One Year Internship, National Park Service (Coastal Georgia): Ecology Assistant

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant

Park Unit: Southeast Coast Network

Location: Saint Marys, Georgia

Number of positions available: 1

Can this position be fully remote: NO

INTERNSHIP DATES AND LENGTH

Duration: 52 weeks

Start Date: 05/1/2023

Flexible Start Date: YES

LIVING AND RELOCATION ALLOWANCE:

Weekly Stipend: $480.00

Relocation Allowance: $350.00

POSITION DESCRIPTION

SECN conducts several different monitoring protocols as part of the nationwide Inventory and Monitoring Program of the National Park Service. Vegetation in parks is monitored as a key vital sign and indicator of overall ecosystem health because changes in vegetation condition reflect effects of stressors such as extreme weather, disease, invasive species, fire, and land use change. While assisting SECN, the successful candidate will be expected to work on a team (with 1-3 other individuals) establishing baseline vegetation plots within targeted parks (see below). They must be prepared to work in extreme hot and humid conditions, including carrying up to 40 lbs of sampling gear in a backpack across uneven, wet and mucky terrain. Plots are located in remote locations of each park, and often include backpacking/hiking of 1-5 miles (or more) per day. The successful candidate will aid the field team lead with varying elements of plot sampling, including tree diameter measurements, soil sample collection, down woody debris counts, and plot establishment (running surveyors’ tape across plot sites). Parks scheduled for vegetation monitoring within the network in 2023 include four parks along the coastal fringe of the South Atlantic Coast (Timucuan, Fort Matanzas, Fort Pulaski, and Cape Hatteras). Each park contains a mosaic of natural and semi-natural plant communities and an array of threats and stressors to these communities. It is the goal of this monitoring approach to assess the condition of park vegetation and document threats in order to provide managers with best available information to make sound, scientific-based decisions related to park resources. This project will offer the SIP candidate an excellent opportunity to learn the local flora across parks within the southeastern Coastal Plain, understand threats to park vegetation, and work with a diverse group of vegetation ecologists and park natural resource staff. Coastal wetland monitoring consists of monitoring elevations of vital saltmarshes within coastal parks along the Atlantic Coast. Monitoring is conducted by putting a precise elevation measuring instrument on an established benchmark in order to track wetland elevation change over time. The work will be conducted twice/year (spring and fall) at eight different coastal parks within SECN. There may be opportunity/need for instillation of one or more permanent benchmarks within parks for added elevation stations. Shoreline monitoring consists of surveying beach shorelines in six coastal SECN parks using handheld GPS equipment that continuously takes measurements as the surveyor rides or walks the shoreline just after high tide. Surveys typically take place at all parks in the spring February, March, April, or May with more limited surveys taking place in the fall or after significant events. This position will also participate in ongoing mangrove migration research taking place in Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve as well as Cumberland Island National Seashore. Research can involve finding and recording new individuals and other variables in and around the saltmarshes. Saltmarsh and Shoreline work can involve long days of hiking in mucky conditions and long exposure to sun and insects. This detail will expose the SIP candidate to many different wetland ecology techniques and ecological professionals.

DELIVERABLES

Field Report summary of accomplishments, updates to the park's NPSpecies, shoreline maps, and updated elevation data.

DESIRED INTERN QUALIFICATIONS

WORK SETTING

A majority of the SIP intern’s duties will be performed in the field (75-85%, occasionally may reach 100%/week), with a minimal amount of office work (<25%). Parks in the Southeast Coast Network experience a humid, subtropical climate; summer temperatures range from mid 80’s to mid 90’s (F), and occasional may reach 100 F. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible. The SIP intern will be expected to work in remote locations within each park, and have the ability to hike (with a 40lb (or less) pack) across flat but occasionally wet terrain for upwards of 1-5 miles/day. Occasionally, the intern will travel to sites on a small boat; they will not be required to operate. Biting insects and venomous snakes are part of the work environment; bug spray and snake gaiters/chaps will be provided by the Southeast Coast Network (SECN). The SIP intern will be expected to carry their own water, as dehydration is typically the main risk during the field season. They will be expected to review the SECN Job Hazard Analysis for vegetation monitoring prior to beginning the field work.

The Timucuan Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial parks are located on or near the banks of the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, Florida (population, almost 1 million) approximately 13 miles from downtown Jacksonville. The park contains multiple operating sites and is spread throughout Duval County. All services and amenities are available within the city of Jacksonville. Temperatures are above 90 degrees more than 90 days per year and seldom fall below 30 degrees in the winter. There are two, four year universities, a state college/community college with 4 campuses and other educational opportunities in Jacksonville or within commuting distance.

VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.

Park housing is available on Timucuan in either a shared house or dormitory depending on timing of the internship. The kitchen is a common area and, therefore, is open to all employees and residents. Please use only the space you need, and be sensitive to the needs of others. The pantry shelves, refrigerators, stove, oven, microwave and coffee pot are available for all to use. There are pots, pans, glasses, plates, silverware and many other kitchen utensils. The kitchen also has potholders and dishtowels, and a portable stereo that plays CDs and audiotapes as well as AM-FM radio. Bottled drinking water is also provided.

A clothes washer and dryer are available for residents’ use at no charge. They are located in a small room off the kitchen. Please be considerate of others’ needs when using these appliances. Please don’t use after 10 p.m.

The living room is a common area and contains a television/VCR unit. Please extend courtesy to others and act in a prudent manner. This area is open to all employees. Common areas may be accessed by the Park Service at any time without prior notice. There is no smoking allowed inside this facility.

A telephone and answering machine are provided. The phone number is (904) 251-3043. All calls except collect calls can be received, and local calls can be made at no charge. Long-distance calls can be made only by using long-distance calling cards or by calling collect. Messages taken for other residents should be posted by the phone or affixed to dorm doors. Residents’ laptop computers can be connected to the dorm phone for e-mail access – but please be considerate of others’ telephone needs.

E-mail access and computer use are also available in the first-floor ranger office on a limited basis, but only during normal working hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.). Dorm residents requesting use of park computers must take a computer security course and test; upon completion they will be provided with a personal login for the duration of their stay.

A control unit for central heat and air-conditioning is located on the hallway wall just across from the telephone. Operating instructions can be found inside the unit by gently pulling down the plastic cover below the readout. Please be conscious of other residents’ comfort when making adjustments.

Each bedroom has a private bathroom, which contains a tub/shower, sink and toilet. Toilet paper is provided, and can be found in the first-floor closet past Roger Clark’s office. Each room is also equipped with clean towels, blankets, and bed linens, which residents will subsequently need to keep clean. Each bedroom also has a flashlight, hurricane/emergency lamp, and clock radio.

All residents will observe quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Transportation is a necessity to travel to and from park housing to the duty station. Public transportation is not a viable option for travel in the park. For a significant portion of this project, the intern will be expected to travel to parks scheduled for vegetation monitoring in 2023. Park housing may or may not be available on these parks, which include Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Pulaski National Monument, and Fort Matanzas National Monument. Funds for housing while the intern is on travel status will be provided by the Southeast Coast Network.

KEYWORDS

Vegetation monitoring, plant identification, field ecology, wetland ecology, shoreline mapping, mangrove ecology