The U.S. Government is closed. This site will not be updated; however NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit www.commerce.gov. For the latest forecast and critical weather information, visit www.weather.gov. 

The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov. 

For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.

Salt Marsh Research and Monitoring at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research (Falmouth, MA)

Summary / Description

The salt marshes in the Waquoit Bay system are under stress from a number of forces, including the sudden and dramatic increase in the presence of the purple marsh crab (Sesarma reticulatum). Sesarma herbivory is causing vegetation dieback while they and other burrowing species, add additional stresses as their burrows reduce the structural integrity of salt marsh peat banks. We are seeing pronounced peat losses and salt marsh dieback. An intern is needed to spend the summer researching and monitoring crab populations and their effects on Waquoit Bay’s salt marshes. The intern will gain expertise in salt marsh ecology, experimental design, and data management, as well as lab and field techniques that are common in ecology. They will learn to identify common salt marsh plants and invertebrates. They will spend substantial amounts of time in a salt marsh retrieving crabs from pit traps and recording species, carapace width and sex of each individual crab. Additionally, the intern will learn how to assess sediment properties that are likely affected most strongly by burrowing crab activity, including sediment viscosity/cohesion, bulk density, organic content, and sediment elevation. Marsh surface elevations will be obtained using a Real Time Kinematic surveying system or an optical digital level. Using spreadsheets, graphs and basic statistics, the intern will analyze data collected and tie to data collected in previous year’s assessments. Scholars will assist WBNERR’s permanent and seasonal research staff with salt marsh surface elevation and vegetation monitoring. 

Skills Required

Applicants should be natural science majors and have an academic status of at least a rising junior. The successful candidate will need to be comfortable spending most of their time in a salt marsh and moving between sites using a kayak or stand up paddleboard. Position requires extensive time on or near salt water, and applicants should be able to swim, walk over uneven terrain, and be able to carry up to 25 lbs. of field equipment. Applicants should be highly detail oriented and able to follow verbal instructions from colleagues and supervisors. Office work will entail data entry, quality assurance/quality control, and proficiency in spreadsheets and basic statistics is desired.  

Type of Opportunity

  • Research

Location

  • In-person. Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Falmouth, MA). Housing is available on WBNERR grounds.

Other Information

  • Intern Supervisor:  Dr. Megan Tyrrell
  • Number of Slots Available:  1