Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2003 16:15:55 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Fran Saunders Subject: FW: PhD and/or MS assistantship notice MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit See below, if interested. Fran Saunders MOS State Web Site Director http://www.MDBirds.org Silver Spring, MD Please post or pass this along to interested students. Thanks very much! ________________ PhD or MS Research Assistantships at West Virginia University (2 positions available) Forest Songbird (Particularly Cerulean Warbler) Population Response to Silvicultural Treatments STARTING DATE: 5 Jan 2004 (or sooner if available) DESCRIPTION: We are beginning a study to examine population response of forest songbirds to silvicultural treatments. Although all forest songbirds will be included in the study, the primary focus is on Cerulean Warblers. Breeding Bird Survey data indicate the species is declining range-wide, although highest population densities still occur within West Virginia. However, the mature forests within West Virginia are under increasing pressure from timber harvesting and at this time it is not known how Cerulean Warbler populations respond to various silvicultural treatments and to various levels of harvesting intensity. Changes in forest structure and composition very likely affect population demography. It is becoming increasingly clear that the species requires some level of heterogeneity within the forest canopy; therefore timber harvesting methods that provide low levels of disturbance to the canopy may prove to be effective in managing forested habitats to improve quality for Ceruleans. At increasing levels of canopy disturbance, however, harvesting will likely become detrimental to this species. Examining Cerulean Warbler and forest songbird populations in the context of different types and levels of timber harvesting will provide important information for management of forests on state, federal, and private lands. Specific MS or Phd thesis topics derived from this study will be developed by the student and the advisor. QUALIFICATIONS: BS or MS in Wildlife Ecology or Management or closely related field. Minimum GPA of 3.4 and combined quantitative/verbal GRE scores of 1100. Must have experience working with songbirds; particularly identification by sight and sound. Industrious student that can make decisions independently and supervise technicians preferred. STIPEND: $11,580 (phd) or $9,500 (MS) per year plus complete tuition waiver CONTACT: Interested individuals should send a letter of interest, resume, copy of transcripts, GRE scores, and contact information for 3 references to: Dr. Petra Bohall Wood WV Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit West Virginia University 322 Percival Hall, P.O. Box 6125 Morgantown, WV 26506-6125 USA Telephone (304) 293-2941 ext 2433 Fax (304) 293-4826 E-mail: pbwood@wvu.edu ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================