Thursday, December 10, 2009

Field Research Assistant - Opportunity for Fall and Winter 2010/2011


Field Assistant opportunity for coral reef study - Comoros Islands, Western Indian Ocean

Our research team is looking for field assistants for 3-6 months of assistance from September 2010 through March 2011. Individuals could volunteer from Sept-Dec; January-March, or September - March. Qualified individuals should meet the following criteria:
- strong swimmer
- has experience snorkeling in open water
- has *at least* sophomore standing as of start date
- has an interest in ecological study
- willing to work long days
- willing to work with a team in an international setting
- Speaking ability in French would be helpful, but is not required.

Duties_:
- Conduct coral benthic surveys
- Monitor sediment traps & temperature gauges
- Assist with photography, community interviews and surveys
- Input field data into MS Excel

Field assistants will have the opportunity to:
- earn undergraduate research credits,
- gain field experience in reef survey methods and in socioeconomic interviews
- conduct research for an undergraduate thesis, if interested.

Send cover letter explaining related experience, why you are interested in the volunteer position, and what you hope to gain from this experience, and dates available. Please include your resume and two letters of reference to freeds@pdx.edu by March 15.

--
Elise Granek, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Environmental Sciences and Resources
Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207
503-725-4241
graneke@pdx.edu

Tropical Marine Ecology Semester Program - deadline extended


From: rbjpeachey@aol.com

Date: December 10, 2009 4:23:33 AM PST

To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov

Subject: [Coral-List] Tropical Marine Ecology Semester Program - deadline extended


Dear Coral-listers:

There are still a few openings for students for spring semester, 2010. If you know of undergraduate students that would be interested in a semester of study in Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation; please pass this notice along to them. Students with an interest in Independent Research experience and Scientific Diving are especially encouraged to apply. Enrollment is limited to 12 students.

Thanks in advance,
Rita Peachey

Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation Semester Abroad: Bonaire, Spring 2010
Undergraduate Study Abroad Opportunity in the Caribbean
The Tropical Marine Biology and Conservation study abroad program is accepting applications for spring semester. Students register for 17 semester hours: Coral Reef Ecology (4), Marine Ecology Field Research Methods (3), Advanced SCUBA (1), Environmental and Cultural History of Bonaire (2), Marine Conservation Biology (3) and Independent Research (4). The program description can be found using the following link: http://www.cieebonaire..org/courses.html

The Scientific Diving course provides dive training that prepares students for AAUS certification at their home universities. Students will receive the following training in the Scientific Diving course: Open Water, Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Emergency First Responder, CPR + First Aid, Dan Oxygen Rescue, underwater photography and videography, night diving, and underwater navigation. Students will learn internationally recognized monitoring protocols including REEF and AGRRA.

Independent Research provides students with the opportunity to conduct a research project of their choice in marine science and to publish the results in a student journal, PHYSIS: Journal of Marine Science. A copy of the journal can be downloaded on the following page: http://www.cieebonaire.org/physis.html

Prerequisites: Overall GPA 2.75 or better, 2 semesters of biology, chemistry, geology, ecology or environmental science and a nationally recognized open water SCUBA certification (or a PADI referral – you can do your check out dives in Bonaire). The deadline for application to the spring semester program is 15 December 2009.

Interested students should contact Rita Peachey Director of CIEE Research Station Bonaire at RPeachey@ciee.org or call 1-800-40-STUDY. The study abroad office at your institution will assist you with registration.

_______________________________________________
Coral-List mailing list
Coral-List@coral.aoml.noaa.gov
http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Seafood Guides

As I mentioned in class if you want to do your part for the oceans then you can download and print out handy guides to recommended, and not so recommended, seafood produced by Monterey Bay Aquarium.

They are all available at their website but the most relevant ones are the West Coast Guide and the new Sushi guide. If you have friends that eat a lot of seafood or just want a lot of cheap Christmas presents you can order a large quantity of hard copy guides to hand out. If you have an iPhone you can download the guide straight to your phone.

Take a Tour



This Saturday December 5th at 2:00 PM: Join us for a nice Saturday afternoon walk at Coal Oil Point Reserve, a nature reserve owned by UCSB.

During the walk, find out more about interesting, meaningful, and fun local environmental research, management, conservation, and education programs, as well as volunteer and internship opportunities! Invite your friends and family too.

Trained tour leader will take you on a walk through a few of the Reserve’s ecosystems: from sandy beach to the Devereux Slough to a restored coastal dune system. Learn about the Reserve's current restoration projects and its cultural and geologic history while identifying flora and fauna-such as the Snowy Plover, Coast Golden Bush, and the Globuse Dune Beetle-that make their home at Coal Oil Point. $5 donation suggested, except for students and Reserve volunteers.

Tours occur twice a month on the first and third Saturday from 2:00 pm to 4:15 pm. Tours for groups or classes over five people are available by appointment.

Reservations for tours are required. Contact Ofri Gabay via email at gabay@lifesci.ucsb.edu or via phone at (805) 636-8408 to reserve a spot. Ofri will send you a confirmation email with more information.

PLEASE BRING: sun protection, sturdy shoes, water, and binoculars.

SUGGESTED DONATION: $5, except for students and Reserve volunteers.

DIRECTIONS:

Coal Oil Point Reserve is located near UCSB in Goleta. The closest major cross streets are El Colegio and Storke Rd. For a map of the area, visit:

http://coaloilpoint.ucnrs.org/subpage1/Maps/Area.html

From 101 North:
Exit on the Glenn Annie/Storke Rd exit. Turn LEFT. Go through 4 stop lights. The 5th light is El Colegio. Continue straight through this light. After the intersection, Storke Road turns into Slough Road. Continue on this road for .8 miles until you reach a dirt parking lot. Important note: there are several turn off spots on Slough Road. Stay on the road that hugs the Devereux Slough (the body of water on the right side of the road) until you reach the dirt parking lot.

From 101 South:
Exit on the Glenn Annie/Storke Rd exit. Turn RIGHT. Go through 3 stop lights. The 4th light is El Colegio. Continue straight through this light. After the intersection, Storke Road turns into Slough Road. Continue on this road for .8 miles until you reach a dirt parking lot. Important note: there are several turn off spots on Slough Road. Stay on the road that hugs the Devereux Slough (the body of water on the right side of the road) until you reach the dirt parking lot.

If walking or biking from Isla Vista or UCSB:
Take Del Playa (in IV) west to Camino Majorca, the western most street in Isla Vista. At this intersection, head towards the bluff, and you will see a dirt trail that runs along the bluff top. Take this trail along the bluff for five minutes until you reach a group of buildings. There are bike racks near these buildings for you to lock your bike.

PARKING:

The Slough Road will dead-end at a dirt parking lot with a metal gate at the end. This is the outside parking lot: DO NOT PARK HERE. You will get a parking ticket! There will someone at the gate to guide you to an inside parking lot.

*******Parking at Coal Oil Point is limited! If you are visiting the reserve with a group, please carpool or ride bicycles if possible.*******

TOUR MEETING PLACE:

We will meet at the picnic benches in front of the Cliff House. After parking, head down the dirt road towards the ocean. There will be a sign to guide you to the meeting place.

If you are on bike, you will see the picnic benches on your left just before you park your bike.

You will need to fill out a waiver before heading out on the tour.

LATE ARRIVALS:

The tour will begin promptly at the tour start time. 15 minutes after the tour start time, the gate will be closed and you can no longer park in the inside parking lot. If you park in the outside lot, you will be ticketed!

CANCELED TOURS:

Tours will be canceled if it is raining or there are high winds in Goleta. We will send you an email the morning before the tour, especially if rain is in the forecast, to cancel the tour.

***Please check your email before departing for the tour.***

If you do not receive an email, assume that the tour will continue as scheduled.

Tours are a program of Shorelines & Watersheds - a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization - and Coal Oil Point Reserve. Funding for the Tour Program is provided by the Coastal Fund and Venoco Inc.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Prairie Restoration

There was an interesting article in the San Francisco Chronicle last year about the efforts of the Shakopee Mdewakanton communities efforts to restore land that has been farmed for over 100 years to it's native prairie community - Tribe plowing jackpot into prairie, wetlands. Casino revenue going to buy up land, restore native species
'The tribe's scientists study old maps and other records to figure out the mix of plants that will bring a piece of land closest to its historical character.'

Become a Coal Oil Point Reserve Tour Leader

Coal Oil Point Reserve is a 170-acre nature reserve owned by UCSB.

Volunteer tour leaders provide two-hour tours to university and elementary school classes, as well as community groups, several times per month.

The time commitment for this volunteer job ranges between from 6 to 12 hours per month.
Advanced training is provided on Coal Oil Point Reserve, local natural and cultural resources, scientific research, resource management and conservation, as well as many other interesting and meaningful environmental science topics.

For more information and to apply, send an email to UCSB’s Coal Oil Point Reserve Tour Program Coordinator Ofri Gabay at gabay@lifesci.ucsb.edu.

Tours are a program of Shorelines & Watersheds-501 (c) (3) nonprofit organizations and Coal Oil Point Reserve. Funding for the Tour Program is provided by the Coastal Fund and Venoco Inc.

Looking forward to meeting you in Coal Oil Point Reserve!


Ofri Gabay, PhD
Coal Oil Point Reserve
Shorelines and Watersheds
Tour Program Coordinator
Email: gabay@lifesci.ucsb.edu
COPR Phone: (805) 893-5092