Natural History Wanderings

The U.S. Geological Survey (Western Ecological Research Center – WERC) is recruiting botany field technicians (biological science technicians) to assist in leading crews working on plant ecology research projects in the arid southwest. Technicians will be conducting field work for a project investigating desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) ecology and habitat quality through routine vegetation monitoring of tortoise cover and forage species and observing tortoise foraging behavior. In addition, field work will include occasional vegetation monitoring for other projects, and weather and tortoise monitoring work when not participating in vegetation monitoring (e.g., tracking desert tortoise study populations via radio‐telemetry). Our research group is based in Boulder City, NV, with field work taking place throughout the Mojave Desert. The data that are collected will be used to better characterize quality habitat for desert tortoises and how environmental parameters influence tortoise movement patterns, diet, home ranges, population connectivity, health and the incidence and transmission of disease, gene expression, and genetic diversity.

Read more and see how to apply at Botany Field Technician – CNPS Forums