[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Fellowship in Ecological Modelling of Wild Salmon

[Janelle Marie Curtis]

The conservation and sustainability of Pacific salmon relies heavily on the use 
of models to predict abundance prior to and during the fishing season in order 
to inform decisions about when, where, or if to open fisheries. Current models 
have not performed well in recent years; the role of changing climates and 
environments on different life stages has led to increased levels of 
uncertainty in model predictions. We seek a postdoctoral research fellow to 
join a multi-disciplinary team that is investigating mechanisms that influence 
the dynamic responses of wild salmon to environmental variability and climate 
change; this team includes researchers from several universities and government 
agencies with specializations in fish ecology, conservation and management, 
bioinformatics, genomics, physiology, and social sciences. The postdoctoral 
fellow will develop and evaluate quantitative population assessment models that 
incorporate new knowledge about the effects of climate and env!
 ironmental variability on the demography of juvenile and adult salmon.

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in population ecology, quantitative 
ecology, fisheries science or a related field and have experience with 
modelling the dynamics of populations. Knowledge of generalized linear 
modelling, parameter estimation, or Bayesian methods would be valuable assets, 
as would programming experience (e.g. in Matlab, R). It is expected that the 
postdoctoral fellow will disseminate results through refereed journal 
publications and/or conference presentations.

The appointment is for 2 years at an annual salary of $43,724. Preference will 
be given to candidates available to start during the summer 2009. Candidates 
from any country may apply, but must have received their PhD within the past 5 
years to be eligible. The postdoctoral fellow will have the option of being 
based either at the Pacific Biological Station (Nanaimo, British Columbia) or 
at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC).

[ECOLOG-L] Research Technician: Experimental Landscape Ecology/Restoration: Final posting

[Lars Brudvig]

A research technician position is available with a landscape ecology 
experiment involving the restoration of longleaf pine forest understory 
plant communities, coupled with experimental manipulations of surrounding 
matrix characteristics (e.g., tree density, fire frequency) to understand 
how management affects the spread of restored communities at large spatial 
scales. This project will be conducted at the Savannah River Site, near 
Aiken, SC, in collaboration with John Orrock, Ellen Damschen, Lars 
Brudvig, and Karen Mabry of Washington University in St. Louis and the 
USDA Forest Service-Savannah River. The successful candidate will assist 
in all facets of this research, with job duties including GIS analyses, 
vegetation, soil, and small mammal surveys, and conducting experiments to 
evaluate the spatial dynamics of plant-animal interactions (e.g. seed 
predation, seed dispersal) within the experimental landscapes. The 
preferred start date is June 2009.  Salary of $25,000 - $30,000 per year 
plus benefits is available for two years (second year of funding 
contingent upon favorable one year evaluation).

The technician will live near the Savannah River Site in SC. Successful 
candidates will hold a bachelor’s degree in ecology, biology, or a related 
discipline (Master’s degree preferred) and must be able to endure hot and 
humid conditions and long hours in the field. Previous field research 
experience and the desire to quickly learn the longleaf pine forest flora 
are mandatory. Candidates already possessing these botanical skills or 
qualification for the other job duties listed above will be especially 
favorably received. Because the Savannah River Site is a highly secure 
area run by the U.S. Department of Energy, non-United States citizens may 
have difficulty gaining clearance to work there.

The deadline for this postion has been extended; however, review of 
applicants will begin shortly and interested individuals should apply 
ASAP.  To apply, please email a CV and cover letter describing past 
experience, why you are a strong candidate for this 
position, dates of availability, and contact information with email 
addresses for three references to Lars Brudvig: brud...@biology2.wustl.edu.

Women and Minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Washington 
University is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

[ECOLOG-L] Coordinator for the Munich EES Graduate Program

[Susanne Foitzik]

The EES^LMU  Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology and Systematics at the University of Munich (LMU), 
currently funded by the Evolution Initiative of the Volkswagen Foundation, is looking for a

*Coordinator (part time or full time)*
for our Master and Ph.D. program, the summer school, and the seminar series. 
The position is initially for 6 months, with a possible extension for 33 months. 
The ideal candidate should have a degree (preferably a Ph.D.) in biology or a related field. 
He/she should be highly motivated and have good communication skills. Proficiency in English and German is required. 
Experience with teaching, administration or curriculum coordination is an advantage.


The novel, research-oriented Master program started in fall 2007, mainly with international students. 
The structured Ph.D. program started in February of this year with a cohort of 15 PhD students. 

The EES^LMU  Graduate Program is run by the Biology Department of the LMU. 
In addition, the LMU Department of Earth- and Environmental Sciences, the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, 
the Bavarian Natural History Collections, and groups at the Munich Technical University are involved. 
The coordinator functions as an interface between university administration, teachers, and students, and he/she could be involved in teaching. 
The coordinator will also organize summer schools, conferences and a seminar series, and he/she will contribute to the website http://www.eeslmu.de/eeswiki.


EES^LMU  offers a great working environment for someone interested in science and teaching, 
and who enjoys interacting with students and professors to improve education in ecology, evolution and systematics. 

The position is initially available at TVöD 13 according to the German salary scale. 
Application review will start May 15th and will continue until the position is filled. Interviews will be held in late May. 
Informal inquiries and applications including a letter of motivation, CV, and names and telephone numbers of two references, 
should be sent preferably by email (as a single pdf file) to 


The Speaker of the EES^LMU  Program
Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik
foit...@biologie.uni-muenchen.de 
+49 89 2180 74 209

--
Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik 
Department Biologie II 
Behavioral Ecology (Verhaltensökologie) 
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München 
Großhaderner Str. 2 
D - 82152 Planegg / Martinsried 
Germany 
   
Phone:+ 49 89 / 2180 74 209 
Fax:  + 49 89 / 2180 74 221 
e-mail: foit...@biologie.uni-muenchen.de

http://ecology.bio.lmu.de/etho_e/index.htm

[ECOLOG-L] NIMBioS Investigative Workshop: Bovine TB

[Catherine Crawley]

The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS)
is now accepting applications for the NIMBioS sponsored Investigative
Workshop: Modeling Bovine Tuberculosis, to be held July 7-9, 2009 at NIMBioS.

Topic: Modeling the impact of cattle movements on transmission dynamics of
bovine tuberculosis (M. bovis) in the United States

Organizers: Colleen Webb, Department of Biology, Colorado State University,
Fort Collins. Agricola Odoi, Department of Comparative Medicine, University
of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Location: NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Summary: The use of disease simulation models is one method of exploring
disease control options Understanding cattle movement patterns as well as
the connectivity of the various sectors of the U.S. cattle industry and
incorporating these in the models would allow USDA Animal Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) to develop more
effective regulations and control strategies for various animal diseases,
including bovine TB.

This Investigative Workshop will bring together experts from across the
globe to discuss cutting-edge approaches to model bovine TB transmission in
the United States with the goal of developing a Working Group to develop a
model which would help inform policy on TB control strategies.  A number of
interesting mathematical questions exist at the intersection of statistical
and process-based models, and research on these approaches will be relevant
to the problem of modeling TB transmission.

For more information about the workshop and a link to the online application
form, go to http://www.nimbios.org/announcements/WS_BovineTB.

Application deadline: Monday, June 1, 2009.

NIMBioS Investigative Workshops involve 30-40 participants, focus on a broad
topic or a set of related topics, attempt to summarize/synthesize the state
of the art and identify future directions, and have potential for leading to
one or more future Working Groups
. Participation is
open (but numbers are limited), so individuals with a strong interest in the
topic are encouraged to apply. Post-docs and graduate students are eligible
to apply. If needed, NIMBioS can provide support (travel, meals, lodging)
for Workshop attendees.

For more information, e-mail bovin...@nimbios.org.

[ECOLOG-L] NIMBioS Investigative Workshop: White Nose Syndrome in Bats

[Catherine Crawley]

The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS)
is now accepting applications for the NIMBioS sponsored Investigative
Workshop: Modeling White Nose Syndrome in Bats, to be held June 29 - July 1,
2009 at NIMBioS.

Topic: Modeling White Nose Syndrome in Bats at the Individual and Colony
Levels: Epizootiology and Management

Organizers: Thomas G. Hallam and Gary F. McCracken, Department of Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Location: NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Objectives: The epizootiology of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats is best
described as partially understood. Indeed, there are uncertainties and
questions about the pathogenesis of the disease although it is understood
that the fungi Geomyces sp. play a significant role in the onset and
progression of the disease. The purpose of this meeting is to develop
modeling directions to help assist in the understanding of the temporal and
spatial scales, the pathology, and the physiology of bats during WNS stress
and ultimately to lead to managed control of the disease.

For more information about the workshop and a link to the online application
form, go to http://www.nimbios.org/announcements/WS_Bats.

Application deadline: Friday, May 29, 2009.

NIMBioS Investigative Workshops involve 30-40 participants, focus on a broad
topic or a set of related topics, attempt to summarize/synthesize the state
of the art and identify future directions, and have potential for leading to
one or more future Working Groups
. Participation is
open (but numbers are limited), so individuals with a strong interest in the
topic are encouraged to apply. Post-docs and graduate students are eligible
to apply. If needed, NIMBioS can provide support (travel, meals, lodging)
for Workshop attendees.

For more information, e-mail wnsb...@nimbios.org.

[ECOLOG-L] Water sampling technique - digest of responses

[Dan Tufford]

Original question:

 

I need to collect water samples (about 250 ml) from a headwater stream. The
water depth is on the order of a few mm and I need to be sure I do not get
sediment in the sample, or as little sediment as possible. How have others
done this?

 

Clarification: I probably should have emphasized in my original comment that
disturbing the sediments as little as possible is an absolute priority. We
will ultimately filter the samples but that cannot be the only technique for
getting sediment-free samples.

 

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond.

 

Responses:

 

You can 'engineer' the stream a little by slightly constricting the steam
and putting a rock or two strategically so that water will flow over them -
so you can then get the mouth of a bottle under the flow as if goes over the
rock. Let the stream clear after your engineering. We also use flat sided
wedge bottles that fit into autosamplers (like ISCO) that you can lay flat
in the stream.

 

 

Use a 60 mL syringe. It works very well. Make sure to rinse it (and your
sample bottle) a few times with stream water, tho.

 

 

I recommend a 60 ml plastic syringe (needle removed) either by itself or
connected to a short length of tubing.  This is particularly convenient if
you need to filter samples.  I routinely use filter canisters that hold 25
mm filters that engage with the syringe and filter samples in the field.

Since you need a larger volume you might also consider using a small
battery-powered peristaltic pump.

 


we typically vacuum filter our samples before analyzing if they have a high
amount of organic matter/sand in them. I'm not sure if this is applicable to
your situation but I hope it might help.

 

 

This may be a brute-force method, but depending on what you'll be measuring,
you could field collect water as best as possible and filter it thru a
course filter, such as a GF-C.  This would of course get rid of any
sediments and suspended solids and attached constituents, but should retain
the dissolved components as well as the general chemistry.  We've done this
before for some basic chemical analyses.  Just an idea...

 

 

If your stream channel is narrow enough to make it feasible, why not install
a small V-notch weir, made of plywood or sheet metal, or even pile some
stones to dam the flow and create a small pool to sample from? 

 

Every stream has pools and riffles, no matter how small, that should give
you enough depth to draw from with a large syringe. The amount of water you
are collecting is relatively small. After collecting your sample, let it sit
in the refrigerator overnight, then decant to avoid any sediment you picked
up. Hopefully that sits well with the methodology for whatever parameter you
are measuring (you don't say in your note).

 

 

can you not collect the sample without worrying too much about sediment (I
might try a 60 mL syringe) and then filtering through a GFF filter with a
manual vacuum pump? I collect samples from glacial rivers (loaded with
sediment) and this works for me.

 

 

Having done a LOT of water quality sampling over the years (including sites
like you mention) I have a couple of suggestions.

 

If you don't mind doing a little simple modification of a small portion of
the stream bed and you can revisit:

 

I have had success digging out a small hole with your boot heel or trowel or
whatever implement that will accommodate a small sample bottle that will
allow you to dip the neck of the bottle without getting bottom sediment.  Of
course, when you do this you stir up sediment and you cannot sample there.
But wait an hour, of a  few hours, or overnight and then go back to your
temporary hole and you will have the perfect spot to sample.  You make it a
steep sided hole on the upstream end where it pours in and basically let it
sit till it clears out (which will happen quite rapidly).  This causes no
significant damage to the stream and obviously no damage of any long term.

 

Alternatively, you can scoop multiple VOA bottle out of a very shallow
stream bed without disturbing the bottom.

 

 

Maybe anchor down a clean, cut-off bottle with the broad cut off base facing
upstream and a clean poly hose coming out the neck end.  run it down 10 ft
or so to someplace down gradient where you can just get the hose end higher
than your bottle opening of the one you need to fill.  The neck of the one
you are filling is now just above the stream surface and so cannot be
affected by the TSS that occurs when you push it down. Once again, let it
flow through the bottle/tubing combo and clear prior to use. 

 

Also, any kind of a temporary weir structure, too, might work...with hard
plastic V shape facing upstream that comes out at a spout with just enough
elevation to fill your bottle on the downstream end.  Once again...let it
flush for a while after installation

 

 

You either do it with a syringe provided by filter membrane device (like
those for microbiological s

[ECOLOG-L] Call for Papers/Reviewers

[Journal of General and Molecular Virology]

JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR VIROLOGY

www.academicjournals.org/JGMV







Dear Colleague,

*Introducing ‘**Journal Of General and Molecular Virology* *(JGMV)’*

The *Journal Of General and Molecular Virology* (JGMV) publishes
high-quality solicited and unsolicited articles, in all areas of the subject.
All articles published in JGMV will be peer-reviewed. The following types of
papers are considered for publication:



· Original articles in basic and applied research.

· Critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries and essays.



Our objective is to inform authors of the decision on their manuscript(s)
within four weeks of submission. Following acceptance, a paper will normally
be published in the next issue.



Instruction for authors and other details are available on our website
www.academicjournals.org/JGMV .
Prospective authors should send their manuscript(s) to
j...@acadjourn.org





*Open Access*

One key request of researchers across the world is unrestricted access to
research publications. JGMV is fully committed Open Access Initiative by
providing free access to all articles (both abstract and full PDF text) as
soon as they are published. We ask you to support this initiative by
publishing your papers in this journal.



*Invitation to Review*

JGMV is seeking for qualified reviewers as members of the review board team.
JGMV serves as a great resource for researchers and students across the
globe. We ask you to support this initiative by joining our reviewer’s team. If
you are interested in serving as a reviewer, kindly send us your resume to
j...@acadjourn.org 



*Publication Alert*

We will be glad to send you a publication alert showing the table of content
with link to the various abstracts and full PDF text of articles published
in each issue. Kindly send us an email if you will like to receive
publication alert.



Best regards,



Akozor Peace

Editorial Assistant

JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR VIROLOGY (JGMV)

E-mail: j...@acadjourn.org

www.academicjournals.org/JGMV

[ECOLOG-L] NEON, Inc. and Sandia National Labs DNA Barcode Evaluation Postdoc

[Laura Reynolds]

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON, Inc.), a nonprofit 
science corporation dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, 
land use and invasive species impact ecology. We are currently planning 
the NEON project - an observatory comprising more than 60 atmospheric, 
environmental and biological monitoring experiments distributed throughout 
twenty domains across the United States, Hawaii, Alaska & the Caribbean, 
monitored and controlled in real-time from our headquarters in Boulder, 
Colorado. A leading-edge flexible cyberinfrastructure is being designed to 
support current and future needs of the Observatory.

Summary:
This NEON funded project is part of a highly collaborative and 
multidisciplinary team that is focused on the development of DNA barcode 
libraries to aid in species identification and developing technology for 
DNA analysis in the field. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1.Species identification through traditional DNA barcoding.
2.Development of field instrumentation for DNA preparation and analysis.

Scope:
•The candidate will be hired by the FSU Manager, NEON, Inc. Boulder, CO.  
However, the candidate will predominantly work on site at Sandia National 
Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico under the supervision of Dr. Susan 
Brozik. 

Preferred Qualifications:
•Experience in developing electrode arrays and microfluidcs for automated, 
field DNA analysis.  
•Experience in microelectronic or MEMS-based sensors, successful proposal 
development, and project leadership.

Education:
•Ph.D. in engineering, biology or a related field 

Experience:
•Experience in electrochemical sensors, bio-electrochemical measurements, 
and DNA sequencing.  
•Research experience in electrochemistry, DNA assay and detection 
development, the design of electrochemical sensors, and their application 
to biological problems  
•A history of creative research, as evidenced by a strong publication 
record
  
Skills and Abilities:
•Strong written and verbal communication skills are expected.

Physical Requirements:
•Long periods of sitting and standing
•Regularly reaches and grasps with arms and hands
•Long periods of sitting and standing 
•Regularly reaches and grasps with arms and hands 
•Regularly stoops and bends 
•Regularly uses fine motor skills and manipulates small instruments while 
viewing through a microscope 
•Work involves possible exposure to malodorous vapors, acids, bases, 
detergents, mutagens, teratogens, carcinogens, flammables and solvents 
•Work involves possible exposure to ultraviolet, alpha, beta and gamma 
radiation emitters

TO APPLY:
Please send your cover letter, CV/resume and names of three references to 
care...@neoninc.org with DNA Barcode Evaluation Postdoc in the subject 
line.

NEON Inc. and Sandia National Laboratories are Equal Opportunity Employers 
M/F/D/V.  This position requires a Department of Energy (DOE)-granted 
security clearance and U.S. citizenship. Employee eligibility for 
clearance processing will be required at the time of hire.  If you hold 
dual citizenship and you accept a job offer for a position that requires a 
DOE-granted security clearance, you may be asked by DOE to renounce your 
foreign citizenship and retain only your U.S. citizenship.

[ECOLOG-L] volunteer field assistant for lake ecology in Iceland

[Pamela J. Woods]

Volunteer field assistant wanted for Icelandic lake ecology project

Project description:
A volunteer field assistant position is available for a study of 
Icelandic lake food webs, as part of the research for a PhD student at the 
University of Iceland and University of Washington, in collaboration with 
Hólar University College in northwest Iceland. The goal of the project is 
to analyze patterns in lake food webs over a gradient of Arctic charr 
(Salvelinus alpinus) morphological diversity. The field work will involve 
a combination of gill-netting, electrofishing, minnow-trapping, and 
invertebrate sampling.

Position requirements and provisions:
The applicant is expected to aid in field sampling (~80% time) and 
processing samples in the laboratory (~20% time). An individual research 
project can be arranged as well. The applicant must be able to commit to 
at least 8 weeks of assistance from around mid-July to mid-September 
(exact dates are flexible). The work will average ~40 hrs/week, but the 
applicant must be willing to periodically work long hours, on weekends, 
and in adverse weather conditions. He or she must also be in good physical 
condition, since field sites will be remote. Willingness to hike with 
heavy equipment (20 kg) for short distances is also required. Potential 
candidates must be willing to spend long hours (~5 hrs) in the car and 
camp periodically for up to 3 nights in ~5º C weather (at the coldest). 
All transportation costs within Iceland, accommodation costs (for shared 
apartments and guest houses), and food will be covered while in Iceland. A 
one-way ticket out of Iceland will also be provided, not to exceed $400 
USD. 

Costs incurred by the volunteer:
The applicant must pay for his or her one-way ticket into Iceland 
and any costs exceeding $400 (USD) on a return flight. He or she must also 
bring a sleeping bag (~5° C warmth) and sleeping pad (~1 in thickness), 
all-weather gear (i.e., rain jacket, rain pants, water-proof shoes), and 
waders or hip-boots without leaks.

To apply:
If you have any questions about the position, please contact the 
doctoral student, Pamela Woods, at pamelajwo...@gmail.com . To apply, send 
an e-mail with an attached CV that includes contact information for two 
references. Please also briefly summarize your current position, why you 
are interested in this position, and provide a phone number with good 
times (including time zone) to reach you.