Voluntariado: Colombia.

We need a volunteer to support marine mammal survey during march 2008 (~month) on board the Colombian Pacific oceanographic cruise.

The person will be responsible for conducting daily observations from the top deck (1 hour on, 1/2 off), taking data on cruising speed and direction and observation conditions every hour; each time a marine mammal group is found, the person will need to identify the group to lowest taxonomical group, estimate group size, note position, estimate distance and angle, etc. If the person has a good camera, photographs should be taken to confirm identification. He/she will need to organize data bases (excel formats), estimate number of sightings/cuadrant for each species and prepare a report to the Fundación Malpelo and the National Navy.

The chosen researcher will have the opportunity to participate in a nation-wide research cruise (it covers all the EEZ of the Colombian Pacific, up to 84?W), gaining experience on both coastal and pelagic mammal identification, learning from important colombian oceanographers, as well as getting to know local culture and amazing natural spots along the colombian Pacific coast.

National travel (Bogota-Tumaco-Bogota) and food costs can be covered, but other expenses should be covered by researcher.

Marine mammal field experience required (min. 6 months), and spanish knowledge would be a plus (all other researchers will be colombian or Latin-American).

If interested and available, please send Resume (max 2 pg) to
German Soler ( gsoler@fundacionmalpelo.org ) ASAP.

Carolina García Imhof
M. Sc. Marine Science
Contact information:
Carrera 4 No. 71-61 apt. 1001 Bogotá-Colombia
Tel: 571 3458377
Fax: 571 5447490
M?vil: 315 3885399
e-mail: garciaimhof@hotmail.com