Wetlands Field Assistant

The Rhode Island Natural History Survey (RINHS) seeks to hire a temporary full-time or part-time Wetlands Field Assistant to support the Wetlands Scientist in all aspects of field work involved in conducting rapid assessments of various freshwater wetlands in RI. Work will be 30-40 hours/week and focus on assisting in numerous wetland field investigations and collecting and organizing field data, and may also include acquiring site access permission, creating field maps and data sheets, and other supporting activities. The position will begin in early September and last approximately two months, but may be extended if the candidate is skilled in data entry.

The ideal candidate will:

• have or be working towards a degree in natural resources science or a related field
• have relevant field experience
• be a dependable and durable team member
• demonstrate experience and familiarity with wetland ecosystems and with Rhode Island flora and fauna

Experience in geographic information systems (GIS) and geographic positioning systems (GPS) is highly desirable, as is experience in with spreadsheets and databases.

The Wetlands Field Assistant will be based in the RINHS offices at URI in Kingston but will travel throughout the state in the course of work. This is a fieldwork position requiring substantial physical exertion and/or physical strain, sometimes in remote locations, difficult terrain, and inclement weather. Work environment involves exposure to job hazards where there is a possibility of injury and/or arthropod-borne disease.

Pay is between $11 and $15 per hour depending on experience. This position is full-time, temporary, for two months with a possibility of extension for two additional months and does not qualify for fringe benefits. The Wetlands Field Assistant will report to the Wetlands Scientist. RINHS is an equal opportunity employer.

Applications are due by August 31. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information (including email and phone number) of three persons whom RINHS may contact regarding your experience and qualifications to RINHS - Wetlands Search, P.O. Box 1858, Kingston, RI 02881, or email the same to kstillwell@rinhs.org.

The RI Natural History Survey is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1994 to facilitate communication among people, agencies, and organizations interested in the ecology of Rhode Island and to gather and disseminate information on Rhode Island’s animals and plants, geology, and ecosystems. RINHS manages Rhode Island’s most complete biodiversity database and hosts events to highlight biodiversity and the work of researchers and naturalists.

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Natural History Survey Releases New, Updated Checklist of Rhode Island Butterflies

The Rhode Island Natural History Survey (RINHS) has incorporated the latest research on Rhode Island's butterflies into a new, updated "Checklist of Rhode Island Butterflies." The new checklist includes all species of butterflies recorded from Rhode Island and incorporates the latest information on rare sightings and historical records. The new list updates a checklist published in 1994 and incorporates numerous advances in butterfly identification and nomenclature as well as new data on Rhode Island sightings. For a limited time, hard copies of the new list will be available free from the Natural History Survey: send a self-addressed stamped envelope to RINHS, P.O. Box 1858, Kingston, RI 02881. The list, formatted for easy home printing, can also be downloaded for free as an Adobe PDF here.

The checklist includes information on 128 species of butterflies. Species are listed by scientific and common name and entries include information on species' rarity and conservation status, as well as frequently encountered alternative names. The checklist folds neatly to pocket size or it can be tucked into a field guide to help with identifications by narrowing the choice of possible species. The checklist includes space for field notes.

The checklist was prepared by lepidopterist Harry Pavulaan and Survey Executive Director David Gregg. Pavulaan has performed the most comprehensive research on the identification, biology, and history of Rhode Island butterflies. He is the author of numerous scholarly and popular articles, technical papers, and web projects on butterflies and moths of North America. Gregg has studied butterflies of coastal southern New England as a hobby for 30 years.

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