Wild Toledo Biodiversity Survey Technician

Under the supervision of the Director of Plant Conservation and Wild Toledo Coordinator, performs a variety of duties related to examining invertebrate and botanical biodiversity in Wild Toledo urban prairie restorations. Collaborates with the Toledo Zoo Project PRAIRIE program to assist with Bioblitzes and other Project PRAIRIE school and citizen science biodiversity surveys. This position offers a well-motivated current or recently graduated student excellent opportunities to receive paid training and become proficient in a wide range of tools and techniques used extensively in the Ecology, Conservation Biology and Environmental Science fields. Strong candidates who actively participate and contribute to research will receive appropriate recognition, up to and including co-authorship, on any published research resulting from the work. The Toledo Zoo is an EOE and a drug/alcohol free work place.  

Description

• Routine tasks include setting up and gathering data from a variety of sampling instruments including malaise traps, CDC mosquito traps, pitfall traps, bee bowls, DISTANCE surveys, weather monitors, trail cameras as well as a variety of active monitoring strategies.
• Participates in cross-training and multi-institutional data collection efforts with Wild Toledo collaborators in ongoing multi-year research projects as well as new initiatives.
• Will perform regular botanical surveys in the field using existing methodology taught by the Director of Plant Conservation.
• May also participate in various vertebrate sampling techniques as time allows.
• Candidates will receive extensive training on the job and are not expected to be familiar and proficient at all of these tools in the beginning.
• Interested and strong candidates will have the opportunity to propose and complete guided independent research in tandem with regular duties.
• Candidates will be trained on the use of a Trimble Geo 7x and various other monitoring tools used extensively in the ecology field.
• During inclement weather will involve insect identification, data entry and limited data analysis and report compilation.
• Candidate will be cross-trained in other Wild Toledo jobs including nursery maintenance, prairie management and native landscaping, with limited work in those areas as time and needs allow.

Qualifications (Required): 

• The ability to navigate to various prairie locations in NW Ohio using GPS, Google maps and standard navigational techniques.
• Expected to work in regular field conditions that may include heat, humidity, rain, insect bites and stings.
• Some weekend availability
• Must be able to demonstrate an excellent working knowledge of conservation biology themes and techniques.
• Must be willing to learn additional information
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license, and be insurable by the Zoo’s fleet insurance carrier.

Preferred: 

Although not required, preference given to candidates with: 

• A strong insect identification background and/or previous class work in invertebrate and botanical identification.
• Classwork includes invertebrate natural history/ID, botany and plant taxonomy.
• Current biology university students as well as those with recent degrees in the field.