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FIVE COLLEGE COASTAL AND MARINE SCIENCES

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PROJECT LIST

as of February 6, 2018 (All internships are 10 weeks with flexible start/end dates unless otherwise noted)

1) SHOALS MARINE LAB: (ME/NH)

A) Marine Mammals Project Description Marine Mammal Interns study the large colony of harbor and gray seals on Duck Island and surrounding ledges.

Specific questions include numbers of each species estimated through photographic mark-recapture studies,

incidence of entanglement and injuries, and distributional and behavioral interactions of the two species.

Intern Responsibilities Interns conduct weekly boat-based surveys of the seal colony by photographing all seals in the colony, then

analyze and catalog the digital photos in the laboratory.

Skills Required Ability to work from a small boat. Attention to detail and database management skills are essential. Ability to

live on a 95-acre island for 10 weeks, with other marine science students and faculty, nesting sea bird colonies

and limited off-island access.

Other Information Intern Supervisors: Dr. Nadine Lysiak (UMass Boston), Dr. Andrea Bogomolni (WHOI), Lisa Sette (Center for

Coastal Studies)

Dates: May 29-August 8, 2018 (10 weeks)

B) Gull Population Biology Project Description In the Gulf of Maine, populations of gulls have fluctuated dramatically during the past several decades, largely

as a result of human activities. Gulls are apex predators in nearshore marine ecosystems and can significantly

alter terrestrial habitats on breeding islands. Though gulls are a conspicuous presence in coastal New England,

surprisingly little is known about their population biology.

The Gull Population Biology Internship is designed around a unique, long-term gull banding program initiated

in 2004 on Appledore Island focused on Great Black-backed Gulls (GBBG) and Herring Gulls (HERG). Field-

readable leg bands are used to facilitate resights of live birds both on and off the island, and during the breeding

and non-breeding season. Thousands of GBBGs and HERGs have been banded and resighted by island

researchers. The project receives numerous resights from private citizens who observe banded gulls in nearly

every state on the Atlantic coast (and a few inland states). The data generated from this project is used to

quantify adult survival rates, dispersal patterns by sex and age, age at first reproduction, and many other aspects

of gull biology. During the internship, interns will:

Band adult and juvenile gulls of both species under the guidance of internship mentors.

Conduct routine, on-island resights of banded gulls and assign nest IDs to all banded birds.

Map nests using GPS.

Monitor the reproductive success of banded gulls in key study areas via daily nest checks (# eggs, # eggs

hatched, dates of hatch, chick survival to 10 days, chick fledging).

Record data on gull diet.

Participate in public outreach on and off Appledore Island.

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Participate in weekly discussions and lectures as part of the larger SML Research Internship cohort.

Internship Supervisors: Dr. Sarah Courchesne (Northern Essex Community College) and Mary Everett

(UMass Lowell)

Dates: mid-May to Mid-July, 2018 (10 weeks)

C) Parasite Ecology Project Overview:

The Isles of Shoals represent an exceptional location for exploring parasite diversity in multi-host parasite

systems (particularly trematode parasites) that include intertidal invertebrates and shorebirds. Previous work at

Shoals Marine Laboratory has resulted in interesting patterns in parasite prevalence of intermediate hosts

around the islands, as well as influences on host foraging behavior and physiology. The Parasite Ecology Intern

will collect parasite diversity data in invertebrate hosts on Appledore Island, assist with experiments that induce

infection in intermediate hosts, and explore host behavior in the lab and the field. Interns will learn how to

identify trematode parasite species using a microscope, how to induce an infection gradient in host crabs, set-up

and run behavior and predation experiments, and can use what they learn from this and past work to design a

related project. The intern will be a part of the larger SML Research Internship cohort and will participate in

weekly discussions and lectures.

Skills Required Previous coursework in ecology and marine biology is recommended.

Internship Supervisor: Dr. April Blakeslee (East Carolina University)

Dates: June 4 – August 13, 2018 (10 weeks)

For All 3 Shoals Marine Lab Projects

Internship Location:

Shoals Marine Lab is approximately 7 miles off the coast of Portsmouth, NH. The lab is affiliated with the

University of New Hampshire and Cornell University.

Other Information Dormitory housing, meals, and wifi provided.

Due to the high cost for island housing and meals (paid by FCCMS directly to SML),

the stipend for this internship is reduced $1500 (paid to the student)

International students may be placed at this site.

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2) NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY SEABIRD RESTORATION PROGRAM and UMASS-

AMHERST: Effects of climate change on sea bird diet (MA and ME)

Summary/Description Since 1987, we have been recording diet or chick provisioning (feeding) data for Arctic Terns at several seabird

colonies in Maine. The data generated from our provisioning studies has provided valuable insight into keystone

prey species for Maine seabirds, has been the subject of peer-reviewed papers, is the subject of ongoing

research using new technologies and has contributed to policy decisions for Gulf of Maine fisheries. We are

looking for an intern to begin a new phase of this study: looking at climate data in relation to seabird diets.

Intern Responsibilities The intern will be based at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, working with chick provisioning

and growth data from the Seabird Restoration Program as well as environmental and climate data from the DOI

Northeast Climate Science Center. The intern will also conduct laboratory work processing tissue samples for

stable isotope and other analyses. Between mid-June and mid-July, the intern will go to a Maine island field

camp for 2-3 weeks (rustic living conditions) to learn how seabird data is collected and be trained in seabird

conservation techniques, working with the island supervisor and other team members. Field projects the intern

will be involved with include bird banding, monitoring chick growth and survival, and conducting tern diet

studies. Additional duties may include bird counts and weather data collection, invasive plant control, and

interacting with island visitors.

Skills Required Good data management and quantitative analysis skills (e.g., proficiency in Excel; basic statistics are a plus);

good organization skills and attention to detail, and the ability to live on an island with a small group of people

and conduct field work in changing weather conditions with rustic accommodations (sleep in a tent, no running

water, limited solar electricity, etc.).

Other Information:

Intern Supervisors:

Paula Shannon, Seabird Sanctuary Manager, National Audubon Society Seabird Restoration Program

Michelle Staudinger, Science Coordinator, DOI Northeast Climate Science Center, University of

Massachusetts-Amherst

International students may be placed at this site.

Housing in Amherst not provided; on-island housing provided

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3) UMASS GLOUCESTER MARINE RESEARCH STATION:

Salt marsh coastal resilience and invasive species research on New England shores (MA)

Summary/Description

There are three internship opportunities based at the Gloucester Marine Station (GMS), located on north coastal

Massachusetts, operated by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. GMS is undergoing an expansion phase

with three new faculty hires who will be using the facility for field and laboratory based marine science.

A) The first internship will be a part of collaborative effort addressing New England salt marsh die-off. The

intern will primarily contribute to on the ground field efforts to characterize salt marsh ecological integrity by

sampling plant, invertebrate, and fish communities in nearby estuaries of Ipswich Bay. This effort will provide

complementary ground truth data to an unmanned aerial survey (UAS; i.e. drone) project to rapidly assess salt

marsh health. The intern will primarily work on the field data collection project but may have opportunities to

contribute to the UAS project.

B) The second internship will be part of a project examining interactions between climate change and biological

invasion. In New England waters, green crabs (Carcinus maenas) and Asian shore crabs (Hemigrapsus

sanguineus) are non-native species that may be contributing to declines in native blue mussels (Mytilus edulis).

Warming may differentially affect both of these invasive species with unknown consequences for native

mussels. The intern will collect field and laboratory data to parse the effects of warming and predation by

invasive crabs on native mussels.

C) The third internship will be part of a project investigating genetic and physiological responses of coastal

fishes and/or invertebrates to environmental stress. The intern would be part of a team collecting samples from

the field and/or in laboratory experiments to measure physiological capacity and genetic markers. Additionally,

the intern could conduct data analysis on existing datasets, and extract DNA and/or RNA either at GMS or in

the laboratory on main UMass Amherst campus.

Intern Responsibilities

The intern(s) will be based at the Gloucester Marine Station (GMS), located on north coastal Massachusetts,

operated by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The intern(s) will be responsible for field and laboratory

data collection via observation and experimental manipulation. The molecular ecology intern may also be

responsible for conducting data analysis.

Skills required

Familiarity with New England coastal flora and fauna is desirable for all three internships. Knowledge of basic

experimental design, coastal marine sampling techniques, and statistics is desirable. The intern(s) should

possess a drivers license for driving a field vehicle. Boat handling and SCUBA certification is desirable but not

required.

Other Information

Intern Supervisors

A, B) Brian Cheng, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of

Massachusetts Amherst

B) Katie Kahl, Extension Assistant Professor, Gloucester Marine Station, University of Massachusetts Amherst

C) Lisa Komoroske, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of

Massachusetts Amherst

International students may be placed at this site.

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4) NOAA: Biology of vulnerable marine skates (WA)

Summary / Description

Longnose skates in Gulf of Alaska are a vulnerable species to exploitation owing to their slow growth and low

fecundity rates. Efforts to manage this species has been hampered by lack of knowledge about basic biological

processes such as growth and reproduction, which are poorly characterized. This study focuses on the analysis

of biological data collected over the last ten years including vertebrae for age determination, reproductive

structures for maturity status and trawl data for interpretation of spatial and temporal variability. The intern will

assist in the interrogation of skate vertebrae by microscopic and spectroscopic age estimation.

Skills Required

Microscopic, laboratory, data manipulation and analysis in excel or other packages.S

Location

Seattle, WA

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Thomas Helser

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: No

5) NOAA: Assessing juvenile coral density and size distribution using fluorescence imaging and Structure

from Motion (SfM) techniques (HI)

Summary / Description

In 2014, Hawaii’s coral experienced record levels of bleaching, this followed by continued thermal stress in

2015 and 2016 creating back-to-back bleaching events. In areas already under stress, the added impact of

thermal stress can make recovery even more difficult for coral. In an effort to promote conditions favorable to

corals in West Maui, the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (KHFMA) was developed to protect

herbivorous fishes and sea urchins in 2009. Continued monitoring of this area has shown an increase in

herbivorous fish biomass and crustose coralline algae cover since the KHFMA was established. With slow

growing coral, changes are more subtle and can take more time. By 2012, coral cover within the KHFMA was

on the rise, until the bleaching event in 2015, which caused some coral mortality. This raises some pressing

questions as to how these coral reef ecosystems will recover and how long that recovery might take. By

monitoring juvenile and young coral growth and survivorship using fluorescence imaging and Structure from

Motion technologies, we can gain a better understanding about the resilience of the coral population and the

timescale for recovery. Detecting juvenile and young coral (<10 cm maximum diameter) is difficult in the field

and even more difficult from photographs. In an effort to improve our ability to quantify juvenile coral cover

and recruitment, as well as changes of colonies over time, we are employing an emerging technology –

Fluorescence Imagery. This technology is used to detect the chlorophyll-a fluorescence of coral, which makes

coral appear to glow in a photograph. This method has the potential to greatly improve the ability to detect very

small coral in photographs and make automated delineation and sizing in ArcGIS much more effective. In

addition, the use of Structure from Motion (SfM) techniques provides a highly accurate, scaled image, which

allows colony size to be recorded along with coral species and substrate type over a large area. Structure from

Motion is a photogrammetric method used to create two-dimensional mosaic images and three-dimensional

surfaces from a series of photographs. The resulting photomosaic is analyzed to compare changes in coral

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colonies and seafloor structure over time.As a team member of this project, your activities could include post-

processing of seafloor imagery, classification of sessile organisms and benthic habitats, creating 3D surface

models from image series, spatial analysis and map production using ArcGIS, creating product documentation

(metadata), creating imagery and maps for presentations and outreach, and more. Your activities will be varied

and your ability to follow precise instructions, work independently as well as with a team while producing high

quality work are crucial.

Skills Required

Interns are not required to have previous experience with Fluorescence Imaging or Structure from Motion

techniques. A working knowledge of ArcGIS Desktop and experience with Microsoft Excel is needed.

Experience working with digital imagery and knowledge of Hawaiian benthic flora and fauna are not required

but preferred. Interns must pay close attention to detail, have strong organizational skills, the ability to focus on

repetitive tasks, work with a variety of data and work well independently under the guidance and supervision of

a mentor within the ESD team.

Location

The intern position is located at NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem

Sciences Division (ESD), located at the NOAA Inouye Regional Center (IRC), 1845 Wasp Blvd, Building 176

in Honolulu, Hawaii. Note: The IRC is located on a military base. Selected applicants will need to meet several

requirements in advance of the internship to gain base access.

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Rhonda Suka

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: No

6) NOAA: Habitat Mapping GIS Project in the Gulf of Mexico (MS)

Summary / Description

Despite the obvious importance of habitat in the analysis and understanding of spatial distributions of fish and

its impact on abundance we know very little about habitat available in the Gulf of Mexico. The sheer size of the

basins coupled with depth and light limitations preclude easily describing habitat in the ocean. One of the main

objectives of the SEAMAP reef fish video survey is to move to a habitat based design that is based on a

combination of multi-beam mapping that we’ve acquired from partners or collected ourselves and a 26 year

history of dropping video cameras throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Recently NOAA has

developed the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) that allows for compatibility

between labs and otherwise uncoordinated data collection efforts. As such the CMECS standard is a recent

development relative to our historic data collection and thus the historic data did not evaluate imagery and

create data to this standard. Thus there is a tremendous archived resource that could provide the basis for a

habitat based survey design for the SEAMAP optical surveys that are conducted in the Gulf and Caribbean. This

project will be composed of three parts including 1) learning and applying ArcGIS to create a habitat layer for

use in stratifying the reef fish video survey and 2) digitizing and uploaded historic video/still imagery to the

server for geosetting and inclusion in the ArcGIS project, and 3) learning how to evaluate bathymetry and

imagery to create data that meets the CMECS standard.

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Skills Required

Willingness to work outdoors, as well as at a microscope. General laboratory skills are helpful. Ability to work

as part of a research team. Ability to pay attention to details, yet have an interest in broad scale ecological

processes.

Location

NOAA Mississippi Laboratory/Pascagoula, MS

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Andre Debose

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: Yes

7) NOAA: Abundance and Distribution of cephalopod paralarvae in the Gulf of Mexico (MS)

Summary / Description

Fisheries for cephalopods exist in many coastal and pelagic ecosystems around the globe reaching a maximum

landing of 4.3 million tons in 2007. The majority of the landings are from squid, but other cephalopods such as

octopus and cuttlefish are fished for food or bait. Although there are some squid landings in the Gulf of Mexico

(GOM), fisheries here focus mainly on other invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs. However, cephalopods are

an important link in the trophic dynamics as a predator of commercial fisheries species such as mackerel,

herring, menhaden, and anchovies. In the GOM, adult cephalopods are selective prey to a variety of tunas,

billfish, whales, and seabirds. As a critical link in the trophodynamics of the GOM, examining the distribution

and abundance of cephalopods can help gain understanding in the fluctuations of a variety of commercially and

ecologically significant species higher in the trophic structure. The objective of this project is to examine the

abundance and distribution of cephalopod paralarvae collected during the Southeast Area Monitoring and

Assessment Program (SEAMAP) ichthyoplankton surveys. Cephalopod paralarvae are the early life stages

(from hatching to sub-adult) of cephalopod taxa including a variety of squid, octopus, and cuttlefish. The

overall goal of the SEAMAP plankton surveys is to provide information on the early life history of federally

managed fisheries species such as red snapper. However, due to the ichthyoplankton sampling design,

cephalopod paralarvae are also collected in these samples. The information gathered from SEAMAP plankton

survyes can be used to calculate abundances and map distribution of the paralarvae in the same manner as larval

red snapper. Examination and identification of preserved specimens will provide the information needed to

examine the early life history stages of cephalopods in the northern GOM. This project will be a first attempt to

describe Gulfwide distribution and abundances of paralarvae from a variety of cephalopod species from

SEAMAP surveys.

Skills Required

Willingness to work outdoors, as well as at a microscope. General laboratory skills are helpful. Ability to work

as part of a research team. Ability to pay attention to details, yet have an interest in broad scale ecological

processes.

Location

NOAA Mississippi Laboratory/Pascagoula, MS

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Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Andre Debose

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: Yes

8) NOAA: Examine Condition of Larval Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the northern Gulf of

Mexico (MS)

Summary / Description

Red Snapper (Lutjnaus campechanus) is a reef-associated fish that is harvested, both commercially and

recreationally, in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Overexploitation has required the formation of

management plans in order to rebuild the declining stocks. Part of the management plan is to collect data in

order to monitor the stock size and determine fishing limits. The role of the Southeast Area Monitoring and

Assessment Program (SEAMAP) is to provide fishery-independent data to the fisheries managers for inclusion

in stock assessment models. SEAMAP ichthyoplankton surveys provide information on the early life history of

Red Snapper in the northern GOM. The abundance data collected provides a relative larval index of abundance

for each year. Interannual variability in larval Red Snapper abundances can be caused by factors affecting

growth and mortality. Measuring larval condition will provide insight into the interannual changes in

abundance. The overall goal of the project is to measure the larval condition of red snapper (Lutjanus

campechnaus) through morphometric analysis. All identified red snapper collected in the bongo and neuston

samples during SEAMAP surveys from recent years will be processed for morphometric analysis using an

imaging system. Specimens will be placed under the stereo microscope and a digital image will be taken at a

magnification that will allow accurate morphometric measurements to be made of the larvae. The morphometric

measurements selected represent body dimensions that have been found to relate to relative larval body

conditions. A measurement of notochord length, body depth at the pectoral fin, body depth at anus, head length,

head height, eye diameter, and lower jaw length will be made of each larva using the imaging software. A

correlation will be calculated between the notochord length and each of the other body measurements

separately. The morphometric measurements of each fish will be combined in order to provide an overall

condition index for each of the larvae. Comparisons between seasons and years will be made to examine

possible environmental factors influencing larval condition.

Skills Required

Willingness to work outdoors, as well as at a microscope. General laboratory skills are helpful. Ability to work

as part of a research team. Ability to pay attention to details, yet have an interest in broad scale ecological

processes.

Location

NOAA Mississippi Laboratory/Pascagoula, MS

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Andre DeBose

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: Yes

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9) NOAA: Investigating animal presence throughout Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, using a

variety of data (GA)

Summary / Description

Intern will assist in data management and processing for several on-going sanctuary research projects, including

acoustic telemetry downloads and identifications as well as lionfish and sea turtle sightings data. Expected

product may include some analyses of acoustic telemetry data, map production, evaluation of data in relation to

research area within GRNMS. There is some flexibility in terms of products the sanctuary needs and the intern’s

interests and skillset. If intern is already AAUS-diver certified, it may be possible to have intern become NOAA

diver certified and participate in summer diving field work in the sanctuary. Participation in the GRNMS

NOAA Ship Nancy Foster mission in August may be possible.

Skills Required

Some GIS skills, data management, database use (access, xls), flexibility, interest in learning and sharing

Location

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Savannah GA

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Kimberly Roberson

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: No

10) NOAA: LPW Chinook salmon research (AK)

Summary / Description

Interns will assist researchers conducting studies on Chinook salmon returning to marine waters and streams

near a remote research station operated by the NMFS in southeast Alaska. Work will include capturing adult

Chinook salmon using a variety of methods including fish traps, gillnets, and seines; sampling, recovering

coded-wire tags, recording scientific data, and processing the fish for brood stock for the research hatchery at

the station; feeding and caring for juvenile Chinook salmon being raised at the station; and collecting

environmental and climate data. The period of work will be from late July to the end of August.`

Skills Required

Ability to live and conduct field research in a remote and isolated location (see “Additional Information”).

Ability to work effectively as part of a team of researchers. Ability to do physical work (e.g., lift 40 lb loads,

hike to remote sites, etc.) and work out of small boats.

Location

Little Port Walter research station on southern Baranof Island, Alaska

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: John Eiler

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: Yes

Can international students be placed: Yes

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11) NOAA: Shellfish aquaculture, nearshore marine communities, and a week of Idaho salmon (WA)

Summary / Description

The intern will participate in a study that compares the ecological functions (e.g., food availability, protection

from predators) provided by shellfish aquaculture sites versus natural eelgrass sites in Puget Sound, WA. There

is an additional opportunity to join a study on the importance of returning adult salmon carcasses as sources of

nutrients (i.e., fertilizer) to streams in the Salmon River Basin for one week of fieldwork in Idaho. Key science

questions: 1) Do fish and large invertebrate communities differ between eelgrass and shellfish aquaculture

habitats? 2) Has the decline in the number of salmon returning to natal streams over the last 150 years resulted

in the inability of streams to support healthy salmon populations? Intern Opportunities & Responsibilities: This

internship provides an opportunity for an applicant to participate in an applied study related to the aquaculture

industry. The intern will explore new underwater video technology to determine how invertebrates and fish use

shellfish aquaculture and eelgrass habitats. The intern will evaluate locations, deploy and retrieve GoPro

cameras, and record marine data from selected sites around Puget Sound. At the lab, the intern will analyze

video footage (identifying fish and invertebrates), develop protocols to improve the application of this

technology, and evaluating the benefits and limitations of this technology. In addition, students can design their

own project as part of the larger study if interested. In addition, the intern will be a member of a salmon field

team for one week, collecting data on the biology, hydrology, and chemistry of 7 salmon streams in Idaho. The

field team will conducting experiments and camp in gorgeous, remote areas in Idaho.

Skills Required

Readiness to work in the marine inter-tidal zone, learning about nearshore fish and invertebrate communities of

Puget Sound, GoPro camera technology, video analysis, and the aquaculture industry. Readiness to spend a

week doing fieldwork, camping, and learning about stream ecology in Idaho. Ability to work as part of a

research team. Basic laboratory and field data collection experience, and outdoor know-how are helpful.

Location

Northwest Fisheries Science Center (Seattle, WA) (Project base), Puget Sound, WA (Field Work), Salmon

River Basin, Idaho (Field Work)

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Beth Sanderson

Number of Slots Available: 2

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: No

12) NOAA: Coastal Ecology Research supporting Ecosystem-Based Management (ME)

Summary / Description

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (Wells NERR) is part of the NOAA NERR system. We

promote research, education and stewardship to support ecosystem-based restoration and management of

estuarine and coastal environments. We are seeking an intern to join our research team during the 2018 field

season. Interns will focus on one or two projects, in consultation with Wells NERR Research staff prior to your

arrival. Each intern will have the opportunity to participate in other projects as well, depending on their interests

and project needs. Projects Include:

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1. Nekton Larval Community Dynamics – ongoing monitoring of larval fish and zooplankton species diversity

and abundance in the Reserve’s Webhannet River Estuary. Weekly sampling with plankton net and sample

processing and ID back in the lab.

2. Marine Invasive Species Monitoring– Ongoing monitoring of marine Invasive species as part of the Marine

Invader Monitoring and Information Collaborative (MIMIC). Intern will assist in Monthly sampling at three

distinct habitat types; Rocky Intertidal, Docks, and tidepools, for Presence and Abundance of 24 targeted

marine invasive species, and help with data entry/management.

3. Climate change induced reproductive failure in American lobster – Climate change such as prolonged periods

of high water temperatures have induced significant losses in the lobster fishery, especially in Southern New

England. These changing environmental conditions may potentially extend northwards into the extremely

productive Gulf of Maine (GOM) lobster stock. The purpose of this study is to identify indicators of

reproductive failure, and to develop an early warning system that could provide managers sufficient time to

mitigate the consequences of decreasing population sizes in the GOM. Interns will assist by helping to process

samples in the lab through egg count and biochemical assays.

4. eDNA — Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods can allow resource managers to analyze environmental

water samples and identify species in an aquatic ecosystem without having to actually capture and identify

individual organisms. DNA methods are beginning to be used in a variety of contexts to track changes in

biodiversity and evaluate transport vectors for invasive species. This project will work collaboratively with

resource managers to pilot and refine DNA-based monitoring protocols that can be applied to specific issues

and species of interest in estuarine ecosystems.

5. Monitoring water quality in the Kennebunk River – Intern will work with staff and volunteers to collect water

quality measurements at monitoring locations in the Kennebunk River as part of an assessment of ongoing

impairments throughout the watershed.

6. Soundscape Ecology – Intern will work with Stewardship staff to maintain, service, and download data from

a number of sound recording devices deployed around the Reserve. This data is used to track a variety of things

from the timing and arrival of certain species (song birds, frogs, etc), to changes in the amount and duration of

sound caused by human activity (trains, trucks, planes, etc.)

Skills Required

Academic background should be in natural science (i.e. biology, chemistry or allied discipline). We expect

earnest interest and basic scientific skills (independent thinking, following protocols, attention to detail, and

ability to collect, document and manage data) but no specific training for these internships. Interns must be

prepared for the physical challenges of field work in marsh-estuarine, rocky intertidal, and stream habitats and

under a variety of weather conditions.

Location

NOAA/Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, Maine. We are located on the Southcoast of Maine

(www.wellsreserve.org), not far from Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME. Our 200-acre campus is located

adjacent to 2000 acres of protected salt marsh and estuary, and 67 square miles of coastal watershed (Little,

Webhannet, Ogunquit Rivers), that provide many of our study sites. Comfortable on-site accommodations with

cooking, dining, common and study space are available free of charge as part of our internships.

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Jason Goldstein

Number of Slots Available: 2

Is free housing available: Yes

Can international students be placed: Yes

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13) Climate and Anthropogenic Impacts on Critical Reserve Habitats: The Chesapeake Bay National

Estuarine Research Reserve Sentinel Site Program (VA)

Summary / Description

The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERRVA; www.vims.edu/cbnerr) is

engaged in understanding the vulnerability of critical emergent wetland habitats and submerged aquatic

vegetation within the York River estuary to anthropogenic and climate related stressors. These habitat types are

stressed by a number of factors, including elevated summer temperatures, nutrients and suspended sediments in

the case of SAV, and elevated sea level rise rates and salt intrusion in the case of meso-polyhaline emergent

wetlands.

The Reserve is also focused on critical “ecotones” (e.g., water-marsh edge and marsh-maritime forest interface)

and the implications for either the loss or gain of ecosystem services in these transitional environments.

Through implementation of a NERRS-approved Sentinel Site monitoring program combined with historical

shoreline and wetland/SAV change analysis based on aerial imagery, CBNERR-VA is attempting to understand

the physical conditions driving changes in wetland/SAV habitat type and develop strategies to increase adaptive

capacity of these vulnerable critical habitats.

In this project, there will be opportunities to contribute to the installation of and measurements from

observational infrastructure which includes emergent marsh and underwater SAV transects to monitor changes

in spatial distribution and community composition of vegetated habitats; Surface Elevation Tables (SETs) co-

located with vegetation transects to monitor surface elevation changes over time; groundwater monitoring to

evaluate salt intrusion and water table and flooding dynamics; multiple NERRS System-Wide Monitoring

Program (SWMP) water quality stations, multiple local meteorological stations, and local geodetic control

networks tied to the National Spatial Reference System and monitoring infrastructure so measurements are

collected on the same vertical datum.

There will be also opportunities to contribute to Reserve efforts to develop baseline habitat maps using ArcGIS

and better understand tidal marsh forecasted response to accelerating sea level rise and changes in sediment

supply through running a Marsh Equilibrium Model (MEM). There are also potential opportunities to work with

the CBNERR-VA Education and Outreach Program through its Discovery Labs, an evening program that

provides family-friendly learning through expert presentations and hands-on laboratory activities and exhibits;

and the summer camp programs for students in grades 1-8 focused on Bay habitats, natural resource

sustainability and stewardship.

Skills Required

Enthusiastic team-oriented worker with comfort conducting field work in a variety of challenging coastal

habitats and confidence in the water (swimming competence but no SCUBA diving experience required). Much

of the field work will be conducted using small boats with a range of different types of field equipment.

Although a marine science background is not required, applicant must be dependable, willing to learn, and at

times show the ability to work independently.

Location

The work will take place on the VIMS campus with visits to all four components of our Reserve which are

located along the York River and include: (1) Goodwin Islands which is approximately 22 km down the York

River from VIMS in the region of highest salinity, (2) Catlett Islands located approximately 7 km upriver from

VIMS, (3) Taskinas Creek which is approximately 24 km upriver from VIMS within the boundaries of York

River State, and (4) Sweet Hall Marsh, which is located 65 km upriver from VIMS in the tidal freshwater-

oligohaline transitional zone of the Pamunkey River, one of two major tributaries of the York River.

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Other Information

Intern Supervisor:

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: Yes

14) NOAA: Fisheries Oceanography in the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem

(RI)

Summary / Description

The Oceans and Climate Branch in Narragansett Rhode Island monitors the oceanographic conditions on the

Northeast U.S. shelf and applies this information to regional fisheries and ecosystem assessments. In addition,

the Branch conducts research into the relation between oceanography and fish population dynamics. The interns

will participate in these activities and depending on the interns’ interest, there are numerous possible projects.

• Fisheries Oceanography: examine the distributions, abundance or population trends of fish eggs or larvae or

zooplankton species; age larvae and study relation between environment and fish growth

• Plankton Taxonomy: sort plankton samples and identify larval fish and/or zooplankton to answer distribution

and abundance questions

• Oceanography 101: sail on a cruise, hands on learning of oceanographic techniques; expected cruise dates are

23 May – 07 June 2018 and 25 July – 09 August 2018

Previous interns have: used genetics to identify young fish, gone on an ecosystem survey aboard a NOAA

Research vessel, used otoliths to age young fish, studied phytoplankton in Narragansett Bay, identified

cephalopod paralarvae from the slope sea, and analyzed fish distributions relative to climate change. The

NOAA Laboratory is located adjacent to the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and

the EPA Atlantic Ecology Division – interactions between these other institutions is encouraged (e.g., attend

seminars, attend a scientific meeting, work with other scientists).

Interns will work collaboratively with OCB researchers to complete a discrete project using plankton and

oceanographic data. The intern(s) will gain experience in field collections, organizing, analyzing, and making

available oceanographic data collected by fisherman and research vessels, and with microscopes and image

analysis equipment. The intern(s) will also receive mentoring on scientific writing and presenting, including the

preparation and practice of a scientific talk and/or poster.

Skills Required

Ability to work as part of a research team. Interest to learn more about how oceanography affects fisheries and

ecosystem dynamics. Computer experience with programs like Microsoft Word and Excel. Web page, GIS, and

computer programming experience (R, MatLab, python) helpful depending on interests.

Location

NOAA Narragansett Laboratory 28 Tazwell Drive Narragansett, RI 02882

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Katey Marancik

Number of Slots Available: 2

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: Yes

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15) NOAA: Age and Growth Studies of Endangered Atlantic Salmon (MA)

Summary / Description

NOAA’s Atlantic Salmon Ecosystems Research Team monitors emigration of Atlantic salmon smolts in Maine

rivers and studies the growth patterns in the scales from both juvenile and adult life stages of this endangered

species. We examine the growth rings in scales because the patterns observed are characteristic of specific river

populations and help identify returning adults. This research is conducted in collaboration with Maine’s

Department of Marine Resources.

Scales provide a valuable record of growth in Atlantic salmon since they record patterns of growth over the

lifetime of a fish, instead of providing only a snapshot of condition at one point in time as is observed through

measures of length, weight, or lipid content upon capture. The student will contribute to a time series of age

data collected from scales from Atlantic salmon smolts captured annually during the monitoring of smolt

emigration since 1996. Student will also have the opportunity to develop a project and access archived data and

new data for use the project.

The intern will be involved in:

• Preparing 2018 smolt scale samples for imaging

• Imaging and aging prepared scales

• Archiving and organizing all processed scales and associated scale images

• Measuring scale images, if applicable

Opportunities include:

• Use of an image analysis system

• Learning about the river and marine phases of Atlantic salmon life history

• Learning about the factors influencing the growth of Atlantic salmon

• Learning to interpret age and origin of Altantic salmon using scales

• Accessing available data individual project, if appropriate or desired

Skills Required

Basic organizational skills, a willingness to learn and attention to details are a necessity. Familiarity with

computer software including Excel and PowerPoint is desired.

Location

Woods Hole, MA

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Ruth Haas-Castro

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No (but on-site housing may be available for a fee)

Can international students be placed: Yes

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16) NOAA: Using GoPro cameras to document finfish habitat services provided by oyster aquaculture

gear (CT)

Summary / Description

Our team uses novel methods to document and better understand the ecosystem services provided to finfish by

shellfish aquaculture gear. We deploy GoPro cameras underwater to assess fish abundance, diversity, and

behavior in video footage. Work in summer 2018 will focus on using GoPro cameras to document fish activity

in and around off-bottom oyster cages, and compare this activity to other nearby habitats such as a natural rock

reef. The student will be part of a field team which conducts research in the waters of Long Island Sound near

Milford, Connecticut. Work will be conducted aboard boats of varying size including a 51-foot research vessel.

Sampling may include measurements of environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity and dissolved

oxygen, handling of field gear, programming of GoPro cameras, Blink timers and associated video equipment.

Fieldwork will be conducted under a variety of weather and sea conditions and student should be prepared for

working outdoors. The student will also have the opportunity to develop their own video analysis project using

either footage previously collected using GoPro cameras during summer 2017 or footage collected early in the

2018 field season.

Skills Required

No specific knowledge of field sampling techniques is required, just a willingness to occasionally get wet and

dirty! Basic organizational skills, a willingness to learn and attention to details are a necessity. Student may

become acquainted with operating, programming, and troubleshooting GoPro camera equipment. Familiarity

with computer software including Excel and PowerPoint is desired as well as an interest in learning Observer

XT behavioral software. Opportunity may involve a significant investment of time previewing video footage of

fish activity i.e., counting and identifying fish species and/or interpreting fish behavior.

Location

Milford, CT

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Renee Mercaldo-Allen

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: No

17) NOAA: Assessing loggerhead sea turtle nesting activity along the Cape Romano Complex beaches

(FL)

Summary / Description

Located along the southwest coast of Florida, the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

encompasses 110,000 acres. There are several species of sea turtles that inhabit the estuary waters within the

Reserve but only two species nest along our beaches. Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are the most

prevalent and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are the least common. The Reserve has been partnering with

Collier County Parks and Recreation staff to monitor sea turtle activity in the Cape Romano complex since

2005. Reserve interns and volunteers walk remote island beaches to document sea turtle nesting and hatching

activity. The beaches are only accessible by boat. The long-term data are used to guide the sea turtle program

and management of important nesting beach habitat.

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Intern responsibilities

•Collecting field data and entering it into Excel

•Caging sea turtle nests to protect the eggs from predators

•Excavating nests to evaluate hatching success

•Training volunteers

There may be opportunities to assist with other ongoing projects in the Rookery Bay Reserve.

Skills Required

The intern must be physically able to work in summer outdoor conditions that include extreme heat and

humidity, biting insects, and thunderstorms. Good field observation, meticulous data collection, good

communication and people skills are required. Boating experience is required.

Location

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Naples, FL. The office is located in Naples (300 Tower Rd,

Naples, FL 34113). The dorm and field station are located in Marco Island, FL.

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Jill Schmid

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: Yes

Can international students be placed: Yes

18) NOAA: Marine ecology of Pacific lamprey: filling a gaping hole (OR)

Summary / Description

Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentata) are native to rivers along the West Coast of North America, but their

populations have declined dramatically in recent years for reasons that are unclear. There is a massive effort

currently underway to help restore lamprey populations by understanding their habitat needs and fixing apparent

bottlenecks, such as passage at mainstem dams and entrapement of larval lamprey by water withdrawals. This

effort was started by Columbia River Indian tribes (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIsRfSoCvXA), with

support from US Fish and Wildlife Service, several states, and fish conservation groups.

While this effort has greatly increased our understanding of lamprey while they are in freshwater, Pacific

lamprey are anadromous (reproduce in freshwater but spend part of their life in the ocean) and very little is

known about their marine existence. Major questions to be resolved include: where they go in the ocean, how

long they stay in marine waters, what species they parasitize, how quickly they grow, and whether some aspects

of their marine ecology have contributed to their decline. Ocean surveys run by NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest

and Alaska Fisheries Science Centers and fishery observers on commercial vessels collected over 300 Pacific

lamprey from marine waters in 2017. This collection represents an untapped gold mine of information on the

marine ecology of Pacific lamprey.

The goal of this internship is twofold: first, to process the lamprey (which are frozen) and second, to do initial

analysis on the generated data. Processing the fish includes: recording collection information; take lengths and

weights, measure and preserve stomach contents (for genetic analysis of diets), collect fin clips (for genetics), and remove heads for statolith analysis (structures similar to otoliths [fish ear bones] from which freshwater origin and age can be determined). Analysis will include: develop a length-weight and length-oral disk diameter relationship for ocean-

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caught lamprey; map the latitudes and longitudes of collected fish and use spatial statistics to examine distributional patterns; estimate growth rates and age of lamprey based on changes in size over time and size distributions. Opportunities to experience other projects at HMSC (including going to sea) is encouraged as part of the internship.

Skills Required

Required: Attention to detail, willingness to defrost, handle, measure, and dissect parasitic fish, ability to work

independently, self motivation. Desired: use of excel and access databases, conduct simple statistics, use of R

language.

Location

NOAA Fisheries/ Northwest Fisheries Science Center/ Hatfield Marine Science Center at Oregon State

University in Newport, OR website: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Laurie Weitkamp

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: No

19) NOAA: Documenting the evolving state of ocean carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake and ocean

acidification (WA)

Summary / Description

Fundamental changes in seawater chemistry are occurring throughout the world’s oceans. The ocean absorbs

nearly 30% of the CO2 we release into the atmosphere every year, so as atmospheric CO2 levels increase, so do

the levels in the ocean. Initially, many scientists focused on the benefits of the ocean removing this greenhouse

gas from the atmosphere. However, decades of ocean observations now show that there is also a downside —

the CO2 absorbed by the ocean is changing the chemistry of the seawater, a process called ocean acidification.

The mission of the Carbon Program at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) is to

understand the changing chemistry of the oceans. Our observations of key biogeochemical parameters support

NOAA’s overall efforts to predict how marine ecosystems will respond and to develop management strategies

for adapting to the consequences of ocean acidification.

Oceanographers in our group have been studying how CO2 emissions affect the ocean system for more than

three decades and continue to monitor ocean acidification in all the world’s oceans from coral reef ecosystems

to deep North Pacific waters. Our group collects several types of carbon measurements throughout the world’s

oceans. We participate in large-scale research cruises across ocean basins and along coastlines at regular

intervals to study how ocean chemistry is changing through space and time. We also make measurements of the

partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and pH in the surface water of the world’s oceans using automated analytical

systems on ships of opportunity, moorings, and other autonomous platforms. We also develop and test new

autonomous sensing technology in partnership with PMEL engineers. Read more about our work here:

www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2.

The hypothesis that drives much of our research is that the rates and magnitude of ocean carbon uptake and

ocean acidification vary across time and space as a consequence of local and regional geochemical,

hydrological, and biological processes. We are seeking an intern to use our existing data streams and/or assist in

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collection of new data to address this topic. Projects can vary from regionally-specific to global analyses.

Specific project scope will depend on the skills and interests of the intern and how those align with our

currently-funded research.

Duties and responsibilities: The specific duties and responsibilities for the interns will depend on the intern’s

experience, background, and interest in particular elements of our research. At a minimum, the students will

participate in ocean carbon data analysis.

Skills Required

Exceptional writing skills and research skills are a must, as are being an independent worker who also enjoys

being a member of a small, hard working team. Knowledge of accessibility issues and resources is a great bonus

but not necessary.

Location

NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

website: www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/people

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Adrienne Sutton

Number of Slots Available: 1

Is free housing available: No

Can international students be placed: Yes

20) WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION: Cetacean communication (MA)

Summary/description Research focuses on behavior and communication in cetaceans (whales and dolphins), and how humans impact

these aspects of cetacean societies. Potential student projects can be either basic or applied, and include: (1)

Analysis of tag data to study how bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales use communicative signals to mediate

social interactions; (2) Analysis of passive acoustic monitoring data toward developing an acoustic mass

stranding alert system. Intern will conduct computer-based analysis with minimal field work for this project

(occasional field work opportunities can potentially be arranged at the lab, working with other researchers).

Skills Required

Knowledge of statistics or bioacoustics analysis is helpful, but not required.

Location

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Other Information

Intern Supervisor: Laela Sayigh (WHOI and Hampshire College)

International students may be placed at this lab.

On-site housing may be available (for a fee).