Position: PhD Graduate
Research Assistantship.
Location/Advisors: Dr. William F. Andelt, Department of
Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University, Fort
Collins, CO 80523; Dr. Thomas R. Stanley, USGS, Fort Collins Science
Center, 2150 Center
Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, CO 80526.
Research area: We are
seeking a motivated PhD candidate that will conduct an ecological study
of the Island Fox on San Clemente Island, California. The PhD
candidate will conduct research in cooperation with an MS candidate
(already selected) and
will supervise 1 technician.
Starting date: December
2005 or January 2006.
Objectives for PhD and MS candidates:
1. Study ecological
factors related to foxes being killed on roads, and evaluate methods
for reducing these mortalities.
2. Collect and interpret data on
territory characteristics (e.g. are territories maintained over the
life span of animals, do territories shift, etc.) particularly in
relation to habitat type, feral cat control spotlighting activities,
road kills and proximity to training ranges.
3. Collect and interpret data on activity patterns
particularly in relation to road kills. Consider affects of age,
sex, and social status (i.e. paired or unpaired, territory holder or
dispersing fox).
4. Collect and interpret data on general habitat use (in all
major vegetation communities) including foraging habits in relation to
prey abundance, distribution and den site selection, particularly in
relation to roads, training ranges, and shore installation support
facilities (i.e. Wilson Cove).
5. Collect and interpret data on dispersal rates and distances to
ascertain re-colonization by foxes in areas where foxes die of natural
causes, are killed on roads or where other perturbations remove them
from areas (i.e. in relation to feral cat control spotlighting
activities along roadsides, succession of vegetation communities, or
military training activities).
6. Collect and interpret data on reproductive parameters.
For example, how many females are pregnant in a given year, age
distribution of pregnant females, litter size and juvenile recruitment,
particularly in relation to habitat type, feral cat control
spotlighting activities, and proximity to training ranges.
7. Collect and interpret data on survival and causes of mortality
other than road kill, particularly in relation to natural causes (e.g.,
endoparasitism) and distribution and type of rodent control (e.g.,
rodenticide use in Wilson Cove and in the field around loggerhead
shrike nest).
8. Data will be used to develop sound management strategies for
maintaining a healthy population.
9. In addition, pending completion of the above objectives, the
PhD candidate is expected to design and implement an experiment to
answer a question about fox on the island.
San Clemente Island: The
US Navy will provide a dormitory-style room and meals while on San
Clemente Island, transportation by barge for vehicles, and aerial
transportation from San Diego to San Clement Island at no charge.
About 12 to 40 Natural Resources biologists and technicians are present
on the Island throughout the year.
Qualifications:
1. M.S. degree in
Wildlife, Ecology, Zoology or related field.
2. GPAs >3.0.
3. GREs >1200 for Verbal and Quantitative combined.
4. Experience conducting field research, capturing and studying
carnivores, radio telemetry, and GIS.
5. Creative in the design and initiation of the study.
6. Publication experience preferred.
Application closing date: 1 November 2005 or until an
outstanding
candidate is found.
To apply: e-mail/send the following to Dr. William
F. Andelt; email: billan@cnr.colostate.edu:
1. Recent resume including GPAs,
GREs, Universities attended, work experience, publications, and contact
information for 3 references.
2. Copy of transcripts and GRE scores (unofficial copies ok for
now).
Sponsor: Commander, Navy Region Southwest, U.S. Navy.