GRADUATE POSITION TO STUDY ISLAND PTARMIGAN

.A Master’s assistantship is available at Kansas State University for a population study of Evermann’s Rock Ptarmigan in the western range of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Evermann’s Rock Ptarmigan are an endemic subspecies found only in the Aleutian Islands. Natural populations were eliminated by introduced foxes on many islands, and this subspecies now remains only on Attu Island. The goal of this research project is to evaluate translocation efforts to reestablish a new breeding population on Agattu Island. Foxes were removed from Agattu in the 1970s and the first ptarmigan translocations were conducted in 2003. Responsibilities of this position will include capture and translocation of birds, monitoring of radio-marked birds after release, and coordination of field efforts with the Alaska Maritime NWR. Agattu Island is an extremely remote field site, and the student and an assistant will live alone on the island for 2 to 3 months. Applicants must be in superb physical condition and prepared to cope with medical emergencies. Previous experience with ornithological field techniques, grouse ecology, island life and organization of field projects is desirable. Qualified applicants will have completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology and competitive GPA and GRE scores. The annual stipend for this position will be $18,000 per year plus a tuition-waiver. Information on graduate programs at K-State and current projects is available at: www.ksu.edu/bsanderc. Funding for this project has not yet been confirmed but we anticipate that the 2005 field season will start in May 2005, and graduate enrollment will begin September 2005. Interested individuals should send a cover letter outlining experience and research interests, a curriculum vitae, unofficial copies of university transcripts and GRE scores, and contact information for three references to DR. BRETT K. SANDERCOCK, Division of Biology, 232 Ackert Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901 (PH: 785-532-0120,
FX: 785-532-6653, EM: bsanderc@ksu.edu). Applications by e-mail are welcome, and will be accepted until the position is filled.