Opportunities at MFBRP
Employment Opportunities
We do not have any current job openings. Please feel free to check back with us periodically.
Housing on Maui is extremely limited. While we consider all qualified applicants for open positions, we strongly recommend applying if you already have a secure housing situation on island.
We do not have any current job openings. Please feel free to check back with us periodically.
Graduate Student Research
MFBRP occasionally coordinates and conducts research with graduate students whose projects are focused on Maui’s native birds and forest ecosystems.
These projects are co-advised through an external university advisor and MFBRP. Financial responsibilities are up to the student, but MFBRP may be able to help identify and procure funds. MFBRP may be able to provide housing, office space, data support, field logistics, and equipment. Each student and project is reviewed on a case by case basis. For more information, please contact infoATmauiforestbirds.org.
Here is a selection of past research:
‘Ākohekohe Movements
Investigation of the dispersal of ‘ākohekohe. Alex Wang used radio-telemetry to document ‘ākohekohe movements and conduct foraging observations of both adults and juveniles.
Alex found that adults tended to stay in the same general area, whereas juveniles roamed over much larger areas. These long-distance juvenile movements led a few individuals to dip lower in elevation, where higher densities of mosquitoes can persist. This increases the risk for disease exposure.
Wang Alex X, Paxton E.H, Mounce H.L, Hart PJ. 2020. Divergent movement patterns of adult and juvenile ‘Akohekohe, an endangered Hawaiian Honeycreeper. Journal of Field Ornithology.
Wang AX. 2014. The presence of an ecological trap in the juvenile dispersal of the ‘Ākohekohe (Palmeria dolei), a population limiting life stage Poster Presentation. Hawai’i Conservation Conference, Honolulu, HI.
Kiwikiu Genetics
Genetic diversity (the variability of genes in a species) is fundamental to biodiversity and is important to the overall health of populations. MFBRP manager, Hanna Mounce, used microsatellites and mtDNA sequence data to analyze the current and historic population structure and diversity of kiwikiu.
Decreased genetic variability leads to increased levels of inbreeding, reduced fitness, and could accelerate species extinction. Hanna’s research provides information on the current genetic diversity of kiwikiu in the wild. This data has informed management decisions on behalf of kiwikiu survival.
Non-native Forest Use
Due to extensive habitat destruction, the Maui ‘Alauahio occurs in two known disjunct populations where habitat conditions vary extensively. The primary population in high elevation native forests and the secondary population in non-native forest sites.
Graduate student Peter Motyka investigated the use of non-native forest by native birds to facilitate informed management of non-native forest for the benefit of native forest bird species. The project included color-banding and resighting Maui ‘Alauahio, quantifying vegetation structure for foraging habits, conducting variable circular plot point counts for bird densities, and nest searching and monitoring.
Because of this study on native bird use of non-native forest, MFBRP continues to conduct point counts and monitor native bird disease prevalence studies in non-native forest sites.
