Utah State University M.S. Position-Common Eider Population Dynamics

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Title: Common Eider Population Dynamics – M.S. PositionSchool: Utah State University, Logan, UT

Departments: The Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center

http://www.cnr.usu.edu/departments/departments/wild/wild

http://www.usu.edu/ecology/

In collaboration with the Hudson Bay Project

http://research.amnh.org/~rfr/hbp/

Description of research: Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) populations
around the world are declining, raising concern amongst managers,
conservation groups, and native communities. Because of global warming and
earlier thawing of the Arctic icepack, Polar Bears (Ursus arctos) are now
coming to shore earlier than they used to. This will lead to increased
predator-prey interactions between bears and eiders, and could increase
the frequency of catastrophic egg depredation for coastal eider colonies,
as well as decrease survival of nesting females. Although Common Eiders
have evolved a bet-hedging life history to cope with some reproductive
failure (i.e., they delay first reproduction, live long, and are highly
iteroparous), it is not known how increased exposure to polar bears
(and potentially other predators) will affect eider populations.

The student will monitor Common Eider reproductive biology, as well as
predator-prey interactions with Polar Bears and other potential predators,
over 2 field seasons near La P?rouse Bay, Manitoba. The objective of this
project is to develop a generalized population model for Common Eiders
using published data, historical data from the La P?rouse Bay study, and
the students own data. The student will then use perturbation analysis
to examine how changes in the frequency distribution of reproductive
success and breeding-season survival of nesting females affect Common
Eider populations.

Stipend: Selected applicant must qualify for one of the
following fellowships offered by USU to cover two years
of research stipend. Tuition costs will also be covered.

http://www.usu.edu/graduateschool/financial/fellowships.cfm

http://www.cnr.usu.edu/files/uploads/quinney_masters_brochure_2008-2009.pdf

Qualifications: Applicants should have a background in Wildlife,
Ecology, or related discipline. Preference will be given to applicants
who have experience with waterfowl research and a strong quantitative
background. Applicants must meet the requirements for at least one of
the fellowships listed above.

Application: Applications can be sent via e-mail to Dr. David N. Koons:
david.koons@usu.edu. Applications must include 1) a cover letter
describing your research background and interest in the position, 2)
your CV, and 3) copies of transcripts and GRE scores. A small pool of
applicants will then be asked to apply for the fellowships listed above
and provide letters of recommendation.

Last Date to Apply: Until position is filled. Preferred starting date
is 4 January 2009.

Scholarship Tags: Common, Dynamics, Eider, MS, Population, Position, STATE, University, Utah