Volunteer Field Assistants, Mosquito Distributing Monitoring (Based in the Galapagos)

The arthropod-borne flavivirus West Nile Virus [WNV] is one example of an emerging infectious disease that Galápagos could be exposed to. WNV has a wide host range but is generally maintained in an avian-mosquito enzootic cycle. My PhD looks at the threat posed to Galápagos from WNV, and a key part of understanding that outcome involves gathering data on the seasonal distribution and abundance of the disease vector - mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes as potential disease vectors are a worldwide concern to public health and conservation. There are currently 3 mosquito species on Galápagos – Aedes taeniorhynchus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti, although the invasion risk of further species in the future!

Your role in this fieldwork would involve sample monitoring adult mosquitoes over 2-3 months (dates to be agreed) planning a nightly distribution of traps (mainly CO2-baited light traps) for a wide & regular coverage (liaising with park guards, the local community and arranging transport as necessary), early morning retrieval of trap contents recording GPS position and meteorological data at each site, ID-ing/counting/ sexing specimens (and storing as necessary for other work e.g. PCR analysis of blood-meal), logging of results, maintenance of equipment.

Knowledge of basic Spanish and previous field experience would be a bonus. Note it can get very hot, local transport can be limited and equipment can be quite bulky/heavy/smelly.

For further information or to apply, please send your CV and covering letter to gillian.eastwood@ioz.ac.uk

Closing date: Tuesday 12 January 2010