 |
Zoologists study all aspects of animal life, including their habitats, anatomy, life histories and physiology. By studying animals closely, zoologists can classify them and understand how they function as individuals or as members of populations and communities. This information is valuable in finding ways to help conserve and manage animal populations (why the numbat is on the endangered species list) or advocate environmental control (why we shouldn't introduce certain species into Australia).
Sometimes a zoologist's research can be used in developing medicines. So as you can see, zoologists seldom actually work with zoo animals!
From Ants To Zebras
Given the fact that all living creatures apart from plants, fungi, viruses or bacteria are classified as animals, zoologists confine their studies to processes affecting animals. So they may specialise in physiology, ecology, taxonomy, neuroscience, or evolutionary biology to name just a few of the areas. Sometimes they may work with a specific group of animals, so be prepared to become an expert on octopi or giant tube worms!
What They Do
The zoologist's workday can vary enormously. Zoologists working in museums help preserve animal collections, classify specimens and maintain classification databases. They may also be involved in creating educational displays and informing the general public.
Zoologists who study the structure and evolutionary history of animals spend time out in the field collecting beetles, mice or lizards. Back at the laboratory, specimens are photographed, sketched, and dissected or examined using microscopes and electron microscopy (imagine an ant's face magnified 100 thousand times!). All observations are recorded or cross-referenced with existing data and cladograms (family trees) generated by computers.
Environmental zoologists or ecologists examine animal habitats and work out the factors affecting the distribution and abundance of animals. Work is usually project specific and the zoologists' findings are used by managers to develop techniques to ensure survival of a species. What might be the animal's needs, what resources are available, and does the animal change habitats - these are some of the questions to consider.
No matter what area of speciality, zoologists write scientific papers or reports detailing their research and any new findings, which are then made available to the science community for scrutiny and further debate.
Counting Roos Not Sheep
Obtaining data can be a long and arduous task. During fieldwork it isn't unusual to be spending days counting animals or observing animal behaviour.
For two weeks, Dr Peter Mawson flew over 330,000 square metres of pastoral land (about one third of the pastoral area in WA) to collect data on kangaroo populations. Using timer and grid systems and algorithms, he measured the density of vegetation and the temperature, in order to work out kangaroo numbers.
''Sometimes you only see feet or a tail sticking out from under the bushes and you have to differentiate between that and a stick and also be able to recognise three different species of kangaroo. You need to have good eyesight and be able to stay awake!'' says Dr Peter Mawson, a Senior Zoologist at the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM).
Data collected needs to be accurate and properly tabulated. These findings could affect enterprises such as the commercial culling of kangaroos. It's important that a sustainable number of kangaroos are culled and all regulations and codes of practice are complied with. A zoologist not only looks at factors like the population numbers but also the capacity of kangaroos to reproduce and the reproductive rates of the different species of kangaroos (47 altogether).
Even the impact of tourism on our native wildlife needs consideration. For example, the whale watching industry is required to fill out logbooks, which detail sightings and the duration times of interactions between tourists and whales.
''There's always the concern that whales or dolphins will react adversely to contact times and we may have to decrease these contact times. It's very important that the whale calves aren't disturbed in their first two years since they must grow rapidly to build enough layers of fat to survive subarctic temperatures,'' says Peter.
The Evolution Of A Zoologist
''Sometimes you get a project you feel great about such as CALM's Western Shield Project. We've achieved all our milestones and then some. We've relocated 16 species to 62 locations in Western Australia, and as a consequence three species have been removed from the endangered species list,'' says Peter.
People considering this occupation need to be interested in animals, have a passion for the environment or a great desire to conserve our wildlife. Excellent communication skills are also a must, as zoologists must be able to prepare reports and research papers to a high international standard. They must also be able to work well within interdisciplinary teams, working alongside botanists, veterinarians and ecologists.
Not Just Peering Under A Rock
Zoologists can be found working in natural history museums, research laboratories, zoos, and State departments of agriculture, conservation, fisheries and national parks. Many also teach in universities and colleges or work as environmental consultants.
Employment prospects are currently average and job opportunities depend on factors such as the level of funding for research and community interest and government policies surrounding conservation issues. Opportunities are greater for those people with postgraduate qualifications.
Graduates can expect to earn between $35,000 and $42,000 per year, with salaries getting as high as $80,000 for those at a director level.
|
