[ECOLOG-L] Black-backed woodpecker field technician

[Christopher Rota]

FIELD TECHNICIAN needed to assist with investigation of resource use, 
demography, and movement of black-backed woodpeckers in the Black Hills 
region of South Dakota. We are seeking a highly motivated individual to 
assist with a radio telemetry study starting in early May. Work includes 
radio tracking, nest monitoring, and re-sighting marked individuals. 
Proficiency working with birds, knowledge of radio-telemetry techniques, 
and a demonstrated ability to work alone and under difficult field 
conditions is essential. Work will be full-time. Housing and an hourly 
wage of $10.00/hr is provided. Please send a letter of interest, CV, and 
contact information for 2 references (name, phone, and email) to CHRIS 
ROTA at bbwot...@gmail.com. This position is available immediately and 
will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

[ECOLOG-L] San Joaquin River Project Manager Position

[Rodd Kelsey]

Audubon California is seeking a qualified candidate for a position as San 
Joaquin River Program Manager. 

The San Joaquin River Project Manager will work with Audubon California’s 
Migratory Bird Conservation Program Director and our partners to implement 
private land conservation strategies including habitat restoration, habitat 
protection, wildlife-compatible agriculture, and other private lands 
conservation projects in the San Joaquin Valley. 

The ideal candidate for this position will have habitat restoration 
experience, proven ability to manage complex projects, skills to work with 
private landowners, familiarity with state and federal funding programs, and 
an understanding of conservation issues in the Central Valley. 

This position is contingent on securing funding and would begin on October 
1, 2010. This position will be based out of Modesto, Sacramento, or 
Emeryville.

The full job description is attached. Please contact Rodd Kelsey at rkelsey 
at audubon dot org if you are interested in this position.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] biostats

[Cochran-Stafira, D. Liane]

I took stats from Jerry Zar, and of course used his book.  It has the advantage 
of being an excellent reference for future use.  Gotelli and Ellison is great 
if the focus of the course is Ecological Experimental Design and Analysis. I 
have not used the latter text, but it does look very good for students going on 
to do research.  Otherwise, I like Zar's book for its presentation of many 
examples along with problems with answers for practice.  
 
Liane
 

D. Liane Cochran-Stafira, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Saint Xavier University
3700 West 103rd Street
Chicago, Illinois  60655

phone:  773-298-3514
fax:773-298-3536
email:  coch...@sxu.edu
http://faculty.sxu.edu/~cochran/

 



From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Jason 
Hernandez
Sent: Tue 5/4/2010 7:13 PM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] biostats



I think Professor Chalcraft of East Carolina University reads this listserv?  I 
know he taught ecological statistics spring semester 2009.  Our textbook was _A 
Primer of Ecological Statistics_, by Gotelli and Ellison.  The course covered 
experimental design; the meaning of variance, standard deviation, standard 
error, normal distribution, and other basic concepts; various statistical tests 
(e.g., t-test, ANOVA) and when to use them; type 1 and type 2 errors; and we 
had to synthesize all the knowledge for the final assignment, which was to 
develop a hypotheitical (or actual) research problem and explain in detail how 
we would design it, collect and statistically analyze the data.  If Professor 
Chalcraft is reading this, I am sure he can elaborate further; his course was 
well-designed and well-taught from the standpoint of equipping students to use 
statistics.
 
Jason Hernandez
East Carolina University



Date:Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:41:30 -0500
From:"Bomar, Charles" 
Subject: biostats

Ok, this list has been very helpful in the past helping to design curricula.

I am the program director for emerging environmental science as well as a 
pre-health science  program, and as all of you know, they need some statistics 
in their diet.  They currently take a standard course offered by the Math 
department, but this does not meet  the needs of the students.  Students taking 
this stats course  will have had 1 if not 2 semesters of calculus, so they are 
math capable.

So, if you we going to design a brand new biostats/statistics for the life 
sciences course
1) What text book(s)  would you recommend?
2)   What are the core subset of skills/tests do you believe need to be 
delivered in a course of this nature?
3) what common use statistical software should the students be using?

I certainly have my own ideas for each of these questions but really want to 
draw upon the list's experiences who skills are more current than mine. I am 
also concerned about proper course design since some professional schools are 
suggesting what contents should be covered in this course.

Any thoughts, ideas, or even syllabi people are willing to share are greatly 
appreciated. 

**
Charles R. Bomar PhD
Applied Science Program Director
Executive Director, Orthopterists' Society
Professor of Biology
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
bom...@uwstout.edu
office 715-232-2562
fax715-232-2192

--

Date:Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:53:26 +0100
From:William Silvert 
Subject: Re: lessons for new faculty members?

I have a much simpler suggestion that did me a world of good - make the grad
students talk. My thesis advisor constantly pushed us to give seminars, both
internal and external. Our internal seminars were every week, and we were
also pushed to give public talks at any opportunity. Although we all started
as pretty awkward speakers, by the time we finsished I think we were all
pretty polished and received more than our share of speaking invitations.

How important this was came home to me by the time that I was a faculty
member helping select new staff, which usually meant attending the kind of
seminar where the speaker stood up, immediately asked for the first slide
(typically a diagram of the experimental setup) and never got around to
telling us what the whole project was about.

Bill Silvert

- Original Message -
From: "Aaron T. Dossey" 
To: 
Sent: domingo, 25 de Abril de 2010 18:58
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] lessons for new faculty members?


> Here are some positive recommendations for new faculty, but older faculty
> could probably benefit from these as well:

--

End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 26 Apr 2010 to 27 Apr 2010 (#2010-113)
***



 

[ECOLOG-L] Visual Communication of Ecological Knowledge -- ESA 2010 Workshop

[Mehling, Molly Gail Mrs.]

WK-8: VISUAL COMMUNICATION OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE: PHOTOGRAPHY AS A TOOL OF 
STYLE AND SUBSTANCE
Ecological Society of America |  Pittsburgh, PA | Aug 1 2010 | 8am - 5pm

Intended for ecologists interested in using photography or photographers as a 
communication medium, this workshop will take your photography skills up a 
notch while deepening your understanding of visual communication and its 
application in ecological research and education.  A locally-developed 
photographic tool, the GigaPan, will be highlighted.

http://eco.confex.com/eco/2010/techprogram/S5771.HTM

Organizers:  Molly Mehling, Miami University; Dror Yaron, Carnegie Mellon 
University CREATE Lab; Neil Losin, UCLA; Chad Anderson, USFW; Amy Wolf, 
Stanford University; and Adam Wilson, University of Connecticut

Audience:

The workshop is intended for ESA attendees that are interested in refining 
their ability to communicate visually, using their camera as a tool for 
research, education and outreach, or those interested in collaborating with 
visual communicators.

Description:

Changes in the landscape of media and the surge of interest in sustainability 
have precipitated opportunities for ecologists to communicate more directly 
with diverse audiences. Imagery plays a prominent and powerful role in 
conveying the excitement of discovery and beauty of pattern inherent in 
science, its resulting knowledge and application.  However, photography has not 
been fully embraced nor refined as a tool capable of dissolving the technical 
language barriers between stakeholders.

The goals of this workshop are (1) to enhance your digital photography skills 
(bring your camera!), (2) to promote and facilitate collaboration between 
scientists and visual communicators, and (3) to discuss the value and 
limitations of ecological imagery. These goals will be addressed through 
presentations, a photo shoot, short-term collaborations with visual 
communicators, discussions and take-home materials.
The workshop will begin and end at the conference center and will include a 
field trip to a local site of ecological restoration, during which hands-on 
exercises will allow participants to improve their technique and understanding 
of photography.  Participants will be introduced to the GigaPan, a robot 
developed by NASA and Carnegie Mellon University that allows novice 
photographers to capture high-resolution panoramas using a point-n-shoot; 
applications of the GigaPan in research and education will be discussed.

Participants will leave better equipped to employ photography as a tool to (1) 
engage via citizen science projects, inquiry-based education activities, 
natural history story-telling and to (2) share the broader impacts of research 
via diverse publications (photo exhibits, educational materials, EcoEd Digital 
Library) to various audiences.

Join us!


***

Molly Gail Mehling, M.En.
Research Associate & Doctoral Candidate
Miami University Zoology Department
Oxford, Ohio 45056
http://www.mollymehling.com

“In nature's infinite book of secrecy. A little I can read.” ~ William 
Shakespeare

[ECOLOG-L] Washington Post article: attorney general demands ex-professor's files from University of Virginia

[Nathan Brouwer]

State attorney general demands ex-professor's files from University of  
Virginia


By Rosalind S. Helderman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 4, 2010; B01

RICHMOND -- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II is demanding  
that the University of Virginia turn over a broad range of documents  
from a former professor to determine whether he defrauded taxpayers  
as he sought grants for global warming research.


The civil investigative demand asks for all data and materials  
presented by former professor Michael Mann when he applied for five  
research grants from the university. It also gives the school until  
May 27 to produce all correspondence or e-mails between Mann and 39  
other scientists since 1999.


The actions by Cuccinelli (R) -- who has sued the federal government  
over its regulation of greenhouse gases and has become a leading  
national voice in alleging that scientists have skewed data to show  
evidence the Earth is warming -- were cheered by those on the right,  
who have long targeted Mann as a leading proponent of the theory.


Mann, who works at Penn State, was one of the authors of the "hockey  
stick" graph, a study that used a variety of data, including tree  
rings, to chart climate change. His research showed a rapid recent  
increase in the Earth's temperature.


Mann's work has been repeatedly targeted by global warming skeptics,  
particularly after an e-mail from him referring to a statistical  
"trick" he used in his research surfaced in a series of leaked e- 
mails from the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit.  
Mann has said the e-mail was taken out of context, and an inquiry by  
Penn State concluded that there was no evidence Mann has engaged in  
efforts to falsify or suppress data.


Mann and several academic groups decried Cuccinelli's subpoena as an  
unprecedented inquisition that could threaten academic freedom.


"I think he's simply trying to smear me as part of a larger campaign  
to discredit my science," said Mann, who left the University of  
Virginia in 2005.


Rachel Levinson, senior counsel with the American Association of  
University Professors, said Cuccinelli's request had "echoes of  
McCarthyism."


"It would be incredibly chilling to anyone else practicing in either  
the same area or in any politically sensitive area," she said.


In an interview, Cuccinelli said the request is part of an "open  
inquiry" into whether there were "knowing inconsistencies" made by  
Mann as he sought taxpayer dollars to fund research.


"In light of the Climategate e-mails, there does seem to at least be  
an argument to be made that a course was undertaken by some of the  
individuals involved, including potentially Michael Mann, where they  
were steering a course to reach a conclusion," he said. "Our act,  
frankly, just requires honesty."


Carol Wood, a spokesman for the University of Virginia, confirmed  
that the school had received the April 23 request. She said that it  
will take time for the university to decide how to proceed but that  
"the university has a legal obligation to answer this request and it  
is our intention to respond to the extent required by law."


According to the document, the demand was issued under the Virginia  
Fraud Against Taxpayers Act, a 2002 law that gives the attorney  
general the right to demand documents and testimony in cases in  
which tax dollars have allegedly been obtained falsely by state  
employees. The document indicates that Cuccinelli is investigating  
possible violations of sections of the act forbidding employees from  
making false claims for payment, submitting false records for  
payment or conspiring to defraud the state.


If Cuccinelli were to successfully pursue a civil allegation against  
Mann, the professor could be forced to return research money or pay  
a civil fine.


"It's essentially a subpoena," said Steve Benjamin, a Richmond  
defense attorney who advises the General Assembly on legal issues.  
"It permits the issuance of that subpoena without the filing of any  
lawsuit and without the intervention or permission of any court."


Tim Donaghy, a scientific integrity analyst with the Union of  
Concerned Scientists, said that although Mann and other climate  
scientists have been called to defend their science before Congress  
and other bodies, he was not aware of a previous attorney general  
investigating their work as fraud. "It would be a disturbing  
precedent," he said.


But Mark R. Levin, president of the Landmark Legal Foundation, a  
leading group challenging climate change science, said Cuccinelli's  
inquiry is logical given his suit against the Environmental  
Protection Agency.


"There is no scientific consensus on global warming or Mann's  
influence on global warming, if indeed it is occurring," Levin said.  
"The federal government is relying on junk science. So it's  
perfectly reasonable the attorney general is raising these issues."


This

Re: [ECOLOG-L] biostats

[Jason Hernandez]

I think Professor Chalcraft of East Carolina University reads this listserv?  I 
know he taught ecological statistics spring semester 2009.  Our textbook was _A 
Primer of Ecological Statistics_, by Gotelli and Ellison.  The course covered 
experimental design; the meaning of variance, standard deviation, standard 
error, normal distribution, and other basic concepts; various statistical tests 
(e.g., t-test, ANOVA) and when to use them; type 1 and type 2 errors; and we 
had to synthesize all the knowledge for the final assignment, which was to 
develop a hypotheitical (or actual) research problem and explain in detail how 
we would design it, collect and statistically analyze the data.  If Professor 
Chalcraft is reading this, I am sure he can elaborate further; his course was 
well-designed and well-taught from the standpoint of equipping students to use 
statistics.
 
Jason Hernandez
East Carolina University



Date:    Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:41:30 -0500
From:    "Bomar, Charles" 
Subject: biostats

Ok, this list has been very helpful in the past helping to design curricula.

I am the program director for emerging environmental science as well as a 
pre-health science  program, and as all of you know, they need some statistics 
in their diet.  They currently take a standard course offered by the Math 
department, but this does not meet  the needs of the students.  Students taking 
this stats course  will have had 1 if not 2 semesters of calculus, so they are 
math capable.

So, if you we going to design a brand new biostats/statistics for the life 
sciences course
    1) What text book(s)  would you recommend?
    2)   What are the core subset of skills/tests do you believe need to be 
delivered in a course of this nature?
    3) what common use statistical software should the students be using?

I certainly have my own ideas for each of these questions but really want to 
draw upon the list's experiences who skills are more current than mine. I am 
also concerned about proper course design since some professional schools are 
suggesting what contents should be covered in this course.

Any thoughts, ideas, or even syllabi people are willing to share are greatly 
appreciated.  

**
Charles R. Bomar PhD
Applied Science Program Director
Executive Director, Orthopterists' Society
Professor of Biology
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
bom...@uwstout.edu 
office 715-232-2562
fax    715-232-2192

--

Date:    Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:53:26 +0100
From:    William Silvert 
Subject: Re: lessons for new faculty members?

I have a much simpler suggestion that did me a world of good - make the grad 
students talk. My thesis advisor constantly pushed us to give seminars, both 
internal and external. Our internal seminars were every week, and we were 
also pushed to give public talks at any opportunity. Although we all started 
as pretty awkward speakers, by the time we finsished I think we were all 
pretty polished and received more than our share of speaking invitations.

How important this was came home to me by the time that I was a faculty 
member helping select new staff, which usually meant attending the kind of 
seminar where the speaker stood up, immediately asked for the first slide 
(typically a diagram of the experimental setup) and never got around to 
telling us what the whole project was about.

Bill Silvert

- Original Message - 
From: "Aaron T. Dossey" 
To: 
Sent: domingo, 25 de Abril de 2010 18:58
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] lessons for new faculty members?


> Here are some positive recommendations for new faculty, but older faculty 
> could probably benefit from these as well: 

--

End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 26 Apr 2010 to 27 Apr 2010 (#2010-113)
***

[ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: The oil spill comes to Washington

[Katie Kline]

Last month, Obama surprised conservationists when he added plans to expand 
off-shore drilling to his energy policy in an effort to sway votes in Congress. 
Then-just as both sides rose to debate the issue-the Deepwater Horizon oil rig 
exploded.

This morning, amid reports of shifting ocean currents and dying sea turtles, 
several democratic senators joined a Capitol Hill press conference organized by 
the Sierra Club. The senators gave their views about what the oil spill means 
to climate change and energy policy.

Read more and comment at 
http://www.esa.org/esablog/ecology-in-policy/the-oil-spill-comes-to-washington/.

[ECOLOG-L] Amphibian ecology postdoctoral researcher position

[Evan H Grant]

Post Doctoral Research Associate

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) in the Northeast

The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center seeks a postdoctoral research
associate to investigate and forecast amphibian population abundance,
occurrence, and associated dynamics. Two focal research areas are
anticipated. The first involves forecasting the effects of climate change
on high-elevation salamander communities. The second involves extending
population dynamic models to incorporate effects of climate and landscape
change on amphibian populations.

The successful applicant will be based at Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center.

Qualifications

1. Ph.D. in quantitative ecology, wildlife ecology, or related fields.

2. Knowledge of amphibian ecology, demographic modeling, occupancy or
mark-recapture models.

3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to facilitate a
collaborative research environment and dissemination of results in
scientific outlets.

Benefits

The salary range is approximately $50,000 - $70,000 depending on
qualifications and other factors.    This is a one-year time-limited
appointment with potential for extension based on the scope of the
applicant’s interests and contingent on funding.

Application

Send CV with names and contact information for three references to Evan
Grant (ehgr...@usgs.gov).    I encourage applicants to submit materials by
May 25, 2010.

Evan H. Campbell Grant, PhD

NE Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

12100 Beech Forest Rd., Laurel, MD 20708

phone: 301.497.5842 fax: 301.497.5784

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/nearmi/

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: restoration and landscape ecology (deadline extended)

[Lars Brudvig]

Note - this a repost; the deadline has been extended.

Overview: A postdoctoral position is available to join Lars Brudvig’s 
research group at Michigan State University 
(http://brudviglab.plantbiology.msu.edu/).  In collaboration with Lars 
Brudvig, the candidate will explore aspects of restoration and landscape 
ecology with an emphasis on large-scale observational and experimental 
approaches.  I seek an individual with a strong conceptual approach to 
research.  Research in the Brudvig Lab currently addresses questions at 
the interface of restoration and landscape ecology, such as the role of 
patch dynamics in restoration, dispersal and plant-animal interactions in 
affecting plant community composition at large scales, local and landscape-
scale determinants of plant community assembly, experimental testing of 
landscape corridors, and constraints to spatial spread of remnant plant 
communities.  Opportunities exist for working at numerous MSU land 
holdings as well as Kellogg Biological Station (http://www.kbs.msu.edu/).

Required qualifications: A Ph.D. and relevant ecological research 
experience.

Desired qualifications:  Strong communication and analytical skills and 
evidence of scholarship, including peer-reviewed publications.  Background 
in restoration, landscape ecology, plant communities, and/or plant/animal 
interactions.  Experience collaborating with land managers.

Employment details: The successful candidate will be employed through the 
Department of Plant Biology at MSU.  Funding for salary, benefits, and 
research expenses is available for one year, with renewal available for a 
second year contingent on performance.  I will work with the successful 
candidate to obtain additional funding.  Start date is flexible; however, 
availability for a portion of the upcoming field season is desirable.

To apply:  Please email Lars Brudvig (brud...@msu.edu) with a CV, copies 
of publications, contact information for three references, and a 1-2 page 
research proposal, focusing on interests for research at Michigan State 
University.  Review of applicants began on April 30th; while this deadline 
has been extended, I strongly encourage individuals considering 
application to contact me ASAP to indicate their interest.

[ECOLOG-L] long-term experiments used for undergraduate education

[Heather Vance-Chalcraft]

Do you, or someone you know, have an ongoing long-term ecological 
experiment where the primary purpose is undergraduate education?  If so, we 
are interested in hearing from you.  A group of faculty from East Carolina 
University is preparing a NSF proposal through the TUES program (formerly 
CCLI) in which one component involves facilitating discussion among 
educators and students involved with such experiments as well as assisting 
individuals interested in developing their own long-term ecological 
experiment for educational purposes.  For now we are trying to determine 
how many other projects exist.  If you are involved with a relevant 
project, please contact Heather Vance-Chalcraft (vancechalcra...@ecu.edu) 
with your name, contact information, and a brief description (1 paragraph) 
of your project, including the extent of student involvement.

 

We look forward to hearing of your projects and appreciate your cooperation.

 

Sincerely,

Heather

 

Project PIs:  Claudia Jolls, Carol Goodwillie, Heather Vance-Chalcraft, & 
David Chalcraft


Dr. Heather Vance-Chalcraft
East Carolina University
Department of Biology
Greenville, NC 27858

phone:  252-328-9841

vancechalcra...@ecu.edu

 

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Assistantships, U. AZ

[David Inouye]

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP available leading to an MS or PhD in the 
School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of 
Arizona. Qualifications include a B.S. or B.A. degree in a 
biology-related field (e.g., Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Wildlife 
Biology, etc.), and minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and combined GRE 
score of 1200. Ideal candidates would have excellent written and 
interpersonal skills, an excellent work ethic, willingness to travel 
and conduct field research under rigorous conditions, and at least 1 
year of prior field experience. Students will be provided funding 
from a combination of Research Assistantships and Teaching 
Assistantships (stipend is $16,000-20,000/yr).   Potential topics of 
study for thesis/dissertation research include questions related to 
migration, behavioral ecology, and conservation biology of 
birds.  Specific questions will be developed during the first year 
via meetings between student and advisor.  To apply, please send the 
following materials (via email attachment) to Dr. Courtney Conway 
(ccon...@ag.arizona.edu): (1) Cover 
letter  explaining career goals, academic interests, and preferred 
sub-disciplines of study, highlighting relevant experience, (2) a 
resume, (3) names/addresses/email for three references, and (4) GPA 
and GRE scores (unofficial ok). See the following webpage for more 
information on research conducted in my lab: (URL: 
http://www.cals.arizona.edu/research/azfwru/cjc/).

[ECOLOG-L] Part II- what proposals r u submitting to study oil impacts?

[Wendee Holtcamp]

My first Adventures in Climate Change blog post went up Monday - Shrimp &
Oil Really Do Mix?
http://adventures-in-climate-change.com/editorsdesk/?p=137

I'm doing part 2 on ecosystem cascades. People may not be willing to
speculate on the impacts of this oil spill (if you are, feel free to
pontificate!) but I suspect scientists are readying their proposals to
submit on the long-and short-term impacts of this spill. What measures will
you, or do you suspect others, will be measuring? Marsh productivity in
areas affected by the oil? What about the greater marine ecosystem? How will
scientists/ecologists measure the impacts of the oil and/or the dispersant
chemicals on the benthic communities, or marine productivity? 

I would like to quote a couple scientists who have thought about these
things, so please get in touch if you have any thoughts! I promise to treat
your words with integrity and accuracy. 

Also I will be starting a monthly blog for Adventures in Climate Change
focused on the Positive things that are happening in the world of climate
change - ie what individuals, groups, or governments are doing to help curb
global warming, study its impacts, etc. It will have a light tone, but cover
projects that may not receive press otherwise. There's so much focus on the
gloom and doom, for good reason, but I want to help inspire others to follow
the lead of these lights in the darkness. So send me your stories, examples,
and ideas. It's only once a month at this point but I'll stockpile ideas. 

Wendee
~~
 Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology ~ @bohemianone
Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian
  http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com  
 http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com

~~ 6-wk Online Writing Course Starts May 15 or Jun 19 ~~
 ~~~
I'm Animal Planet's news blogger - http://blogs.discovery.com/animal_news 

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Blog discussion: Captive orca whales and release/rehabilitation

[Sarah Frias-Torres]

Some important clarifications and questions
Orcas either predate on fish or predate on marine mammals. Each group shows a 
distinct behavioral imprint, so fish eaters do not recognize marine mammals as 
potential prey. The Orcas seen in aquariums are all the fish-eating type.So 
they don't assume humans are a potential prey.
Attacks on trainers are probably due to the stressful conditions orcas live in 
aquaria. There is research on the intelligence, social and cultural structure 
of orca populations in the wild, and it is obvious that the limited space and 
artificial sorroundings of an aquarium enclosure will derail anyone's behavior.
Going back to the original blog discussion, we should ask the following 3 
questions;
First, Is it appropriate to have orcas in captivity? 
Considering the research done on wild orcas (explained above), and the 
migratory nature of the species, orca aquarium displays are highly 
questionable. It is the equivalent to spending the rest of your days in a 6 
feet by 10 feet jail without having committed a crime.  In a recent meeting at 
Capitol Hill, Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oceans and Wildlife, where two 
representatives of the aquarium industry (SeaWord and Discovery Cove), and two 
representatives of the conservation-minded sector (Dr. Naomi Rose, an orca 
researcher from the Humane Society, and Mr. Louie Psihoyos director of "The 
Cove" film) testified on this issue, and on the more general issue of marine 
mammal captivity in zoos and aquariums. A suggestion was made (Dr. Rose) to 
"phase out" captive orcas in the USA, meaning that every time an orca dies, it 
is no longer replaced by a new one. 
Second, is it feasible to release captive orcas in the wild?Although I'm not an 
orca expert, I know that baby orcas learn everything required to survive from 
their mothers and the orca pod they are born into. Therefore, orcas born in 
captivity have not had this learning opportunity and perhaps they are 
unsuitable for release into the wild. Although captive born wildlife has had 
some success at release (the story of Christian the Lion comes to mind), ocean 
releases cannot follow the same degree of progressive freedom for captive born 
animals than land releases have.
For wild born orcas that have been captive for some time, release into the wild 
might be feasible. However, we see the associated costs (as indicated in the 
initial email), and we also have the learning curve problem. When capturing 
marine mammals for aquariums, the industry targets the very young. They are 
easier to transport and to "train". The younger an orca is at capture, the less 
time he or she had to learn from mother. So we go back to what I explained 
above.
Third, what is the bottom line?The U.S Marine Mammal protection Act of 1972 
"prohibits, with certain exceptions, the "take" of marine mammals in U.S. 
waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas, and the importation of marine 
mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S.""Perhaps the best way to deal 
with orca captivity and to use limited resources is to ensure and truly enforce 
the Act, not only in U.S. waters, but to also spread the basis of the Act to 
other countries which are still capturing wild orcas for aquarium display.

Sarah Frias-Torres, Ph.D. http://independent.academia.edu/SarahFriasTorres




> Date: Tue, 4 May 2010 17:03:22 +0100
> From: cien...@silvert.org
> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Blog discussion: Captive orca whales and 
> release/rehabilitation
> To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
> 
>>From some accounts I have read, orcas in captivity at times kill their 
> trainers by drowning them. This is actually natural behaviour, as this is 
> how they sometimes kill other marine mammals. I have seen a video of them 
> separating a baby whale from its mother (I think that these were gray 
> whales) and drowning it, just not letting it get to the surface to breathe. 
> This is a long slow process with whales of course, I think it took a couple 
> of hours. They then just ate the tongue and swam away.
> 
> It would of course be easy for an orca to kill a human with its mouth. 
> Ironically when they behave the way they do in nature we are horrified. 
> Unfortunately much of what goes on in nature is pretty ugly -- I still get 
> depressed when I think of that baby whale, as I do when I think of some of 
> the other events I have observed in the wild (mostly via video). It is not 
> surprising that most wildlife documentaries show nature at its prettiest, 
> such as the big cat bringing down its prey with one quick bite.
> 
> For me the key issue is whether we should present the kind of sanitized view 
> of nature that captive orcas convey -- does it really help the general 
> public become more aware of the world they live in? Or is it at least a 
> useful marketing gimmick for conservation?
> 
> Bill Silvert
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "David Shiffman" 
> To: 
> Sent: terça-feira, 4 de Maio de 2010 14:28
> Sub

[ECOLOG-L] Native Seed Technician

[Bridget Walden]

Description:
The Great Basin Institute is working cooperatively with the Bureau of Land
Management Southern Nevada District Office to conduct seed collecting
activities throughout BLM Southern Nevada District lands. Two Technicians
will be hired to support current, on-going, and future restoration efforts.
Specific tasks include:
•   Scouting and identifying populations of target plant species suitable 
for
the program;
•   Mapping and GPSing populations of target plant species;
•   Monitoring the phenology of target plant populations to identify optimal
seed collection times;
•   Collecting seed from wild land native plant populations and completing 
SOS
data forms in accordance with the Seeds of Success (SOS) Technical Protocol; and
•   Taking herbarium vouchers, and processing and shipping seed as 
necessary.
Technicians are responsible for reporting on accomplishments and providing
recommendations for further work. As well, Technicians may delineate and map
potential restoration sites, and/or participate in restoration program
activities.

Compensation and Timeline:  
o   Rate of Pay: $18.59/hour
o   June – August 2010
o   Full time, 40 hours per week (overtime may be required occasionally)

Location:
The technicians will be based out of the BLM Southern Nevada District
office, which is located in northwest Las Vegas, NV. The Southern Nevada
District Office manages more than three million acres of Mojave Desert in
Clark and Nye counties. The scenery varies from dramatically colorful
geologic landforms and largely unspoiled panoramic vistas of Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area to remote and rugged wild landscapes of Gold
Butte Back Country Byway. Recreation opportunities abound and viewing sites
for desert plants and animals are easily accessible.

Qualifications:
o   Bachelor’s degree with coursework and field experience related to 
biology,
botany, plant science, or related field;
o   Experience identifying plants using taxonomic keys or familiarity with
Mojave Desert plants;
o   Experience using hand-held GPS equipment for data collection and 
navigation;
o   Ability to read and navigate using topographic maps and a compass;
o   Understanding and/or experience using ArcView GIS software, helpful; 
o   Willingness and ability to work in harsh, ever-changing desert 
conditions,
including extreme temperatures, independently or as part of a team;
o   Ability to bend and stoop for long periods of time while collecting 
seed;
o   Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a
diverse audience;
o   Willingness to camp in remote, undeveloped sites for multiple days; 
o   Valid, state-issued driver’s license and familiarity driving 4WD 
vehicles
on- and off-road; and
o   Experience operating All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) on difficult terrain 
helpful.

For a complete position description please visit our website at
www.TheGreatBasinInstitute.org. 

How to Apply:
Applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three
professional references to Stacy Mitchell, Great Basin Institute HR
Assistant at smitch...@thegreatbasininstitute.org. Please include where you
found this position posted. 

This position is available to all, without regard to race, color, national
origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or
religion. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

[ECOLOG-L] Post Doctoral Associate, Stream Ecosystem Ecology/Climate Change

[Wyatt Cross]

Postdoctoral Research Associate: Stream Ecosystem Ecology/Climate Change, 
Department of 
Ecology, Montana State University 

Predicting effects of warming on stream ecosystems using ecological 
stoichiometry and the 
metabolic theory of ecology

We are seeking candidates for an NSF-funded 3-year postdoctoral research 
position. This position 
will be part of a new project examining effects of environmental warming 
(natural and 
experimental) on stream ecosystem structure and function. The successful 
applicant will be part of 
a collaborative team using ecological stoichiometry and metabolic theory to 
test predictions about 
nutrient cycling, ecosystem metabolism, and material flows through stream food 
webs.  The post-
doc will be additionally responsible for aspects of data management, analysis 
and publication. 
Fieldwork will be conducted in the Hengill region of southwest Iceland ~30 
minute drive from 
Reykjavik. The post-doc will be based in Iceland and likely spend shorter 
amounts of time in 
Montana and Alabama. The post doc will also work closely with multiple graduate 
students, and 
serve as a liason between U.S. and Iceland-based colleagues. 

Qualifications: A Ph.D. in ecology, aquatic ecology, or related field. A record 
of experience in 
conducting research in aquatic ecosystems under challenging field conditions is 
desired. We are 
particularly interested in candidates with experience quantifying 
ecosystem-level processes (e.g., 
metabolism, nutrient uptake) in streams, lakes, or wetlands. We stress that 
field work will be 
conducted year-round under rigorous field conditions. Additional desirable 
qualifications include 
a proven ability to manage logistics and personnel, ability to work 
independently, good 
interpersonal skills, and refereed publications.
 
Salary: $45,000 per annum – full benefits also included.

Closing date: 1 July 2010. Preferred starting date is Fall 2010.

Contact: for full consideration, please e-mail a letter of interest and CV, 
contact information for 
four references, and recent representative publications to: Wyatt Cross 
(wyatt.cr...@montana.edu), 310 Lewis Hall, Department of Ecology, Montana State 
University, 
Bozeman, MT 59717.  Phone: 406-994-2473; Fax: 406-994-3190.  Informal enquiries 
can also 
be directed to Jon Benstead (jbenst...@bama.ua.edu; 205-348-9034) and Alex 
Huryn 
(hu...@bama.ua.edu; 205-348-4136).

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Blog discussion: Captive orca whales and release/rehabilitation

[William Silvert]

From some accounts I have read, orcas in captivity at times kill their 
trainers by drowning them. This is actually natural behaviour, as this is 
how they sometimes kill other marine mammals. I have seen a video of them 
separating a baby whale from its mother (I think that these were gray 
whales) and drowning it, just not letting it get to the surface to breathe. 
This is a long slow process with whales of course, I think it took a couple 
of hours. They then just ate the tongue and swam away.


It would of course be easy for an orca to kill a human with its mouth. 
Ironically when they behave the way they do in nature we are horrified. 
Unfortunately much of what goes on in nature is pretty ugly -- I still get 
depressed when I think of that baby whale, as I do when I think of some of 
the other events I have observed in the wild (mostly via video). It is not 
surprising that most wildlife documentaries show nature at its prettiest, 
such as the big cat bringing down its prey with one quick bite.


For me the key issue is whether we should present the kind of sanitized view 
of nature that captive orcas convey -- does it really help the general 
public become more aware of the world they live in? Or is it at least a 
useful marketing gimmick for conservation?


Bill Silvert

- Original Message - 
From: "David Shiffman" 

To: 
Sent: terça-feira, 4 de Maio de 2010 14:28
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Blog discussion: Captive orca whales and 
release/rehabilitation



Some animal rights extremists have joined in the conversation, making 
claims

like "evil aquarium employees who enslave whales deserve to be killed by
whales" and "aquariums and zoos have no education value whatsoever". 

[ECOLOG-L] Post doc in the evolutionary ecology of transgene flow

[Cynthia Sagers]

POST-DOC IN PLANT ECOLOGY: A postdoctoral position in plant evolutionary 
ecology is available at the Department of Biological Sciences at the 
University of Arkansas. The USDA-funded project is evaluating mechanisms 
by which global change factors interact with population level phenomena to 
trigger outbreak population dynamics. Of special interest is the 
introduction and residence of transgenes in naturalized weed populations 
by way of crop-weed hybridization. The successful applicant will be 
responsible for extended field work in the northern great plains, 
greenhouse hybridization trials, and supervision of students. Applicants 
must have a Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as ecology or evolutionary 
biology. Experience in DNA sequencing, microsatellite analysis, 
phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, and plant hybridization and 
statistics expertise is necessary. Previous work with domesticated plants 
is desireable. The initial appointment will be for one year with the 
possibility of extension. The start date is flexible and applications will 
be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, send a c.v., a brief 
(one page) statement of research goals, and the names and contact 
information of three references to Dr. Cynthia Sagers, Department of 
Biological Sciences, SCEN 601, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 
72701. Electronic submission is preferred: email .

[ECOLOG-L] DEADLINE: British Ecological Society Annual Meeting - Abstract Submission Deadline

[Beckerman Andrew]

The British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 
September 7-9, 2010 - Leeds University, Leeds, UK

Abstract Submission Open
DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MONDAY 10 MAY, 2010

Ensure you are part of the programme that includes renowned speakers such as 
ILKKA HANSKI, ALAN 
COVICH and MICHEL LOREAU.  

We are also pleased to announce that ANDREW WATKINSON will be presenting the 
BES Lecture and 
CHARLES GODFRAY will be giving the Presidential Address. 

For more information on abstract submission, booking discounts, thematic topics 
and the venue, 
visit the Annual Meeting webpages.

http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/meetings/current_future_meetings/2010_annual_meeting/in
dex.php

[ECOLOG-L] Graduate student position

[Stephen B. Cox]

Folks - as of May 4th,  I still have a graduate assistantship that is
available for a student interested in investigating the relationship
between mosquito community dynamics and risk of disease transmission.
Students could start in the Fall or Spring.  The position involves
collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of researchers that
includes ecologists, epidemiologists, mathematicians, and medical
entomologists.  The successful candidate will have a strong
quantitative background and, due to funding limitations, must be a
U.S. citizen.  Programming experience (R/Matlab/etc.) also is
desirable, but an openness to learning is sufficient!.  Interested
students are encouraged to peruse the TIEHH website
(www.tiehh.ttu.edu) and contact me (www.tiehh.ttu.edu/scox) for
additional information.

Regards

Stephen Cox
stephen.cox AT ttu.edu

[ECOLOG-L] earthworm information site

[Nathan Brouwer]

For general invasive earthworm information there's a great website:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/earthworms/index.html

And the best titled review article ever:
Pandora's Box Contained Bait: The Global Problem of Introduced  
Earthworms

http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.39.110707.173426
Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics
Vol. 39: 593-613 (Volume publication date December 2008)

If I remember correctly, it is important to draw a distinction between  
forest-dwelling worms (bad) and open-habitat worms (benign or native)




The article abstract:
Introduced exotic earthworms now occur in every biogeographic region  
in all but the driest or coldest habitat types on Earth. The global  
distribution of a few species (e.g., Pontoscolex corethrurus) was  
noted by early naturalists, but now approximately 120 such peregrine  
species are recognized to be widespread from regional to global  
scales, mainly via human activities. Species adapted to human  
transport and to colonization of disturbed habitats are most  
widespread and are the principal invasive species. We identify a  
number of endogenous and exogenous factors that may contribute to the  
successful establishment and spread of peregrine species.  
Quantification of these factors may help to determine why certain  
species become invasive while others do not. Recent advances in theory  
and modeling of biological invasions and in molecular techniques  
should prove fruitful in improving our understanding of invasive  
earthworms, as well as in predicting their impacts on ecosystems.

[ECOLOG-L] Blog discussion: Captive orca whales and release/rehabilitation

[David Shiffman]

Hello, everyone!

My blog is presently having a heated discussion on whether or not freeing
captive orca whales from aquariums is appropriate. This discussion was
sparked by the recent Sea World tragedy, but references the real-life
incidents surrounding the "Free Willy" movie and includes an interview with
Jean-Michel Cousteau.

http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=4334

It cost over $40 million to rehabilitate and release Keiko (the real life
whale who played "Willy"), and in exchange he got to live in the wild for
less than five years. Is this an appropriate method to use on other
presently captive orcas?

Some animal rights extremists have joined in the conversation, making claims
like "evil aquarium employees who enslave whales deserve to be killed by
whales" and "aquariums and zoos have no education value whatsoever".

I always appreciate the knowledgeable feedback that Ecolog members bring to
these discussions. Feel free to join in!

Sincerely,
David Shiffman