Student post: Kalani Reyes - Thursday, January 1 (Day 4)

Kalani Reyes is an undergraduate at the University of Guam. Her post focuses on Thursday, the students' first day of data collection on their own. Visit Kalani's blog to read about her experiences collecting insect samples in the jungles of Saipan!

Student post: Brad Wells - Tuesday, December 30 (Day 2)

From Haldre: 

Day two of the course consisted of lectures on Ecology and Economics (Dr. Fred De Torres- Northern Marianas College), Ecology of Bird Loss (me), and several exercises to help students develop potential research questions. After this, the students and instructors each proposed one to several research questions, which were posted on the board. Then, students signed up for their top five questions, and Ross, Evan and I sorted them into their groups. We unveiled the groups and the projects officially began after lunch! We have five research projects, with 2-3 people in each group. We'll post more details about these projects over the next 2 1/2 weeks. For now, check out University of Guam Marine Lab student, Brad Well's thoughts and pictures from the course, below. 

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Brad Wells

Roughly 20 days ago I was not sure I wanted to join the EBL Island Ecology course. I thought it might be a bit more intensive than I would like, but a course alumnus changed my mind. Having just finished day 2, I have found that the course is much more intensive than I anticipated, but much more rewarding than I imagined. The best part has been the opportunity to experience Saipan. The wildlife and the views here are incredible, but the lectures and field work have also been invaluable. We will be visiting Tinian on Friday, and completing group research projects within the next two weeks. It was definitely a good choice to participate.  

Student post: Jolly Ann Cruz - Monday, December 29 (Day 1)

We just finished the first full day of the 3-week Island Ecology course. Each student is responsible for writing one blog post during the course, so you'll be seeing lots of updates on this site. Today’s blog post is from Jolly Ann Cruz, a student at Northern Marianas College on Saipan.

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Hafa Adai from Saipan!

Today was day 1 of our Island Ecology Course and what a day it was!  With 14 students, 3 instructors, and 2 teaching assistants we began the morning with lectures on the course overview and an introduction to entomology. In the afternoon we headed to the Forbidden Island Conservation Area where we got hands on experience collecting data. We also learned how to identify plants, and were quizzed on how many species of plants we could identify. In groups, we completed an exercise where we recorded the number of seedlings in a 1 meter squared quadrat, the number of adults within 2 meters, the most common plant species in the surrounding area, and whether the adult trees were flowering or fruiting.

The day was one well spent and we look forward to the rest of the course. Stay tuned for more of our activities, as we'll be posting blogs daily!

Avian Research Biologist position

We have an open position for an Avian Research Biologist. The avian biologist will be responsible for a research project focused on determining the effect of gut passage on seed germination. This person will: i) assist with protocol development; ii) manage the construction of aviaries; iii) maintain birds in captivity, which includes daily diet preparation and provision; iv) collect fruit from the wild, expose fruits to experimental treatments, plant seeds in the nursery, record germination; v) train other crew members in the care of captive birds, vi) communicate regularly with project leaders based in Houston, TX, Fort Collins, CO, and Switzerland; and vii) manage and analyze data and write up results in a scientific paper. 

The deadline for applications has been extended to December 20th. See our jobs page for more information. 

 

EBL Jobs

We just posted another two jobs (Field Crew Leader and Research Coordinator) on our jobs page- check them out!  Applications are due December 9th. Note- the fieldwork for these positions is primarily focused on plants.

EBL Research Presentation on Saipan

Last week, Nadya Muchoney, intern extraordinaire, gave a presentation at the Asia Pacific Academy of Science, Education and Environmental Management (APASEEM) about recent results from our forest gaps project. Check out the Marianas Variety for a mention of the talks at this year's symposium. Thanks to Nadya for a great presentation, and to the APASEEM organizers for providing a venue for sharing results of Marianas research.

Postdoc needed!

Position: Post-Doctoral Fellow – Seed Dispersal by Native Birds on Saipan, Mariana Islands

Location: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Appointment: 2-years

Description:

This research position is part of a larger collaborative project between J. Savidge (Colorado State University), H. Rogers (Rice University, www.ecologyofbirdloss.org) and J. Tewksbury (University of Washington) aimed at restoring ecosystem function (specifically seed dispersal) to Guam’s forests. Virtually all native seed dispersers have been extirpated from Guam, largely due to predation by the invasive Brown Treesnake. We will be determining the impact of seed disperser loss and the potential for different dispersers, both native and non-native, to restore function to Guam’s forests.

This 2-year position, based in Saipan, will focus on the potential role of 4 native avian frugivores (White-throated Ground-Dove, Mariana Fruit-Dove, Bridled White-eye, and Micronesian Starling) in restoring seed dispersal to Guam’s forests. These species are extirpated or nearly extirpated from Guam but still common on Saipan. The research aims to determine their diets and movement patterns to understand which tree species benefit from each bird species and predict the area over which an individual bird could provide seed dispersal services. The successful candidate will lead the experimental design and field data collection and have primary responsibility for analysis, presentation, and publication of the research. The incumbent will work collaboratively with others involved with the project and help supervise a field crew. Applicants must be able to work in rugged terrain and in hot, humid conditions. Airfare and some relocation expenses provided.

Qualifications:

Required: 1) Ph.D. in a discipline related to the research described above, 2) Practical experience in the design, conduct, and statistical analysis of ecological field studies, 3) Demonstrated ability to prepare and submit professional manuscripts in refereed journals, 4) Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

Desirable: Experience in 1) Analysis of avian habitat use and movement patterns, 2) Radio-telemetry, 3) Avian seed dispersal, 4) Mist-netting and banding birds, and 5) Collaborative projects.  Additionally, past experience supervising a field crew, and working in challenging conditions is desirable.

Start Date:  Anticipated February or March 2015

Application Procedure: To apply, upload a cover letter that includes how you satisfy the required and desirable qualifications and your research interests; curriculum vitae; transcripts from all universities attended (copies acceptable); relevant publications; and contact information for at least 3 professional references to the following address: http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/employment-opportunities.html.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but to ensure full consideration, applications should be submitted by December 8, 2014.

For more information contact: Dr. Julie Savidge, julie.savidge@colostate.edu, 970 491-6510. 

Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.

Colorado State University is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search and motor vehicle history.

Island Ecology Course 2015

Applications for the Island Ecology course are due by midnight November 16th, 2014 CST. To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and your unofficial transcript to Dr. Haldre Rogers (haldre@rice.edu). Your cover letter should describe why you are interested in the course, and how it fits into your career goals. The course is open only to students from universities in the Marianas or Palau and FSM. The course is subsidized, so the only cost incurred by students will be tuition at University of Guam if the course is to be taken for credit (optional). For more information, see this page. 

Island Ecology Course 2015

We have re-scheduled the Island Ecology course to run from the evening of December 28th through January 15th. If you are a student at Northern Marianas College, Guam Community College, or University of Guam, interested in learning more about natural resources, conservation, and ecology in the Mariana Islands, you should apply! Participants will spend the first week and a half on Saipan, with a day trip to Tinian, and then will spend the last half of the course on Guam. On each island, they will conduct a research project in small groups, and then will present their results in a symposium at the end of the course. The course is supported through a research grant from the National Science Foundation, so costs for travel between islands and for stays on islands away from a participant's home island will be covered. Stay tuned to this blog for information on how to apply. 

Observations from the field

When Kenji was in the field yesterday, he found this curious little caterpillar (or something?). He approached the nail with the tree tag, noticing a strange stick attached to the nail. He brushed it with his clipboard and it easily bent, and then returned to it's rigid position afterward. Cool huh? Any ideas on what it might be?