Student Research Assistant Lightning Whelk

The Undergraduate Research Assistant supports an investigation of predator-prey interactions between lightning whelks (Sinistrofulgur perversum) and southern hard clams (Mercenaria campechiensis) on a restoration clam lease in Sarasota Bay. The position conducts field surveys and shell-damage assessments, assists with PIT and acoustic tagging/telemetry, and maintains controlled mesocosm feeding trials. The assistant records, organizes, and analyzes data on whelk abundance, movement, residency, clam predation, prey-size preferences, and gear effectiveness.

This work supports shellfish restoration management while providing hands-on undergraduate research training and contributing to thesis projects, conference presentations, publications, and future grant proposals.,

• Conduct field surveys on the Sarasota Bay Watch clam lease and nearby control/reference sites; locate and count lightning whelks and collect empty clam shells for predation-damage assessment.
• Assist with PIT tagging, paint marking, acoustic transmitter attachment, mark-recapture sampling, and receiver/detection data collection to evaluate whelk abundance, residency, and movement.
• Maintain lightning whelks in 300-L mesocosms; measure and stock hard clams and monitor and record predation events, prey-size use, shell-growth stage, and gear-effectiveness trials.
• Process collected clam shells for characteristic chipping damage; enter, organize, quality-check, and maintain field and laboratory data.
• Analyze mark-recapture, telemetry, shell-damage, and feeding-trial data and assist with figures, summaries, thesis/conference materials, publications, and future grant products.
• Other duties as assigned

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student.
• Keen interest in marine ecology, fisheries, shellfish restoration/aquaculture, or a related field.
• Willing to learn field surveys, telemetry/tagging, mark-recapture methods, shell-damage assessment, experimental animal husbandry, and quantitative data analysis; willing to participate in outdoor/boat-supported fieldwork and laboratory work.
• Must be able to provide proof of SCUBA certification.

• Prior coursework or research experience in marine biology/ecology, fisheries, field sampling, animal husbandry, or quantitative data analysis.
• Familiarity with spreadsheets, PIT tags, acoustic telemetry, or mark-recapture methods is helpful but not required.