[ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: Biodiversity is a delicate recipe

[Katie Kline]

Picture a simmering pot of vegetable broth, the condensed flavors the basis for 
what will become a hearty corn chowder. Looking at the recipe, you know that 
before the broth was introduced, onions and garlic were sautéed in olive oil 
until they grew translucent. Then flour was added to form the rue. And you know 
after the broth is added, potatoes, corn and other assorted vegetables will be 
left to simmer. But would you have known all of this just by seeing the list of 
ingredients alone? Unless you enjoy cooking regularly, you probably would not 
have known the sequence for preparing corn chowder just by the taste. According 
to a study recently published in Science Express, biodiversity is a similar 
process. Some scientists go about recreating an ecosystem by adding all of the 
elements at once into an experiment.

Read more and comment at 
http://www.esa.org/esablog/research/biodiversity-is-a-delicate-recipe/. 

[ECOLOG-L] Call for faculty to teach in new science general education initiative at Bard College (NY)

[Felicia Keesing]

*Call for faculty to teach in new science general education initiative 
at Bard College

*

When: January 4^th - 26^th (training July 30^th – August 2^nd )
Where: Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY (30 min. north of Poughkeepsie)
What: A general introduction to understanding scientific evidence, using 
the theme of infectious diseases


Please distribute to any an all individuals who might be interested in 
participating in this program.


*Bard** College* is seeking instructors for **the inaugural term of its 
new science education initiative. This innovative program is designed to 
provide all students in their first year of college with basic 
scientific literacy, using the specific topic of “/Investigating 
infectious disease”. /We will be using laboratory work, computer 
modeling, and classroom lecture during this intensive term. 
Additionally, extracurricular activities will be planned in the evenings 
and we will be hosting speakers to discuss applied and basic science. 
Speakers will include scientists, journalists, and policy-makers and 
will come from the Bard community and beyond. Bard is a private liberal 
arts college with approximately 1,900 students, located 90 miles north 
of New York City on the Hudson River.


Successful candidates will possess a Ph.D. or equivalent in the sciences 
and be willing to work to engage students of all disciplines in a common 
educational experience. No specific training within biology is required.


Faculty will be required to attend a training session on the Bard Campus 
in Annandale-on-Hudson (travel, lodging and food will be covered) from 
the evening of July 30^th - through the evening of August 2^nd . The 
program dates for the program for the 2010-2011 academic year are 
January 4^th - January 26^th . Faculty will be housed in rooms on the 
Bard Campus for the duration of the program.


Applicants should submit curriculum vitae, statement of interest for 
teaching in this type of program, and the contact information for three 
references /by email only/ to: Director Brooke Jude at 
hr-scm10-...@bard.edu . Review of 
applications begin on June 1st, and will continue all positions are 
filled. We seek to attract and retain a highly qualified and diverse 
faculty. AA/EOE.


http://www.bard.edu/about/employment/employment/popup.php?listing_id=7362138

http://app3.insidehighered.com/news/2010/04/26/bard

[ECOLOG-L] Movies to teach population ecology ???

[VOLTOLINI]

Dear friends,

I would to receive suggestions about a good population ecology video to use 
in undergraduate classes.


There are many videos about primates, felids and canids but many of them are 
more about general behaviour and not exploring population growth, survival, 
etc.


My ideia is to use the video with some questions for the sutdents and 
discuss conservation and management strategies using population ecology 
theory.


Thanks for any help and I will send the results back to the list!



Prof. Dr. J. C. VOLTOLINI
Universidade de Taubate - Departamento de Biologia
Taubate, SP. 12030-010. E-Mail: jcvol...@uol.com.br
Website do grupo de pesquisa ECOMAM: http://jcvoltol.sites.uol.com.br/
Fotos de Projetos e Cursos: http://jcvoltol.fotoblog.uol.com.br/
Amostra de um Curso de Campo de Ecologia: http://trabiju.blogspot.com/
Currículo Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/8137155809735635
Fotos Artísticas: http://voltolini.fotos.net.br/texturas

'Siamo tutti angeli con un'ala e possiamo volare soltanto se ciabbracciamo' 

[ECOLOG-L] Aquatic Technician - NEON - one year assignment - Boulder, CO

[Laura Reynolds]

Overview
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON, Inc.) is a nonprofit 
science corporation dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, 
land use and invasive species impact ecology. Currently under design is 
the NEON project - an observatory comprising more than 60 environmental 
and biological monitoring locations distributed throughout twenty domains 
across the United States, Hawaii, Alaska & Puerto Rico.  The observatory 
network will be the first of its kind designed to detect and enable 
forecasting of ecological change at continental scales over multiple 
decades.

The Aquatic Team will collect physical, chemical, and biological data on 
streams and small lakes across twenty domains in the United States, 
Hawaii, Alaska & the Caribbean.  The Team will define measurements, train 
personnel, and perform QA/QC in order to produce high quality data 
products for the research, education, and decision making community.

Term of Position
This position is as a term (one year), full-time position on the NEON 
Aquatic science team.

Location: Boulder, CO

Position Summary:
The Aquatic Technician will assist the Aquatic Team with gathering 
existing data and information on streams and ponds/lakes across the United 
States.   This includes water chemistry; plant, insect, and fish species 
lists; aerial photographs; maps; and other historical information.  This 
information is critical for the Team to prepare the sites for 
construction.  The Technician will work independently searching for 
existing literature and data, and as part of the Team to develop data 
management tools.  

The Technician will also have the opportunity to gain experience in GIS, 
water chemistry analyses, and mapping of aquatic ecosystems.
The Aquatic Technician is expected to produce reports of NEON site 
information and is encouraged to collaborate with the Staff to investigate 
other publications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
•   Independently seek published data and information from libraries, 
local NGOs, researchers, municipalities, Federal and State agencies
•   Seek unpublished data from local researchers and NGOs
•   Co-create data management system for historical site data: working 
in collaboration with Aquatic scientists and the NEON Computing team
•   Coordinate and compile disparate data and information for ease of 
analysis and retrieval
•   Work with NEON GIS to digitize and organize historical maps, 
images, and aerial photos of sites
•   Participate in the larger NEON science community

Education:
•   Bachelor’s degree in aquatic ecology or related field. 
 
Required Experience:
•   Experience with university library research, including Web of 
Science
•   Ability to independently gather information from federal and state 
agencies’ online data portals
•   Ability to telephone interview researchers and scientists
•   Demonstrated ability to write technical documents

Preferred Experience:
•   Ability to create and interpret stream hydrographs
•   Knowledge of freshwater water quality parameters
•   Knowledge of GIS preferred

Skills and Abilities:
•   Literature and library research skills
•   Strong communication and interpersonal skills
•   Technical  writing 
•   Ability to work independently, and as part of an active science 
team

TO APPLY: www.neoninc.org
 Review of applications will begin 15 June 2010.

Relocation and Housing is not provided.

NEON Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans 
and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply.