Lesser Scaup Population Biology – PhD Assistantship - 31.07

School: Utah State University

Departments: The Ecology Center in connection with the Department of Wildland Resources
http://www.usu.edu/ecology/ http://www.cnr.usu.edu/departments/departments/wild/wild

Location: Logan, UT 84322, USA

Description of research: The North American lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) population has been declining for over 20 years, which has raised concern amongst
managers and the general public. Uncertainty about the effects of harvest-related mortality, recruitment, and population density on lesser scaup population
dynamics make management extremely challenging. The current harvest-management strategy assumes a particular form of density-dependent population growth
and ‘additive’ effects of harvest on population abundance. One objective of this position will be to develop a set of alternative population models,
such that management decisions can be based on the population model(s) that is(are) best supported by the data. The student will have freedom in the
development and examination of relevant models. Factors that are of interest but have yet to be explored in scaup population models that explicitly
include harvest are: age structure, ‘additive’ vs. ‘compensatory’ effects of harvest on mortality, alternative forms of density dependence in
demographic vital rates, effects of abiotic factors (e.g., climate) on demographic processes, etc.

In addition to the general Ph.D. education, the student will be expected to learn about waterfowl survey data, survival estimation, Bayesian statistics,
and hierarchical state-space models. Using appropriate methods, the student will simultaneously incorporate multiple sources of data
(e.g., abundance, harvest surveys and wing collections, capture-recovery data, etc.) into the estimation and development of alternative
population models. A complementary objective of this project will be to conduct simulation analyses to identify information requirements to more
objectively discriminate between alternative population models. The student will also be encouraged to develop papers related to this work that might
be of broad interest to the population, conservation, statistics, and adaptive management communities.

Primary Funding Agency: Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station (DWWRS: http://www.deltawaterfowl.org/research/graduate.php)

Stipend: Up to $21,000 per year (for 4 years) depending on experience and ability to compete for a DWWRS fellowship.

Qualifications: Applicants should have a background in Wildlife, Ecology, or Statistical disciplines. Preference will be given to applicants who have
experience conducting population biology research, a strong quantitative background, good computing skills, and superior academic performance. A strong
interest/experience in waterfowl biology is desired. Applicants must meet the entrance requirements of the Ecology Center (see web page listed above).

Application: Initial inquiries can by e-mailed to Dr. David N. Koons: koons@demogr.mpg.de. To apply before 31 July 2007 please send
1) a cover letter describing your research background and interest in the position, 2) your CV, 3) copies of transcripts and GRE scores,
and 4) 3 letters of reference via e-mail to Dr. David N. Koons. Applications after 31 July 2007 can be done via e-mail or paper applications can be sent to
Dr. David N. Koons, Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, 5230 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.

Last Date to Apply: Until position is filled.
Preferred starting date is 4 January 2008