Voluntary Field Assistants Required
Galapagos Islands, 17th Feb - 13th May 2009

The project is an investigation into immune system ontogeny and the
differential ability of the sexes to respond to infection in the
Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki). Sea lions are well suited to
studies of sexual selection because they are sexually dimorphic and
live in crowded conditions that can lead to high levels of pathogen-
driven mortality. I'm using a combination of field challenge
experiments and laboratory techniques to characterise how males and
females combat infection. This research will contribute to my PhD and
follows on from previous work carried out by my supervisor Karina
Acevedo-Whitehouse.

Two field assistants are sought to help with the sampling of sea lion
pups on the Galapagos Islands of San Cristobal and Santa Fe between
17th February and 13th May 2009. We will initially tag as many pups as
possible from each island. Then we will recapture tagged pups as
frequently as feasible and examine body condition, carry out an eye
exam and take a blood sample. This process requires three people as
the pups need to be restrained, data needs to be recorded and samples
need to be processed on site. Blood samples and data will be further
processed in the Galapagos Genetics Epidemiology and Pathology
Laboratory in the evenings. Some camping may be involved, so
applicants must be comfortable working in remote environments with
minimum conveniences.

While food and accommodation are provided, volunteers will have to
cover the cost of their flights. Good candidates will have field
experience in remote locations, an interest in evolutionary biology
and functional Spanish. Veterinary field and lab experience would be
useful but are not required. Priority will be given to Ecuadorian
applicants.

If interested, please get in touch as soon as possible and to apply
please include a CV and covering letter (paddy.brock@...).

Paddy Brock
Institute of Zoology
Zoological Society of London
Regent's Park
London NW1 4RY
Tel: 00 44 (0) 20 7449 6496
Email: paddy.brock@...
http://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/ioz/people/brock.htm