Fishery Biologist 1- Field crew for Sucker Research

FISHBIO; Klamath Falls (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The USGS Klamath Falls Field Station in Oregon is seeking a field-based technician to support long-term monitoring of Lost River and Shortnose suckers using PIT tags. You will operate on Upper Klamath Lake and Clear Lake Reservoir, maintain PIT tag equipment, and assist with an expanding acoustic telemetry program.

This is a non-supervisory, field-oriented role with a typical 40-hour work week and occasional winter night fishing during spawning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biological science with aquatic-focused coursework.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in survey crews for presence/absence research and fish surveys.
• Perform data entry for recovered tags, telemetry data, and related records; maintain databases.
• Assist with maintenance of fish facilities and health monitoring, including sampling.
• Support investigations in fisheries resource management and data analyses for reports.

Skills

Biological science

Field data collection

Data entry and analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biological Science

12 semester hours in animal sciences

Tools

PIT tagging equipment

Telemetry receivers

Job description

Description: The USGS Klamath Falls Field Station (KFFS) conducts research on rare and imperiled fishes in the Klamath Basin, helping managers make informed decisions about resource use in a sensitive arid ecosystem. The program has tracked long-lived endangered Lost River and Shortnose suckers for decades using PIT tags as part of a long-term capture-recapture effort and is growing an acoustic telemetry program to understand seasonal movement, survival, and habitat use.

This position works as part of a USGS field crew from the Klamath Falls Field Station, operating primarily on Upper Klamath Lake and Clear Lake Reservoir as part of a long-term monitoring program tracking survival and recruitment of adult and juvenile Lost River and Shortnose suckers using PIT tags. This position also maintains PIT tag detection equipment, including PIT antennas and associated field infrastructure, and supports the station’s growing acoustic telemetry program, assisting with receiver array maintenance, fish capture for tagging, and telemetry data collection across multiple water bodies. This is a field-based, non-supervisory position.

The field season runs from February through November, generally scheduled as a standard 40-hour work week (a mix of four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days depending on seasonal need). Some winter night fishing is also required to capture adult suckers as they stage for spawning. Most fieldwork is conducted within approximately a 2-hour radius of Klamath Falls.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in survey crews that conduct fishery presence/absence research, recreational/commercial fishing surveys, anadromous fish escapement surveys (carcass, redd, trap/weir, snorkel, etc.), or tag detection and mark recovery surveys. Make standardized observations such as species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, and/or signs of parasites, diseases or pathogens, fin clips or tags.
• Lead and perform data entry for data from recovered tags, representative biological samples, telemetry devices, oceanographic data, fish tickets, commercial landing estimates, logbooks, scale cards, port sampling, onboard observers, etc. Error check the data, maintain and update database, analyze and organize data in the appropriate format (table, spreadsheet, memorandum, or report) necessary for transfer to individuals, agencies, and organizations. Modify software programs and perform data queries. Prepare summary reports to transfer data.
• Lead crew or assist hatchery manager with maintenance of fish including feeding fish, cleaning tanks, establishing feeding schedules, assessing growth, and monitoring fish health. Collect samples of blood and tissues. Monitor and maintain facility systems, equipment, and water quality. Maintain records of data and perform routine analysis.
• Assist researchers in investigations of long term and short term fisheries resource management problems. Collect biological samples, record data, perform routine analyses of data, and contribute draft sections to scientific papers for publication.
• Assist in design, development, and installation of components of naturalistic environments. Assist with analysis of the behavior of different species in simulated environments. Videotape, photograph, and record data for characteristics such as growth, health, fitness, social activity, reproductive success, foraging success, and anti-predator behavior.
• Establish and direct sport, commercial, hatchery, and natural spawn sampling and bio-sampling protocols to best meet data requirements.

Qualifications:

A range of education and experience may be presented. At the lower end of the range, candidates must present successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree that included a major in biological science with at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects and at least 12 semester hours in the animal sciences. An equivalent combination of experience and education is also qualifying.

At the upper end of the range, candidates must present one year of Specialized Experience** OR a year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.

• Specialized Experience is experience that equips the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position being filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled.