I am looking for field assistants for my research on metapopulation
dynamics of a chrysomelid beetle in Costa Rica. Here's a rundown.
1) My research will run from January 1999 - January 2001.
2) The research is at the Organization for Tropical Studies Field
Station in Costa Rica. This is a well established field station which
attracts many of the top tropical biologists, and top biologists in
general. Facilities include a cafeteria, cabins for sleeping, and
laboratories which include computers and even e-mail access. The forest
is absolutely beautiful. Look up the Organization for Tropical Studies
web site for more information.
3) This will entail alot of field work in the rainforest. I will map
patches of the host plant, Pleiostachya pruinosa, and then periodically
census the patches for the beetles. Also I will do a mark-recapture
study on the beetles. Lastly, I will run experiments to estimate rates
of colonization and extinction within the patches.
4) I would prefer someone who is interested in entering graduate school
in biology in the future, however, will certainly talk to anyone. I'd
like to give assistants some time to themselves, and encourage them to
take the initiative to conduct their own project on the side. A latin
person is preferred, but not a necessity.
5) Finances: You will need to pay your own travel to Costa Rica. I am
currently applying for funding to pay for an assistant, so hopefully I
will eventually be able to pay station fees. I particularly need
someone from Jan. 20-Feb 20, more or less. Station fees are $27/day,
including food. Maybe we can work something out financially.
Hope to hear from you,
Derek M. Johnson
University of Miami
