Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
Wayne Tyson wrote: 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, I'll settle for a ratio of total biomass or grain yield ratio to water Wayne, lets look at the track record of the biotech and industrialized ag industry in the USA. In 2009 the The Keystone Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture published a report http://tinyurl.com/26su7y2 that looked at yields vs. land use, irrigation water use, energy use, soil loss, and climate impact for the Corn, Cotton, Soybeans and Wheat grown in the USA during the 20 year period from 1987-2007 With regard to Yield Per Irrigated Acre vs. Irrigation Water Applied Per Acre during the period 1987-2007 the authors found: 1) Corn Yields Per Irrigated Acre increased about 24% while Irrigation Water Applied Per Acre decreased about 11% http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae78/18R-C/corn.jpg 2) Cotton Yields Per Irrigated Acre increased about 69% while Irrigation Water Applied Per Acre decreased about 30% http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae78/18R-C/cotton.jpg 3) Soybean Yields Per Irrigated Acre increased about 23% while Irrigation Water Applied Per Acre decreased about 4% http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae78/18R-C/soybean.jpg 4) Wheat Yields Per Irrigated Acre increased about 11% while Irrigation Water Applied Per Acre increased about 10% http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae78/18R-C/wheat.jpg Thus with the exception of wheat, these data show the biotech and industrialized ag industry has an excellent track record of substantially increasing the yields of irrigated crops while at the same time substantially decreasing water usage. The failure in wheat could be due to the fact that industry has not come out with much biotech wheat to date. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
[ECOLOG-L] Two workshops on the Analysis of Capture-Recapture Data held in St Andrews, Scotland
Workshop 1: Analysis of Capture-recapture Data Workshop - 6-7th September 2010 Workshop 2: Bayesian Analysis of Capture-recapture Data Workshop - 8-10th September 2010 Further details: Workshop 1: *Analysis of Capture-Recapture Data Workshop* - Instructors: Professor Byron Morgan and Dr Rachel McCrea This workshop will cover the essentials of statistical methods for the analysis of capture-recapture data. Methods of classical inference based on likelihood construction and maximisation will be used throughout. The workshop will include both introductory and advanced material, including current research. The workshop will be led by Professor Byron Morgan and Dr Rachel McCrea both based at the University of Kent in Canterbury. They are in the process of writing a book Analysis of Capture-Recapture Data which will form the basis of the workshop. One extensive application, on cormorants, /Phalacrocorax carbo/, will be used to integrate different aspects of the work. Additional data sets will be provided for individual experimentation. The four computer practical sessions will use programs and packages written in the free language R as well as code for symbolic algebra package Maple. Talks will be accompanied by copies of talk slides, and memory sticks will be provided which will contain more detailed notes, computer programs and data sets, as well as the talk slides. Participants are encouraged to bring their own data sets for discussion and analysis. By the end of the workshop, participants will have the confidence and ability to fit a wide range of capture-recapture models, for use in ecology and other areas of application. The workshop will form the basis for the subsequent workshop on /Bayesian analysis for Population Ecology/. Earlybird registration for workshop 1 (before 10th August) will be £360 (and £290 for students). Workshop 2: *Bayesian Analysis of Capture-recapture Data Workshop* - Instructors: Dr Ruth King, Prof Byron Morgan and Dr Olivier Gimenez Bayesian methods are making an enormous impact in the area of population ecology. In this workshop participants will be given instruction on the underlying ideas associated with Bayesian methods and computational algorithms, applied to the area of population ecology, with particular focus on mark-recapture-recovery data. The workshop will begin with an introduction to Bayesian methods and the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm before considering more advanced topics, including, for example, random effects models, state-space models, dealing with missing data, model selection (including posterior model probabilities and model averaging) and the reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Theory and methods will be motivated and illustrated using a range of ecological capture-recapture examples. The workshop will make use of (and provide) the recently published book Bayesian Analysis for Population Ecology by King, Morgan, Gimenez and Brooks. The workshop will combine lectures with hands-on computer practical sessions using and adapting the computer programs provided by the organisers in both WinBUGS and R. In addition to the book, particpants will also receive a memeory stick containing the talk slides, datasets analysed and all the WinBUGS and R codes used in the workshop. No prior knowledge of Bayesian methods will be assumed, however, we will assume that delegates will either have attended the “Analysis of Capture-recapture Data” workshop immediately prior to this workshop or have knowledge or experience of capture-recapture data and the Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) model. Workshop participants will acquire new statistical tools for answering important questions relevant to the conservation and management of wild animal populations. Earlybird registration for workshop 2 (before 10th August) will be £540 (and £430 for students). For further information, including a complete draft schedule for each workshop, registration information and contact details, see http://creem2.st-andrews.ac.uk/workshops.aspx and associated links. Enquiries should be addressed to Rhona Rodger (rh...@mcs.st-and.ac.uk mailto:rh...@mcs.st-and.ac.uk).
[ECOLOG-L] Work opportunity in Marine GIS and RS
This opportunity is also suitable for experts that have already an employment and are available to a collaboration in the field. Mappamondo GIS is seeking a Marine GIS and Remote Sensing expert for short term collaboration projects with the following characteristics: 1. Proven teaching/presentation skills and experience in the preparation of educational and training material in GIS and Remote Sensing 2. Proven involvement in major Marine GIS and Remote Sensing projects and applications to add personal know how during classes 3. In depth knowledge of the ArcGIS software including ModelBuilder, Geodatabases and advanced applications. 4. In depth knowledge of image processing/analysis techniques and Remote Sensing in general 5. Fluent written and oral English (Italian would be an asset) 6. ESRI Authorized Instructor status and PADIand ScientificSCUBA Divinglicensewould be an asset 7. Database management and programming skills are not required but preferable. Please note that the first 5 points are mandatory. Please send your cover letter and CV to i...@mappamondogis.com by the 5th of July including links to videos of lectures or presentations and to educational material developed (slides, manuals) as well as your availability. Interviews of suitable candidates might take place on-distance through Skype and further information requested by email. Selections are not limited to one post or in time. Task can be performed on-distance when possible (e.g. preparation of educational material) or seldom at client site worldwide(e.g. lectures) Compensation is negotiable and project based. Please feel free to forward this announcement to anybody that might be interested. Kind regards Mappamondo GIS Mappamondo GIS Parma - ITALY URL: www.mappamondogis.com Email: i...@mappamondogis.com
[ECOLOG-L] Sustainability science
I am a recent graduate from Wellesley College and am looking to go into graduate school in fields related to environmental science or ecology. I recently came upon a website called sustainabilityscience.org and was very intrigued by this field of sustainability science. However, most of the documents on the website are a couple years old and the listed graduate programs in sustainability science seemed brand new at the time of posting, so I was wondering if there is anything currently going on in the field of sustainability science (graduate work or otherwise) and if, at all, it pertains to ecology. I'm greatly interested in getting involved in sustainability projects for graduate school, so I would love any thoughts on the matter. Thank you very much! Hoi-Fei Mok Biological Chemistry, BA Wellesley College
[ECOLOG-L] Seeking Research Technician: Tree Ecophysiology
The Clark Lab is seeking a research technician to assist with a study examining tree species differences in ecophysiological responses to environmental stress. Current climate predictions for the Southeast indicate warmer and drier growing season conditions in the future which may further limit tree species which are highly sensitive to drought conditions. This research will focus on the potential impacts of drought and canopy shading on canopy conductance and transpiration for several co-occurring tree species and the implications for forest dynamics in the eastern United States. This is a one year, full-time (40h/week) position, with some possibility of extension, beginning at any time between now and July. Primary duties will include Granier-style sap flux probe installation, system maintenance and trouble shooting, data collection and management. The position will include work with electronics, in the lab and field. Duties may also include, but may not be limited to, the following: 1)Assist with inventories of vegetation within forested study plots 2)Collect, sort and identify seeds 3)Collect and measure tree increment cores 4)Assist with maintenance of open-topped warming chambers 5)Collect data on germination, survival and phenology of seedlings in warming chambers 6)Take and analyze hemispherical photographs of forest canopies We are based in the Nicholas School of the Environment and the department of Biology at Duke University, an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We study many aspects of forest community ecology including plant demography, population genetics, plant-insect and plant-fungal interactions, and responses to disturbance and climate change. http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/clark/. Our research sites are located in North Carolina, in the Duke Forest and at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in the southern Appalachians. During the summer, there may be 1-2 weeks of travel to the mountain sites. Housing and transportation are provided for trips to the field sites in the Appalachian Mountains. Knowledge of the natural history of eastern forests and experience using Microsoft Excel and R (a statistical computing package) are beneficial, but not required. Applicants should be willing to work outdoors in a hot, humid environment with abundant insects, ticks and chiggers. The salary is $11/hour, plus health benefits. Successful applicants will need to secure housing in the Durham/Research Triangle area. Submit application by July 12. Application materials should include a cover letter, CV and a list of 3 references. Please submit these materials through e-mail as a single document to David Bell (dm...@duke.edu).
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
What distinguishes humans from the other organisms is the psychological phenomenon of culture One could argue that culture is nothing but variation in an adaptive trait or set of traits. Therefore, we could easily interpret intraspecific variation as aspects of culture, especially where it involves communication within the local population. Frogs, birds, and I suspect insects all show variation in signals such as calling for mates and interpretation of those calls. I do not really see ANY difference between the variation in human culture, and the variation in social behavior of any other organism. Malcolm On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 5:12 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Ecolog: It is healthy to continue to subject any concept or definition to scrutiny, and it beats reliance upon authority. Words are convenient labels that ideally convey the same meaning to all others, but this is rarely the case. Ecosystem is reasonably well defined by the various authorities cited, at least among ecologists and others seriously interested in understanding how life forms work, but, like a lot of terms, it sometimes gets hijacked at various times and the meaning gets twisted. Some who use the term have a poor understanding of its meaning. Ecology may well be the most difficult of all phenomena to study; it is a very complex subject. It may not be so much that ecosystem is in need of redefinition but that the terminology used in writing and speaking about it has become far too convoluted, full of terms that are themselves poorly defined and recklessly used. Part of this springs from a sincere effort to develop terms that represent entire concepts so they don't have to be repeated, but part of it also can be phony-needless convolutions and vague definitions that serve mainly as jargon when simpler, plainer words would do the job better. It is too easy to get so ensnarled in pseudo-academic jargon that one forgets what one was examining in the first place. Ecologists have long been accused of being a soft science, and some ecologists, intimidated by such criticism, have gone into defense mode with both arcane language and meaningless math to appear to be more scientific. Ecology IS soft. It is squishy and elusive. But that is because it is complex, not soft in the sense of being easy or merely philosophical. Its study requires a synthesis of an impossibly wide intellectual pursuit that spans all of the other disciplines, from physics to a kind of philosophy of reality, far from, and beyond, the presumptions of Plato and Socrates about the meaning of life and all that. Certainly, however, some ecologists do come at the subject from such philosophical directions as concerns about moral action and intuition, and as long as all stay open to observing reality rather than insisting upon the confirmation of prejudices, all will sort out eventually. Certainly ecology and the ecosystem concept will benefit from reexamination, and any refinement or replacement of those terms will be beneficial to an honest intellectual pursuit. But what are those replacement terms? WT PS: As to whether or not humans are part of the ecosystem (or any subset thereof), certainly they are, like any other organism. What distinguishes humans from the other organisms is the psychological phenomenon of culture, which has enabled cultural humans to change their environment to suit them rather than changing (evolving) to suit the environment. Nature, or reality, however, is indifferent to destiny, and will, as Louis Ziegler once said, shrug off Homo sapiens with no more concern that she has countless other species in the history of the earth. - 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
Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
Wendee and anyone interested in this thread, You would probably find the lecture entitled Meat given by Joel E. Cohen for the First Annual Malthus Lecture this past spring, both interesting and entertaining. The link is: http://www.ebmcdn.net/prb/html/prb-malthus-0310a/index.html Leon Blaustein Community Ecology Laboratory Institute of Evolution and Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology Faculty of Sciences University of Haifa, Haifa 31905 Israel Tel. 972-4-8240736 (office) Tel. 972-4-9998881 (home) Cell: 052-555-1081 Institute Fax: 972-4-8246554 Alternative e-mail: leon.blaust...@gmail.com http://research.haifa.ac.il/~leon/index.htm Chief Editor, Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution http://israelsciencejournals.com/eco.htm e-mail: ijee...@research.haifa.ac.il He [Rabin] knew that those who starve peace, feed extremism. -Shimon Peres speaking at Rabin commemoration 7 Nov 09 On Jun 24, 2010, at 6:13 PM, Wendee Holtcamp 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
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Evolution Adaptation Failure of success equals maladaptation Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
Malcolm and Ecolog: No argument on that! But those organisms are subject to the same feeding feedback rules; as they (including humans) deplete the resources upon which they depend, their quality of life and reproduction suffers--they adapt (change their behavior) or suffer population decline, catastrophically in some rough proportion to the excess consumption that preceded the decline. If the decline is gradual, it is an adjustment, if it is extreme, it is a bust. Humans are not exempt from this principle, but culture (egocentrism in place of species consciousness, coercive hierarchy in place of cooperation) has convinced them that they can find a way to feed 9.3 billion by 2050 or whatever through the miracle of technology or some other snake-oil. That's the big difference--humans can avoid decline, degradation, famine, and they have--through culture. But they have done it at the expense of over-consumption, much like the organism in the Petri dish, and the consequences will be the same because those resources are not being allowed to recover their productivity. We are eating our seed corn, as it were, and Monsanto's boasting, rather than being seen as some kind of savior should be seen as a shot across the bow. And as much as I like mesa, I would prefer a little more variety in my diet. WT PS: There's obviously something I'm not communicating well enough here; there's so much that we do agree on--I hope we can back and fill to at least a clear expression and understanding if not agreement. But I appreciate the good critical review very much; don't give up yet! - Original Message - From: malcolm McCallum To: Wayne Tyson Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 6:38 AM Subject: Re: Evolution Adaptation Failure of success equals maladaptation Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems Sure they do! Check out most general ecology texts and you should find reference to an experiment with Daphnia in which the species overshoots its resources, crashes and then bounces above and below the carrying capacity (k). Humans do the same thing, you can easily argue they do not altruistically do things for the good of the species. You can easily classify humans as supertramps that can survive in a wide range of habitats, and they can further be classified as invasive species. And, they are not the only species that changes the environment to serve its purposes, beavers are a classic example of yet another species that does this when they change stream into a beaver pond. Squirrels expand oak-hickory forests at the expense of grassland habitats by burying nuts and acorns further and further beyond the edges. Any organism's population will expand until its ability to use or manipulate resources for use is exhausted. On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 9:13 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Malcolm and Ecolog: One could argue (I do) that culture is, in the long run, a psychopathology, a maladaptive trait in the clothing of success, through which the seeds of failure (degradation and extinction) are sown. An organism in a Petri dish dare not extinguish all of it resources, or even exceed its replacement rate, if it cares to maintain a population commensurate with that rate--humans do, but they can't resist the fantasy that beyond the next ocean lies yet another land to plunder (after all, it's worked before). One can live in jet-set luxury for a while if one can grab enough resources from greater and greater distances from the natal habitat to get around the replacement rate problem, but it can't last for such a species--that's culture. Social behavior is, fundamentally, cooperation, mutualism, and, in its rape-state, the buddy system on steroids--culture. I see a LOT of difference. But granted, it's only a matter of degree--a HUGE degree. WT - Original Message - From: malcolm McCallum To: Wayne Tyson Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 5:14 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems What distinguishes humans from the other organisms is the psychological phenomenon of culture One could argue that culture is nothing but variation in an adaptive trait or set of traits. Therefore, we could easily interpret intraspecific variation as aspects of culture, especially where it involves communication within the local population. Frogs, birds, and I suspect insects all show variation in signals such as calling for mates and interpretation of those calls. I do not really see ANY difference between the variation in human culture, and the variation in social behavior of any other organism. Malcolm On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 5:12 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Ecolog: It is healthy to continue to subject any
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Sustainability science
This is more up-to-date: http://steadystate.org/discover/academics/ and more generally: http://steadystate.org/discover/ Brian Czech, Visiting Professor Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University National Capital Region, Northern Virginia Center 7054 Haycock Road, Room 411 Falls Church, Virginia 22043 From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [ecolo...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Hoi-Fei Mok [hf_...@alum.wellesley.edu] Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 8:17 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Sustainability science I am a recent graduate from Wellesley College and am looking to go into graduate school in fields related to environmental science or ecology. I recently came upon a website called sustainabilityscience.org and was very intrigued by this field of sustainability science. However, most of the documents on the website are a couple years old and the listed graduate programs in sustainability science seemed brand new at the time of posting, so I was wondering if there is anything currently going on in the field of sustainability science (graduate work or otherwise) and if, at all, it pertains to ecology. I'm greatly interested in getting involved in sustainability projects for graduate school, so I would love any thoughts on the matter. Thank you very much! Hoi-Fei Mok Biological Chemistry, BA Wellesley College
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 7:14 PM, malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org wrote: I do not really see ANY difference between the variation in human culture, and the variation in social behavior of any other organism. I do. A difference of degree is still a difference. I think it's important not to conflate continuous variation with an absence of variation. This is, after all, and ecology forum. If differences in degree are meaningless, that leaves us with very little to discuss. And I do think the variation in human culture is greater than the variation in the cultures of other species on earth. Given that humans vary in oral and body language, clothing, housing preferences, agricultural practices, religion, social graces, music, vehicle design, and countless other cultural traits, and that we inhabit nearly every continent and large island on the planet, I find it close to impossible to believe that any other species on earth displays such a high degree of cultural variation. Jim Crants
[ECOLOG-L] Aquarist Internship Announcement, Pennington Marine Science Center, Camp Emerald Bay, Santa Catalina Island, California
Internship Announcement: Please forward or post the internship announcement below for your staff, volunteers and students to see. Thanks for your assistance in spreading the word! Pennington Marine Science Center Fall 2010 - Aquarist Internship Camp Emerald Bay, Santa Catalina Island, CA Title: Aquarist Intern Company/Organization: Camp Emerald Bay, Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts of America Location: Camp Emerald Bay, Santa Catalina Island, CA. 33° 28' 08 N, 118° 31' 52 W Duration: August 29 -- November 20, 2010 Pay Rate: Room and board provided for the duration of the internship in camp style housing and dining facilities as well as a small weekly stipend. Description: The Camp Emerald Bay - Pennington Marine Science Center Aquarist Internship is designed to provide instruction and opportunities to learn aquatic animal husbandry skills. These skills can be marketed to a number of organizations and businesses such as public aquariums, research groups, aquaculture production facilities, aquarium service businesses, and the ornamental fish trade including retail and wholesale production levels. The job of aquatic animal keepers, also known as aquarists, is a physically active job. Besides the potential for SCUBA diving, other job duties include lifting buckets of water (60 lbs), climbing up and down stairs or ladders, bending over, carrying buckets of water, restraining and netting animals. Days are frequently spent standing on your feet and usually consist of feeding, monitoring, and otherwise caring for aquatic animals. Aquarist Interns may clean, disinfect, monitor water quality, and design or build exhibits. Additionally, aquarists may keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. Aquarists have an extremely varied set of responsibilities, and therefore need an equally diverse range of knowledge and skills to do their jobs. The personal characteristics aquarists identified as being important for this profession also reflect this variety: self motivation, creativity, a willingness and ability to learn, resourcefulness, intuition, thoroughness, and the ability to work with others are just some of the key qualities that aquarists believe are important in order to do their jobs well. As a summer staff member of Camp Emerald Bay and the Pennington Marine Science Center, you will be involved in many different aspects of camp and aquarium operations including: animal care, record keeping, facility maintenance, merit badge instruction and camp staff required work activities. Through your participation, you will gain many specific skills, experience working with captive animals in an educational setting, and something new to put on your resume. If you choose to get the most out of working here you will have the knowledge of a basic aquarist; however, you will also gain a strong background in animal behavior, animal health and husbandry, public interaction, and be exposed to much more. Like most things in life, how much you get out of this experience will depend on how much you put in. Emerald Bay is located on the West End of Catalina Island. A far cry from the bustling tourist destination of Avalon, the West End offers camp staff unparalleled opportunities for diving, hiking, trail running, swimming, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, and many more activities that are just a plus of working on this end of the island. The nearest town is Two Harbors, with about 100 year-round residents, and is a 30-minute car ride on dirt roads. Because of our isolated location applicants must consider this since it's very difficult to run into town for anything and while there is one general store, the emphasis must be placed on general. Creature comforts are hard to come by, but the island's spectacular beauty and atmosphere more than make up for any lack of modern conveniences. During the fall, the Aquarist Interns assist the Marine Science Director in giving instructional tours to guests at camp, aquarium maintenance and operations, development of current and future aquarium exhibits, and all aspects of maintaining a healthy, diverse aquarium.. Additionally, Aquarist Interns will be asked to perform camp staff tasks as needed; these duties are required of all staff, camp wide, no matter which area they work. Aquarist Interns must have a strong scuba background since they will be assisting in the release of aquarium specimens as well as experience operating small boats in the ocean under varied conditions. One Aquarist Intern will be competitively chosen on the basis of knowledge, abilities, experience, attitude, reliability, punctuality and recommendations. We recommend contacting your registrar's office in order to earn college credit for this internship. Preference will be given to those who can stay for the duration of the internship and that meet the qualifications above. Aquarist Interns will work
[ECOLOG-L] Sea turtle egg relocation anncmt with contacts
Subject: Oil-spill Response Plan to protect sea turtle nests and hatchlings released DATE: June 26, 2010 17:34:00 CST Oil-spill Response Plan to protect sea turtle nests and hatchlings released Key contact numbers · Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866) 448-5816 · Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511 · Submit your vessel for the Vessel of Opportunity Program: (866) 279-7983 or (877) 847-7470 · Submit a claim for damages: (800) 440-0858 · Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401 Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center Phone: (713) 323-1670 (713) 323-1671 Unified Command Wildlife Branch scientists and partner organizations are implementing an extraordinary plan to protect sea turtle nests and eggs from potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The plan, entitled Sea Turtle Late-Term Nest Collection and Hatchling Release Plan, was developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries), and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC), and involves translocation of an anticipated 700 nests in an effort to prevent the loss of the entire cohort of hatchlings. The plan takes a proactive approach to minimize oil-spill impacts by ensuring nests are marked to prevent damage from beach clean-up operations, and by coordinating the collection of nests at a point in the incubation cycle where transport is less likely to result in the loss of viable eggs. Permitted nest surveyors have been in the field locating and marking nests daily since the start of the nesting season, said Sandy MacPherson, FWS national sea turtle coordinator. Data on the nest location and the date deposited are being closely tracked. This allows us certainty in timing the nest collection phase of the plan. Once collected, the nests are individually packed in specially prepared Styrofoam boxes and transported by specially equipped ground transportation to a secure, climate-controlled location on the east central coast of Florida where they will remain until incubation is complete. MacPherson noted that most nests are laid by loggerheads; however, a few nests are also possible from three other sea turtle species Kemps ridley, leatherback, and green turtle. As hatchlings emerge they will be released on east central Florida beaches where they will be allowed to make their way to the ocean, said Barbara Schroeder, NOAA Fisheries national sea turtle coordinator. In developing this plan we realized early on that our expectations for success needed to be realistic, MacPherson said. On the one hand the activities identified in the protocols are extraordinary and would never be supportable under normal conditions. However, taking no action would likely result in the loss of all of this years Northern Gulf of Mexico hatchlings. This plan applies to nests deposited on Florida Panhandle and Alabama beaches during the 2010 nesting season only as it is this years cohort in the Northern Gulf area which is at the highest risk for encountering oil after entering the ocean. Officials do not intend to implement these protocols elsewhere or in future years in this area. According to Robbin Trindell with the FWCCs Imperiled Species Management Branch, oil-spill impacts to nests laid along the Southwest Florida beaches are not likely to result in the loss of the entire 2010 hatchling cohort. The loggerhead turtles produced on Southwest Florida beaches are part of a larger subpopulation that also nests on Floridas Atlantic Coast beaches, Trindell explained. Thus, the likelihood that all or a significant portion of this 2010 cohort would be lost is highly improbable. Officials note that scientists continue to monitor the oil-spill situation and are prepared to consider additional options if and when needed. The complete plan, along with other wildlife related plans and recommended protocols, is available on-line at the FWS North Florida Ecological Services Office website - http://www.fws.gov/northflorida. If you observe or find a sea turtle that appears oiled or injured, please immediately call 1-866-557-1401. Individuals are urged not to attempt to help injured or oiled sea turtles, but to report the sightings to the toll-free number. If you are interested in volunteering to aid in the recovery effort, call 1-866-448-5816. Four Gulf-coast states have also setup websites for volunteers; those are available at our website at http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/whatyou.html. For information about the response effort, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
[ECOLOG-L] Forest Landscape Ecology Internship at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI)
The Conservation GIS Lab at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) is seeking an intern to start on or around July 20 2010. The Lab specializes in the application of ecological modeling, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS) to conservation problems. The successful applicant will work closely with Dr. Jonathan Thompson assisting with several aspects of ongoing research projects (forest landscape simulations, remote sensing, conservation assessments etc ), which are jointly based at SCBI and Harvard Forest. The intern will also be expected to help with general tasks in the GIS Lab and assist with periodic professional training seminars based at the lab. While not required, preference will be given to applicants that have experience summarizing scientific literature, using GIS software, remote sensing software, and/or R-statistical software. Most importantly, the applicant should be interested in forest ecosystems, landscape ecology, ecological modeling, and must be willing to learn how to use esoteric software. The internship includes a small stipend ($800/month) and housing. Send letter of interest and resume to carpente...@si.edu before July 10 2010. Résumé should include contact information for 3 references. Include potential start date and the time period you are available for the internship in your letter. Please also include the words Internship Application in the subject line of your email. SCBI is located at the north entrance of the Shenandoah National Park about 60 miles west of Washington, D.C., in Front Royal, VA. In meeting the Smithsonian Institution's mandate, SCBI increases knowledge through investigations of threatened species, habitats, and communities, and disseminates knowledge through advanced studies, professional training, and public outreach.
[ECOLOG-L] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Develops Strategy to Help Waterfowl and other Migratory Birds Weather the Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center Contact: (713) 323-1670 (713) 323-1671 Key contact numbers Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866) 448-5816 Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511 Submit your vessel for the Vessel of Opportunity Program: (866) 279-7983 or (877) 847-7470 Submit a claim for damages: (800) 440-0858 Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Develops Strategy to Help Waterfowl and other Migratory Birds Weather the Gulf Coast Oil Spill WASHINGTON In a few weeks, millions of waterfowl and other migratory birds will soon begin their fall migration to wintering and stopover habitat along the Gulf Coast. In anticipation of this event, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with partners to anticipate and minimize the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill on these birds. The Service will continue to monitor the impact of the ongoing spill on waterfowl, and will take those impacts into account when establishing waterfowl hunting frameworks for the upcoming season. Working with conservation partners, the Service is also preparing to implement a range of on-the-ground habitat conservation and management measures near the oil-impact area in the Gulf designed to minimize the entrance of oil into managed habitats along the Gulf and to enhance the availability of migratory bird food resources outside the oil impact area. Recently obtained results of annual spring waterfowl population surveys indicate that population sizes of most duck species and breeding habitat conditions are good this year. While the current information we have suggests that regulatory restrictions on waterfowl hunting are unnecessary, we remain very concerned about both the short and long-term impacts of the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill on migratory birds, their habitats, and the resources on which the birds depend, said Paul Schmidt, the Services Assistant Director for Migratory Birds. From a National harvest-management perspective, the Service intends to respond to the ongoing oil spill as it would any other non-hunting factor with the potential for substantial effects on mortality or reproduction such as hurricanes, disease outbreaks or drought by monitoring abundance and vital rates of waterfowl and other migratory game birds, and adjusting harvest regulations as needed on the basis of existing harvest strategies. Through the Adaptive Harvest Management process and associated species-specific harvest strategies, monitoring data are explicitly linked to regulatory decision making, ensuring that appropriate regulatory actions will be taken if warranted by changes in continental population status. The provision of additional, reliable food sources could also help buffer against the worst-case scenario an early winter in northern portions of the Mississippi and Central Flyways, combined with dry habitat conditions in the northern Mississippi Alluvial Valley that would result in large wintering waterfowl populations along the Gulf Coast. The Service is working with partners to determine whether certain refuges and other habitat should be available as sanctuary (areas closed to hunting) to encourage bird use of these areas and minimize redistribution due to disturbance. While large-scale efforts to influence bird migration and distribution would be extremely difficult given the importance of weather on the timing and speed of bird migrations, actions that prompt re-distribution of birds at smaller scales could help reduce oil exposure. There remains considerable uncertainty regarding the short-term and long-term impacts this spill will have on waterfowl and other migratory game birds that utilize the impacted region during all or part of their annual life cycle. The Service is working with partners to assess potential pathways for long-term acute and sub-lethal effects of the oil spill on the full suite of migratory birds utilizing Gulf (or other impacted) habitats during some portion of their life cycle. The intent of this assessment is to assist in identifying potential mitigation and conservation measures as well as long-term monitoring and assessment needs for migratory birds. During the upcoming summer regulatory meetings, the Service will have the opportunity to discuss the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill response and appropriate regulatory measures with state wildlife agencies through the Flyway Council process. One focus of these discussions will be whether any additional regulatory or conservation measures should be considered for the upcoming hunting season, especially for species of concern or species that rely on a restricted range of threatened resources. We will continue to work with the states and the conservation community to ensure that reasonable and science-based measures
[ECOLOG-L] CALL FOR AUTHORS: Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste: The Social Science of Garbage
Greetings, We are inviting academic editorial contributors to a new reference work on consumption and waste, or the social science of garbage. Archaeologists and anthropologists have long studied artifacts of refuse from the distant past as a portal into ancient civilizations, but examining what we throw away today tells a story in real time and becomes an important and useful tool for academic study. Trash is studied by behavioral scientists who use data compiled from the exploration of dumpsters to better understand our modern society and culture. Why does the average American household send 470 pounds of uneaten food to the garbage can on an annual basis? How do different societies around the world cope with their garbage in these troubled environmental times? How does our trash give insight into our attitudes about gender, class, religion, and art? The Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste explores the topic across multiple disciplines within the social sciences and ranges further to include business, consumerism, environmentalism, and marketing. Each article ranges from 600 to 3,000 words. We are now making assignments due October 1, 2010. This comprehensive project will be published by SAGE Reference and will be marketed to academic and public libraries as a print and digital product available to students via the library’s electronic services. The General Editor, who will be reviewing each submission to the project, is Dr. William Rathje, emeritus University of Arizona, the top scholar in the field. If you are interested in contributing to this cutting-edge reference, it is a unique opportunity to contribute to the contemporary literature, redefining sociological issues in today’s terms. Moreover, it can be a notable publication addition to your CV/resume and broaden your publishing credits. SAGE Publications offers an honorarium ranging from SAGE book credits for smaller articles up to a free set of the printed product or access to the online product for contributions totaling 10,000 words or more. The list of available articles is already prepared, and as a next step we will e-mail you the Article List (Excel file) from which you can select topics that best fit your expertise and interests. Additionally, Style and Submission Guidelines will be provided that detail article specifications. If you would like to contribute to building a truly outstanding reference with the Encyclopedia of Consumption and Waste: The Social Science of Garbage, please contact me by the e-mail information below. Please provide a brief summary of your academic/publishing credentials in related issues. Thanks very much. Joseph K. Golson consumpt...@golsonmedia.com
[ECOLOG-L] 2 Faculty Positions in Earth System Ecology at Penn State
Earth Systems Ecologists (2 faculty positions). PENNSYLVANIA, UNIVERSITY PARK 16802. The Pennsylvania State University. Tenure track faculty positions at the Assistant Professor level in Earth Systems Ecology. Areas of study could include interactions among landscapes, terrestrial ecosystems, climate change, land use/land cover change, biofuel production or other energy-related processes, and biogeochemical cycling. Research focused on landscape, regional or global scale is desired. The successful candidate would have strengths in areas such as Earth system modeling, spatially explicit vegetation modeling, remote sensing, networked observations, model-data synthesis, and coupled natural and human systems. Exemplary candidates at a higher rank will be considered. One position will be located in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS). The other will be located in the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS). Both Colleges will allow the successful candidate to choose a departmental affiliation within the College (Geography, Meteorology or Geosciences in EMS; Horticulture or Forest Resources in CAS). Both positions are co-funded by Penn State's Institutes of Energy and the Environment. Our colleges are committed to fostering interdisciplinary research and education, and to broad searches for outstanding candidates. Thus strong candidates will be considered across a broad range of disciplinary expertise. Candidates will also be associated with the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EMS) or the Environment and Natural Resources Institute (CAS) and will have the opportunity to participate in the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. Excellence in research and teaching are expected, as is the development of an externally funded research program. Questions regarding the positions should be directed to Kenneth Davis (kj...@psu.edu), Department of Meteorology, or David Eissenstat (d...@psu.edu), Department of Horticulture, chairs of the search committees. To apply please submit: 1) a letter describing your research and teaching plans; 2) a complete curriculum vitae; 3) up to four reprints; and 4) the names and addresses (including e-mail) of three potential referees. You are welcome to note your preference of college affiliation in a cover letter, but applicants will be considered for both positions. Applications (electronic submission preferred - please note earth systems ecologist application' in the subject line) should be directed to: Debra Lambert (lamb...@essc.psu.edu) Earth and Environmental Systems Institute 2217 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building University Park, PA 16802. Review of applications will begin on August 30, 2010 and will continue until the positions are filled. Penn State University is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. Applications from women and under represented groups are encouraged.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Evolution Adaptation Failure of success equals maladaptation Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
Sure they do! Check out most general ecology texts and you should find reference to an experiment with Daphnia in which the species overshoots its resources, crashes and then bounces above and below the carrying capacity (k). Humans do the same thing, you can easily argue they do not altruistically do things for the good of the species. You can easily classify humans as supertramps that can survive in a wide range of habitats, and they can further be classified as invasive species. And, they are not the only species that changes the environment to serve its purposes, beavers are a classic example of yet another species that does this when they change stream into a beaver pond. Squirrels expand oak-hickory forests at the expense of grassland habitats by burying nuts and acorns further and further beyond the edges. Any organism's population will expand until its ability to use or manipulate resources for use is exhausted. On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 9:13 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Malcolm and Ecolog: One could argue (I do) that culture is, in the long run, a psychopathology, a maladaptive trait in the clothing of success, through which the seeds of failure (degradation and extinction) are sown. An organism in a Petri dish dare not extinguish all of it resources, or even exceed its replacement rate, if it cares to maintain a population commensurate with that rate--humans do, but they can't resist the fantasy that beyond the next ocean lies yet another land to plunder (after all, it's worked before). One can live in jet-set luxury for a while if one can grab enough resources from greater and greater distances from the natal habitat to get around the replacement rate problem, but it can't last for such a species--that's culture. Social behavior is, fundamentally, cooperation, mutualism, and, in its rape-state, the buddy system on steroids--culture. I see a LOT of difference. But granted, it's only a matter of degree--a HUGE degree. WT - Original Message - *From:* malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org *To:* Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net *Cc:* ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu *Sent:* Tuesday, June 29, 2010 5:14 PM *Subject:* Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems What distinguishes humans from the other organisms is the psychological phenomenon of culture One could argue that culture is nothing but variation in an adaptive trait or set of traits. Therefore, we could easily interpret intraspecific variation as aspects of culture, especially where it involves communication within the local population. Frogs, birds, and I suspect insects all show variation in signals such as calling for mates and interpretation of those calls. I do not really see ANY difference between the variation in human culture, and the variation in social behavior of any other organism. Malcolm On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 5:12 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Ecolog: It is healthy to continue to subject any concept or definition to scrutiny, and it beats reliance upon authority. Words are convenient labels that ideally convey the same meaning to all others, but this is rarely the case. Ecosystem is reasonably well defined by the various authorities cited, at least among ecologists and others seriously interested in understanding how life forms work, but, like a lot of terms, it sometimes gets hijacked at various times and the meaning gets twisted. Some who use the term have a poor understanding of its meaning. Ecology may well be the most difficult of all phenomena to study; it is a very complex subject. It may not be so much that ecosystem is in need of redefinition but that the terminology used in writing and speaking about it has become far too convoluted, full of terms that are themselves poorly defined and recklessly used. Part of this springs from a sincere effort to develop terms that represent entire concepts so they don't have to be repeated, but part of it also can be phony-needless convolutions and vague definitions that serve mainly as jargon when simpler, plainer words would do the job better. It is too easy to get so ensnarled in pseudo-academic jargon that one forgets what one was examining in the first place. Ecologists have long been accused of being a soft science, and some ecologists, intimidated by such criticism, have gone into defense mode with both arcane language and meaningless math to appear to be more scientific. Ecology IS soft. It is squishy and elusive. But that is because it is complex, not soft in the sense of being easy or merely philosophical. Its study requires a synthesis of an impossibly wide intellectual pursuit that spans all of the other disciplines, from physics to a kind of philosophy of reality, far from, and beyond, the presumptions of Plato and Socrates about the meaning of life and all that. Certainly, however, some ecologists do come at the subject from such
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Evolution Adaptation Failure of success equals maladaptation Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
Not all organisms do adapt. In fact, one could argue that most organisms eventually reach a scenario for which the do not possess the potential for adaptation to new conditions. As a consequence, most organisms that have ever existed have gone extinct. Further, I'ld argue that although humans might recognize the problems that could lead to their demise, they do nothing because of the the evolutionary drive for self preservation and the success of one's own genes. hence, they act in an entirely selfish manner knowing well that this behavior may ultimately lead to their demise. Whether any organism recognizes the repercussions of its actions or not is irrelevant if the species as a whole does not possess the adaptive plasticity to evolve a good of the species response. In fact, we have failed to find any truly altruistic organisms. Therefore, if species act for the immediate good of an individual, and we do not observe organisms acting for the good of the species, then we certainly should expect it to be even more rare to find a species that does things for the good of other species because it is even less adaptive for individual reproductive success. This is most likely the problem with humans in my opinion. We can identify and even tell others that our species is doing things that are bad for other species, but as a group we are evolutionary lacking the traits capable of dealing with it. So, unless a few maladaptive individuals who feel other species are important get control of the masses and force the issue, no real action ever goes forward. Understand, I'm not advocating this, but just pointing out that acting for the good of other species is evolutionary maladaptive. Until selection pressure on humans reaches a level where acting in these ways becomes sufficient to drive evolution, it is unlikely we will see such changes. Humans are just acting like every other species and there are only a few of us who are willing to do anything about it. On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 10:04 AM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Malcolm and Ecolog: No argument on that! But those organisms are subject to the same feeding feedback rules; as they (including humans) deplete the resources upon which they depend, their quality of life and reproduction suffers--they adapt (change their behavior) or suffer population decline, catastrophically in some rough proportion to the excess consumption that preceded the decline. If the decline is gradual, it is an adjustment, if it is extreme, it is a bust. Humans are not exempt from this principle, but culture (egocentrism in place of species consciousness, coercive hierarchy in place of cooperation) has convinced them that they can find a way to feed 9.3 billion by 2050 or whatever through the miracle of technology or some other snake-oil. That's the big difference--humans can avoid decline, degradation, famine, and they have--through culture. But they have done it at the expense of over-consumption, much like the organism in the Petri dish, and the consequences will be the same because those resources are not being allowed to recover their productivity. We are eating our seed corn, as it were, and Monsanto's boasting, rather than being seen as some kind of savior should be seen as a shot across the bow. And as much as I like mesa, I would prefer a little more variety in my diet. WT PS: There's obviously something I'm not communicating well enough here; there's so much that we do agree on--I hope we can back and fill to at least a clear expression and understanding if not agreement. But I appreciate the good critical review very much; don't give up yet! - Original Message - *From:* malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org *To:* Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net *Cc:* ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu *Sent:* Wednesday, June 30, 2010 6:38 AM *Subject:* Re: Evolution Adaptation Failure of success equals maladaptation Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems Sure they do! Check out most general ecology texts and you should find reference to an experiment with Daphnia in which the species overshoots its resources, crashes and then bounces above and below the carrying capacity (k). Humans do the same thing, you can easily argue they do not altruistically do things for the good of the species. You can easily classify humans as supertramps that can survive in a wide range of habitats, and they can further be classified as invasive species. And, they are not the only species that changes the environment to serve its purposes, beavers are a classic example of yet another species that does this when they change stream into a beaver pond. Squirrels expand oak-hickory forests at the expense of grassland habitats by burying nuts and acorns further and further beyond the edges. Any organism's population will expand until its ability to use or manipulate resources for use is exhausted. On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 9:13
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
Ecolog: I know that I am out standing alone in left field on this one, but like most crazy people, I'm sticking to my analysis (until persuaded otherwise) and setting up a picnic to tempt other marginal types: Humans are social animals. Other animals are social. But only humans are cultural. From the standpoint of survival of Homo sapiens, those populations that are more social than cultural (more primitive than modern) are most likely to survive if the cultural house of cards collapses. Until then, they may be at greatest risk from the effects of culture. Ironic, eh? WT http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=culturesearchmode=none culture mid-15c., the tilling of land, from M.Fr. culture and directly from L. cultura a cultivating, agriculture, figuratively care, culture, an honoring, from pp. stem of colere tend, guard, cultivate, till (see cult). The figurative sense of cultivation through education is first attested c.1500. Meaning the intellectual side of civilization is from 1805; that of collective customs and achievements of a people is from 1867. For without culture or holiness, which are always the gift of a very few, a man may renounce wealth or any other external thing, but he cannot renounce hatred, envy, jealousy, revenge. Culture is the sanctity of the intellect. [William Butler Yeats] Slang culture vulture is from 1947. Culture shock first recorded 1940. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cult cult 1610s, worship, also a particular form of worship, from Fr. culte (17c.), from L. cultus care, labor; cultivation, culture; worship, reverence, originally tended, cultivated, pp. of colere to till (see colony). Rare after 17c.; revived mid-19c. with reference to ancient or primitive rituals. Meaning devotion to a person or thing is from 1829. Cult. An organized group of people, religious or not, with whom you disagree. [Rawson] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=societysearchmode=none society 1530s, friendly association with others, from O.Fr. societe, from L. societatem (nom. societas), from socius companion (see social). Meaning group of people living together in an ordered community is from 1630s. Sense of fashionable people and their doings is first recorded 1823. social (adj.) c.1500 (implied in socially), characterized by friendliness or geniality, also allied, associated, from M.Fr. social (14c.), from L. socialis united, living with others, from socius companion, probably originally follower, and related to sequi to follow (cf. O.E. secg, O.N. seggr companion, which seem to have been formed on the same notion; see sequel). Meaning living or liking to live with others, disposed to friendly intercourse is attested from 1729. Meaning pertaining to society as a natural condition of human life first attested 1695, in Locke. Social climber is from 1926; social work is 1890; social worker 1904. Social drink(ing) first attested 1976. Social studies as an inclusive term for history, geography, economics, etc., is attested from 1938. Social security system of state support for needy citizens is attested from 1908. - Original Message - From: James Crants jcra...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:31 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 7:14 PM, malcolm McCallum malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org wrote: I do not really see ANY difference between the variation in human culture, and the variation in social behavior of any other organism. I do. A difference of degree is still a difference. I think it's important not to conflate continuous variation with an absence of variation. This is, after all, and ecology forum. If differences in degree are meaningless, that leaves us with very little to discuss. And I do think the variation in human culture is greater than the variation in the cultures of other species on earth. Given that humans vary in oral and body language, clothing, housing preferences, agricultural practices, religion, social graces, music, vehicle design, and countless other cultural traits, and that we inhabit nearly every continent and large island on the planet, I find it close to impossible to believe that any other species on earth displays such a high degree of cultural variation. Jim Crants No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.439 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2973 - Release Date: 06/30/10 12:24:00
[ECOLOG-L] EcoTone: Field Talk, Uniformity and diversity in the Homogecene era
Imagine a small town where everything is uniform-a tiny community of individuals who eat the same meals and pair up with people with similar qualities and traits. The scenery is stripped down: one church, one pub and cookie-cutter houses. Now add in social interactions. Greetings occur but they have few variations; life is routine. And just a few miles over in a town with the same layout, similar individuals are interacting, eating and greeting, in all the same ways. Read more and comment at http://www.esa.org/esablog/conservation/field-talk-uniformity-and-diversity-in-the-homogecene-era/.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
Wayne Tyson wrote: What's the irrigation efficiency component of those statistics? Are there any actual experimental data that compare strains under laboratory controls? I'm talking strictly about actual water consumption per unit biomass or seed volume/weight, not field observations loaded with variables and open to manipulation. But beyond that, upon what theoretical foundation is the assertion that GMO alone performs these miracles, without any change in water and nutrients? Wayne, the biotech companies have not claimed GMO alone will double yields in 30 years while at the same time consuming fewer resources (water, fertilizer, fossil fuel, land) and producing less carbon dioxide. Monsanto explains the doubling of yields of corn, soybeans, cotton and canola in 30 years can reasonably be accomplished via using a combination of advanced Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Agronomic Practices http://www.monsanto.com/responsibility/sustainable-ag/new_vision_for_ag.asp The American Soybean Association gets into some specifics in it's brochure on Ten Reasons US Soybeans Are Sustainable http://www.ussoyexports.org/resources/USSEC_sustainability.pdf Examples from the brochure: a) Herbicide tolerant [GMO] soybeans enable farmers to practice no-till production. b) The no-till production method enables farms to reduce deep plowing and multiple soil cultivation operations with heavy equipment. c) The reduction in deep plowing reduces the loss of soil and moisture. d) No-till allows the residue from the previous crop to be left in the field which eventually degrades and thus increases the amount of topsoil in the fields. e) Narrow row planting enables soybeans to grow so closely together they crowd out competing weeds and reduce soil moisture loss. f) Reduced need for heavy soil cultivation equipment reduces fossil fuel use and emissions and reduces soil compaction which in turn is good for earthworm populations, soil moisture retention and reduced water runoff into waterways. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
