The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), part of the Natural Environment Research Council, aims to undertake a world-class programme of scientific research, and to sustain for the UK an active and influential regional presence and a leadership role in Antarctic affairs. We are currently seeking a population modeller to analyse the impacts of changes in environment and fisheries on the demography of albatrosses
Climate change and fisheries are major threats to marine biodiversity. Recent research has revealed changes in the extent and duration of winter sea-ice formation in the Antarctic, which has had adverse effects on the breeding and survival of predators. High bycatch levels have been linked to worldwide declines of seabirds and other taxa. Many are now threatened, particularly albatrosses which reproduce slowly and which, given their vast foraging ranges, overlap with and are killed in multiple fisheries. The albatross populations at South Georgia are of global importance, and include two of the five priorities for conservation identified recently by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). Observed changes in productivity and other population parameters suggest that environmental factors and fisheries affect each species in differing ways, reflecting differences in distribution and life-styles.
This project aims to improve our understanding of the effects of fisheries and environmental (climatic) change on wandering, black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses at Bird Island, South Georgia. The post-holder will develop multi-event capture-mark-recapture analyses and demographic and population models to examine the correspondence between annual variation in fishing effort and climatic indices, and demographic and population processes, using extensive long-term monitoring data. The main objectives will be to: provide robust estimates of annual breeding probability and success, and survival; quantify the contribution of key climatic and fisheries-related drivers to variation in vital rates, and hence in observed population dynamics and trends; and investigate extinction and quasi-extinction risk, taking into account different potential conservation scenarios (based on future changes in fisheries impacts and climate). The results will be used to increase awareness among policy makers, UK and foreign NGOs, and the public, of the effects of changing climate and fisheries on ecosystems. The successful applicant is expected to produce manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed journals, and to disseminate the results at national and international conferences and other fora, including public engagement events
Qualifications: Applicants should have previous experience in vertebrate ecology, including a PhD (or equivalent) in population ecology or population modelling, extensive experience in handling large demographic datasets, and excellent numerical skills. They should already possess a high level of expertise in R or MATLAB, and mark-recapture software. Previous experience in multi-state capture-mark-recapture analyses, frequentist and Bayesian analyses, advanced matrix population models, ArcGIS and spatial analysis, MARK, E-SURGE and WinBUGS would be an advantage, as would a good knowledge of the biology of marine predators. Please include a covering letter, CV and full publication list with your application
Duration: 3 years fixed term appointment
Salary: Salary will be in the range of £26,180 to £29,410 per annum. We offer a generous benefits package including a final salary pension scheme, free car parking, flexible working hours and 30 days annual leave.
On-line application forms and further information are available on our website at www.antarctica.ac.uk/employment
These are also available from the Human Resources Section, British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET. Tel: (01223) 221508.
Please quote reference: BAS 108/12
Closing date for receipt of application forms is 4th November 2012
Interviews are scheduled to be held w/c 12th November 2012
We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome.
