Cumulative Effects On Water Quality and Salmon - Toronto, Canada - Wildlife Conservation Society

Wildlife Conservation Society

Verified Company

Toronto, Canada

1 week ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Position Title:
Cumulative Effects on Water Quality & Salmon Habitat Post-Doctoral Fellow

Program:
Northern Boreal Mountains

Position Type:
Full-time, Two Years

Position Location:
Remote

Term:2 years

Salary:
$65,000 per year plus health benefits, travel and research expenses TBD

Date Written/Revised:
August 13th, 2023.

Reports To:
Co-Director of Northern Boreal Mountains Program; Dr. Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle

Supervises (Direct supervision only):Not applicable.

Position Summary
The fellow should have a strong analytical background with particular focus on freshwater monitoring and ecological modelling.

The fellow should also have some combination of the following essential skills:

advanced knowledge of northern boreal freshwater systems; cumulative effects modelling; spatial analyses using GIS and other tools such as Google Earth Engine for data management and analysis; statistical analyses of large datasets.

Majority of time will be spent reviewing literature and analyzing and summarizing data, but there may be possibilities for participation in other projects related to salmon and water conservation, and proposal writing to support the PDF position.

The following experience will also be considered an asset:

relationship building and working with Indigenous communities; working with Government partners; ability to communicate research to a wide array of stakeholders through meetings, speaking engagements, and writing for both scientific and lay audiences.

Position Objectives

To review available evidence on the different landuse threshold levels and their impacts to aquatic ecosystems, with a particular focus on water quality, macroinvertebrates and fish habitat in boreal ecosystems.
To link thresholds of existing disturbance levels on water quality metrics and how they relate to fish habitat suitability in the Yukon.
To make recommendations on how water quality can be used as a valuesbased indicator(s) to support monitoring and tracking of cumulative effects in priority areas of the Yukon.

Principal Responsibilities

Conduct a literature review and gather additional documented evidence on the effects of landuse change on aquatic ecosystems and water quality in boreal ecosystems.
Review and consult with Yukon Government (Water Resources Branch and the Compliance Monitoring and Inspections office), Yukon Water Board, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and select First Nation Governments on their various freshwater monitoring regimes being used in the Yukon to gain an understanding of what water quality data are being collected and consistency of protocols.
Make recommendations on which monitoring regime would be most appropriate and feasible for implementing cumulative effects monitoring and assessment in Yukon watersheds.
Work with an existing dataset from central Yukon that includes water quality, climate and human footprint variables to relate the impacts and interactions of climate change, surface/linear disturbance and water quality parameters.
Blend existing data with data outside the region to broaden the variability of disturbance gradients and potential indicators for comparing northern cumulative effects assessments.
Lead the writing of a scientific publication and general summary report discussing results of literature reviews, insights, new discoveries, and recommendations in the context of improved cumulative effects assessment and management on Yukon river systems.
Engage with the Salmon Knowledge Hub, the Yukon First Nation Salmon Stewardship Alliance/Council of Yukon First Nations, Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee, Yukon Government representatives, other stakeholders and relevant Academics that are associated with collaborating on these cumulative effects project to share information and insights and enhance the project's longterm success for better informed land planning.
Support WCS Canada's goal of transforming WCS Canada's conservation practice through reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Contribute to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that promotes engagement and belonging.

Required Qualifications/Skills/Experience

A Ph.

D. or lived experience with a strong computational/analytical background transferable to processing large datasets.

Excellent oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences, including the ability to write manuscripts, articulate, synthesize, and present complex science information in ways that connect with various stakeholders and decisionmakers.
Demonstrated strong working experience with conservation issues.
Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively in a crosscultural and interdisciplinary work environment.
Selfmotivated and capable of working effectively remotely.
Positive, flexible, and teamoriented approach, with the willingness and desire to work as a part of a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to