[Pollinator] Internship: native bee study, Pinnacles National Monument, CA

[David Inouye]

**BEE & PLANT INTERNSHIP!!**
SPRING 2012: Field Technician Needed for Native Bee Ecology Study at 
Pinnacles National Monument, CA
California's beautiful, remote Pinnacles National Monument is home to 
approximately 400 species of bees, making it one of the most densely 
diverse areas for bees known in the world. The vast majority of this 
impressive fauna are native, solitary bees representing a stunning 
variety of morphologies, behaviors and floral preferences. 
Researchers from Utah State University and the USDA-ARS are currently 
working to survey the bee fauna in different habitat types throughout 
the monument and answer questions about bee community and population 
dynamics and resource preferences in various contexts.
We are looking for one technician who can commit to spending February 
though June living in this beautiful area and working full time 
assisting these efforts. Some field biology, entomology, or botany 
experience is preferred but not required. Main requirements are 
hardiness, flexibility, willingness to learn, and a good attitude. 
The selected individual will gain experience with ecological sampling 
techniques, a variety of side pollination projects, netting and pan 
trapping bees, insect pinning, observing and recording 
plant-pollinator interactions, and identifying the diverse flora in 
this natural California ecosystem. He/she will work closely with the 
graduate student and spend long days hiking across the monument with 
heavy gear, sometimes in extreme heat (can be 100+ degrees in 
May/June). Pinnacles offers a great network of hiking trails, views, 
rock climbing, and access to other wonderful areas in California, but 
is also home to mountain lions (rare), rattlesnakes, black widow 
spiders and a variety of other dangers.
This is a great way to gain field experience for graduate school or 
other field biology or National Park Service jobs and to spend a 
spring hiking around outside learning about bees and plants and 
getting to know a fantastic area of California.
Duration: Roughly mid-February - late June, 2012 (will know exact 
dates in Jan).
Weekly Schedule: Typically four 10 or 11-hour days/week. Days worked 
depend on weather, so technician needs to be flexible, however we 
typically stick to a Mon- Thurs field schedule, which often leaves 
3-day weekends for exploring CA.
Housing: Possible housing in the park dorms, to be determined.
Compensation: Approx. $200-275/week, in addition to valuable experience.
If interested in applying, please send an email with an attached 
resume, contact info for three references, and a cover letter 
explaining your interest in the position and any previous experience 
with fieldwork, bees, and/or plants to: paul_johnson at nps.gov

You can send questions to: joan.meiners at usu.edu