Lupo e Lince in Ontario

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Trent University, in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, is assessing the structure and sustainability of large-scale
population dynamics of Canada lynx. This project is part of a larger
Strategic NSERC grant modeling long-term viability of lynx populations,
especially in their southern range. The PDF will undertake extensive and
unprecedented analysis of fur harvest records of carnivores across North
America to evaluate 1- the occurrence of lynx population cycles, cyclic
asynchrony, and cyclic decoupling across space and time, 2- whether lynx
population dynamics are related to putative dispersal barriers associated
with unsuitable habitat, and 3- whether exploitative competition with
coyotes and bobcats, as evidenced by cyclic dynamics concordant with those
of snowshoe hares, may limit southern lynx populations. The PDF position
may also involve stable isotope analysis to help identify diet overlap and
potential exploitative competition. The PDF will have opportunity to
collaborate with team members addressing related topics via population
genetics and landscape ecology, and may develop their own research program
within the context of the grant. This work is the logical continuation of
our previous research efforts examining lynx population ecology and
sustainability (Murray et al. 2008. J. Wildl. Manage. 72:1463-1472; Roth et
al. 2007. Ecology 88:2736-2743; Steury and Murray 2004.Biol. Conserv.
117:127-141).
Application Procedures
Applicants should hold a PhD in population ecology, landscape ecology, or a
related area. The successful candidate should have expertise in population
and/or landscape analysis and modeling, and experience with GIS or
population time series data. The successful applicant will have
demonstrated publishing success.
Candidates should submit a letter of application, curriculum vita, and
names and contact information for three references to Dennis Murray,
Department of Biology, Trent University (dennismurray “at” trentu.ca;
www.dennismurray.ca). Applications will be reviewed immediately and the
position will close as soon as a suitable candidate is found. The
successful applicant will receive $45,000 annually, + benefits, and the two-
year term should start no later than June 2011.

Trent University and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources are offering
a post-doctoral fellowship to assess the current status and future
prognosis of the eastern wolf (Canis lycaon) population in Algonquin
Provincial Park. Algonquin Provincial Park may be the last refuge for
eastern wolves in North America, and in 2002 the Province of Ontario
established a buffer zone around the park to protect wolves that traveled
to unprotected areas outside the park. We seek to assess the effect of this
management action on the 2 primary threats to the park’s wolf population; 1-
anthropogenic mortality, and 2- hybridization with coyotes. Using an
extensive dataset on wolf survival, movements, productivity, and pack
structure collected during 2002-2009, the post-doc will develop models to
address: 1- the demographic status of the park’s wolf population and the
role of the buffer zone in population protection; 2- the current and
projected viability of the wolf population under a variety of management
scenarios; and 3- the genetic integrity of the wolf population in the face
of current and anticipated rates of introgression of coyote genetic
material. The proposed work builds on our previous efforts to elucidate
the status of the park’s wolf population (Rutledge et al. Biol. Conserv.
143:332-339; Rutledge et al. Heredity 2010:1-12; Mills et al. J. Wildl.
Manage. 72: 949-954; Patterson & Murray Biol. Conserv. 141: 669-680), and
offers the opportunity to address important conservation questions that
will have broad implications to a diverse community. The post-doctoral
fellow will have the opportunity to develop an independent research program
within the framework of existing funding.
Application Procedures
Applicants should hold a PhD in population ecology, landscape ecology, or a
related area. The successful candidate should have expertise in population
and/or landscape analysis and modeling, and statistical analysis including
previous work with GIS or GPS telemetry data. The successful applicant will
have demonstrated publishing success.
Candidates should submit a letter of application, curriculum vita, and
names and contact information for three references to Dennis Murray,
Department of Biology, Trent University (dennismurray “at” trentu.ca;
www.dennismurray.ca) and Brent Patterson, Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources (brent.patterson “at”ontario.ca;
www.people.trentu.ca/brentpatterson). Applications will be reviewed
immediately and the position will close as soon as a suitable candidate is
found. The successful applicant will receive $45,000 annually, + benefits,
and the two-year term should start no later than September 2011.