Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
...well in my opinion that definition is not necessarily specist, unless you do not consider humans as animals, as they obviously are. James, would you please add some details to the problems with the part interacting as a functional unit? Ecosystems (once spatially and temporally - and arbitrarily - defined) can be described in terms of structures and functions... can't they? I agree, as Ricklefs (2008) points out, that understanding ecological and evolutionary processes and mechanisms of comunities often requires a wider perspective at regional to global level, and not at the level of local assemblages, but this seems to me to be another question. After all, it is perfectly feasible to observe ecological and evolutionary processes observing populations of bacteria in a relatively very limited space and time interval, treating a simple Petri dish as your ecosystem. Cheerio, Gianluca Gianluca Polgar, PhD Evolutionary ecologist University of Malaya, Institute of Biological Sciences Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.mudskipper.it Il 26/06/2010 19.49, James J Roper ha scritto: Not only that, but if you have read Ricklefs 2008, the Disintegration of the Ecological Community (Am. Nat 172:741 - DOI: 10.1086/593002), you might even realize that THAT ecosystem definition leaves a lot to be desired, especially the part interacting as a functional unit. Cheers, Jim Fabrice De Clerck wrote on 25-Jun-10 12:20: Dear Friends, An environmental economist colleague of mine is disappointed with the CBD definition of ecosystems which gives the impression that only pristine areas are ecosystems. Can anyone point us to a more recent definition of ecosystems that explicitly includes humans as an integral part of the definition? Here is the original question: The CBD defines ecosystems as a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. I find this boring, as it leaves us humans, as special animals, out of the picture. When you read it, it is easy to think of pristine environments. Has there been any reaction or correction of this definition? I need an authoritative quote that balances the CBD´s All reactions welcome, and citations welcome! Fabrice Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596 fadecle...@catie.ac.cr Adjunct Research Scholar Tropical Agriculture Programs The Earth Institute at Columbia University
Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
Julie makes a very good point. As part of a course I was teaching this semester we covered the topic 'How to feed the world in 2050'. In Australia at least this has become a topic of increasing interest as we face immense challenges to our current agricultural systems from Climate Change impacts. In Australia we have national research groups (CSIRO) and agricultural organisations (ACIAR) who are responsible for research and development. There are many people employed in this sector and it covers a variety of 'solutions', from sustainable farming techniques to biotechnology. I would assume most developed countries would have a large government-funded sector working in a similar way (as Julie's email would attest). Internationally, agricultural ecology is headed up by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation www.fao.org) who take special interest in developing countries. There is some very good literature they have published on the food crisis of 2008-2009 and what it means for future food security. The fact is that we cannot even feed the world at the moment. Millions starve every year and yet we have an abundant food supply for the world's current population. There are a few reasons for this - poor farming techniques in politically insecure nations, poor infrastructure, crop failure due to drought/flood and other 'natural disasters, food wastage, biofuels, and most importantly, international trade agreements. Getting the food where it needs to be at an affordable price does not happen with current trade agreements. Also, supplying farmers with the revenue required for them to maintain a living farming is not occurring in many underdeveloped and developing countries because of trade issues. This is a key area of policy that needs to be investigated and remedied (if possible) if we want to be able to feed the world in 2050. No new technology is going to solve that issue. Liz On Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 1:13 AM, Wendee Holtcamp bohem...@wendeeholtcamp.com wrote: Who would you say are the world's leading authorities in agricultural ecology (how can we feed the world given our rates of consumption, increased meat demand, that kind of thing)? What questions are actively being addressed (besides the above) by academics that are hot topics in ag ecology right now for both the US and internationally? From the Bering Sea.. Wendee My adventures in the Bering Sea ~ http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond ~~ Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology ~ @bohemianone Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com/ http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com/ ~~ 6-wk Online Writing Course Starts July 24 (signup by Jun 17) ~~ ~~~ I'm Animal Planet's news blogger - http://blogs.discovery.com/animal_news -- Liz Pryde PhD Candidate (off-campus) School of Earth and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Tutor, University of Melbourne VIC Australia 0406626716
Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
I would suggest that there are no world authorities for feeding 10 billion people. As it is, the green revolution came with cheap oil. Food will only be harder to produce with less energy and more mouths to feed. Certainly I agree with Beth that the big companies are in it for the profit and not their concern for either sustainability or the human condition. As Garret Hardin said - Nobody dies of overpopulation (of course, he was speaking tongue in cheek, because they die of disease, starvation, inadequate health care, extreme working conditions and so on and so forth, all due to overpopulation). Jim Wendee Holtcamp wrote on 24-Jun-10 12:13: Who would you say are the world's leading authorities in agricultural ecology (how can we feed the world given our rates of consumption, increased meat demand, that kind of thing)? What questions are actively being addressed (besides the above) by academics that are hot topics in ag ecology right now for both the US and internationally? From the Bering Sea.. Wendee My adventures in the Bering Sea ~ http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond ~~ Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology ~ @bohemianone Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com/ http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com/ ~~ 6-wk Online Writing Course Starts July 24 (signup by Jun 17) ~~ ~~~ I'm Animal Planet's news blogger - http://blogs.discovery.com/animal_news
Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
I would agree with Julie's post. CATIE is in Costa Rica works throughout Meso and parts of South America on sustainable agriculture (the motto is Conserve while Producing, produce while conserving) including work on sustainable livestock management - we're in the process of finalizing Rainforest Alliance's certification standards for cattle farms.. See articles authored by Celia Harvey who now is working Conservation International. Most conservation organizations now have strong agriculture programs including TNC, WWF, CI and WCS. In addition to the authors mentioned below I would recommend Ivette Perfect. Probably one of the best agroecology programs in the world is the University of Goettingens with Teja Tscharntke, Stefan Dewenter and Alex Klein (now at Berkeley). Clarie Kremen's work on pollination also won her the MacArthur Genius Prize and should be included. Two groups that merit attention would be EcoAgriculture Partners led by Sara Scherr. See her books co-authored with Jeff McNeely (Agricultural Economist and Conservation Biologist). And the agroecology branch of the Diversitas Group which just came out with a special section on conservation in agriculture (Volume 2(1-2) of Environmental Sustainability. I would argue that this is one of the most rapidly growing branches of ecology. Fabrice On Jun 26, 2010, at 5:42 PM, Julie Cotton wrote: A quick disclosure - I work at MSU and did my graduate education at U-M, so this response pretty Midwest focused, and includes names I know as a privilege of my job and schooling. There are many great researchers out there pursuing aspects of agroecology/sustainability in the food production system that I am not mentioning, though they certainly have had significant contributions to the field. Before you start to try to reinvent the wheel, there is a strong and ongoing literature around sustainable, agriculture, and a growing one on meat production. As far as ecologists in the field, try starting with the authors of Agroecology textbooks and the new International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development [IAASTD] report: Steve Gliessman, John Vandermeer, Peter Rosset, Ivette Perfecto to name just a few. Many scientists that might be classified as agricultural researchers are strongly utilizing ecological knowledge - check out the long-term ecological research site in agriculture at MSU with many well-known researchers like Sieg Snapp and Phil Robertson. Look to the land-grant institutions with strong agroecologically-based programs for more about sustainable meat production. Here at MSU, we have cattle grazing ecologist Satiago Utsumi. There are also many social science researchers looking at ag technology adoption, political ecology, and the renewing of ancestral skills... that is another set of literature that I am less familiar with, but can mention recent influential public economics writer Raj Patel and political ecologist Jahi Chappell. Most traditional animal science departments are wary of ecological-based production methods, opting in the past to focus on feed efficiency and disease management, but there is a growing willingness to consider many alternatives. Remember that research funding is tighter than ever, so industry groups influence what can be researched in academia. Yet, the majority of cattle producers are still small - it's not until later consolidation in the production model that most cattle could be considered industrial. Anyone familiar with sustainable poultry, pork and other meat production, please chime in. In addition to the above mentions, Iowa State, University of Wisconsin-Madison, UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Cornell, and many other institutions have strong faculty in agroecology... you just need to do a little searching and you'll find a surprising amount of ecologists working in the agricultural venue - a few hundred are registered in the ESA Agroecology section. However, I would say that people researching more sustainable meat production are underrepresented and this field presents a lot of potential with both consumer preferences and the price of fuel in flux. It deserves to be said that in places where grazing animals is one of the sole sources of local food for humans (e.g. areas of Africa), the approach to and importance of both raising and sustaining animals is very different. There are many reports recently out that calculate the toll of raising meat that appear to be much more objective than interest-group led efforts. FAO's recent Livestock in a changing landscape may be of interest. Julie Cotton Academic Specialist Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Michigan State University Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596
[ECOLOG-L] Volunteer Field Assistant-Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
Volunteer field assistants (3-4) needed for September 15, 2010 January 15, 2011, for field work on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. Research will focus on the feeding ecology and habitat use of two species of colobus monkeys on the island. This research is being conducted as part of a Ph.D. project through Drexel University and the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program. Field assistant duties include daily forest patrols for monkeys, observing monkeys and collecting activity pattern and feeding data, collecting and processing plant samples and conducting vegetation surveys. The field site is within the Gran Caldera de Luba (a volcanic crater) and has a very rugged terrain. The site is remote and does not have electricity or facilities, therefore all volunteers will be living in tents. Applicants must be able to hike steep hills, withstand the simple and minimalistic conditions of camp, and maintain a positive and energetic attitude despite long hours. Assistants will enjoy fantastic wildlife viewing (wide variety of monkeys, birds, duikers and frogs) and amazing scenery in a place where not many people get to travel. Food, housing (tent) and travel while on the island will be provided. Assistants must provide their own airfare to and from Bioko Island. To apply, please send a cover letter detailing interests, previous experience and days of availability, resume and list of 2 references to Maggie Cunningham (mm...@drexel.edu).
[ECOLOG-L] ECOSYSTEM DEFINITION (s) Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
Dear dialogue participants: Definitions imply authority, but are useful place-holders in the ongoing dialogue we have labeled science, and the subset of intellectual enquiry we call ecology. We accept such definitions provisionally, until a better one comes along; it is always useful to explore the most difficult questions--endlessly, you say? Of course, endlessly. In a dialectic, each participant wishes to convince the other of the validity of their concept; in a simple dialogue, the parties jointly explore phenomena. Chew this over--if you like. . WT - Original Message - From: Fabrice De Clerck fd2...@columbia.edu To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 8:20 AM Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems Dear Friends, An environmental economist colleague of mine is disappointed with the CBD definition of ecosystems which gives the impression that only pristine areas are ecosystems. Can anyone point us to a more recent definition of ecosystems that explicitly includes humans as an integral part of the definition? Here is the original question: The CBD defines ecosystems as a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. I find this boring, as it leaves us humans, as special animals, out of the picture. When you read it, it is easy to think of pristine environments. Has there been any reaction or correction of this definition? I need an authoritative quote that balances the CBD´s All reactions welcome, and citations welcome! Fabrice Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596 fadecle...@catie.ac.cr Adjunct Research Scholar Tropical Agriculture Programs The Earth Institute at Columbia University No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.439 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2966 - Release Date: 06/27/10 06:35:00
Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
That abundant food supply comes at a cost--at the cost of ecosystems that are not dependent upon culture, and that once cycled nutrients and energy through an interdependent assemblage of organisms rather than a system of increasingly long-range exploitation-depletion system that perpetuates the fiction of plenty when what is going on is robbing Peter to pay Paul. This is an inconvenient truth that can be debated on its merits and details, but it will not go away at the snap of a presumption. Sooner or later this bubble will pop. WT - Original Message - From: Liz Pryde elizabethpr...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 4:17 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology Julie makes a very good point. As part of a course I was teaching this semester we covered the topic 'How to feed the world in 2050'. In Australia at least this has become a topic of increasing interest as we face immense challenges to our current agricultural systems from Climate Change impacts. In Australia we have national research groups (CSIRO) and agricultural organisations (ACIAR) who are responsible for research and development. There are many people employed in this sector and it covers a variety of 'solutions', from sustainable farming techniques to biotechnology. I would assume most developed countries would have a large government-funded sector working in a similar way (as Julie's email would attest). Internationally, agricultural ecology is headed up by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation www.fao.org) who take special interest in developing countries. There is some very good literature they have published on the food crisis of 2008-2009 and what it means for future food security. The fact is that we cannot even feed the world at the moment. Millions starve every year and yet we have an abundant food supply for the world's current population. There are a few reasons for this - poor farming techniques in politically insecure nations, poor infrastructure, crop failure due to drought/flood and other 'natural disasters, food wastage, biofuels, and most importantly, international trade agreements. Getting the food where it needs to be at an affordable price does not happen with current trade agreements. Also, supplying farmers with the revenue required for them to maintain a living farming is not occurring in many underdeveloped and developing countries because of trade issues. This is a key area of policy that needs to be investigated and remedied (if possible) if we want to be able to feed the world in 2050. No new technology is going to solve that issue. Liz On Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 1:13 AM, Wendee Holtcamp bohem...@wendeeholtcamp.com wrote: Who would you say are the world's leading authorities in agricultural ecology (how can we feed the world given our rates of consumption, increased meat demand, that kind of thing)? What questions are actively being addressed (besides the above) by academics that are hot topics in ag ecology right now for both the US and internationally? From the Bering Sea.. Wendee My adventures in the Bering Sea ~ http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond ~~ Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology ~ @bohemianone Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com/ http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com/ ~~ 6-wk Online Writing Course Starts July 24 (signup by Jun 17) ~~ ~~~ I'm Animal Planet's news blogger - http://blogs.discovery.com/animal_news -- Liz Pryde PhD Candidate (off-campus) School of Earth and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Tutor, University of Melbourne VIC Australia 0406626716 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.439 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2966 - Release Date: 06/27/10 06:35:00
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
Fabrice, An interesting and evocative question and dilemma! I should really think on it over time and reply in depth...but some thoughts of the top instead... I agree with other repliers that the definition really does not exclude humans per se...unless we focus on the special aspect of your ID of humans as special animals. So I think the CBD definition is OK in the broadest sense of all animals. But I also agree that humans are special animals...so what could we change? My core idea of ecosystem as I remember Tansley to have originally coined it mentioned and emphasized reciprocal influence between the abiotic and biotic realms. And I think it a reasonable extension to also suggest the definition so far includes a sense of a balanced reciprocity...not necessarily equilibrium, stasis, homeostasis or simple stability...but still in general a kind of equal weighting, value, importance, dominance, or causal driving by the biotic and abiotic realms. If we tried to address what is special about humans as animals, in this context of ecosystem as a functional biotic-abiotic unit...what to emphasize? One option would be to say that when humans enter the integrated functional whole of an ecosystem, the relationship is no longer reciprocal or balanced between biotic and abiotic realms. This does not necessarily have to mean that this change is bad, just that it is different from ecosystems without humans. The change would be compatible with the idea of the anthropocene era in which humans are the main driving force of change...even geologic, atmospheric, biogeochemical, species extinctions, etc. changes...on the planet. Another very general analogy would be to say that without humans the organisms and communities within ecosystems (biotic) adapt themselves mainly to survival needs as defined by abiotic changes, but humans (biotic) adapt (alter) the abiotic (and biotic) environment to our own needs. This is grossly general...and not even a clearly separable difference between humans and other species, especially those studied as ecosystem engineers, but it is a rough start. So...a revised approach would be to leave the definition of ecosystem as it is (or one of the other classic or widely used versions by Odum and others), but to add some modifier to another term or type of ecosystem and define that one differently. This might be coupled human-natural ecosystems or human-dominated ecosystems or human ecosystems or ecosystems with humans. But I think you open a can of worms that has to remain fuzzy and open-ended, because I think it an open question as to whether we humans can continue this lopsided relationship and continue to alter the environment to our needs and wishes. If the pendulum swings back as we reach the environmental limits of the planet, then the old and original ecosystem definition may be fine. If we find some way to transcend these planetary limits or boundaries...then we humans really are special enough to require an expanded definition of ecosystem. Some thoughts...would be fun to discuss more... Dan -- Dan Fiscus Assistant Professor Biology Department Frostburg State University 308 Compton Science Center Frostburg, MD 21532 USA 301-687-4170 dafis...@frostburg.edu -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of Fabrice De Clerck Sent: Fri 6/25/2010 11:20 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems Dear Friends, An environmental economist colleague of mine is disappointed with the CBD definition of ecosystems which gives the impression that only pristine areas are ecosystems. Can anyone point us to a more recent definition of ecosystems that explicitly includes humans as an integral part of the definition? Here is the original question: The CBD defines ecosystems as a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. I find this boring, as it leaves us humans, as special animals, out of the picture. When you read it, it is easy to think of pristine environments. Has there been any reaction or correction of this definition? I need an authoritative quote that balances the CBD´s All reactions welcome, and citations welcome! Fabrice Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596 fadecle...@catie.ac.cr Adjunct Research Scholar Tropical Agriculture Programs The Earth Institute at Columbia University
[ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
Please supply evidence that genetic engineering or any other method can double the productivity of any species without increasing the amount of water and nutrients, including a cogent explanation of just how this is done. WT - Original Message - From: Paul Cherubini mona...@saber.net To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 1:24 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology I would say the big biotech companies are the world's leading authorities with regard to the issue of how we can feed the world in the coming decades. Example: http://www.monsanto.com/responsibility/sustainable-ag/default.asp Excerpts: By 2050, say United Nations’ experts, our planet must double food production to feed an anticipated population of 9.3 billion people. By 2030, Monsanto commits to help farmers produce more and conserve more by: Developing improved seeds that help farmers double yields from 2000 levels for corn, soybeans, cotton, and spring-planted canola, with a $10 million grant pledged to improve wheat and rice yields.” Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.439 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2966 - Release Date: 06/27/10 06:35:00
[ECOLOG-L] PCA Factor Loadings in Vegan
Hi all, I am using vegan to run a pca on forest structural variables (tree density, basal area, average height, regeneration density) in R. However, I could not find out how to extract factor loadings (correlations of each variable with each pca axis). Do anyone know how to do that? Thanks a lot, Alexandre Dr. Alexandre F. Souza Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia: Diversidade e Manejo da Vida Silvestre Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) Av. UNISINOS 950 - C.P. 275, São Leopoldo 93022-000, RS - Brasil Telefone: (051)3590-8477 ramal 1263 Skype: alexfadigas afso...@unisinos.br http://www.unisinos.br/laboratorios/lecopop -- Esta mensagem foi verificada pelo sistema de antiv�rus e acredita-se estar livre de perigo.
[ECOLOG-L] Fw: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
David Pimentel comes to mind, and I would strongly recommend to include some of the heroes of carbon farmers, maybe Dr. Christine Jones from Australia ? i do second tha motion that transwhatever companies do have their own agenda, not necessarily a so called sustainable (I for one think that it should be regenerative sustainable is not enough anymore) Abraham de Alba Avila Terrestrial Plant Ecology INIFAP-Ags Ap. postal 20, Pabellón Arteaga, 20660 Aguascalientes, MEXICO SKYPE: adealba55 Tel: (465) 95-801-67, 801-86 ext. 126, FAX ext 102 alternate: dealba.abra...@inifap.gob.mx cel: 449-157-7070 - Forwarded Message From: Beth Buczynski bethbo...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Thu, June 24, 2010 3:50:53 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology I would have to strongly disagree with the opinon that Monsanto or any biotech company cares at all about sustainable agriculture (meaning good for people, and able to be replicated again and again without harm to the environment). Those who are championing the return of small, local, organic farmers (think Michael Pollan, Joel Salatin, and others) are the true leaders when it comes to creating a sustainable food supply for future generations. Food for thought: Biotechnology Will Feed the World and Other Mythshttp://www.vegsource.com/articles/gmo_feed_myth.htm On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 4:24 PM, Paul Cherubini mona...@saber.net wrote: I would say the big biotech companies are the world's leading authorities with regard to the issue of how we can feed the world in the coming decades. Example: http://www.monsanto.com/responsibility/sustainable-ag/default.asp Excerpts: By 2050, say United Nations’ experts, our planet must double food production to feed an anticipated population of 9.3 billion people. By 2030, Monsanto commits to help farmers produce more and conserve more by: Developing improved seeds that help farmers double yields from 2000 levels for corn, soybeans, cotton, and spring-planted canola, with a $10 million grant pledged to improve wheat and rice yields.” Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif. -- Beth Buczynski, M.S. Copywriter/Environmental Blogger www.seebethwrite.com www.ecosphericblog.com @ecosphericblog
[ECOLOG-L] Fwd: RFP for Visualizations
Hi All - We're looking for people to submit proposals for visualization tools for phenological data. The RFP can be found here: http://www.pacs.arizona.edu/files/S051044_Data_Visualizations_RFP.pdfhttp://www.pacs.arizona.edu/files/S051044_Data_Visualizations_RFP.pdf. Feel free to forward to your collaborators who might be interested - we're shooting for a targeted distribution of this RFP. Thanks, Alyssa -- Alyssa Rosemartin IT Project Manager USA National Phenology Network National Coordinating Office 1955 East 6th Street Tucson, AZ 85721 Phone: (520) 419-2585 Fax: (520) 792-0571 http://www.usanpn.orgwww.usanpn.org
[ECOLOG-L] New book: The World of Wolves
Dear Fellow Ecologists- Apologies for the promotion, but a totally NEW book is out: The World of Wolves: New Perspectives on Ecology, Behaviour and Management Eds. Musiani, Boitani, Paquet; University of Calgary Press (see attached cover) It illustrates impressive biology, precious information for management and conservation, many unique photos of wild wolves only, and artistic drawings (see attached samples, at low resolution in this email, but incredible). The table of contents tells much about the calibre of the contributors and of the contributions (below)! The book is available through a number of locations, example the amazon sites: http://www.amazon.com/World-Wolves-Perspectives-Management- Envirionment/dp/1552382699 http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Wolves-Perspectives-Management- Envirionment/dp/1552382699 http://www.amazon.ca/World-Wolves-Perspectives-Behaviour- Management/dp/1552382699/ref=sr_1_2/186-7895646-8209866? ie=UTF8s=booksqid=1277130313sr=1-2 Yours! Marco Marco Musiani mmusi...@ucalgary.ca PS: The other book, fully focused on wolf management is very good and going very well too: Title A New Era for Wolves and People: Wolf Recovery, Human Attitudes and Policy, Eds. Musiani, Boitani, Paquet ***Table of Contents of The World of Wolves*** Introduction: Research Projects Highlight a Common Pattern: the Key Role Always Played by Wolves in Community Ecology and Wildlife Management Marco Musiani, Luigi Boitani and Paul C. Paquet Section I - Re-discovering the Role of Wolves in Natural and Semi-natural Ecosystems 1.1 Recent Advances in the Population Genetics of Wolf-like Canids Robert K. Wayne 1.2 What, if anything, is a Wolf? Raymond Coppinger, Lee Spector and Lynn Miller 1.3 Wolf Community Ecology: Ecosystem Effects of Recovering Wolves in Banff and Yellowstone National Parks Mark Hebblewhite and Doug W. Smith 1.4 Will the Future of Wolves and Moose Always Differ from our Sense of Their Past? John A. Vucetich, Rolf O. Peterson and M. P. Nelson Section II Wolves Role in Wildlife Management Planning: Human Impacts in Protected Wolf Populations, Hunting and Removal of Wolves 2.1 Influence of Anthropogenically Modified Snow Conditions on Wolf Predatory Behaviour Paul C. Paquet, Shelley Alexander, Steve Donelon and Carolyn Callaghan 2.2 The Recolonizing Scandinavian Wolf Population: Research and Management in Two Countries Olof Liberg, Åke Aronson, Scott M. Brainerd, Jens Karlsson, Hans-Christian Pedersen, Håkan Sand and Petter Wabakken 2.3 Synthesizing Wolf Ecology and Management in Eastern Europe: Similarities and Contrasts with North America W?odzimierz Je;drzejewski, Bogumi?a Je;drzejewska, anete Andersone-Lilley, Linas Balc(iauskas, Peep Männil, Ja-nis Ozolin,, Vadim E. Sidorovich, Guna Bagrade, Marko Kübarsepp, Aivars Ornica-ns, Sabina Nowak, Alda Pupila and Agrita unna 2.4 Wolf Ecology and Management in Northern Canada: Perspectives from a Snowmobile Wolf Hunt H. Dean Cluff, Paul C. Paquet, Lyle R. Walton and Marco Musiani 2.5 Livestock Husbandry Practices Reduce Wolf Depredation Risk in Alberta, Canada Tyler Muhly, C. Cormack Gates, Carolyn Callaghan and Marco Musiani
[ECOLOG-L] Last call for photos and films for the Eco-Arts festival (sponsored by the ESA-SS)
***ATTENTION* This is your LAST CHANCE to enter your photos or videos into this year’s Ecological Society of America’s Eco-Arts festival (DEADLINE: Wednesday June 30th) – taking place at the annual conference in Pittsburg, PA. -There is NO ENTRY FEE for either the Eco-Photo or Eco-Film competitions -You DO NOT HAVE TO BE A STUDENT -YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THIS YEAR’S MEETING As before: *ALL* Ecological Society of America (ESA) members are invited to submit entries to the Eco-Film and Eco-Photo competitions. There is over $3,500 in prizes for top photos and films. Among the list of judges are the current and incoming ESA presidents Dr. Mary Power and Dr. Terry Chapin, as well as many other renowned photographers and filmmakers (see more details below). For more information about the contest, prizes or this year’s prestigious panel of judges please read the original announcement bellow -ESA-SS Eco-Arts Festival Main Announcement- Photography and film’s visual and interdisciplinary nature can aid scientific research and outreach, teaching multiple audiences about the environment, humanity’s relationship to it, and actions to take for it. The purpose of the ESA Eco-Art Festival is to celebrate and award the outstanding artistic contributions made by ESA members to ecological science through photography and film. Learn more about the festival, competitions, and how to submit to each at the following link. Submission deadline is June 30, 2010, 11:59 PM EST. http://esa.org/students/section/node/345 ___ __ The winning films and photos will be: - exhibited during ESA’s annual meeting, Aug 1-6, in Pittsburgh (www.esa.org/pittsburgh). - receive commemorative plaques and special recognition during the Eco-Art award ceremony. - featured on ESA’s and Art for Conservation’s (www.artforconservation.com) websites. - receive cash and/or gift certificates as described below. - receive other recognition and prizes, as described below. ___ __ The Eco-Film Competition includes an “educational” and a “professional” category. The “educational” category is for individuals interested in creating a short film that focuses on educating the public on scientific issues (to be displayed on SciVee, www.scivee.tv). The “professional” category is geared toward researchers interested in publishing ecological methodologies in a visual format (and potential publication in the Journal of Visual Experiments, JoVE, www.jove.com). Eco-Film Competition - Educational category – prizes include: 1st place - $150 cash 2nd place - $100 cash 3rd place - $50 cash People’s Choice - $100 cash Eco-Film Competition - Professional category – prizes include: 1st place - $2,000 (open access) submission waiver to JoVE, to be reviewed for publication 2nd place - $750 (closed access) submission waiver to JoVE, to be reviewed for publication ___ __ The Eco-Photo Competition will accept images that fall under three main areas: scientific methodology, human interactions with nature (positive or negative), and simply documentation of nature’s wonders. All three areas will be judged collectively for the following prizes: Eco-Photo Competition prizes include: 1st place - $150 cash + $150 photo printing gift certificate** 2nd place - $100 cash + $100 photo printing gift certificate** 3rd place - $50 cash + $50 photo printing gift certificate** People’s Choice - $100 cash *NEW UPDATE* - In addition to being on exhibit throughout the ESA conference, winning photos for the Eco-Photo competition will be on exhibit at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (www.phipps.conservatory.org) in Pittsburgh after the conference. **Made possible by Art for Conservation/Fine Print Imaging (www.fineprintimaging.com) ___ __ *NEW UPDATE* - The Eco-Photo and Eco-Film judging panel includes distinguished professional scientists and photographers, including the current and incoming ESA presidents (Dr. Mary Power and Dr. Terry Chapin), Dr. Nalini Nadkarni (http://www.nalininadkarni), Dr. Stephanie Hampton (Deputy Director, NCEAS), Joe Riis (www.joeriis.com; National Geographic Young Explorer), Neil Ever Osborne (www.neileverosborne.com), Morgan Heim (www.moheimphotography.com), and Molly Steinwald (www.mollysteinwald.com). Learn more about the festival, competitions, and how to submit to each at the link below. More details will be posted once finalized. http://esa.org/students/section/node/345 ___ __ We look forward to your entries! Sean Ryan MS
[ECOLOG-L] Field Technician positions: Longleaf pine restoration
Position Openings: Field Technician positions: Longleaf pine restoration - Ft. Stewart, Georgia, The Savannah River Site, South Carolina, and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. We seek to fill several field technician positions for a large-scale experiment on the restoration of plant communities in the Southeastern U.S. Technicians will join a team of four principal investigators (Ellen Damschen and John Orrock at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Lars Brudvig at Michigan State University, and Joan Walker at Clemson University) and postdocs (Cathy Collins, Brett Mattingly, and Joe Veldman) as part of a collaborative project that spans three states. Research will include studies of the effects of land-use history, herbivory, and competition on longleaf pine restoration. Tasks will include setting up permanent vegetation plots, sampling vegetation, constructing experimental exclosures, soil sampling, collecting seeds, and various other tasks required for experimental studies of plant community restoration and plant-animal interactions. Technicians will be exposed to numerous research questions and approaches, as well as participate in actively restoring the imperiled longleaf pine understory. Opportunities for independent research projects exist for highly motivated individuals. Positions will begin immediately (July 2010), and will last for 6-8 months. Pay rate will be around $10-12/hr. depending on the position and experience. Technicians will work at one of three possible field sites: Ft. Stewart (Georgia), Savannah River Site (South Carolina), or Ft. Bragg (North Carolina), and live in towns near their site (Hinesville, Flemington, or Richmond Hill near Ft. Stewart in GA; Aiken or Ellenton near Savannah River Site in SC; or Southern Pines or Pinehurst near Ft. Bragg in NC). Housing is not provided. Successful candidates will hold a bachelors degree in ecology, biology, or a related discipline and must be able to endure hot, humid conditions and long hours in the field. Previous field research experience is mandatory; botanical experience is preferred, but not necessary. University of Wisconsin-Madison is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Because the research sites are highly secure areas run by the federal government, non-United States citizens may have difficulty gaining clearance to work there. To apply, please email a CV or resume and letter describing past experience, why this position is interesting or important to you, dates of availability, and contact information with email addresses for two references to Cathy Collins: wustlse...@gmail.com. Please include a ranking of preferred field site locations. Positions will begin to be filled immediately, but applications will be no longer considered after July 15, 2010. *** W. Brett Mattingly Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Biology Washington University St. Louis, MO 63105 mattin...@wustl.edu
