Freelance Field Researcher – Butterfly Diversity & Ecological Assessment
· Conduct and support field-based butterfly diversity surveys in the fringe areas surrounding the Manas Biosphere Reserve.
· Document butterfly species diversity, abundance, habitat characteristics, and ecological variations across selected sampling sites.
· Assist in biodiversity assessment using ecological indices and conservation evaluation methods.
· Generate high-quality field data for ecological and biodiversity research publications.
· Ensure accurate species recording, habitat documentation, ethical field practices, and reliable ecological data collection.
· Master’s degree (preferred) in: Zoology / Ecology / Biodiversity & Conservation / Environmental Science / Wildlife Biology / Forestry / Life Sciences or related field.
· Candidates with strong butterfly survey or biodiversity field experience and a bachelor’s degree may also be considered.
· Biodiversity Analysis Software: Biodiversity Pro
· Data Handling: MS Excel / Google Sheets for species data entry and cleaning
· Basic Statistical and Ecological Data Interpretation
· 1–3 years of field-based ecological or biodiversity survey experience.
· Experience in: Butterfly surveys, faunal diversity studies, ecological monitoring, habitat assessment, or wildlife fieldwork.
· Familiarity with transect walks, visual encounter surveys, or Pollard walk methods is preferred.
· Prior fieldwork experience in forest ecosystems, protected areas, or Northeast India is an advantage.
· Understanding of: Butterfly taxonomy and identification, biodiversity assessment methods, ecological sampling techniques, and habitat ecology.
· Knowledge of butterfly families such as Papilionidae, Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae.
· Ability to: Accurately record butterfly sightings, identify species using field guides/literature, maintain field logs, and collect habitat-related observations.
· Familiarity with ecological indices such as Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index, Simpson Diversity Index, Evenness Index, and dominance analysis.
· Understanding of conservation concepts and use of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
· Language proficiency: Assamese / Bodo / Hindi / Bengali (preferred for local communication).
· Strong observational, documentation, and field coordination skills.
· Attention to detail and data accuracy.
· Ethical research conduct and environmental sensitivity during fieldwork if any.
· Butterfly Diversity Survey: Conduct systematic butterfly surveys in selected fringe areas using standard ecological sampling techniques such as line transects and visual encounter surveys.
· Species Documentation & Identification: Record butterfly species, abundance, family composition, behaviour, and habitat preferences using field guides, photography, and reference literature.
· Habitat Assessment: Document habitat characteristics including vegetation type, floral diversity, canopy cover, moisture conditions, disturbance level, and host plant availability.
· Ecological Data Collection: Maintain accurate records of: Species occurrence, abundance data, sampling effort, environmental variables, GPS coordinates, and habitat observations.
· Biodiversity Analysis Support: Assist in preparing species abundance matrices and datasets for analysis in Biodiversity Pro. Support calculation and interpretation of: Species richness, Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index, Simpson Diversity Index, K-dominance curves, and Evenness Index.
Comparative Ecological Assessment: Support comparison of butterfly diversity across different habitat types and sampling locations within the fringe areas.
· Conservation Status Assessment: Verify recorded species against the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and relevant scientific literature to identify conservation-significant species.
· Data Quality Assurance: Ensure: Accurate species identification, complete field datasheets, consistent sampling methodology, and validation of ecological observations. Maintain: Field notebooks, species checklists, photographic records, and daily survey summaries.
· Field Coordination: Coordinate with local communities, forest officials, research supervisors, and field assistants for site access, survey planning, and logistics management.
· Deliverables: Clean and validated butterfly diversity dataset, species checklist, habitat assessment records, photographic documentation, field notes, and summary ecological reports.
· Expected Outcomes: Provide ecological insights on butterfly diversity patterns, habitat associations, conservation status, and biodiversity significance of fringe ecosystems around Manas Biosphere Reserve.
Contact person:
Gray-95661 33822
Job Types: Part-time, Freelance, Volunteer
Contract length: 1 month
Pay: From ₹10,000.00 per month
Work Location: Remote
