Summer Field Researcher 2009
Are you interested in gaining field research experience and learning about the ecology and evolution of plants in fragmented prairie habitat? We are looking for summer field researchers for the Echinacea project. We are investigating how small population size and reduced genetic diversity influence individual fitness, population demographics, plant-insect interactions and evolution in the purple coneflower Echinacea angustifolia. This is a great internship or summer co-op for aspiring ecologists, conservation biologists, or evolutionary biologists!
Qualifications: College student or recent graduate, wants to work outdoors, is patient, has good hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill, willing to work hard even in inclement or hot conditions, and interested in ecological research. No experience is necessary, but you must be enthusiastic and hard-working.
Dates: The main field season runs from mid-June to the last half of August. We may hire one person to start in May to help with a seedling recruitment experiment. The exact start and end dates are negotiable.
Money: There is a $400/week stipend and housing is supplied. Some food expenses will be reimbursed.
Job Description
The main research project is to determine evolutionary and ecological consequences of habitat fragmentation on purple coneflower, a beautiful and relatively common prairie flower. The research site is in western Minnesota. Stuart Wagenius is the field supervisor.
The narrow-leaved purple coneflower, Echinacea angustifolia, grows in the former tallgrass prairie and plains of North America, which is now fragmented by human activities such as agriculture, development, and roads. Echinacea now exists in isolated populations of various size. We know that seed production in isolated plants is limited by pollination and that genetic diversity is lower in small populations compared to large populations. We still don't know the long-term consequences of reduced seed set, low-fitness seedlings, and reduced genetic diversity on the persistence of these populations.
During this summer, we will systematically map over 2000 plants in natural populations that have been observed for the past thirteen years to compare the fecundity and mortality of plants in small and large populations. For another aspect of ongoing research, we will measure growth, flowering, and fitness traits of plants growing in research plots. The goal of this project is to estimate the genetic and environmental influences on Echinacea plants derived from small and large remnant populations. In addition to measuring plants in these plots, we will maintain the plots by mowing and weeding. You will practice a variety of field and computer mapping techniques, learn to identify plants and characterize communities, gain appreciation for long-term experiments, and work as part of a team.
We will also spend some time this summer observing insects to understand plant-pollinator interactions. In particular, we will assess the community of pollinating bees over the season to see how gene flow by pollen might differ at the beginning, middle, and end of the flowering season. We will also investigate the extent to which bees visit non-Echinacea flowering plants on foraging bouts. We may also follow bees to determine how much flight distances change through the season. You will learn techniques for experimental field work addressing plant-pollinator interactions.
Independent project: If you are interested, you will have the opportunity to work on an independent research project on your own or in a group. Projects can explore questions about the ecology and evolutionary biology of Echinacea angustifolia, other prairie plant species, and their associated insects. All work occurs in the context of prairie remnants which allows projects to be directly applicable to conservation challenges of habitat fragmentation. Here are some examples of past projects: "Insect diversity in prairie remnants," "The effect of remnant size on the diversity of Echinacea-visiting ant species," "Effect of inbreeding on symmetry of floral display," and "Competition between Echinacea and thistles for pollinators."
Living: The study area is a rural agricultural community. The closest towns are Kensington (56343) and Hoffman (56339), MN. Alexandria, a larger town with laudromats and a movie theater, is 20 miles away. In Solem township there are dirt roads, a highway, railroad tracks, wetlands, and lots of corn and soybeans. There are prairie remnants scattered throughout the township. You'll live in a house with basic amenities (kitchen, toilet, and shower). You'll share the common area with three or more other workers, but you'll have your own space and a bed. Usually we'll eat lunch together at our base station.
How to apply
Ask yourself if you love being outdoors, if you are patient, if you can work independently, if you are willing to work hard in adverse conditions, and if you could be enthusiastic about this job.
If you answer yes to these questions and you still want the job, then send me a cover letter, your resume, and your transcript by March 6, 2009. In the letter explain a) why you want the job and what your future plans are, b) when you can work this summer, c) whether you are interested in doing an independent research project, and also d) include the email address and phone of two or three references.
Send your application...
via mail:
Stuart Wagenius
Institute for Plant Conservation
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe IL 60022
or electronically (preferred):
stuart09@echinaceaproject.org.
or by fax: (847) 835 5484--make sure it's legible!
I'll read your application and get back to you in mid-March. So, include an email address and phone number where I can reach you then.
Members of underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. Undergraduate applicants for NSF-funded positions must be US citizens or permanent residents of the US or its possessions, but we should have at least one position available to anyone.
More information
If you have any questions, contact Stuart via e-mail or phone (847-835-6978).
Go to the Echinacea project's homepage to read more about this NSF-funded project. You can also read about this project's background and papers.
Photos of recent summer field researchers
Here's a brief field equipment list from 2004.