[ECOLOG-L] Last Chance to Renew 2008 ESA Membership!
If you or someone you know needs to renew an ESA membership for 2008, hurry! Less than two weeks remain to submit dues for this calendar year. You can still catch up on the back issues of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment and any other journals you’ve missed, learn about exciting developments from the Annual Meeting, and restore your other benefits, but only if you act by September 15. To make sure you don’t miss the deadline, we recommend renewing online at http://eservices.esa.org. You can obtain your login and password information by contacting Membership Services at [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you prefer to renew by mail or fax, a PDF copy of the membership form is available for download in the “How to Join/Renew” section of our Member Services page. Please remember to allow sufficient time for our bank to receive, process, and return payment to us for final processing. Please pass this reminder along to your friends, and contact Membership Services with any questions prior to submitting payment. We hope to hear from you before time runs out.
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: Plant Morphology and Predator-Prey Dynamics
Repost:Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario. A postdoctoral position is available immediately for 1 year (with a possibility of 1 year extension) to contribute to a larger project examining the effect of plant morphology on insect predator-prey dynamics. This project includes modelling, laboratory and greenhouse experiments to assess the effects of naturally occurring mutations in pea morphology on aphid movement rates and ladybird beetle predation. The responsibilities of the postdoctoral researcher would consist of research coordination (graduate students and undergrad researchers), and some experimental work (especially greenhouse experiments and filming of insect movement paths). However, the major focus of this position will be analyzing previously collected data and generating predictive models. Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in ecology or other field relevant to the project, as well as strong analytical and statistical skills. Desired additional qualifications include: experience with digital photography and image processing, familiarity with a programming language or Matlab. Only US or Canadian citizens can be considered because of the short time line to the start date. Send via e-mail (as pdf attachments) a CV, a statement describing your own analytical and statistical background along with interests in future ecological research, and the names of 3 references with their mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses to Kim Cuddington: kcuddingATuwaterloo.ca. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Scientist, Arctic Vegetation
A new project on Canopy Structure and CO2 Exchange of Arctic Vegetation will begin at the Ecosystems Center in 2009. The project will include one new postdoctoral position, to be filled sometime before the start of the 2009 field season (April, May, or June 2009). The long-term goal of this research is to identify the general characteristics of arctic vegetation and soils that can be used to make broad predictions of the magnitude and trajectory of ecosystem response to climate change across the Arctic. Over the next three years the project will have two core aims: 1. The first aim is to improve understanding of relationships among arctic vegetation canopy structure, canopy N allocation, and whole-system CO2 exchange by measuring these variables in the field in the widest possible range of High- and Low-Arctic vegetation types and by modeling these relationships. 2. The second aim is to develop improved models of ecosystem respiration and its main components, plant and soil respiration, in Arctic ecosystems by measuring these components separately and together in the field in a wide range of natural and experimentally-manipulated sites. The postdoctoral associate will be expected to play a significant role in defining the specific approaches to be used, the field research designs, and the data synthesis and modeling approaches. Long-term collaborations with other arctic scientists, with international and PanArctic synthesis programs, and with the LTER network will provide additional opportunities. The ideal candidate for this position will have a PHD with strong background in primary production processes, carbon balance at leaf, whole- plant, ecosystem, and regional scales, and resource interactions in regulation of element cycles and plant growth. The project will be based at the Ecosystems Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, during each winter but will include extensive field research at Toolik Field Station, Alaska, and other arctic sites, in 2009-2011. Special Instructions to Applicants: Please provide the names and contact information for at least 3 individuals who may be contacted for letters of support. Apply online at mbl.simplehire.com An Equal Opportunity Employer
[ECOLOG-L] Forest Service GS-9 Ecologist Position Outreach Notice
Outreach Notice Ecologist GS-0408/09 Salary range $36,822--$58,557 The USDA Forest Service will soon be advertising and accepting applicants for a permanent, full-time, ecologist position. This is a pre-announcement to determine interest in this position, your response will not be considered a commitment nor an application. Location: USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Research Work Unit NRS-6, Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences. Houghton, Michigan, USA. The Lab is located on the campus of Michigan Technological University- adjacent to the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. Visit: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/units/ho/ for information on the Unit. http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/ for information on the Northern Research Station http://www.cityofhoughton.com/ for information about Houghton, Michigan Job description: The incumbent will provide technical support for Unit research with an emphasis in the area of soil ecology and ecosystem processes. Support will include assistance with laboratory, mesocosm, rhizotron and field studies. Our unit’s primary emphasis is on understanding, mitigating and adapting to global change. Studies involve a diverse array of topics, including research on interactions of belowground processes with invasive soil organisms, changing atmospheric chemistry, and changing climate. The incumbent would support research on the processes that control the storage and turnover of carbon in forest soils as well as the feedbacks between soil microbial (bacterial and fungal) community structure/function and environmental change agents. Applicants should have strong laboratory and field experience and skills, and an interest in working both indoors and outdoors. She or he should be capable, with minimal training, of performing:, soil biological, physical and chemical sampling; lab analyses; data management; and statistical analysis. Field sampling would include a broad array of activities such as basic ecosystem aboveground measurements, soil respiration studies, soil sampling, minirhizotron image capture, macroinvertebrate sampling, soil moisture sampling using TDR, soil water sampling using lysimeters, and datalogger management. Activities would include sample collection and prep as well as a variety of assays. Laboratory activities include but are not limited to DNA-based identification methods such as DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, RFLP, TRFLP and sequencing; sterile culture techniques; identification of soil macroinvertebrates; soil particle size and root system image analysis; PLFA analysis; C/N analysis preparation; and gas chromatography. A major responsibility of the incumbent would be the day-to-day maintenance of our new Rhizotron and Mesocosm facilities. The Rhizotron is a walk-in tunnel with 24 vertical windows into the soil in which observation, monitoring, and manipulative experiments take place. The Mesocosm is a facility with large instrumented containers used in controlled experiments designed to understand ecosystem response to changes such as warming or invasive soil organisms. The incumbent would be responsible for managing the facility environmental conditions, data collection and management, sample processing, and coordination of space use in the context of these studies. The ability to manage and reduce large quantities of environmental and biological data is essential to the successful fulfillment of duties. In addition, the incumbent should have a good foundation in statistical analysis methods. The successful candidate will have strong organizational and communication (both written and oral) skills, have the ability to take directions, work as part of a team, be able to work with minimal supervision, and have excellent interpersonal skills. Motivated candidates will have opportunities to present and publish research results under the supervision of a senior scientist. For more information, or to express interest in the position and be notified when the position is advertised, contact: Erik Lilleskov, Research Ecologist USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station 410 MacInnes Drive Houghton, MI 49931 ph.: 906-482-6303 X22; email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[ECOLOG-L] FW: Stakeholder Input Requested for the New AFRI Program
From: Brian Hyps [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Stakeholder Input Requested for the New AFRI Program Plant and Pest Biology Stakeholders, As you may know, CSREES is requesting input into the development of an implementing regulation for a new research, education and extension program called the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). A public meeting is scheduled for September 10. Many of you may want to see world leading plant and pest biology research programs now supported by the NRI continued in AFRI. Some may want to see some additional emphasis in certain areas of plant and pest biology research. As you know, the public meeting offers a good opportunity for supporters of plant and pest biology research to urge strong representation of this research in AFRI. Written comments may be submitted until Wednesday, September 24, 2008. Please see http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/reporting/stakeholder/an_stakeholder _afri.html http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/reporting/stakeholder/an_stakeholde r_afri.html for more information about the AFRI program and the public meeting. We appreciate the assistance of Liang-Shiou Lin of CSREES in providing information on the meeting. Brian Hyps Public Affairs Director American Society of Plant Biologists 15501 Monona Drive Rockville, Maryland 20855 phone: 301-251-0560 www.aspb.org
[ECOLOG-L] Borneo and Biomagnification
From Lonny Miller in California. His e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The origional book scanned and put into a ppt is here. http://www2.visalia.k12.ca.us/eldiamante/science/biology/powerpoints/Borneo.pdf Thank you. Mike Nolan -- If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your number, best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address. After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request. Sincerely, J. Michael Nolan, Director Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit ** “Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest Marine Ecology” “Spanish/Cultural Immersion Programs: Spain, Mexico, Central and South America” Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit 334 Ottawa St. Coopersville, MI 49404 Local/International Phone: 001.616.604.0546 Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721 Google Talk/MS IM/Skype: travelwithrandr Google Talk: AOL IM: buddythemacaw E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and [EMAIL PROTECTED] *Note: Please send inquiries to both e-mail addresses Web: http://rainforestandreef.org **
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral fellowship onclimate change and forest dynamics
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP ON GLOBAL CHANGE AND FOREST DYNAMICS AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY. A postdoctoral position is available at Colorado State University to work with a team of plant ecologists global change and forest dynamics. The successful candidate will join a diverse team of investigators that work in the Northeastern U.S., the Rocky Mountain West, and the Neotropics. The postdoc is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, with the lead investigator, Dr. Patrick Martin, but will offer collaboration opportunities with all project investigators. The position has two years of guaranteed funding, with an additional year possible. The start date is flexible, but preferred ASAP and before January 1st, 2009. Depending on the interests and strengths of the fellow, the postdoc will focus on interactions between global change and forest dynamics in one of three projects: 1. Forest response to climate change in the Rocky Mountains. 2. Historic and future landscape forest dynamics in subtropical montane forests. 3. Invasive species and forest dynamics. Each project is thematically and methodologically linked, with a focus on generating useful predictions of forest dynamics in the face of global change. The research will focus on modelling of species distribution and abundance responses to climate change. The results of field research will be integrated in a spatially-explicit, individual-based dynamic forest simulator (SORTIE-ND; http://www.sortie-nd.org), where scenarios of climate change, range expansion/contraction, competitive interactions, and disturbance-climate dynamics (esp. fire) will be explored. A hallmark of this research and SORTIE is the express linkage between field research and modeling, and the development and use of novel approaches to data analysis based on likelihood methods and information theory. Field work to gather data to parameterized models and conduct companion studies is required. Qualifications and skills. We seek candidates with proficiency in at least some of the following areas: * Spatial/GIS/Remote Sensing techniques for analyzing ecological data. * Interest and experience using quantitative models of forest dynamics (e.g. SORTIE). * Statistical, quantitative, and programming skills (R, S-plus, etc.). Areas include maximum likelihood analysis, experimental design, general linear models, multivariate analysis, structural equation modeling, and/or simulations (Monte Carlo, etc.). * Knowledge of the relevant flora: Northeastern USA, Rocky Mtns, and/or neotropical montane flora. * Excellent writing and communication skills. * Experience supervising students and/or technical staff. Requirements. A Ph.D. in plant ecology, ecological modeling or related field, completed before the start date. Research experience in forests is essential, ideally focused on forest dynamics and/or natural disturbances. Proficiency in Spanish is a must for those with interests in tropical forests. Review of applications will begin immediately and until the position is filled. Application materials. Email an electronic application package including (1) a full CV, (2) PDFs of relevant publications, (3) a cover letter addressing your research interests, qualifications relevant to the position, and which of our three project areas most interests you and why, and (4) the names and contact information of 3 references. Please send application materials or requests for further information to: Dr. Patrick H. Martin Colorado State University [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[ECOLOG-L] Strength of Mantel's r
I am doing a methods-comparison study of different sampling methods for stream benthic macroinvertebrates, and I would like to see if the methods are correlated by using a Mantel's test. I was wondering if there were any published guidelines on what constituted a strong correlation for ecological data. Peer-reviewed references would be best, but I'd also welcome hearing opinions and subjective experiences, in streams or other systems! Thanks! -- Raphael D. Mazor Freshwater Biologist Southern California Coastal Water Research Project www.sccwrp.org www.sccwrp.org/about/staff/mazor.htm SCCWRP 3535 Harbor Blvd. Suite 110 Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1437 Tel: (714) 755-3235 Fax: (714) 755-3299
[ECOLOG-L] Grad Stud Assistantships -- Community,Invasion,Aquatic ecology
Graduate Research Assistantships MS and PhD Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University Subject: Community Ecology, Invasion Biology, Non-consumptive predator effects, Marine Ecology. I am seeking PhD and MS students to join a research effort to examine non-consumptive predator effects of the invasive spiny water flea (Bythotrephes) on the zooplankton community, and food web in general, in Lake Michigan. This research has broad applications, both to community ecology, invasion biology, and lake and ocean (marine) ecology. My students and I have found that predator induced changes in zooplankton vertical migration contributes strongly to the net effect of the predator on specific prey. We are now (with NSF funding) extending this work looking at community and ecosystem level effects. Information on the Peacor Lab is at www.msu.edu/~peacor. Stipends are competitive based on qualifications, and health and tuition waiver benefits are included. Interested individuals are encouraged to 1) email inquires (please include a CV, put assistantship in the subject line) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or: 2) Apply to the position by providing the following materials as soon as possible: (1) cover letter describing general and specific research interests/experiences, and potential start dates. (2) brief statement of professional goals (e.g., plans after finishing the graduate training), (3) resume, (4) transcripts, (5) list of three references (names, email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses), and (6) GRE and TOEFL scores. (TOEFL scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English. Photocopies of transcripts and GRE/TOEFL scores are okay initially.) Please email (with assistantship in subject line) application materials to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[ECOLOG-L] Assistant/Associate Professor, Environmental Science (Tenure Track)
QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have an earned doctorate in Environmental Science, or a related science or engineering field, such as Ecology, Chemistry, Geoscience, Toxicology, or Environmental Health. Professional doctorates, such as an MD, are acceptable with research experience. The area of specialization is open to all fields of environmental science, including environmental health, terrestrial environmental management, impacts of climatic change on environmental quality, environmental microbiology, and biofuels. Candidates with expertise in environmental responses (e.g., wildlife, human) to disease agents / stressors (e.g., biological, chemical, radiological) are particularly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates with a record of external funding or currently active grants, and to candidates with publication records adequate to serve on committees directing graduate educational programs. RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful candidate will establish an externally funded research program in environmental science, with a record of refereed publication in top-tier journals. The applicant will be expected to participate in the supervision of Doctoral students from either the Biomedical Studies (Environmental Health) or The Ecological, Earth and Environmental Sciences PhD programs, and in the supervision of masters’ students enrolled in the Environmental Science M.S. program. In addition, the candidate will teach graduate and upper division undergraduate courses in his or her specialty. The candidate may teach a section of ENV 1301 Exploring Environmental Issues or a freshman seminar once a year. RANK AND SALARY: Commensurate with experience and qualifications. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Applications will be reviewed beginning 10/3/2008 and will be accepted until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, complete applications must be submitted by 10/20/2008. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Please submit a letter of application, current curriculum vitae, and transcripts. Include names, addresses, and phone numbers of three individuals from whom you have requested letters of recommendation to: Dr. Susan Bratton, Chair of Environmental Science, One Bear Place #97266, Waco, Texas 76798-7266, Tel. 254-710-3405. Materials may be submitted electronically to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dr. Bryan Brooks, Tel 254-710-6553, is also available to answer inquires. For position details and further application information please visit: http://www.baylor.edu/hr_services/index.php?id=50814. Baylor is a Baptist university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, Baylor encourages minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities to apply. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas, Baylor University is the oldest university in Texas and the world’s largest Baptist University. Baylor’s mission is to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community. Baylor is actively recruiting new faculty with a strong commitment to the classroom and an equally strong commitment to discovering new knowledge as Baylor aspires to become a top tier research university while reaffirming and strengthening its distinctive Christian mission as described in Baylor 2012 (http://www.baylor.edu/vision/).
