Dungeness Crabs and their competitors in Tomales Bay

Mentor & Lab: Ben Walker – Kroeker Lab

Positions: 1 intern

Tentative dates: Summer 2023, exact  dates TBD

Project Location: Tomales Bay, California

Project Background: If the thought of many, shallow (5-15 ft) SCUBA dives throughout Tomales Bay excites you, then come join me this summer!! We’ll spend hours exploring seagrass and mudflat habitat, searching for and identifying different species of crabs.

Intern duties: Tasks will include preparing equipment for dive trips, diving for 5-10 days straight in Tomales Bay two times over the summer, identifying crab species, estimating crab sizes, launching and retrieving temperature sensors, recording and analyzing data, and possibly collecting juvenile crabs.

Intern qualifications:We are looking for a student who is a certified AAUS scientific diver at UCSC, detail oriented, enthusiastic, inquisitive, highly motivated to be out on the water in various conditions, an excellent communicator, comfortable asking for clarification, able to identify and discuss mistakes, proactive, and hopefully not dealing with a childhood fear of crabs.

Do you recommend the intern(s) volunteer in your lab during Spring quarter?
Sure! If available, then great. However, it wouldn’t be necessary.