me. --Dave Mellinger
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The University of Queensland is seeking applications from volunteers to help
with fieldwork on humpback whales in 2004. As in 2002 and 2003, fieldwork
for HARC, the Humpback Acoustic Research Collaboration, will take place
during the whales' southward migration in September and October. In addition
to this, however, we will also be conducting a major land-based survey
earlier in the year of the east Australian humpback population from Point
Lookout, North Stradbroke Is, near Brisbane.
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Point Lookout Survey
This survey will run for 14 weeks from 23 May to 28 August and will be
funded by the Federal Department of Environment and Heritage. It will be
used to estimate the absolute abundance of the population and, in the
context of previous surveys, to calculate the apparent rate of population
increase. While the survey itself is entirely land-based, two additional
projects will also be conducted: (i) acoustic recordings of whales will be
collected via a radio-linked, moored hydrophone buoy, and (ii) over the peak
five weeks of the migration (mid-June to mid-July), a boat will be used to
collect photo-IDs, biopsies, and behavioural data.
Volunteers will be expected to work and live as part of a large team.
Individual volunteers will spend approximately five hours daily (in two
shifts) counting and observing passing whales from the Point Lookout
headland. Volunteers must pay for their own way to the study site but food
(basic groceries) and accommodation are provided once there. They may have
an opportunity to participate in the acoustic and boat-based data
collection, but this will depend on timing and the attitude and abilities of
individuals.
Volunteers for the Point Lookout survey will need to be available for a
minimum of two weeks.
--------------------------------------------
HARC - the Humpback Acoustic Research Collaboration
HARC is a large collaborative study involving the Australian Defence Science
and Technology Organisation (DSTO), the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
(SIO), the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the University of
Queensland, and guest researchers from the Universities of Newcastle and
Sydney. The project is funded by the US Office of Naval Research and DSTO.
In 2004 fieldwork will take place from 18 September to 31 October at
Peregian Beach, approximately 140km north of Brisbane.
HARC is a multi-disciplinary study of the passing whales during their
southward migration and is comprised of several projects. Projects that will
involve volunteers include the collection of behavioural and positional data
from a land station, the acoustic recording and tracking of singers using an
array of hydrophone buoys moored offshore, and the boat-based collection of
photo-IDs, biopsies and behavioural data. Other projects include the
recording of ambient sea and surf noise (SIO) and the tagging of some
individual whales with DTAGs, digital tags that record acoustic, depth and
movement data (WHOI).
Volunteers for HARC should be available for the entire 6 week study
(although exceptional candidates may be considered for shorter periods).
---------------------------------------------
ALTHOUGH APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR EITHER THE POINT LOOKOUT SURVEY OR
HARC, A FURTHER NOTICE ABOUT HARC WILL BE POSTED ON MARMAM LATER IN THE YEAR
AND APPLICATIONS FOR HARC WILL NOT BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED UNTIL THEN
(around June). There is no due date on the applications for the Point
Lookout survey although the first round of offers will occur before the end
of March.
Either project will suit young scientists with genuine interests in humpback
whale behaviour, behavioural ecology, acoustics, communication, and
population assessment.
Successful applicants will:
- have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research
- be able to live and work constructively with others in a team
- have a good level of physical fitness
- be a competent swimmer
- not have fussy dietary requirements (vegetarians excepted!)
- be able to concentrate for long periods
Preference will be given to those who:
- have a degree in biology, marine science, or veterinary science
- have previous marine mammal field experience
- have previously used a theodolite
Applicants should send an email introducing yourself to Michael Noad
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dave Paton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Ceri Morris
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Josh Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, and Becca
Dunlop <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. The email should include:
- which project you are applying for
- dates when you will be available
- a brief CV (usually as an attachment)
- contact details of two referees (usually contained in the CV)
As mentioned above, applications will be accepted for HARC, but will be put
aside at this stage until later in the year - selection will occur in June
or July.
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Michael Noad BVSc PhD
Lecturer Veterinary Anatomy
School of Veterinary Science
University of Queensland
St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
Ph. (07)3365-2088 Mob. 0416-270567
Fax. (07)3365-1255 Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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