Website:
http://primate.uchicago.edu

E-mail Address:
dario@uchicago.edu

Field assistant

Hiring Organization:
Bristol Zoo Gardens

Date Posted:
2008-11-03

Position Description:
We are looking for a field assistant fluent in French and English (or French and German) to work on a field study in Northwest Madagascar. This study will involve aspects of behavioural ecology and conservation of the Sahamalaza Peninsula sportive lemur (Lepilemur sahamalazensis). This is a potentially Critically Endangered species, which was only described in 2006. This will be the first field season of this project, and as a result the assistant will not acquire extensive data collection skills. However, this will be an excellent opportunity to experience what is involved in the set-up of a field-based project and the assistant will gain experience in radio-tracking, recording vocalisations and behavioural observations, along with experience working with local guides.

Qualifications/Experience:
The most essential skill for applicants is fluency in conversational French and English (or French and German). Qualifications and experience in the general areas of biology, zoology or conservation are preferred but are not required, as all the necessary skills will be taught during the fieldwork.

In general, applicants should:
- have a strong interest in behaviour and conservation,
- be in good physical and mental condition,
- be comfortable working and living in basic accommodation (camping) far from amenities and in a relatively isolated location,
- be confident working closely with people from a very different culture, in a developing country,
- be enthusiastic and have a good sense of humour!

Salary/funding:
Applicants will need to pay their own round-trip airfare to Madagascar and for travel to and from the research station. Assistants are also responsible for the costs of a visa to work in Madagascar, for health insurance and immunizations.
Accommodation and meals at the field site will be provided.

Term of Appointment:
The position is for a minimum of 3 months commencing in mid April 2009 and ending July 2009 (these dates are negotiable to some extent) with the possibility to extend. Successful applicants will require an interview either in person or via telephone.

Application Deadline:
Applications will be considered as soon as they are submitted and interviews will commence immediately.

Comments:
Applications should include:
1. CV including relevant coursework, previous field/outdoor experience, and where/how you can be contacted
2. A covering letter with details of your suitability for this position
Please send all applications to: c.xanthosternos@googlemail.com

Contact Information:
Melanie Seiler
Clifton
Bristol BS8 3HA
United Kingdom

Telephone Number:
+44(0)1179747358

Fax Number:
+44(0)1179736814

Website:
http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/about/conservation

E-mail Address:
c.xanthosternos@googlemail.com

Field Research Assistant: Olive Baboons, Nigeria

Hiring Organization:
Roehampton University

Date Posted:
2008-10-31

Position Description:
I am looking for an independent and capable research assistant to assist in a study of fission-fusion sociality in two troops of olive baboons at Gashaka-Gumti National Park, in Northeast Nigeria. The study area is set in a mosaic of woodland, grassland, and lowland, gallery, and montane forest. The assistant will be expected to collect full-day behavioural observations, and phenological data. Accommodation is within the National Park, near Gashaka village, and at 3-hours distance from the village. Usually, there is power at both field stations.
This position is ideal for someone interested in gaining field experience as preparation for post-graduate study. You will learn various field methods relevant for the study of behavioural ecology and animal behaviour.

Qualifications/Experience:
Ideally, a research assistant has an undergraduate degree in anthropology, biology, or a related field. Previous fieldwork experience is preferred, but not essential. Experience with living or working in a foreign country, especially in the tropics, is a plus.
The applicant should:
- be physically fit
- be willing to work for long hours in difficult terrain
- be interested in primate behaviour
- be hardworking and conscientious
- feel comfortable working in isolated field conditions
- be able to maintain a positive attitude under what can be difficult conditions

Salary/funding:
No salary.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
Research assistants must pay for their own inoculations, prophylaxis, health insurance, field clothes, and personal expenses. I will make a contribution towards food and lodging at the field site. Depending on the outcome of several external grant applications I will also make a contribution towards travel and visa costs.

Term of Appointment:
5 months

Application Deadline:
The project will start in January 2009. Applications should be submitted by 20 November 2008.

Comments:
If you are interested, please submit the following by email:
1) your CV
2) an application letter
3) names and email addresses of 2 referees

Contact Information:
Nienke Alberts
School of Human & Life Sciences, Roehampton University, Whitelands College, Holybourne Avenue
London SW15 4JD
United Kingdom

Telephone Number:
+44 (0)20 8392 3473

E-mail Address:
baboonproject@yahoo.co.uk