Ecology Assistant (52 Weeks) - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy • Anchorage, AK

3d

About The Position

This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. Marine upper trophic levels, including birds and mammals, are indicators of ecosystem structure and function, and highly sought-after viewing subjects for coastal park visitors. Understanding differences in abundance and distribution of marine birds and mammals through time, across seasons, and among parks allows evaluation of (1) the scale and consequences of changes in marine ecosystems, (2) geographic differences in habitat suitability for various species, (3) seasonal changes in habitat value among parks, and (4) trends in abundance of valued species. To achieve these benefits, we propose analyses of existing nearshore marine bird and mammal survey data from KEFJ and KATM, where surveys have been conducted since 2006. These data and analyses will provide a regional perspective on the specific dynamics occurring within each park. This will allow park managers to understand whether observed variation is a result of broad-scale phenomena (e.g., the Pacific marine heatwave) or park-specific change potentially subject to local management action, and whether particular species or feeding guilds are trending differently than others, which may indicate underlying ecosystem drivers.
The SIP participant will become part of the SWAN I&M nearshore team. Our primary tasks during the summer are to collect data along the park (and partner) coasts of the Gulf of Alaska. At the interface between oceans and continents lie nearshore ecosystems, defined by well-known species with well understood ecological relations, where high densities of specialist predators (sea otters, sea ducks, black oystercatchers, sea stars) exist within a variety and productive system full of kelps and invertebrates that don’t occur in any other habitats. This is the marine ecosystem that is most familiar to and highly valued by society. However, nearshore marine ecosystems face significant challenges at global and regional scales, with threats arising from both the adjacent lands and oceans. Monitoring composition and abundance of species and understanding functional relations in the nearshore ecosystem is essential when responding to and managing present and future threats. For a 52-week position, we would expect the field portion of the position to successfully morph into the data proofing, analyzing and publishing phase. We are explicitly looking for an participant to support the marine bird and mammal portion of this project and examine variation in marine bird and mammal community structure and trends across coastal parks. We are proposing to: 1) Assemble existing nearshore survey data to quantify marine bird and mammal communities across coastal parks adjacent to the Gulf of Alaska using long-term monitoring data collected from 2006-2025/26 in KEFJ and KATM. Both parks have existing summer and winter data available, which is important because these park coastlines support large aggregations of over-wintering marine birds as well as summer breeders; and 2) help support skiff-based, nearshore surveys (winter and summer, 2026). Once data are collected and assembled, the SIP participant will lead efforts to examine differences in community composition among parks (KEFJ vs. KATM) and between seasons (summer vs. winter). Analyses also will indicate which species or guilds may be driving any observed differences across space and time. Taken holistically, contrasting trends in a variety of species across multiple locations can be very informative about what underlying factors influence individual species’ abundance and distribution, as well as changes in community structure. These data also will be formatted consistently and made available, so that any future questions and analyses will be facilitated, such as examining species densities in relation to finer-scale oceanographic data, or evaluating effects of any natural (e.g., regime shifts) or anthropogenic (e.g., oil spills) perturbations.

Requirements

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the host site.
• The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.

Nice To Haves

• A successful SIP participant will have an academic background in ecology with an emphasis on predator/prey dynamics, avian ecology, survey design and/ or food web studies.
• A MS in biology or ecology is desired.
• A background in marine ecosystems is desired, but more importantly, a strong background in field data collection and analyses of survey data to examine population dynamics (familiar with R software).

Responsibilities

• Assemble existing nearshore survey data to quantify marine bird and mammal communities across coastal parks adjacent to the Gulf of Alaska using long-term monitoring data collected from 2006-2025/26 in KEFJ and KATM.
• Help support skiff-based, nearshore surveys (winter and summer, 2026).
• Lead efforts to examine differences in community composition among parks (KEFJ vs. KATM) and between seasons (summer vs. winter).
• Format data consistently and make available, so that any future questions and analyses will be facilitated

Benefits

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award : $ 7,395.00 upon successful completion of position
• Weekly Living Allowance: $ 700.00 per week, fixed rate
• Relocation Allowance: $ 1,100.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
• Childcare Coverage (opt in)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level