[ECOLOG-L] State Microbes
I recently read that Gary Hebl, a Wisconsin legislator, has nominated the cheese-making bacterium Lactococcus Lactis to be the state microbe. I really like this idea and suggest that ecologists should think about this as a serious development with implications for biodiversity conservation and other ecological issues. For centuries the scientific community has been in conflict with general society about whether form or function is important in dealing with the natural world. Ben Franklin advocated that the turkey should be the official bird of the USA, but the bald eagle won out and the wild turkey ended up as the symbol of a brand of whiskey. Today's ENGOs focus on cute baby seals and cuddly pandas and there is little public concern for the segmented worms that are essential to most of our ecosystems. (I wrote a paper on this that has been rejected by several journals for its non-scientific language, available at http://bill.silvert.org/pdf/Biodiversity.pdf). If we can generate some degree of public attention for organisms which are important because of what they do rather than how nice they look, then I think we will have made real progress in gaining popular support for meaningful measures to conserve biodiversity. Bill Silvert
[ECOLOG-L] Introducing China Environment Brief, A New Semi-Weekly English Update!
Dear All, My name is Andrew Scheineson, and I am the deputy editor of China Green News, http://eng.greensos.cn a Beijing-based NGO with the mission of making China's domestic environmental news available to a broader English-speaking audience. In order to increase the flow of environmental news flowing out of the mainland, we have recently launched a new feature we call the China Environment Brief! The Brief, to be published three days a week, takes the most important Chinese articles from local and national news sources and provides (reasonably) concise summaries of the most relevant information, also providing important contextual information for some of the most complex problems confronting China today. The articles we choose cover a wide assortment of topics, from ecological sustainability to water pollution to environmental law and health. Some of the articles we provide are positive. Some are critical. Regardless of the article's (or our) stance, we do our best to provide an unbiased summary of the facts of the story. And in doing so we try to provide China's environmental news media with a voice that can be surprisingly frank and revealing. The newsletter is completely free and does not come with any additional strings or spam. All we ask is your eyes for a few minutes a week, and, if you find what you read compelling, greater interaction with China's environmental movement. Please take a look at today's brief, and if you like what you see, press the subscribe button below. And of course, forward it to your friends! The more the merrier! Thank you for your support, and enjoy! Best, Andrew Scheineson** *CHINA ENVIRONMENT BRIEF **(A News Summary from China Green Newshttp://eng.greensos.cn/ )* *Monday May 3, 2010* *To subscribe: click here http://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=1018092b.* * * *In Today’s Brief* ~Ecology To Be Key Concern of Yushu Recovery ~Environmental Vocabulary of the Shanghai Expo ~Rural Environment Can’t Be Ignored ~Regulations on Ecological Compensation in Draft Phase ~English Stories from the Chinese Press *Out of the Dust, Qinghai Imagines New, Ecological Yushu* Qinghai is dreaming big and green in the aftermath of the Yushu earthquake. Provincial environmental officials are espousing plans to rebuild Yushu as an ecotourist hubhttp://news.xinhuanet.com/environment/2010-04/30/c_1266101.htmover the next five years, Xinhua reported Friday. The Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Region, as it is formally known, is a central part of the high, grassy plateau that houses the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang (which becomes the Mekong in Southeast Asia) rivers. As such, officials claim they not only want to harness the ecological value of the area for economic growth for the future, but will also work to ensure that recovery and rebuilding efforts not harm the Three Rivers Region’s water resources or its biodiversity. According to the article and other domestic reports, the April 14 earthquake has caused limited or no damage to the area’s biodiversity or its water quality. As for disaster relief and recovery work, though the majority of the thousands of displaced residents are currently living on the grassland with limited sanitation infrastructure, officials maintain that the potential environmental damage is not an object of concern. “[Temporary shelters on the grassland] are not equivalent to natural damage, as the grassland has the ability to recover, and the technology [for grassland recovery] is already well-developed,” the director of the Qinghai environmental monitoring bureau said. For more, read this article from the *Beijing Review* on earthquake reconstruction in Yushuhttp://www.bjreview.com.cn/nation/txt/2010-04/30/content_268937.htm(English) *Eco-Friendly Buzz Words for the Shanghai Expo* The Shanghai World Fair http://en.expo2010.cn/ opened its doors and pavilions to the world last Friday with an elaborate opening ceremony filled with performances, fireworks, and, naturally, Jackie Chan. As the first hordes swarm through the fairgrounds, which will be buffeted by some 70 million visitors over the six-month exhibition, Expo officials offered media covering the spectacle a list of “keywords”http://www.stdaily.com/kjrb/content/2010-05/02/content_182208.htm[Sci. and Tech Daily] that will define the event: City: At the time of the first World Fair, held in London in 1851, the global urban population was 6%. Today, it is pushing 50% and rising fast. Return: To a simpler, greener way of life, that is. The Expo will promote the greater use of bicycles in cities, along with other less energy intensive ways of urban living. Low Carbon: The queen of buzzing words at the so-called “Green Expo”. With 200 fuel cell cars and 300 electric vehicles operating on the Expo site, and buildings designed to harness the suns rays for 75% of their interior lighting, fair organizers have become a vocal proponent of the fight against global warming.
[ECOLOG-L] Dive GIS 2010 enrollment deadline May 31st
Dear all, The Dive GIS summer course will celebrate its 5th anniversary in 2010! The 5th edition of the course will be held from the 28th of July to the 7th of August in Crotone at the Capo Rizzuto Marine Protected Area. Enrollment deadline is May 31st! Dive GIS course is for you if you wish to: 1.Learn state of the art GIS and Remote Sensing methodologies used for marine applications 2.Learn to use the ArcGIS software 3.Become a certified diver 4.Collect scientific data in the field and underwater 5.Identify marine flora and fauna 6.Be passionate about the marine environment and the conservation of its resources 7.Network and socialize in an international environment The course, organized by Mappamondo GIS in collaboration with the MPA, represents a unique training initiative that offers the chance to learn Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing methodologies while becoming a certified SCUBA diver. Participants learn to use state of the art technologies and to combine them with passion oriented sport and field activities in the context of marine environment management and science. The challenging objective of the organizer is to provide the bases for a multi-skill career. Participants are introduced to the underwater world through PADI Open Water Diver and specialty courses, to the digital cartography and imaging world through classes based on training material from ESRI, the world-leader in the GIS field, and to real case study applications of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing tools for marine scientists. The course involves computer lab and field sessions and it is well suited for people novice to both GIS and diving, as well as for people that have already some knowledge and skills in both fields but that wish to gain an additional experience. During the course, the participants work on a real case study concerning the mapping of marine habitats using on-screen visual interpretation, supervised and unsupervised classification of satellite images and aerial photos. This allows identifying and quantifying vulnerable areas with high environmental value. Students also learn to identify marine flora and fauna, to collect scientific data about their distribution and to use handheld GIS and GPS units. Biodiversity and species distribution data are entered in the GIS to study their correlation with the habitat and other biotic and abiotic environmental parameters. For further information about the course and online registration for the 2010 edition visit the following website: www.mappamondogis.it/divegis.htm or write an email to i...@mappamondogis.com
[ECOLOG-L] Internship: NCSE/NPS climate change internship program
NCSE's http://e2ma.net/go/6665389946/208182111/212468372/1401437/goto:http://ncseonline.org/CampusToCareers/Campus to Careers (C2C) Program environmental internships to expose college students and recent graduates to real world experience as well as mentoring and career networking opportunities. C2C is hiring an intern for its National Park Service http://e2ma.net/go/6665389946/208182111/212468373/1401437/goto:http://ncseonline.org/CampustoCareers/cms.cfm?id=2233Climate Change Internship Program (CCIP) at the Russell Cave National Monument, AL. In this unique internship, the intern will work with nationally recognized Archaeologist, Dr. Sarah Sherwood, assessing prehistoric climate conditions from soil samples. The internship will be based in Bridgeport, AL (between Chattanooga and Huntsville) for 10-12 weeks in duration, beginning in May or June, and pays $12.00 per hour. The intern will work 40 hours per week (no overtime or holiday work). Housing is provided, but intern will be responsible for his/her own food and transportation. Intern duties: * Create interpretive presentations on analysis results comparing prehistoric climate change scenarios to current climate change conditions. * Outline and create curriculum-based materials for presentation of findings and theories. * Field support will involve participating in soil sample collection, photography, and detailed documentation. Skills and Experience: * Coursework in Earth Sciences (geology, soil science, botany would be most relevant) * Education and/or previous volunteer or internship experience in some combination of: * - Education * - Archaeology * - Anthropology * - History * Microsoft Office skills: * - Essential: Word and PowerPoint * - Valuable: Excel * - Useful but not necessary: Access To apply, students and recent graduates should see the guidelines on our http://e2ma.net/go/6665389946/208182111/212468374/1401437/goto:http://ncseonline.org/CampustoCareers/cms.cfm?id=3666website. For more information about this internship, please contact Paul Dion at pd...@ncseonline.org.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes
Good point, but when we talk about non-charismatic organisms we should focus on your question, what ones are not important?. In my unpublished article to which I refer below I take the unpopular position that we really do need to set priorities and not take the view that all god's creatures deserve equal protection. Clearly the earthworm is essential and I think that the public would be sympathetic to this yucky creature. But one of the worst public relation fiascos in biodiversity conservation was mustering forces to fight millions of dollars of development to preserve the critical habitat of a sand fly -- even the scintists who had studied the fly couldn't come up with a decent picture of its ecological role, it boiled down to, well you never know. I think we need to focus on ecosystem function (or ecosystem services if you prefer) rather than species. Our best chance for getting the public and politicians to back environmental protection is to show what is at risk, and not just take the view that all species must be protected (after all, natural extinctions are common no matter what we do). Unfortunately the laws on the books of many countries do not reflect this view. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: mcnee...@cox.net To: William Silvert cien...@silvert.org; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 15:21 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes Bill, I agree with you in principle. We should have a public awareness of and appreciation for non-charismatic but important organisms (and what ones are not important?). However, politically, mainly because the publicity battle is more easily won by those with tons of money than by conservationists, the endangered species program has created serious backlash even when the organisms protected have been lovable. Protection of obscure and even oddly named organisms (like lousewort) has provoked outrage and ridicule, leading to public disenchantment with protection. So, how to do what you suggest successfully? After all, almost everyone has learned in school or from public media that most microbes are beneficial, and that simple and benign products like soap are as good as such things as Triclosan (trademarked product) in combating those that might do harm. Guess who has won that battle. DMc William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: I recently read that Gary Hebl, a Wisconsin legislator, has nominated the cheese-making bacterium Lactococcus Lactis to be the state microbe. I really like this idea and suggest that ecologists should think about this as a serious development with implications for biodiversity conservation and other ecological issues. For centuries the scientific community has been in conflict with general society about whether form or function is important in dealing with the natural world. Ben Franklin advocated that the turkey should be the official bird of the USA, but the bald eagle won out and the wild turkey ended up as the symbol of a brand of whiskey. Today's ENGOs focus on cute baby seals and cuddly pandas and there is little public concern for the segmented worms that are essential to most of our ecosystems. (I wrote a paper on this that has been rejected by several journals for its non-scientific language, available at http://bill.silvert.org/pdf/Biodiversity.pdf). If we can generate some degree of public attention for organisms which are important because of what they do rather than how nice they look, then I think we will have made real progress in gaining popular support for meaningful measures to conserve biodiversity.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes
Bill, I agree wholeheartedly that drawing attention to organisms other than the charismatic megafauna would do a great deal for biodiversity awareness. There are many projects out there that do focus on these species, not only documenting their biodiversity but also raising public awareness (e.g., I'm running one getting kids to go collect earthworms). I think that we have to be careful when communicating to the public: saying the earthworm is essential is extremely misleading and facilitates the misconception that there is only one type of earthworm (and most places in the US+Canada the earthworm is an invasive species!!). Stating in the same sentence that earthworms are yucky demonstrates the big problem we're up against, not just for the public but also in the scientific community. -Bruce ~~~ Bruce A. Snyder, PhD Instructor; REU Program Coordinator Mail: Kansas State University Division of Biology 116 Ackert Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-4901 Office: 136 Ackert Hall 785-532-2430 http://www.k-state.edu/earthworm/ On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:47 AM, William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Good point, but when we talk about non-charismatic organisms we should focus on your question, what ones are not important?. In my unpublished article to which I refer below I take the unpopular position that we really do need to set priorities and not take the view that all god's creatures deserve equal protection. Clearly the earthworm is essential and I think that the public would be sympathetic to this yucky creature. But one of the worst public relation fiascos in biodiversity conservation was mustering forces to fight millions of dollars of development to preserve the critical habitat of a sand fly -- even the scintists who had studied the fly couldn't come up with a decent picture of its ecological role, it boiled down to, well you never know. I think we need to focus on ecosystem function (or ecosystem services if you prefer) rather than species. Our best chance for getting the public and politicians to back environmental protection is to show what is at risk, and not just take the view that all species must be protected (after all, natural extinctions are common no matter what we do). Unfortunately the laws on the books of many countries do not reflect this view. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: mcnee...@cox.net To: William Silvert cien...@silvert.org; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 15:21 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes Bill, I agree with you in principle. We should have a public awareness of and appreciation for non-charismatic but important organisms (and what ones are not important?). However, politically, mainly because the publicity battle is more easily won by those with tons of money than by conservationists, the endangered species program has created serious backlash even when the organisms protected have been lovable. Protection of obscure and even oddly named organisms (like lousewort) has provoked outrage and ridicule, leading to public disenchantment with protection. So, how to do what you suggest successfully? After all, almost everyone has learned in school or from public media that most microbes are beneficial, and that simple and benign products like soap are as good as such things as Triclosan (trademarked product) in combating those that might do harm. Guess who has won that battle. DMc William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: I recently read that Gary Hebl, a Wisconsin legislator, has nominated the cheese-making bacterium Lactococcus Lactis to be the state microbe. I really like this idea and suggest that ecologists should think about this as a serious development with implications for biodiversity conservation and other ecological issues. For centuries the scientific community has been in conflict with general society about whether form or function is important in dealing with the natural world. Ben Franklin advocated that the turkey should be the official bird of the USA, but the bald eagle won out and the wild turkey ended up as the symbol of a brand of whiskey. Today's ENGOs focus on cute baby seals and cuddly pandas and there is little public concern for the segmented worms that are essential to most of our ecosystems. (I wrote a paper on this that has been rejected by several journals for its non-scientific language, available at http://bill.silvert.org/pdf/Biodiversity.pdf). If we can generate some degree of public attention for organisms which are important because of what they do rather than how nice they look, then I think we will have made real progress in gaining popular support for meaningful measures to conserve biodiversity.
[ECOLOG-L] Media inquiry about Gulf Oil Spill/restoration
Hello All, I had such a great response for help with my last article (Endangered Faceshttp://tenthmil.com/campaigns/policy/_endangered_faces_top_3_ugly_species_and_why_they_deserve_protection_too) I thought I'd try again. I'm working on a story about the Gulf oil spill, but instead of adding to the glut of info swirling around about cause and size, I've been asked to really get a sense of what this disaster is going to mean in terms of loss of non-human life and the path to restoration. In essence, I'm looking for input from wildlife and restoration professionals about the long process of cleaning up the area. Here are some questions to get you started. Please respond as you see appropriate or feel free to contact me with the names of colleagues that would be interested in commenting. Thanks! 1. Please state your name, position, and area of research. 2. What, in your opinion, is the potential harm to endangered species effected in this disaster? 3. Which species is likely to suffer the most (loss of life, loss of habitat)? 4. How long could this region of the Gulf be dealing with the effects of this disaster? 5. What is being done or what has yet to be done to restore these habitats? 6. What is the biggest need/first priority for restoration workers in a spill like this? Thank you! -- Beth Buczynski, M.S. Copy Writer/Environmental Blogger www.seebethwrite.com www.ecosphericblog.com @ecosphericblog
Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms
Well, I do think that the earthworm (or earthworms) is essential, I don't see what the problem is in using collective nouns. As for its being an invasive species, it is my understanding that the native earthworms were pretty nearly wiped out during the ice ages and the European invaders filled an essential gap. And they are yucky. Some useful species, like hagfish, are incredibly yucky. Why is this a problem? My point was that we have to focus on the value of organisms, not their aesthetic appeal. In an earlier posting I discussed the importance of fly maggots, aren't they pretty yucky too? By the way, I work with jellyfish, which manage to be both beautiful and yucky at the same time. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 17:11 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes Bill, I agree wholeheartedly that drawing attention to organisms other than the charismatic megafauna would do a great deal for biodiversity awareness. There are many projects out there that do focus on these species, not only documenting their biodiversity but also raising public awareness (e.g., I'm running one getting kids to go collect earthworms). I think that we have to be careful when communicating to the public: saying the earthworm is essential is extremely misleading and facilitates the misconception that there is only one type of earthworm (and most places in the US+Canada the earthworm is an invasive species!!). Stating in the same sentence that earthworms are yucky demonstrates the big problem we're up against, not just for the public but also in the scientific community. -Bruce ~~~ Bruce A. Snyder, PhD Instructor; REU Program Coordinator Mail: Kansas State University Division of Biology 116 Ackert Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-4901 Office: 136 Ackert Hall 785-532-2430 http://www.k-state.edu/earthworm/ On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:47 AM, William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Good point, but when we talk about non-charismatic organisms we should focus on your question, what ones are not important?. In my unpublished article to which I refer below I take the unpopular position that we really do need to set priorities and not take the view that all god's creatures deserve equal protection. Clearly the earthworm is essential and I think that the public would be sympathetic to this yucky creature. But one of the worst public relation fiascos in biodiversity conservation was mustering forces to fight millions of dollars of development to preserve the critical habitat of a sand fly -- even the scintists who had studied the fly couldn't come up with a decent picture of its ecological role, it boiled down to, well you never know. I think we need to focus on ecosystem function (or ecosystem services if you prefer) rather than species. Our best chance for getting the public and politicians to back environmental protection is to show what is at risk, and not just take the view that all species must be protected (after all, natural extinctions are common no matter what we do). Unfortunately the laws on the books of many countries do not reflect this view.
[ECOLOG-L] lepidoptern course in arizona
WE HAVE JUST THREE OPENINGS LEFT IN THIS SUMMER'S LEPIDOPTERN COURSE! We are happy to announce the 2010 Lepidoptern Course to be held at the Southwestern Research Station (SWRS) located in the Chricihahua Mountains of SE Arizona. The focus of the lep course is to train graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and serious citizen-scientists in the classification and identification of adult lepidoptera and their larvae. Topics to be covered include an extensive introduction into adult and larval morphology with a focus on taxonomically-important traits, extensive field work on both adults and larvae, collecting and curatoral techniques, genitalic dissection and preparation, larval classification, use (and abuse) of DNA bar coding, and general issues in lepidoptera systematics, ecology, and evolution. THE LOCATION: With its extensive series of Sky-Island mountain ranges, SE Arizona has the highest lepidoptera diversity in the US. With low desert scrub, oak and mixed oak-pine woodland, lush riparian, juniper, Douglas fir, and mountain meadow habitats all within a 40 minute drive from the research station, the SWRS is an ideal location from which to sample this diversity (of both habitats and species). INSTRUCTORS: Jim Brock (Tucson, Arizona) John Brown (USDA, Smithsonian) P. D. Hulce (SW Research Station) Jim Miller (American Museum of Natural History) Ray Nagle (University of Arizona) Chris Schmidt (Canadian National Collection) Bruce Walsh (University of Arizona) Ian Watkinison (Arizona Western College/Northern Arizona University) COURSE DETAILS: Dates: 7 - 14 August 2010 Cost: $900 for students, $1000 for non-students Application form on course website. Due by 7 June 2010 Course website: www.lepcourse.org For logistics or information about the SWRS you can contact: THE LEPIDOPTERAN COURSE Attention: P.D. Hulce Southwestern Research Station P.O. Box 16553 Portal, Arizona 85632 dhu...@amnh.org; 520-558-2396 http://research.amnh.org/swrs/butterflycourse.htm Dawn S. Wilson Director, Southwestern Research Station P.O. Box 16553 Portal, Arizona 85632 Ph: 520-558-2396 Fax: 520-558-2018 Email: dwil...@amnh.org web: http:research.amnh.org/swrs/ Dawn S. Wilson Director, Southwestern Research Station P.O. Box 16553 Portal, Arizona 85632 Ph: 520-558-2396 Fax: 520-558-2018 Email: dwil...@amnh.org web: http:research.amnh.org/swrs/
[ECOLOG-L] REVISED-wetland photointerpreter/ecologist-Montana Natural Heritage Program
POSITION TITLE: WETLAND PHOTOINTERPRETER/ECOLOGIST JOB LENGTH: Full time annual appointment, renewable based on continued funding. COMPENSATION: $28,000-$30,000 per year, depending on experience JOB LOCATION: Helena, MT SUMMARY OF POSITION: The Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) serves as the state's principle source of information on species, habitats, and landscapes of conservation concern. The Wetland Photointerpreter/Ecologist works closely with other staff ecologists, the botanist, database specialists, and public and private partners to document the distribution, dynamics, and management of Montanas ecological diversity. The Wetland Photointerpreter/Ecologist is a regular, full-time position supervised by the Ecologist/Projects Manager or Senior Ecologist, and may lead work teams or supervise interns, student employees, or volunteers as appropriate. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Principle duties include: 1) interpreting and classifying wetlands in the field and through remotely-sensed imagery; 2) integrating data into spatial and tabular databases, and map layers; 3) carrying out QA/QC and hydrogeomorphic classification procedures on wetland maps; 4) producing assessments, reports, information summaries and maps for presentations, publications, and the internet; and 5) effectively representing MTNHP to partners, information users, and landowners. KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS: Bachelors degree in ecology, botany, wildlife biology, or range science; masters preferred. Experience in at least two of the following areas: wetland ecology, waterfowl ecology, hydrology, aquatic ecology, conservation biology, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, or community ecology. Minimum of two field seasons conducting field surveys and assessments. Experience delineating wetland habitats. Demonstrated understanding of wetland classification systems, including the Cowardin (USFWS) system and the hydrogeomorphic (HGM) system. Experience using dichotomous keys to identify vegetation. Knowledge of wetland and riparian function, and the ability to crosswalk between classification systems to assign functions to specific wetland habitat types. Familiarity with quality assurance and quality control processes as they apply to photointerpretation and image analysis. Proficiency in working with databases and analyzing tabular and spatial data using statistical and GIS software. Demonstrated experience with ESRI GIS software, including ArcMap and Spatial Analyst. Experience with landscape assessment, aquatic classification, or the production of synoptic maps using digital elevation models, hydrology datasets, aerial photographs, LiDAR, remote sensing imagery, soils and geologic maps, and field data. Demonstrated experience using GPS in the field and importing and analyzing coordinates and other data. Familiarity with ERDAS/LEICA Imagine or E-cognition preferred. Knowledge of the vegetation and flora of the Rocky Mountains and Western Great Plains with an emphasis on wetland vegetation; demonstrated proficiency in vegetation survey methods. Experience in the identification of wetland communities. Demonstrated ability to implement and successfully complete projects on time and within budget, and in report or map production and presentation; ability to set and reach goals, and problem-solve effectively. Strong organizational skills, thoroughness, and attention to detail; initiative and ability to work independently and to lead project teams. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and an ability to build effective partnerships and collaboration with government agencies, academia and the non-profit sector. Willingness and ability to travel, especially during the field season, and to conduct long days of strenuous fieldwork, often alone and/or under adverse conditions or in remote areas. Ability to hike long distances (5-8 miles per day) over rough terrain carrying equipment and personal gear. Current driver's license and clean driving record required. COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING: Resolves complex issues independently within program area. Experiments to find creative solutions. Work is diversified and may not always fall under established practices and guidelines. Implements multiple projects. Acts as a resource to others to solve problems. Works within decentralized team environment. DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING: Opportunity to act independently. Makes sound decisions based on analysis of information, experience, and judgment. RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT FINANCIAL SUPERVISORY: Assist in the development of funding proposals for agency partners and outside sources. Identify time and effort necessary to complete proposed tasks, and ensure that work is completed on time and within budget. Gains cooperation from individuals or groups over whom
Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms
Native Nearctic earthworms have not been eliminated and are quite diverse. Pleistocene glaciations did extirpate them from the northern portion of the continent, and the present-day ecosystems in this region developed just fine without the presence of earthworms. This is where the detrimental impacts of invasive earthworms are the most prominent. European earthworms are the primary culprits in the northern forests, but Asian, African, and South American species have all found there way to North America. Collective nouns are not a problem in themselves, but it is troublesome when a collective term is applied to describe the homogeneity of something that is far from homogeneous. E.g., not all earthworm individuals are the same species and as such not all function the same; not all earthworm species are beneficial in all locations. -Bruce ~~~ Bruce A. Snyder, PhD Instructor; REU Program Coordinator Mail: Kansas State University Division of Biology 116 Ackert Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-4901 Office: 136 Ackert Hall 785-532-2430 On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 11:34 AM, William Silvert cien...@silvert.orgwrote: Well, I do think that the earthworm (or earthworms) is essential, I don't see what the problem is in using collective nouns. As for its being an invasive species, it is my understanding that the native earthworms were pretty nearly wiped out during the ice ages and the European invaders filled an essential gap. And they are yucky. Some useful species, like hagfish, are incredibly yucky. Why is this a problem? My point was that we have to focus on the value of organisms, not their aesthetic appeal. In an earlier posting I discussed the importance of fly maggots, aren't they pretty yucky too? By the way, I work with jellyfish, which manage to be both beautiful and yucky at the same time. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 17:11 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes Bill, I agree wholeheartedly that drawing attention to organisms other than the charismatic megafauna would do a great deal for biodiversity awareness. There are many projects out there that do focus on these species, not only documenting their biodiversity but also raising public awareness (e.g., I'm running one getting kids to go collect earthworms). I think that we have to be careful when communicating to the public: saying the earthworm is essential is extremely misleading and facilitates the misconception that there is only one type of earthworm (and most places in the US+Canada the earthworm is an invasive species!!). Stating in the same sentence that earthworms are yucky demonstrates the big problem we're up against, not just for the public but also in the scientific community. -Bruce ~~~ Bruce A. Snyder, PhD Instructor; REU Program Coordinator Mail: Kansas State University Division of Biology 116 Ackert Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-4901 Office: 136 Ackert Hall 785-532-2430 http://www.k-state.edu/earthworm/ On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:47 AM, William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Good point, but when we talk about non-charismatic organisms we should focus on your question, what ones are not important?. In my unpublished article to which I refer below I take the unpopular position that we really do need to set priorities and not take the view that all god's creatures deserve equal protection. Clearly the earthworm is essential and I think that the public would be sympathetic to this yucky creature. But one of the worst public relation fiascos in biodiversity conservation was mustering forces to fight millions of dollars of development to preserve the critical habitat of a sand fly -- even the scintists who had studied the fly couldn't come up with a decent picture of its ecological role, it boiled down to, well you never know. I think we need to focus on ecosystem function (or ecosystem services if you prefer) rather than species. Our best chance for getting the public and politicians to back environmental protection is to show what is at risk, and not just take the view that all species must be protected (after all, natural extinctions are common no matter what we do). Unfortunately the laws on the books of many countries do not reflect this view.
[ECOLOG-L] Fire Ecology Technician
FIRE ECOLOGY INTERNS/ TECHNICIANS: Description: We seek one temporary full-time technicians in fire ecology with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM), University of Hawaii at M#257;noa in Honolulu, Hawaii. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work performance, and availability of funds. Hourly Wage: $10/hr Dates of employment: Start ASAP - September 2010. Duties: Supervised by Ph.D. student in NREM. Project goals are to quantify the fuel loads and install native species restoration trials in nonnative- dominated grassland systems on Oahu, Hawaii. Work will be primarily in the Waianae Coast and North Shore areas, and will consist of field collection and sample processing in the laboratory. Minimum Qualifications: Education: Bachelors degree in progress in Biology, Ecology, Botany, or another related Biological discipline. Abil/Know/Skills: Basic knowledge of the principles of ecology. Experience in ecological data collection. Basic computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Excel. Desirable Qualifications: Experience collecting biological data in a field setting. Organizational, communication, and leadership skills with an ability to independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Ability to work effectively as a member of a larger team. Resourceful in developing practical solutions to daily challenges. Knowledge of Hawaiian ecosystems. Experience with issues surrounding grassland fire ecology in tropical ecosystems. Inquiries: Lisa Ellsworth lmellswo...@gmail.com Application: Send resume or CV with: contact information for 3 references, academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are fine), and cover letter detailing how you meet minimum and, where applicable, desirable qualifications to Lisa Ellsworth at lmellswo...@gmail.com Applications will be reviewed and interviews offered as they are received. Position open until suitable candidate(s) found.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms
For a very long time I've thought, as Bill mentioned in an early post in this thread, that we need to focus on ecosystems, communities, whatever term works best for communicating with the public. And, as Bill said the emphasis needs to be on ecosystem services, emphasizing value to humans. If we just keep saying look at the beautiful prairie, and we're loosing it, we'll get no further than we have with emphasis on rare, threatened, or endangered species. A side benefit of emphasis on ecosystems is that if we save those, we've saved their species, too (often, anyway. We still need to keep up with population loss and try to reverse it). DMc William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Well, I do think that the earthworm (or earthworms) is essential, I don't see what the problem is in using collective nouns. As for its being an invasive species, it is my understanding that the native earthworms were pretty nearly wiped out during the ice ages and the European invaders filled an essential gap. And they are yucky. Some useful species, like hagfish, are incredibly yucky. Why is this a problem? My point was that we have to focus on the value of organisms, not their aesthetic appeal. In an earlier posting I discussed the importance of fly maggots, aren't they pretty yucky too? By the way, I work with jellyfish, which manage to be both beautiful and yucky at the same time. Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 17:11 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes Bill, I agree wholeheartedly that drawing attention to organisms other than the charismatic megafauna would do a great deal for biodiversity awareness. There are many projects out there that do focus on these species, not only documenting their biodiversity but also raising public awareness (e.g., I'm running one getting kids to go collect earthworms). I think that we have to be careful when communicating to the public: saying the earthworm is essential is extremely misleading and facilitates the misconception that there is only one type of earthworm (and most places in the US+Canada the earthworm is an invasive species!!). Stating in the same sentence that earthworms are yucky demonstrates the big problem we're up against, not just for the public but also in the scientific community. -Bruce ~~~ Bruce A. Snyder, PhD Instructor; REU Program Coordinator Mail: Kansas State University Division of Biology 116 Ackert Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-4901 Office: 136 Ackert Hall 785-532-2430 http://www.k-state.edu/earthworm/ On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:47 AM, William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Good point, but when we talk about non-charismatic organisms we should focus on your question, what ones are not important?. In my unpublished article to which I refer below I take the unpopular position that we really do need to set priorities and not take the view that all god's creatures deserve equal protection. Clearly the earthworm is essential and I think that the public would be sympathetic to this yucky creature. But one of the worst public relation fiascos in biodiversity conservation was mustering forces to fight millions of dollars of development to preserve the critical habitat of a sand fly -- even the scintists who had studied the fly couldn't come up with a decent picture of its ecological role, it boiled down to, well you never know. I think we need to focus on ecosystem function (or ecosystem services if you prefer) rather than species. Our best chance for getting the public and politicians to back environmental protection is to show what is at risk, and not just take the view that all species must be protected (after all, natural extinctions are common no matter what we do). Unfortunately the laws on the books of many countries do not reflect this view. -- David McNeely
[ECOLOG-L] CALL FOR AUTHORS: Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste: The Social Science of Garbage
We are inviting academic editorial contributors to a new reference work on consumption and waste, or the social science of garbage. Archaeologists and anthropologists have long studied artifacts of refuse from the distant past as a portal into ancient civilizations, but examining what we throw away today tells a story in real time and becomes an important and useful tool for academic study. Trash is studied by behavioral scientists who use data compiled from the exploration of dumpsters to better understand our modern society and culture. Why does the average American household send 470 pounds of uneaten food to the garbage can on an annual basis? How do different societies around the world cope with their garbage in these troubled environmental times? How does our trash give insight into our attitudes about gender, class, religion, and art? The Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste explores the topic across multiple disciplines within the social sciences and ranges further to include business, consumerism, environmentalism, and marketing. Each article ranges from 600 to 3,000 words. We are now making assignments due July 1, 2010. This comprehensive project will be published by SAGE Reference and will be marketed to academic and public libraries as a print and digital product available to students via the library’s electronic services. The General Editor, who will be reviewing each submission to the project, is Dr. William Rathje, emeritus University of Arizona, the top scholar in the field. If you are interested in contributing to this cutting-edge reference, it is a unique opportunity to contribute to the contemporary literature, redefining sociological issues in today’s terms. Moreover, it can be a notable publication addition to your CV/resume and broaden your publishing credits. SAGE Publications offers an honorarium ranging from SAGE book credits for smaller articles up to a free set of the printed product or access to the online product for contributions totaling 10,000 words or more. The list of available articles is already prepared, and as a next step we will e-mail you the Article List (Excel file) from which you can select topics that best fit your expertise and interests. Additionally, Style and Submission Guidelines will be provided that detail article specifications. If you would like to contribute to building a truly outstanding reference with the Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste: The Social Science of Garbage, please contact me by the e-mail information below. Please provide a brief summary of your academic/publishing credentials in related issues. Thanks very much. Joseph K. Golson consumpt...@golsonmedia.com
[ECOLOG-L] Earthworms
Perhaps Bruce could fill us in on earthworms, since not all of us are knowledgable in this area (I'm a marine ecologist and obviously picked up on some inaccurate ideas). I always assumed that they played the same role as some key polychaetes do in benthic systems, where it has been shown that if just one key species is eliminated the bottom turns to concrete. So please: if earthworms are absent, what keeps the soil aerated and broken up? What are the detrimental impacts of the undesirable earthworm species? What is the range of ecosystem functions that earthworms play? Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 18:41 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms Native Nearctic earthworms have not been eliminated and are quite diverse. Pleistocene glaciations did extirpate them from the northern portion of the continent, and the present-day ecosystems in this region developed just fine without the presence of earthworms. This is where the detrimental impacts of invasive earthworms are the most prominent. European earthworms are the primary culprits in the northern forests, but Asian, African, and South American species have all found there way to North America. Collective nouns are not a problem in themselves, but it is troublesome when a collective term is applied to describe the homogeneity of something that is far from homogeneous. E.g., not all earthworm individuals are the same species and as such not all function the same; not all earthworm species are beneficial in all locations.
[ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: QA-Ecologists assess oil spill damage
An oil slick originating from a rig about 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, which is dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of approximately 25,000 barrels per day, is drifting toward the Alabama, Florida and Louisiana coasts, and scientists are still assessing the ecological impact that will result. In this QA, three members of the Ecological Society of America's Rapid Response Team discuss the current and possible future damage of this spill and the effects it could have on the Gulf region. Read the full article and comment at http://www.esa.org/esablog/ecology-in-policy/qa-ecologists-assess-oil-spill-damage/.
[ECOLOG-L] tree propagation research assistant position
Research Assistant 2-B/H The Ohio State University Delaware, Ohio The Research Assistant will coordinate and implement the propagation of trees to carry out studies of interactions between trees and insects; maintain plants in greenhouse, polyhouse and field plots including irrigation, fertilization, weed and pest control. This position is also responsible for collecting, organizing and summarizing data for research reports as well as assisting with report preparation, proposals, presentations and displays. This position is located in Delaware, OH. Experience with greenhouse maintenance and pest control and knowledge of research data and collection as well as frequent overnight travel to research sites and OARDC is required. Must have good computer skills and spreadsheet software experience. This position requires working outdoors in forests in presence of known forest hazards such as biting/stinging insects poison ivy; heavy lifting up to 50 lbs.; travel to main campus and recurrent travel to OARDC in Wooster, Ohio. Experience with data analysis software, and the ability to prepare reports and proposals and pesticide applicator's license, preferred. Please send cover letter, curriculum vitae and references to: David Carey, USDA Forest Service NRS, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015 or e-mail to dca...@fs.fed.us. For a complete position description and application instructions please visit www.jobsatosu.com and search by requisition number 349489. Application Deadline: 5/12/2010 To build a diverse workforce Ohio State encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, veterans and women. EEO/AA employer.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Earthworms
Repeated freezing and thawing (i.e., the formation and destruction of ice crystals in the soil), other burrowing organisms, and the growth and subsequent rotting in-place of plant roots all help keep soil loose in zones where the cold excludes earthworms. Martin Meiss 2010/5/3 William Silvert cien...@silvert.org Perhaps Bruce could fill us in on earthworms, since not all of us are knowledgable in this area (I'm a marine ecologist and obviously picked up on some inaccurate ideas). I always assumed that they played the same role as some key polychaetes do in benthic systems, where it has been shown that if just one key species is eliminated the bottom turns to concrete. So please: if earthworms are absent, what keeps the soil aerated and broken up? What are the detrimental impacts of the undesirable earthworm species? What is the range of ecosystem functions that earthworms play? Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 18:41 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms Native Nearctic earthworms have not been eliminated and are quite diverse. Pleistocene glaciations did extirpate them from the northern portion of the continent, and the present-day ecosystems in this region developed just fine without the presence of earthworms. This is where the detrimental impacts of invasive earthworms are the most prominent. European earthworms are the primary culprits in the northern forests, but Asian, African, and South American species have all found there way to North America. Collective nouns are not a problem in themselves, but it is troublesome when a collective term is applied to describe the homogeneity of something that is far from homogeneous. E.g., not all earthworm individuals are the same species and as such not all function the same; not all earthworm species are beneficial in all locations.
[ECOLOG-L] Invasion Ecology textbook feedback
On behalf of Martha Hoopes via the IUCN Aliens listserve (www.issg.org/database/welcome/) Hello: My coauthors and I are embarking on a revision of our textbook, Invasion Ecology (Julie Lockwood, Martha Hoopes, and Michael Marchetti from Wiley, formerly Blackwell), and we are looking to find professors/instructors who have taught from the book. We would like to get your feedback on the book's strengths and weaknesses and so forth. To accomplish this I am soliciting names and e-mail addresses from people who have taught from the book, and then we will follow up with you by sending a questionnaire. No need to respond in detail to this message; I just need your name and contact information. Also, please respond to me -- mhoo...@mtholyoke.edu -- rather than to the entire listserv. Many thanks! Martha ** Martha Hoopes Biological Sciences Mount Holyoke College 50 College St South Hadley, MA 01075 413-538-2210 mhoo...@mtholyoke.edu
Re: [ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: QA-Ecologists assess oil spill damage
In Ecotone, Josh Schimal responds to a question on long-term ecological effects of the chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup, noting that dispersants used were relatively short-lived (see below). However, in a recent article, Abrahm Lustgarten (recipient of a MacArthur Foundation grant for international reporting) notes that the dispersants used by BP (which bought up a third of the world's supply) may have long-term effects. Chemicals Meant To Break Up BP Oil Spill Present New Environmental Concerns by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica - April 30, 2010 5:44 pm EDT http://www.propublica.org/article/bp-gulf-oil-spill-dispersants-0430 Hope Woodward Hyampom, CA Q: There were several chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup. How were they used and did they work? Were there any long term ecological effects from the chemicals? A (Josh Schimel): At sea, they used dispersants. Those are likely relatively short-lived in the environment, and given the flow patterns of the Sound, would be flushed out to the south-west with the prevailing currents to be diluted into the North Pacific Ocean. Their characteristics might also make them somewhat biodegradable or photodegradable themselves. --- On Mon, 5/3/10, Katie Kline ka...@esa.org wrote: From: Katie Kline ka...@esa.org Subject: [ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: QA-Ecologists assess oil spill damage To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Monday, May 3, 2010, 12:27 PM An oil slick originating from a rig about 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, which is dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of approximately 25,000 barrels per day, is drifting toward the Alabama, Florida and Louisiana coasts, and scientists are still assessing the ecological impact that will result. In this QA, three members of the Ecological Society of America's Rapid Response Team discuss the current and possible future damage of this spill and the effects it could have on the Gulf region. Read the full article and comment at http://www.esa.org/esablog/ecology-in-policy/qa-ecologists-assess-oil-spill-damage/.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: QA-Ecologists assess oil spill damage
And aside from the direct toxicity that the dispersants may have, they make the hydrocarbons in the oil more available to the marine organisms in the offshore water that were previously not exposed to much, since most of the hydrocarbons were concentrated above them at the surface. In Ecotone, Josh Schimal responds to a question on long-term ecological effects of the chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup, noting that dispersants used were relatively short-lived (see below). However, in a recent article, Abrahm Lustgarten (recipient of a MacArthur Foundation grant for international reporting) notes that the dispersants used by BP (which bought up a third of the world's supply) may have long-term effects. Chemicals Meant To Break Up BP Oil Spill Present New Environmental Concerns by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica - April 30, 2010 5:44 pm EDT http://www.propublica.org/article/bp-gulf-oil-spill-dispersants-0430 Hope Woodward Hyampom, CA Q: There were several chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup. How were they used and did they work? Were there any long term ecological effects from the chemicals? A (Josh Schimel): At sea, they used dispersants. Those are likely relatively short-lived in the environment, and given the flow patterns of the Sound, would be flushed out to the south-west with the prevailing currents to be diluted into the North Pacific Ocean. Their characteristics might also make them somewhat biodegradable or photodegradable themselves. --- On Mon, 5/3/10, Katie Kline ka...@esa.org wrote: From: Katie Kline ka...@esa.org Subject: [ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: QA-Ecologists assess oil spill damage To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Monday, May 3, 2010, 12:27 PM An oil slick originating from a rig about 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, which is dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of approximately 25,000 barrels per day, is drifting toward the Alabama, Florida and Louisiana coasts, and scientists are still assessing the ecological impact that will result. In this QA, three members of the Ecological Society of America's Rapid Response Team discuss the current and possible future damage of this spill and the effects it could have on the Gulf region. Read the full article and comment at http://www.esa.org/esablog/ecology-in-policy/qa-ecologists-assess-oil-spill-damage/.
[ECOLOG-L] EDF 2010 Tom Graff Fellowships for diversity - due May 30 - opportunity for Mexico project
We are looking for a young social or natural scientist to assist in developing and implementing a pilot project that aims to bring academic research from Mexican and U.S. institutions of higher education to bear on forest conservation, sustainable forest management and climate change in Mexico (see project brief below). The Fellow would be supported as part of the EDF Tom Graff Fellowship. The Tom Graff Fellowship Program is looking for candidates who are seeking a professional experience in environmental advocacy and will add to the diversity of EDF’s staff. Specific questions about the Mexico Science Community Marketplace project can be directed to Christina McCain at: cmcc...@edf.org. The ideal candidate will have excellent Spanish language skills and experience or demonstrated interest in working in Latin America. A strong natural or social sciences background is desirable. General information and fellowship application can be found here: http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagid=371jobID=538 . Application deadline is May 30, 2010. - EDF Science and Community Marketplace Project Brief (Climate International - DC Office) The challenge - The inclusion of communities who manage productive forest and agricultural ecosystems in Mexico’s emerging program of reduced deforestation and reforestation is critical for community participation and the success of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). In a large ecologically and culturally diverse country such as Mexico, capacity building on the local level will help REDD to deliver maximum benefits both environmentally and socially. To achieve economic transition for the rural communities through verifiable tradable carbon sequestration services, development and dissemination of locally relevant technical tools is essential. Developing locally adapted best practices and capacity for technical implementation, monitoring, and organization across the communities that ultimately manage and depend on forests can be resource-intensive for any single organization. The opportunity - EDF has the opportunity to partner with higher education institutions in the United States and Mexico, to transform the way research and training relevant to REDD and forest communities is conducted, applied, and communicated to people who can use it. EDF’s linkages to international policy, economic, and scientific expertise in the U.S. and internationally, working together with the vast network of experts in Mexican institutions, could fill the critical gap between the standards of international programs and markets for REDD and the needs of rural land managers for locally- adapted management plans, ecological knowledge, and technical capacity for implementation and monitoring. Broad objectives 1) Build capacity and gather knowledge relevant to REDD on the local level to contribute to the domestic reach and environmental performance of Mexico’s REDD+ program, cooperatively developing an appropriate mix of locally-relevant scientific knowledge and technical capacity for communities, as well as informing policy makers of program strengths and future needs. 2) Provide a model for education and training aimed directly at solving environmental and social problems that can leverage future sustained funding for expansion.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Earthworms
Bill, I'm not an expert (guy from out of town with slides), but I believe that most soils have a redundancy of bioturbaters including rodents and beetles, unlike some marine bottoms. In some northern forests in North America, the European night crawler, which takes its food from the surface, has depleted the litter layer in the extreme, exposing tree roots to harsh conditions and actually rendering soil less rather than more permeable. Some of the forest floors that formerly were thickly covered with natural mulch are bare. DMc The source of these worm introductions is probably bait dumped when no longer needed. William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Perhaps Bruce could fill us in on earthworms, since not all of us are knowledgable in this area (I'm a marine ecologist and obviously picked up on some inaccurate ideas). I always assumed that they played the same role as some key polychaetes do in benthic systems, where it has been shown that if just one key species is eliminated the bottom turns to concrete. So please: if earthworms are absent, what keeps the soil aerated and broken up? What are the detrimental impacts of the undesirable earthworm species? What is the range of ecosystem functions that earthworms play? Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 18:41 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms Native Nearctic earthworms have not been eliminated and are quite diverse. Pleistocene glaciations did extirpate them from the northern portion of the continent, and the present-day ecosystems in this region developed just fine without the presence of earthworms. This is where the detrimental impacts of invasive earthworms are the most prominent. European earthworms are the primary culprits in the northern forests, but Asian, African, and South American species have all found there way to North America. Collective nouns are not a problem in themselves, but it is troublesome when a collective term is applied to describe the homogeneity of something that is far from homogeneous. E.g., not all earthworm individuals are the same species and as such not all function the same; not all earthworm species are beneficial in all locations. -- David McNeely
[ECOLOG-L] seeking advice on recording frog calls in the field
Hello, I am requesting information on recording frog vocalizations in the field. I’d like to leave recording equipment out over a few nights, retrieve the recorders, download recordings for later analysis, and reset the recorders at new sites. If anyone has information on equipment that can be easily used in this way I would greatly appreciate an email (ajsch...@mtu.edu). Thanks in advance, Amy Schrank Amy Schrank Michigan Tech University School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science 1400 Townsend Dr. Houghton, MI 49931 phone: 906-487-1139 email: ajsch...@mtu.edu _
Re: [ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: QA-Ecologists assess oil spill damage
2 David D. Dow Says: May 3rd, 2010 at 4:53 pm As a former resident of southeast Louisiana, I would urge the scientific community (state/federal government agencies; academic institutions and marine laboratories and NGOs) to develop a regional monitoring program to assess the impacts of the oil spill and to follow the recovery process. This monitoring effort might have to be augmented by some process oriented research on sensitive biota and their habitats to quantify oil spill effects and recovery potential. The monitoring program should build upon existing surveys/programs that have a historical baseline to establish the central tendencies for key parameters and the natural range of variability. This baseline is likely to include good information on fisheries and their essential fish habitats in coastal waters and various intertidal wetlands; subtidal seagrass beds; shellfish populations and bird species in selected localities. Past surveys on marine mammals; benthic organisms; non-target fish and shellfish species in coastal waters; plankton; etc. are likely to be much more limited. The should be a lot of analyzed remote sensing images from satellites to support this endeavor. I see the major challenge in organizing these diverse research groups and developing a long term program which can achieve funding from the federal government. The near term focus of the federal/sate governments will be on the oil spill cleanup and assessing the natural resource damage assessment resources impacted. Settlement of the NRDA process between British Petroleum (BP) and the state/federal governments is likely to take some time and be contentious in regards to the restoration funds made available. The monitoring and process oriented research funding should be separated from the NRDA process, so that this effort can begin as soon as possible. On May 3, 2010, at 5:54 PM, Judith S. Weis wrote: And aside from the direct toxicity that the dispersants may have, they make the hydrocarbons in the oil more available to the marine organisms in the offshore water that were previously not exposed to much, since most of the hydrocarbons were concentrated above them at the surface. In Ecotone, Josh Schimal responds to a question on long-term ecological effects of the chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup, noting that dispersants used were relatively short-lived (see below). However, in a recent article, Abrahm Lustgarten (recipient of a MacArthur Foundation grant for international reporting) notes that the dispersants used by BP (which bought up a third of the world's supply) may have long-term effects. Chemicals Meant To Break Up BP Oil Spill Present New Environmental Concerns by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica - April 30, 2010 5:44 pm EDT http://www.propublica.org/article/bp-gulf-oil-spill-dispersants-0430 Hope Woodward Hyampom, CA Q: There were several chemicals used during the Exxon Valdez cleanup. How were they used and did they work? Were there any long term ecological effects from the chemicals? A (Josh Schimel): At sea, they used dispersants. Those are likely relatively short- lived in the environment, and given the flow patterns of the Sound, would be flushed out to the south-west with the prevailing currents to be diluted into the North Pacific Ocean. Their characteristics might also make them somewhat biodegradable or photodegradable themselves. --- On Mon, 5/3/10, Katie Kline ka...@esa.org wrote: From: Katie Kline ka...@esa.org Subject: [ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: QA-Ecologists assess oil spill damage To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Monday, May 3, 2010, 12:27 PM An oil slick originating from a rig about 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, which is dumping oil into the Gulf of Mexico at a rate of approximately 25,000 barrels per day, is drifting toward the Alabama, Florida and Louisiana coasts, and scientists are still assessing the ecological impact that will result. In this QA, three members of the Ecological Society of America's Rapid Response Team discuss the current and possible future damage of this spill and the effects it could have on the Gulf region. Read the full article and comment at http://www.esa.org/esablog/ecology-in-policy/qa-ecologists-assess-oil-spill-damage/ .
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Earthworms
So where is the discussion of worms vs Mycorrhiza? Cordially yours, Geoff Patton, Ph.D. 2208 Parker Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902 301.221.9536 --- On Mon, 5/3/10, David L. McNeely mcnee...@cox.net wrote: From: David L. McNeely mcnee...@cox.net Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Earthworms To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Monday, May 3, 2010, 4:27 PM Bill, I'm not an expert (guy from out of town with slides), but I believe that most soils have a redundancy of bioturbaters including rodents and beetles, unlike some marine bottoms. In some northern forests in North America, the European night crawler, which takes its food from the surface, has depleted the litter layer in the extreme, exposing tree roots to harsh conditions and actually rendering soil less rather than more permeable. Some of the forest floors that formerly were thickly covered with natural mulch are bare. DMc The source of these worm introductions is probably bait dumped when no longer needed. William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Perhaps Bruce could fill us in on earthworms, since not all of us are knowledgable in this area (I'm a marine ecologist and obviously picked up on some inaccurate ideas). I always assumed that they played the same role as some key polychaetes do in benthic systems, where it has been shown that if just one key species is eliminated the bottom turns to concrete. So please: if earthworms are absent, what keeps the soil aerated and broken up? What are the detrimental impacts of the undesirable earthworm species? What is the range of ecosystem functions that earthworms play? Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 18:41 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms Native Nearctic earthworms have not been eliminated and are quite diverse. Pleistocene glaciations did extirpate them from the northern portion of the continent, and the present-day ecosystems in this region developed just fine without the presence of earthworms. This is where the detrimental impacts of invasive earthworms are the most prominent. European earthworms are the primary culprits in the northern forests, but Asian, African, and South American species have all found there way to North America. Collective nouns are not a problem in themselves, but it is troublesome when a collective term is applied to describe the homogeneity of something that is far from homogeneous. E.g., not all earthworm individuals are the same species and as such not all function the same; not all earthworm species are beneficial in all locations. -- David McNeely
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Earthworms
As I said, I'm not an expert, just passing along information I've picked up from publications like _Science News_ and such. Do the worms deprive mycorrhiza of organics and prevent them from passing nutrients along to trees? Thanks, DMc Geoffrey Patton gwpatt...@yahoo.com wrote: So where is the discussion of worms vs Mycorrhiza? Cordially yours, Geoff Patton, Ph.D. 2208 Parker Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902 301.221.9536 --- On Mon, 5/3/10, David L. McNeely mcnee...@cox.net wrote: From: David L. McNeely mcnee...@cox.net Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Earthworms To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Monday, May 3, 2010, 4:27 PM Bill, I'm not an expert (guy from out of town with slides), but I believe that most soils have a redundancy of bioturbaters including rodents and beetles, unlike some marine bottoms. In some northern forests in North America, the European night crawler, which takes its food from the surface, has depleted the litter layer in the extreme, exposing tree roots to harsh conditions and actually rendering soil less rather than more permeable. Some of the forest floors that formerly were thickly covered with natural mulch are bare. DMc The source of these worm introductions is probably bait dumped when no longer needed. William Silvert cien...@silvert.org wrote: Perhaps Bruce could fill us in on earthworms, since not all of us are knowledgable in this area (I'm a marine ecologist and obviously picked up on some inaccurate ideas). I always assumed that they played the same role as some key polychaetes do in benthic systems, where it has been shown that if just one key species is eliminated the bottom turns to concrete. So please: if earthworms are absent, what keeps the soil aerated and broken up? What are the detrimental impacts of the undesirable earthworm species? What is the range of ecosystem functions that earthworms play? Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: Bruce A. Snyder To: William Silvert Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: segunda-feira, 3 de Maio de 2010 18:41 Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] State Microbes and Yucky Worms Native Nearctic earthworms have not been eliminated and are quite diverse. Pleistocene glaciations did extirpate them from the northern portion of the continent, and the present-day ecosystems in this region developed just fine without the presence of earthworms. This is where the detrimental impacts of invasive earthworms are the most prominent. European earthworms are the primary culprits in the northern forests, but Asian, African, and South American species have all found there way to North America. Collective nouns are not a problem in themselves, but it is troublesome when a collective term is applied to describe the homogeneity of something that is far from homogeneous. E.g., not all earthworm individuals are the same species and as such not all function the same; not all earthworm species are beneficial in all locations. -- David McNeely -- David McNeely
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Earthworms
I think the discussion has turned too specific about earthworms (or generic, as they involve several genera) and went a little far from how it started. The question in my mind is: Are we spending too much money for the conservation of charismatic species? But what if those charismatic species are umbrella species, and conserving their habitats allows the conservation of the entire package (including the earthworms, mycorrhizae, etc., as well as many ecosystem services)? What would happen if the giant pandas, lemurs, tigers, etc. become extinct in the wild? How effective at attracting money for conservation would government and non-government organizations be without such charismatic species?
[ECOLOG-L] Plants Alien Control and Ecosystem Restoration saltcedar biocontrol and concurrent restoration if any
Can anyone tell me the current status of Diorhabda programs and how well and to what extent they are integrated with effective ecosystem restoration? The reason I am asking is that, in looking at some of the material posted on the Internet, the methodology looks to be on the expensive (and labor-intensive) side and very limited in area. One project used restoration islands, normally a good technique for long-term propagule dispersal, but seemingly too slow to overtop emerging saltcedar and to provide replacement habitat on a large scale. I also wonder how well recruitment works in salty sites and what projects are doing about salt. WT
