Amphibian Conservation Research Assistant

Amphibian Conservation Research Assistant
Job Number # 
30344
Employer 
Association of Wetland Stewards for Clayoquot & Barkley Soun
Job Location(s) 
Port Alberni
Bamfield
Number of Positions 
1
Date Posted 
Jul 18, 2024
Apply By 
Jul 20, 2024
Start Date 
2024-07-22
Schedule 
Full Time
Hours 
30 hours per week
Wage 
$22.50/h
NOC Code 
2221
Source 
Employer
Details 

30 hours per week for 6 weeks; Contract Dates: July 22 to Aug 30, 2024; Employee must commit to the full term for funding to be available.

The job will involve assisting in a variety of conservation actions aimed at reducing threats to amphibians at Frederick Lake, 15 km from Bamfield, particularly when they cross roads during migration. Work will be split approximately 50:50 between computer work at your home office and field surveys at Frederick Lake and surrounding area.

Tasks:

  •  Review photographs captured by remote cameras to count amphibians and other wildlife moving through culverts beneath the Bamfield Road, enter data into excel spreadsheets, check quality of data, and write concise summaries of results (~ 3 h per day; 15 h per week).
  • Assist with daytime shoreline surveys done by paddle board to locate and count Western Toad tadpoles and metamorphs (3 to 6 h per survey approximately ever other week from mid July through August depending on the toads' schedule).
  • Assist in monitoring visitors' attitudes and behaviour at the lake in terms of avoiding sensitive habitats for juvenile toads. This will involve interviewing people who are visiting the lake as well as local community members of Anacla and Bamfield. It will include entering data into excel spreadsheet, and creating a summary of the responses.
  • Assist with day time field surveys to record locations where juvenile toads are crossing roads and moving along fences through the forest (~ 3 h per survey once a week from when toadlets emerge).
  • Assist in maintaining fencing that guides amphibians to underpasses, i.e., remove vegetation, including invasive blackberry, and cover the base of exposed fences with soil, help transplant native plants as needed.
  • Assist with monitoring native plants restored for amphibian habitat in riparian zone, and help transplant as needed.
  • Assist in encouraging and enlisting volunteers to participate in fence maintenance and blackberry removal.
  • Assist with outreach activities as needed. 
Qualifications 

Required Qualifications and Skills:

  •  Be under 30 years of age so you are eligible for Canada Summer Jobs funding.
  • Post-secondary courses in biology, ecology, wildlife conservation or natural resource management.
  • Arrange and cover personal costs of accommodations that include a home office in Anacla, Bamfield, or Poett Nook.
  • Have a valid Class 5 BC Drivers License and vehicle that you can use for field work. Have your own laptop with spreadsheet and slideshow applications.
  • Experience with entering data into a spreadsheet such as Excel or Open Office.
  • Have a cell phone with service along the Bamfield Road and a GPS app such as Gaia GPS, or a handheld GPS.
  • Have your own waterproof raincoat, rain pants, warm clothing, hat, gloves, and polarized sunglasses. 

Desirable Qualifications:

  • Have past experience assisting with environmental monitoring or ecological research.
  • Be friendly, cooperative and demonstrate a positive attitude to learning new skills and working hard. 
  • Be willing to take direction and carefully complete tasks following demonstrated protocols.
  • Have good observational and note-taking skills with smart phone and on paper with legible writing.
  • Be alert, engaged and dedicated to getting high quality work done on time and in a safe manner.
  • Be a good communicator. 
How to Apply 

Please send your CV and a letter describing how you meet the required and desirable qualifications and skills listed above. Please provide the names and contact information of three references who can comment on your motivation, judgement and dependability.

Please email your application to wetlandstewards@gmail.com

For more information check us out: www.splatfrogtunnel.blogspot.ca & www.facebook.com/ wetland.stewards/