Ph.D. Assistantship on Bog Turtles Title: Characterization of Soils and Hydrology of Bog Turtle Habitat including the Effects of Livestock Grazing
Project: The project will characterize known bog turtle habitat in Virginia based on soils and hydrology as well as determine from geological maps, soil surveys, and digital elevation modeling, locations of potential habitat. We will make use of existing experimental livestock exclosures to identify how grazing pressure influences soil characteristics, hydrology, and vegetation. We will monitor movement of marked or radioed turtles within wetlands to determine if movements are related to hydrological changes. It is important to determine the effects of livestock grazing on turtle populations and their habitats in order to work with landowners (including government agencies) who are balancing potential benefits of vegetation control with the potential costs of water pollution, soil compaction, and erosion, associated with allowing livestock to graze in wetlands. Start date: August 2006 Faculty contacts: Co-advisors are Dr. Carola Haas, Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences, and Dr. Jim Burger, Forestry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. Interested applicants should submit to [EMAIL PROTECTED] a letter of interest (including GRE scores and grade point average for Bachelor's and Master's degrees) and a c.v. A formal application to the graduate school at VT must be made before acceptance. Please contact Carola Haas at [EMAIL PROTECTED], 540-231-9269 for more information. -- Carola A. Haas Associate Professor, Wildlife Ecology Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences MC 0321 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9269 direct phone 540-231-7580 fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cnr.vt.edu/fisheries/wwwmain.html
