[PCA] INTERNSHIP: Native Bee Study (Pinnacles National Monument, CA)

[Olivia Kwong]

**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