Ecologist Job description: While other scientists study their own particular pieces of this jigsaw puzzle, ecologists

look at how the pieces fit together. They study how living things interact with each other and with their environments. For instance, they may look at how a forest recovers after a fire, or how a rise in the population of rodents can influence the populations of the owls and foxes that eat them. Studying the environment also involves looking at temperature, rainfall, altitude, and pollution levels. Ecologists may study how plants and animals in a lake are affected by warm water released from a nearby nuclear plant or how toxic chemicals can move through the food chain (from algae to fish to us, for example). Ecological research involves spending time in the field, gathering data for analysis. Depending on what an ecologists speciality is, fieldwork could mean anything from observing monkeys behaviour in the jungle, to measuring and recording the growth patterns of seaweed underwater, to collecting different species of bugs in the desert. Back in the laboratory, ecologists use the data and samples collected in the field to try to draw conclusions about the organism or area they are studying.

Education: To do any kind of ecology-related work, you need at least a bachelors degree in in ecology or a related science, such as biology, environmental science, or soil science. Many jobs require at least a masters degree in ecology, biology, chemistry, environmental science, or a related field. It generally takes 4 years to complete a bachelors degree and 2 years to earn a masters degree. pros of being an ecologist: The effort to preserve the natural environment, animals in danger of becoming extinct, etc. can be understood in a good way as the preservation of the image of God reflected in innumerable aspects of Creation. Earnings: A bachelors degree and volunteer or summer job experience will qualify you for field research technician or laboratory assistant positions. Entry-level salaries for these types of positions range from about $25,000 to $35,000 a year. An ecologist with a masters degree can enter the field as a research assistant, program manager, policy analyst, or junior consultant. Starting salaries in these positions vary depending

on the organization and the position, though generally they can range from about $36,000 to $55,000 a year. With experience and increased responsibilities, people with masters degrees can make between $55,000 and $85,000 a year. Salaries in the government and the private sector tend to be on the higher end of the scale. Many senior positions in government and the private sector require a PhD. Salaries for senior research, advisory, and administrative positions in the field can be over $100,000 a year. To research and teach at a university, you need to have a PhD. Earnings for ecology professors vary depending on the quality of their research and the wealth of the institution they work for. Starting salaries for university lecturers and assistant professors range from about $45,000 to $75,000 a year. Established professors often make between $75,000 and $130,000 a year. Senior professors at prestigious universities can make upwards of $150,000 a year. Full-time ecologists and ecology professors usually receive benefits in addition to their salaries, including dental coverage and paid vacation and sick leave. Those hired on a part-time or contract basis do not receive benefits I chose this career because I enjoy working with animals and am really intrigued by the environment. Id love to be able to make a change in the environment therefore itd be a great career path to follow.