Agricultural Careers Ichthyologist By Dr Frank Flanders and

Agricultural Careers Ichthyologist By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Taylor Ginn Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005 START

• Collecting data • Sampling fish • Keeping accurate records • Managing fish food supply • Using statistical math to make sense of the data • Catching fish and analyzing them • Designing and implementing studies • Traveling to conduct research • Tagging fish • Conduct laboratory research Job Duties & Responsibilities

Qualities and Skills • Demonstrate the capability for collaboration and working in an integrated program involving colleagues from several different countries and cultures • Excellent written and verbal explanatory skills, with the capacity t engage scientific, governmental and public audiences • Exhibit a willingness to travel to diverse locations, sometimes under difficult physical conditions • Patience is necessary when conducting research • Exemplary record keeping skills and the ability to use various types of technology

Salary The salary of an Ichthyologist is from about $22, 000 to $70, 000 with a professional scientist earning a starting salary of $22, 000 and a college professor earning between $45, 000 and $70, 000 depending on years of experience.

-Working at aquatic site to prevent fish from extinction -On a boat using sonar to track fish depths and distribution -Work in a laboratory, in a museum, or in an aquarium -Work in the field doing research, possibly in other countries Work Environment

Becoming an Ichthyologist • In high school take: • Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Writing, Speaking, Animal Science, Wildlife Management, Natural Resources Management, Physical Science, Environmental Science, Agricultural Sciences, and Algebra. • In college take: • Aquaculture, Aquatic Ecology, Biology of Fishes, Biology of Shellfishes, Chemistry, Conservation and Management, Fisheries Techniques, Freshwater Ecology, Marine Biology and Ecology. • Be in organizations like: • FFA • 4 -H • If you participate in the FFA, your Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Program would be an excellent opportunity to conduct a research project involving fish.

Career Resources Professional Organizations American Fisheries Society Internet: http: //www. fisheries. org/html/jobs. shtml American Association for the Advancement of Science Internet: http: //www. aaas. org/ American Elasmobranch Society Internet: http: //www. flmnh. ufl. edu/fish/Organizations/aes. htm American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Internet: www. asih. org Web Links University of Georgia Warnell School of Forest Resources Internet: http: //www. forestry. uga. edu/warnell/ Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Internet: http: //fishweb. ifas. ufl. edu/ Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department Internet: http: //www. flmnh. ufl. edu/fish/