[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D. thesis in restoration ecology in France

[Élise BUISSON]

We are currently looking for a graduate student to do a Ph.D. in restoration 
ecology in our laboratory (IMEP http://www.imep-cnrs.com/) at the University of 
Avignon, France (http://www.univ-avignon.fr). Please see details on the subject 
below. 

Deadline for application: 14 September 2008

A 3 year PhD grant is available starting in October 2008 (1216 euro/month = 
1790 US$). There is no GRE test to pass in order to enter a PhD program in 
France. You just have to have a M.Sc. in Ecology and to be born after December, 
31st 1978 (December, 31st 1980 for European citizens) to meet the requirements 
for this grant.
You don’t have to speak French (the thesis can be written in English), 
but it would be good to be willing to learn the language (you will have to 
speak a bit anyway to spend 3 years in France).

Send your application (pdf files) including 1) a cover letter in which you 
explain your interest for the project; 2) a detailed curriculum vitae (previous 
research, articles, presentations, etc.); 3) a letter from a person who agreed 
to provide references (M.Sc. adviser) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] &  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
BEFORE September 14, 2008.
If you are selected, you will have to quickly provide us with a document 
attesting that you have a M.Sc. diploma (by September, 19th)

Expected qualifications: 
Interest in 
- plant ecology (community ecology, biotic interactions). 
- applied ecology, restoration ecology and ecological engineering. 
- field experiments and botany. 
- ecology of the Mediterranean ecosystems and particularly steppe like 
ecosystems, dry grasslands... 
- “resistance” to water stress, solar radiation, mistral (strong 
wind), mosquitoes and delays in construction work.


Research
As part of the ecological rehabilitation of an intensive peach orchard (360 ha) 
in the plain of La Crau (Bouches-du-Rhônes; southeastern France), a research 
program is currently funded by CDC-Biodiversity, a subsidiary of the 
“Caisse des Depots et Consignations” and supported by the 
“region” (state) Provence-Alpes-Côté-d’Azur from 2008 to 
2011. The program involves carry out experiments in restoration ecology in 
order to better understand and to accelerate the restoration of the herbaceous 
vegetation of La Crau (pseudo-steppe) and it associated insects. The thesis 
concerns vegetation only because another student will be recruited to study 
insects between 2009 and 2011. The main objectives are:
1.  To monitor the dynamics of spontaneous vegetation on the orchard in 
2008 (after trees have been pulled); compare with controls (vegetation of the 
pseudo-steppe and surrounding orchards); compare plots with/without grazing. To 
analyze data taken in spring 2008 before work (90 vegetation relevés, 45 soil 
samples). The objective here is to highlight the immediate impacts of heavy 
interventions between 2008 and 2009 and the potential role of edges between the 
orchard and pseudo-steppe.
2.  To implement a restoration experiment with hay transfer (collected on 
the steppe) and/or soil transfer (superficial soil layer salvaged from a 
quarry) and monitor vegetation composition, structure, phenology, seed banks, 
seed rain, etc.. Functional traits may complement taxonomic analysis.
3.  To carry out restoration experiments aimed at reintroducing nurses 
species (seeding species with a high ground-cover) in different ways (type of 
species planted, density, with or without grazing) and monitor their impacts on 
plant diversity (decrease in weeds, steppe species colonization, decrease in 
soil fertility, etc.). 
4.  To carry out restoration experiments on the role of perennial species 
in structuring the community (composed at 50% by annuals).

In basic ecology, this set of experiments seeks to better discriminate the 
roles of abiotic and biotic filters at the regeneration and/or installation 
phase of plant communities rich in stress-tolerant species, but with no 
resilience to major disturbances.




Advisor and co-advisor
Dr. Elise Buisson &  Pr. Thierry Dutoit
UMR-CNRS IRD IMEP
IUT d’Avignon, Département Génie Biologique
Site Agroparc, BP 1207
84911 Avignon Cedex 09
France
Fax. 04.90.84.03.77
Emails : [EMAIL PROTECTED] et [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Home page: http://www.imep-cnrs.com/buisson/index.htm  
http://www.univ-avignon.fr/fr/recherche/annuaire-chercheurs/membrestruc/personnel/dutoit-thierry.html

[ECOLOG-L] Fourth Biennial International Biogeography Society Meeting - January 8th-12th, 2009

[Matt Heard]

Registration is now open for the Fourth Biennial Conference of the
International Biogeography Society.  This meeting will be held January 8-12,
2009 in Merida, Mexico.  Please see the conference announcement below for
more information.


Fourth Biennial Conference of the International Biogeography Society



The conference will be held in Mérida, Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula, 8–12
January 2009. Invited symposia will feature talks on the biogeography of
disease, patterns and processes in biotic interchanges, disjunct
distributions in Asia and America, and the biogeography of species
extinction. Attendees are invited to submit abstracts for oral and poster
presentations. The conference will also include workshops, field excursions,
and social events. Registration, contact, and additional information may be
found at http://biogeography.org.



Contact Information:

Matthew Heard, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown
University, Providence, RI 02912, (401) 863-2789, Fax: (401) 863-2166,
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

[ECOLOG-L] Salix question poised by David Inouye

[Howie Neufeld]

Dear All - I find it quite interesting that the majority (if not all) of 
the responses to David's question about why Salix predominate at high 
latitudes and altitudes are dominated by population ecologists, 
discussing mostly pollination syndromes, whereas contributions by 
ecophysiologists are entirely absent.  One can not fully understand the 
distribution of a species without also considering it's physiological 
tolerances to biotic and abiotic stresses. 

   This could especially involve aspects of hydraulic architecture 
(avoiding freezing-induced embolisms), phenology (leafing out only when 
the probability of xylem freezing is mostly past), achieving high rates 
of photosynthesis due to a short growing season, producing a high ratio 
of leaves to biomass to maximize whole plant carbon uptake, 
biochemical/anatomical/physiological tolerances or avoidance of flooding 
stress, and so on.  These suites of ecophysiological/biomechanical 
adaptations might also have a major influence on reproductive 
strategies, yet there is little in the literature relating 
ecophysiological adaptations to reproductive adaptations; rather, the 
two are most often viewed as separate magisteria (to badly paraphrase 
Stephen J. Gould). 

   To give but one example - if Salix do indeed have high rates of 
photosynthesis either on a leaf or whole plant basis, it would suggest 
they also have high hydraulic conductivities, which in turn would 
support high stomatal conductivities.  This would mean they might have 
relatively weak wood (large lumens, thin walls).  That in turn means a 
lowered mechanical advantage, or in other words, the tree can not 
support a lot of weight (think hanging, pendulous willow branches on 
some species).  That in turn might mean producing small seeds which are 
highly dispersable, rather than 5 lb coconuts.   Just a thought exercise 
- I'm sure someone smarter than me  (I?)  can find logical flaws in this 
argument.  The point is that  we should be considering all aspects of a 
species ecology, not just how it has sex.

Howie Neufeld


--
Dr. Howard S. Neufeld, Professor
Department of Biology
572 Rivers Street
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608

email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
departmental webpage: http://www.biology.appstate.edu/faculty/neufeldhs.htm
personal webpage: http://www.appstate.edu/~neufeldhs/index.html

Tel: 828-262-2683
Fax: 828-262-2127

[ECOLOG-L] Hilton Pond 08/01/08 (Piedmont Drought)

[Research at Hilton Pond]

During the first half of August 2008, the Carolina Piedmont was 
showing effects of a devastating drought; we were especially 
concerned about the impact of ever-scarcer water on Hilton Pond 
itself and the organisms that depend on it.


For a photo essay on some plants and animals affected by local 
drought, please visit our "This Week at Hilton Pond" installment for 
1-14 August 2008 at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek080801.html


As always we provide a tally of all birds banded and recaptured 
during the period--including a much improved number of Ruby-throated 
Hummingbirds.


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL
--

RESEARCH PROGRAM
c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED], (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845

Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net):
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org

**

Re: [ECOLOG-L] How To Read Critically [& other related stuff]

[Reinhart, Kurt]

This is a shameless plug for a document that I wrote entitled, "On
Graduate Studies in Biology".  A pdf version can be downloaded from this
link http://www.biol.ttu.edu/Graduate.aspx?#11 or you can email me
directly if you would like me to email you a pdf version directly.  

This is an educational document.  The three main sections are: 1.
Getting into Graduate School, 2. Philosophy and Tactics for Graduate
Studies in Biology, and 3. Tips Every Graduate Student Should Know from
the Start.  Near the start of section, "Tips Every Graduate Student
Should Know from the Start" (On page 12 of 19) is a paragraph providing
some tips on reading scientific papers efficiently.  Admittedly, these
are probably more advanced tactics that assume students can already
interpret figures, tables, etc.

Cheers,
Kurt Reinhart

Re: [ECOLOG-L] How To Read Critically - Summary of Responses

[Andrew Tredennick]

Hello folks,

 Here is the summary of responses (apologies for any awkward  
formatting below) to my request for published articles on how to  
critically read scientific literature.  There appeared to be few  
(none?) articles in a classic sense as most of the suggestions are  
books or supplements to textbooks.  Thanks to all who responded, and  
please post if new information comes to light.




·   Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology (TIEE;  
tiee.ecoed.net) has a Teaching section which includes many resources  
for ecology faculty. There is an essay titled Helping Your Students  
Interpret Figures and Tables: "Step One-Step Two" (http:// 
tiee.ecoed.net/teach/essays/figs_tables.html).




Another useful resource is the SERC site for geology faculty. For  
instance, here  is a URL about a peer review form for writing  
research papers - http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/peerreview/ 
respaper.html. You could modify this for reading research papers.


·  Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates

Mike Wallace University of Bath, UK

Alison Wray Cardiff University

© April 2006 240 pages

 Sage Publications Ltd


"The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools" by  
Richard Paul and Linda Elder


·  Reading Primary Literature: A Practical Guide to Evaluating  
Research Articles in Biology, By Christopher Gillen




·   A supplement to go with Campbell & Reece "Biology" called  
"Inquiry in Action: Interpreting Scientific Papers" by Buskirk &  
Gillen.  ISBN: 0-321-53659-2.  Part A includes 9 articles that are  
referenced in the textbook with questions that go along with each,  
and Part B is a guide to evaluating articles, going through the  
intro, methods, results, and discussion with a series of questions.






With thanks to: Matthew Sarver, Tamera Minnick, Siobhan Fennessy, and  
Kelly Sjerven.


Likewise, I received numerous excellent articles on the peer-review  
process if anyone is interested.



Cheers,

Andrew

 

[ECOLOG-L] PCAgen INPUT FILE

[hastings zidana]

Dear All
 
I would like to do PCA analysis with a microsat data,.
using PCAgen. I have seen the example input file 
but do not understand what the first line of the input file 
stands for.
 
For example the test Diploid data file has:
 
6 For Number of populations
5 For number of loci
4 For ???
1 For ???
 
Thus 4 and 1 am not sure what they are standing for?
 
My data has 3 digits for Allele A and 3 digits for Allele B.
 
Thanks for your help
 
Hastings
 














Hastings Zidana 
Dept. of Biological Sciences 
The University of Hull 
Cottingham Road 
HULL 
HU6 7RX 

MP:+44 7772495415 
WEBSITE: http://buncoalumni.tripod.com 
 
 

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

[ECOLOG-L] academic job search wiki

[S G]

For those contemplating this year's job market.  The ecology/evolution job 
search wiki has been newly redesigned for the 2008-2009 season.  You can find 
it at:

http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Ecology_%28includes_organismal_and_environmental_science%29

- Sarah



  

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Salix follow up

[Antibus, Robert]

Dear Colleagues,

 

I just wished to follow up on Howies' comments with the interjection of
mycorrhizas into the mix.  Salix species have the ability to grow
without mycorrhizas, with arbuscular mycorrhizas or with a unique set of
ectomycorrhizal fungi. Arctic and alpine Salix seem most often to form
ectomycorrhizas, but really haven't been studied in great detail. I have
just returned from work on the Beartooth Plateau where we observed a
number of ectomycorrhizal symbionts found that represent a circumpolar
set of species. If interested check the link to photos - these to me
begs the question of the carbon costs of these mutualists in this
environment. 

 

PS - we saw many bees involved in pollination - but I couldn't tell you
to what taxa they belong.  

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/antibusr/Salix?authkey=xtrHP84eukc

 

Regards,

Bob A

 

 

Robert K. Antibus

Chair Science Department

Professor of Biology

Bluffton University

Bluffton, OH 45817 

 

[ECOLOG-L] MS Assistantship Iowa State University

[Dr. John Tyndall]

I have one 2-year MS assistantship available for a student interested in the
social and economic aspects of natural resource management and alternative
energy systems. 

Location: Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management, Iowa State
University. Ames, IA. You would become one of the founding members of the
NREM Socio-Economic Research Lab. Ideal students will have an interest in
sociology, economics, and ecology.  

The research involved is in the realm of sustainable biomass systems for
biofuel/bioproduct production. Key research questions involve: What biomass
fuel sources most effectively supply jointly produced economic, social, and
environmental benefits (while minimizing potential negative impacts) in the
US Cornbelt?   What new crops, cropping systems, forest management
practices, machinery and techniques for harvesting, storing, and
transporting biomass are required for its sustainable development? What
ecosystem goods and services can be qualified and then quantified within a
partially perennialized agricultural landscape as compared to traditional
row-crop systems. Research flexibility is always provided for the
development of student-interest research questions. 

Research will involve systems modeling, stakeholder based assessments and
interdisciplinary perspectives. Quantitative aptitude and reasonably
developed verbal and written skills are a distinct plus. The student will be
expected to present results of his/her research at regional and national
meetings and to prepare manuscripts of these findings for publication in the
peer-reviewed literature. 

Stipend: $18,000 per year plus health benefits and subsidized tuition (at
least 50%).  Start date: ISU Spring semester 2009. 

Prior to formal application to Iowa State University, interested applicants
are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. John Tyndall ([EMAIL PROTECTED];
515.294.4912) with a letter of interest, including cumulative GPA, GRE
scores if available, description of any previous research experience, and
contact information for three references. Please feel free to contact John
with any informal inquiries. If you wish to send hard copies, these may be
submitted to John Tyndall, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and
Management, 339 Science II, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014. Review of
applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable applicant
is found.  

[ECOLOG-L] Abstracts and Registration: Global Health Conference at Yale

[Jennifer Staple]

Dear all,

Many of you may be interested in this international "Achieving Global Goals 
Through Innovation" conference held at Yale University.  Please forward this 
message to anyone who may be interested in attending or presenting.

Register and/or submit an abstract. Registration rate increases monthly. 
Abstract deadline is September 15.

Unite For Sight 6th Annual Global Health & Development Conference
April 18-19, 2009
"Achieving Global Goals Through Innovation"
http://www.uniteforsight.org/conference

When: April 18-19, 2009
Where: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
What: Join 2,500 conference participants for a stimulating international 
conference
As Featured On CNN: The Unite For Sight Conference Is What CNN Calls "A Meeting 
of Minds"

NOW OPEN: Registration and Abstract Submission 
 - Abstract deadline is September 15

200 Speakers, Including Keynote Addresses by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Dr. Sonia 
Sachs, Dr. Allan Rosenfield, Dr. Susan Blumenthal, and Dr. Harold Varmus.  Plus 
sessions by CEOs and Directors of Save The Children, Partners in Health, 
HealthStore Foundation, mothers2mothers, and many others.

Register For Conference REGISTER NOW TO SECURE LOWEST RATE 
. Rate escalates each month.

Interested in submitting an abstract? Anyone may submit an abstract. Abstract 
submitters range from students to professionals.

Who should attend? Anyone interested in international health, public health, 
international development, medicine, nonprofits, eye care, philanthropy, 
microfinance, social entrepreneurship, bioethics, economics, anthropology, 
health policy, advocacy, environmental health, service-learning, medical 
education, and public service.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

Susan Blumenthal, MD, MPA, Former US Assistant Surgeon General, Clinical 
Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown School of Medicine and Tufts University 
Medical Center; Senior Medical Advisor, amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research

Allan Rosenfield, MD, DeLamar Professor of Public Health, and Professor of 
Obstetrics and Gynecology; Dean, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia 
University

Jeffrey Sachs, PhD, Director of Earth Institute at Columbia University; 
Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development, Professor of Health Policy and 
Management, Columbia University; Special Advisor to Secretary-General of the 
United Nations Ban Ki-moon


Sonia Ehrlich Sachs, MD, MPH, Health Coordinator, Millennium Village Project

Harold Varmus, MD, President and Chief Executive, Memorial Sloan-Kettering 
Cancer Center; Former Director of the NIH; Nobel Prize Recipient

Confirmed Featured Speakers

Sam Abbenyi, MD, MSc, Director, Programs and Logistics, International Trachoma 
Initiative

Alastair Ager, PhD, Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health, Mailman 
School of Public Health, Columbia University

Jared Ament, MD, MPH, Clinical Research Fellow, Ophthalmology & Corneal 
Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School; Harvard 
School of Public Health

Jane Aronson, MD, Director, International Pediatric Health Services; Founder 
and Executive Officer, Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO); Clinical Assistant 
Professor of Pediatrics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Elizabeth Ashbourne, Results Secretariat, OPCS, World Bank

Thomas Baah, MD, MSc, Ophthalmologist, Our Lady of Grace Hospital, Ghana

Richard Baraniuk, PhD, Founder, Connexions; Victor E. Cameron Professor, 
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University

Sheri Berenbach, MBA, Executive Director, Calvert Foundation

Paul Berman, OD, FAAO, Senior Global Clinical Advisor and Founder, Special 
Olympics Lions Clubs, International Opening Eyes

David Bloom, Chair, Department of Global Health and Population; Clarence James 
Gamble Professor of Economics and Demography, Department of Global Health and 
Population, Harvard School of Public Health

Neil Boothby, EdD, Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health, Director 
of the Program on Forced Migration and Health, Mailman School of Public Health, 
Columbia University

Peter Bourne, MA, MD, Visiting Scholar, Oxford University; Vice Chancellor 
Emeritus, St. George's University; Formerly Special Assistant to the President 
of the United States for Health Issues; Chair, Medical Education Cooperation 
with Cuba (MEDICC)

Elizabeth Bradley, PhD, Professor of Public Health, Division of Health Policy 
and Administration; director, Health Management Program; Director, Global 
Health Initiatives, Yale School of Public Health

Ronald Braswell, MD, MS, Department of Ophthalmology, University of 
Alabama-Birmingham

Harry Brown, MD, Founder, Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International

Richard Bucala, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Pathology, and Epidemiology and 
Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine

Michael Chu, MBA, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration, Harvard Busines

[ECOLOG-L] Fw: job at NSF Office of Legislative & Public Affairs

[Geoffrey Patton]

This job opportunity is being passed around in case someone might be 
interested. Contact Melissa.
- Forwarded message --
From: Melissa Summers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Subject: [sefellows] Temporary position available at NSF
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]


Hi everyone,

My office is looking for a speechwriter to spend a year or two at the
National Science Foundation's Office of Legislative & Public Affairs
on leave from their academic or non-profit institution on an
Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA)* rotation. This person does not
need to be an experienced speechwriter; in fact, this position would
be a good opportunity for someone to gain writing experience. An ideal
candidate doesn't need to have a science background, just an interest
in writing about science & engineering for a lay audience.

If you know of anyone in your network who might be interested, please
have them contact me ([EMAIL PROTECTED]; 703-292-8463) for more
information. Ideally, we're looking for someone to start this fall.

Thanks!
~Melissa

*The Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program provides for the
temporary assignment of personnel between the Federal Government and
state and local governments, colleges and universities, Indian tribal
governments, federally funded research and development centers, and
other eligible organizations. http://www.opm.gov/PROGRAMS/IPA/

=
Visit the Felcom web page: 

Check  out the new Fellows Merchandise and Exchange Board
http://www.studioenterprises.com/recgov/cgi-bin/felcom/discus.cgi


Tell a friend how to subscribe to FELLOW-L!
Send mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with 'Subscribe
FELLOW-L'
(without quotes) in the body of the message.
Or, you can visit the NIH LISTSERV site ,
click on the "Browse" button, find FELLOW-L, and subscribe
through the web.  You can also modify your subscription
settings at 

To unsubscribe: send mail from your subscribing account to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] with 'unsubscribe FELLOW-L' (without quotes) in the
body of the message.
=



  

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Research Associate Position

[Dan Wang]

Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Toledo and Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) of Michigan State
University


Salary: $37,000/Year
Duration:   2 years
Start date: Oct. 1, 2008 or as soon as possible thereafter, position open
until filled

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available at the Landscape
Ecology and Ecosystem Science (LEES) Lab
(http://research.eeescience.utoledo.edu/lees/) in the Department of
Environmental Sciences at the University of Toledo.  This position is a
grant-funded position, renewable for up to two years, and will reside at the
Kellogg Biological Station (KBS, http://www.kbs.msu.edu/) of Michigan State
University.  The successful applicant will join an investigation of carbon
balance in biofuel cropping systems as part of the Sustainability Research
Program at the Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
(GLBRC; www.glbrc.org).  We will use the eddy covariance (EC) method as our
primary tool in making intensive, continuous measurements of net exchange of
carbon, water loss through evapotranspiration (ET), and energy balance at
the six KBS-GLBRC “Scale-Up Fields”: switchgrass, restored prairie, and
continuous corn fields (two replicates of each system).  A doctoral degree
in ecology, micrometeorology, soil, or natural science is required.  We will
begin review of applications on September 10, 2008 and continue until the
position is filled.  Please submit a cover letter (including position title
and job #), resume, and the names and telephone numbers of three
professional references to Dr. Jiquan Chen at [EMAIL PROTECTED]  The
University of Toledo is an Equal Access, Equal Opportunity, Affirmative
Action Employer and Educator.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Salix question poised by David Inouye

[Martin Meiss]

I like Howie's nudging the discussion into the area of physiological
ecology.  When I addressed issues of pollination biology is was partly to
suggest that they couldn't tell the whole story.
Mark Winterstein's conribution about the habitat diversity is
valuable because it lets us southerners know that specialization on various
habitats may be important driver of speciation.  However, then we must ask
why alder and birch species don't map onto the same range of habitats.  And
just to bring pollination dynamics back in, efficient long-range dispersal
of pollen and seed would tend to work against speciation by promoting high
levels of gene flow.
   I also like Howie's description of how habitat-dependent conditions
for photosynthetic efficiency could lead to weak wood.  I don't know if it
is true for arctic willow, but I have heard that for some more southerly
willows having weak twigs is in fact a means of asexual reproduction; twigs
break off readily and are carried by water till they lodge on a bank or
sandbar and start growing.
  In an earlier post in the thread, Scott Chamberlain suggested that
willow is diverse in the Arctic because it underwent an adaptive radiation
there. I suppose he meant as opposed to having achieved species richness in
more southerly conditions and THEN invading the Arctic; otherwise his
comment still raises the question, "Yeah, but WHY?"  Did giant tree ferns
form the swamp-forests of the Carboniferous because they were uniquely
equipped physiologically to do so, or did they do it because they happened
to be there and no arborescent gymnosperms or dicots were waiting around to
show them how it should really be done?  How do historical considerations
like that tie in with other explanations of adaptive radiations.  Will we
ever be able to even name all the relevant factors, let alone tell which
were actually most important in the process?
Martin Meiss

2008/8/27 Howie Neufeld <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

> Dear All - I find it quite interesting that the majority (if not all) of
> the responses to David's question about why Salix predominate at high
> latitudes and altitudes are dominated by population ecologists, discussing
> mostly pollination syndromes, whereas contributions by ecophysiologists are
> entirely absent.  One can not fully understand the distribution of a species
> without also considering it's physiological tolerances to biotic and abiotic
> stresses.
>   This could especially involve aspects of hydraulic architecture (avoiding
> freezing-induced embolisms), phenology (leafing out only when the
> probability of xylem freezing is mostly past), achieving high rates of
> photosynthesis due to a short growing season, producing a high ratio of
> leaves to biomass to maximize whole plant carbon uptake,
> biochemical/anatomical/physiological tolerances or avoidance of flooding
> stress, and so on.  These suites of ecophysiological/biomechanical
> adaptations might also have a major influence on reproductive strategies,
> yet there is little in the literature relating ecophysiological adaptations
> to reproductive adaptations; rather, the two are most often viewed as
> separate magisteria (to badly paraphrase Stephen J. Gould).
>   To give but one example - if Salix do indeed have high rates of
> photosynthesis either on a leaf or whole plant basis, it would suggest they
> also have high hydraulic conductivities, which in turn would support high
> stomatal conductivities.  This would mean they might have relatively weak
> wood (large lumens, thin walls).  That in turn means a lowered mechanical
> advantage, or in other words, the tree can not support a lot of weight
> (think hanging, pendulous willow branches on some species).  That in turn
> might mean producing small seeds which are highly dispersable, rather than 5
> lb coconuts.   Just a thought exercise - I'm sure someone smarter than me
>  (I?)  can find logical flaws in this argument.  The point is that  we
> should be considering all aspects of a species ecology, not just how it has
> sex.
> Howie Neufeld
>
>
> --
> Dr. Howard S. Neufeld, Professor
> Department of Biology
> 572 Rivers Street
> Appalachian State University
> Boone, NC 28608
>
> email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> departmental webpage:
> http://www.biology.appstate.edu/faculty/neufeldhs.htm
> personal webpage: 
> http://www.appstate.edu/~neufeldhs/index.html
>
> Tel: 828-262-2683
> Fax: 828-262-2127
>