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Field Assistants Needed in Panama
I am looking for volunteer
assistants to help with an ongoing investigation of the foraging
behavior and sensory ecology of the neotropical frog-eating bat,
Trachops cirrhosus. Research with be conducted both on Barro
Colorado Island and Gamboa, Panama, at a field stations run by the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. If you are interested, please
send a resume and contact information for two references to Rachel Page
(rachelpage@mail.utexas.edu).
Field
Work
The work consists of mist netting bats in the forest and conducting
behavioral experiments in a flight cage. No prior experience is
necessary, but you must be comfortable working in rigorous field
conditions. You will have to hike several miles with a moderately heavy
backpack to netting sites in the rainforest. You should be comfortable
working in hot and humid conditions, tolerate of ticks and chiggers, and
able to work late into the night. The behavioral experiments involve
broadcasting acoustic stimuli from speakers and quantifying the bats'
responses. These tests are interesting when novel but can get tedious
over time. You must be able to conduct repetitive behavioral experiments
reliably. Additional tasks include data entry and analysis, net repairs,
and general bat caretaking.
Schedule
The work schedule for volunteers is 4 days on, 3 days off. The majority
of the work is in the evenings, from 4 pm to 2 am, and the days are
free. This schedule leaves plenty of time to investigate other research
projects and to travel in Panama. I require a minimum stay of six weeks
(preference given to applicants who can stay longer).
Accommodations
Work will be conducted on Barro Colorado Island and in Gamboa,
both located on the Panama Canal. Accommodations in both places have
electricity, running water, laundry facilities, telephones, and internet
access. Both are located less than one hour from Panama City. For more
information about the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and its
field stations, please look at their website:
www.stri.org.
Bat illustration by
Kristina Schlegel, ©2007 |
