Ecologist - Tasks and specialisations
Kaipūtaiao Taupuhi Kaiao
Tasks & duties
Ecologists may do some or all of the following:
- study, monitor and work to protect ecosystems (plants and animals within their environments)
- monitor animal behaviour and breeding patterns
- develop plans to help increase numbers of threatened species, using measures such as predator control
- provide advice on coastal and marine ecological matters
- plan and run field studies and experiments
- use computer modelling techniques to predict future events in the ecosystem
- report results of studies in papers for science journals and in commercial reports
- present research findings at conferences and public meetings to help people to understand ecological issues
- teach ecology at tertiary educational institutions.
At the technician level, their main tasks are to help scientists prepare and carry out a range of experiments and tests.
Ian Popay checking the effects of a specific herbicide on weeds
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Mandy Tocher getting a radio message that her helicopter pick-up has been cancelled due to bad weather
Photo courtesy of Mandy Tocher
Specialisations
Ecologists may specialise in various areas of science such as:
- animal ecology
- plant ecology
- marine ecology
- freshwater ecology.
Updated
October 2009
