Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
I think there are two issues here: 1) GM crops 2) massive biotech companies like Monsanto Perhaps it may be better to look at each of these separately. Dr Anna R. Renwick Research Ecologist British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK Tel: +44 (0)1842 750050; Fax: +44 (0)1842 750030 Registered Charity No 216652 (England Wales) No SC039193 (Scotland) Company Limited by Guarantee No 357284 (England Wales) Opinions expressed in this e-mail are not necessarily those of the BTO. -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ecolo...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Annemarie Kramer Sent: 01 July 2010 12:40 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology I am only joining the discussion now, but enterprises like Monsanto do raise concerns. There is a documentary on you tube that critically shows what is behind them and makes you think you don't want these kind of enterprises controlling our future agriculture market (and this is what they are after). It is scary. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hErvV5YEHkE Annemarie Original-Nachricht Datum: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:23:28 -0700 Von: Paul Cherubini mona...@saber.net An: Betreff: 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. -- GRATIS für alle GMX-Mitglieder: Die maxdome Movie-FLAT! Jetzt freischalten unter http://portal.gmx.net/de/go/maxdome01
[ECOLOG-L] Possible contact for sea turtle gulf restoration project
We have approval for rescue teams and area also gathering resumes now for nest work. Our proposal to Unified Command for rescue teams took 2 weeks but was approved. If you can, please send resume to me and I will add to developing new proposal for nesting assistance. We are slowing driving a wedge into Unified Command to allow qualified individuals to help. Some paid positions, details still pending. It could be weeks until we know for sure. Please share w others Cheers, Chris Christopher Pincetich, Ph.D. Campaigner Marine Biologist, Sea Turtle Restoration Project (415) 663-8590, ext. 102 P.O. Box 370, Forest Knolls, CA 94933 USA Location: 9255 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Olema, CA 94950 www.SeaTurtles.org/GulfSeaTurtleUpdate Visit the STRP Action Center to help with all current campaigns. Join the Sea Turtle Restoration Project on Facebook Causes
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
WT and Ecolog, Since the CBD definition of ecosystem calls it a dynamic complex, not the dynamic complex, it implies that there is more than one ecosystem on earth (assuming the authors of this definition didn't define it this way to make room for any extraterrestrial life we might one day discover). The definition also says that the components of the ecosystem interact as a functional unit. I think that part of the definition of a functional unit must be that the biotic and abiotic environment inside the unit differs from that outside it, and that the shift in environment from inside to outside corresponds with the borders of the unit. (Minnesota would have a different species list from Iowa, but there's no perceptible shift in biology at the border between the two states, so they are not discrete functional units.) A deer's rumen is a functional unit. If you tried to define the borders of the rumen based purely on community composition and abiotic factors, I think you'd end up with very similar borders to what you'd see if you defined them based on the shape of the rumen. Similarly, a kettlehole bog would be a functional unit, and an outcrop of serpentine soil in California might be, too. However, an arbitrarily-defined hectare of prairie in the Nebraska Sandhills would not qualify, since organisms and nutrients would flow across the borders of that hectare plot just as freely as they would cross any random line drawn through the middle of it, and a sampling transect running across any border of that plot would find no great shift in species composition or abiotic factors corresponding with the location of the border (except by chance). There are also functional units that only exist because of what I called ecological discontinuities we've imposed on the landscape. An arbitrary hectare of prairie surrounded by many other hectares of prairie is not a functional unit, but the same hectare, surrounded by many hectares of cornfields, is a functional unit. It has different species of plants, animals, and microbes, different nutrient inputs, maybe a different annual rainfall total (if the cornfields are irrigated), more leaf litter, and a different soil composition (probably more organic matter, and much more clearly defined soil horizons in the top foot or so of soil). It likely has a different fire regime, especially if it's managed to maintain the pre-settlement vegetation. Concepts like community and ecosystem might not seem so natural to us if we did not live in a world where nature was largely relegated to islands in a sea of anthropogenic landscapes, which themselves are cut into sharp-edged patches of different land uses. When I wrote about ecosystems as artifacts of the ecological discontinuities we've imposed on the landscape, I was thinking of cases like that hypothetical hectare of prairie, where little bits of natural habitat were turned into isolated units sometime before scientists started trying to find useful labels for ecological systems. Jim Crants On Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 6:30 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: JC and Ecolog: (Note to Jim: I finally found it.) '*Ecosystem*' means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. https://www.cbd.int/recommendation/sbstta/?id=7027 I don't see that this definition excludes humans either; perhaps DeClerck will ask her mystery colleague how he/she came to that conclusion? I don't interpret the definition as necessarily relating to a plurality of units, but rather to the entire ecosystem. I've always had a bit of trouble referring to subsets of the earth's ecosystem as discrete units, even though I recognize the utility of doing so. I would like to understand what Crants means by functional units as well as artifacts of ecological discontinuities. As I have said elsewhere, I see culture as a psychological phenomenon that served a utilitarian purpose--that of permitting humans to manipulate their environment far more than any other any other species--almost without limit. All animal make mistakes--mountain sheep fall off cliffs, but humans seem to grow better and better at making mistakes and institutionalizing them than other species. Insanity is not limited to Homo sapiens--sick and injured bears fly into rages and sometimes attack even humans and kill without reason. But humans, even apparently healthy ones, have instutionalized not only killing but have found ways to rationalize almost any murder--particularly mass murder committed in the name of the culture, aka, cult. Whereas Nature has been able to quickly take out deviants as part of ecosystem function, humans have found ways to beat that rap in countless ways. But, as my wife is fond of saying, Nature bats last. I suspect we're past the first inning. WT
[ECOLOG-L] Arid Lands Restoration Specialist
Description: The Great Basin Institute is working cooperatively with the Bureau of Land Management Las Vegas Field Office to implement a wide array of arid lands restoration projects throughout the Mojave Desert ecoregion. As such, GBI will hire an Arid Lands Restoration Specialist to schedule, manage, implement, coordinate and report on restoration projects. Restoration projects are often implemented in conjunction with Nevada Conservation Corps crews and other GBI Research Associates. Specific restoration activities include illegal road decommissioning, post-fire rehab seeding and planting, and desert clean-ups. Particular attention will be placed on native plant management activities including assistance with native plant species production and determination of species for cultivation, and development and implementation of a native plant seed collection plan, including source material documentation, locations, map(s), and amount required from collection sites. The Research Associate will gain experience, knowledge and skills involving land use issues related to restoration and renewable resources, as well collecting, analyzing and reporting data on the success of restoration projects. The associate will also gain expertise in the Mojave Desert ecosystem and knowledge of automated systems for project tracking and review. Compensation: o Rate of Pay: $18.59/hour o Health/Dental benefits o Paid Personal Leave Timeline: o 6-month contract with potential for extension pending funding and performance review o Start Date: August 23,2010 o Full time, 40 hours per week o Overtime and weekend work may be required occasionally Location: o Las Vegas, NV Qualifications: o Bachelors degree with coursework and field experience related to biology, restoration ecology, botany, environmental studies/science, wilderness management or related field; o Experience with project management or leading/managing field crews, desired; o Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; o Experience using hand-held GPS equipment for data collection and navigation; o Ability to read and navigate using topographic maps and a compass; o Experience using ArcGIS software; o Knowledge of and/or experience working with Mojave desert flora and fauna, desirable; o Willingness and ability to work in harsh, ever-changing desert conditions and camp in remote, undeveloped locations, occasionally; o Willingness to work different schedules, including weekends on occasion; and o Valid, state-issued drivers license and familiarity driving 4WD vehicles on- and off-road. How to Apply: Applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to Bridget Walden, Great Basin Institute Recruitment Specialist at bwal...@thegreatbasininstitute.org.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
JC and Ecolog: It appears that Crants has caught me napping. And, apparently, in a sense, CBD. I am still uncomfortable with using the same term for the earth (or, I suppose, the universe) and the kind of subsets Crants calls functional units. Still, the acid test of a term is its clarity and utility for communication, and when we speak of a vernal pool ecosystem, and the ecosystem, we are usually understood--or at least consistently misunderstood. If I have any concern, it would probably be that if people come to think of the earth as being made up of discrete ecosystems and not seen as an integrated whole . . . WT PS: Many years ago someone had created an ecosystem in a glass globe on his desk. Does anyone know if it still exists and is still functional? - Original Message - From: James Crants jcra...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 8:48 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems WT and Ecolog, Since the CBD definition of ecosystem calls it a dynamic complex, not the dynamic complex, it implies that there is more than one ecosystem on earth (assuming the authors of this definition didn't define it this way to make room for any extraterrestrial life we might one day discover). The definition also says that the components of the ecosystem interact as a functional unit. I think that part of the definition of a functional unit must be that the biotic and abiotic environment inside the unit differs from that outside it, and that the shift in environment from inside to outside corresponds with the borders of the unit. (Minnesota would have a different species list from Iowa, but there's no perceptible shift in biology at the border between the two states, so they are not discrete functional units.) A deer's rumen is a functional unit. If you tried to define the borders of the rumen based purely on community composition and abiotic factors, I think you'd end up with very similar borders to what you'd see if you defined them based on the shape of the rumen. Similarly, a kettlehole bog would be a functional unit, and an outcrop of serpentine soil in California might be, too. However, an arbitrarily-defined hectare of prairie in the Nebraska Sandhills would not qualify, since organisms and nutrients would flow across the borders of that hectare plot just as freely as they would cross any random line drawn through the middle of it, and a sampling transect running across any border of that plot would find no great shift in species composition or abiotic factors corresponding with the location of the border (except by chance). There are also functional units that only exist because of what I called ecological discontinuities we've imposed on the landscape. An arbitrary hectare of prairie surrounded by many other hectares of prairie is not a functional unit, but the same hectare, surrounded by many hectares of cornfields, is a functional unit. It has different species of plants, animals, and microbes, different nutrient inputs, maybe a different annual rainfall total (if the cornfields are irrigated), more leaf litter, and a different soil composition (probably more organic matter, and much more clearly defined soil horizons in the top foot or so of soil). It likely has a different fire regime, especially if it's managed to maintain the pre-settlement vegetation. Concepts like community and ecosystem might not seem so natural to us if we did not live in a world where nature was largely relegated to islands in a sea of anthropogenic landscapes, which themselves are cut into sharp-edged patches of different land uses. When I wrote about ecosystems as artifacts of the ecological discontinuities we've imposed on the landscape, I was thinking of cases like that hypothetical hectare of prairie, where little bits of natural habitat were turned into isolated units sometime before scientists started trying to find useful labels for ecological systems. Jim Crants On Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 6:30 PM, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: JC and Ecolog: (Note to Jim: I finally found it.) '*Ecosystem*' means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. https://www.cbd.int/recommendation/sbstta/?id=7027 I don't see that this definition excludes humans either; perhaps DeClerck will ask her mystery colleague how he/she came to that conclusion? I don't interpret the definition as necessarily relating to a plurality of units, but rather to the entire ecosystem. I've always had a bit of trouble referring to subsets of the earth's ecosystem as discrete units, even though I recognize the utility of doing so. I would like to understand what Crants means by functional units as well as artifacts of ecological discontinuities. As I have said elsewhere, I see culture as a psychological phenomenon that served a
[ECOLOG-L] Short-Term Position: Science Curriculum Design
Short-Term Position: Science Curriculum Design For Canopy In The Clouds Canopy In The Clouds is seeking enthusiastic and experienced teachers for science curriculum design. Canopy In The Clouds uses innovative, immersive media from a tropical montane cloud forest to provide a platform for science education (www.canopyintheclouds.com). The project is a collaborative effort between scientists and visual artists designed to serve as a free, web-based educational resource to students, educators and visitors worldwide. We are passionate about exploring the world around us and sharing what we find in order to advance science education. Canopy In The Clouds expects to hire two curriculum developers to develop 12-15 lesson plans and accompanying materials (i.e. assessment) each using our current web content. Lessons will be driven by current national learning standards for earth science and life science. Lesson plans should be sequenced into curriculum units; however, they will ideally also stand alone. We anticipate working with one developer focused on upper middle school materials and one developer focused on early high school materials. Developers will largely work independently and will thus have substantial freedom for creativity. However, developers will work together to improve materials and have access to our team in order to implement new web-based tools associated with lesson plans. Compensation is $1000 upon completion of work, with a strong possibility of additional work pending future funding. Minimum Qualifications: -Bachelor’s degree in biology -Minimum of 3 years teaching middle or high school science -Experience implementing inquiry-based learning and educational technology in the classroom -A passion for innovative science education and pedagogy -Tremendous attention to detail, scientific accuracy, and effective writing Preferred Qualifications: -Master’s degree in biology or education -Familiarity with tropical biology or ecology -Familiarity with state or national learning standards To apply, please send a cover letter, resume and recent lesson plan to greg [at] canopyintheclouds [dot] com. In your cover letter, please address your interest and experience in developing science education curriculum, your background in biology, and what attracts you to Canopy In The Clouds. For full consideration, please apply by 7 July 2010. Canopy In The Clouds is an equal opportunity employer.
[ECOLOG-L] Job: Senior Research Assistant, Jornada Basin Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)
TITLE: Senior Research Assistant, Grade-17 Requisition 2010004912 ANTICIPATED START DATE: July 19, 2010 SALARY: $34,640. Continued employment is contingent upon federal funding. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor's degree in Biology, Soil Science. Environmental Sciences or field of research applicable to the position and three years of related experience. Must have a Valid Driver's License. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: The selected individual will be self-motivated, flexible, possess strong supervisory and organizational abilities, enjoy working under desert field conditions with high heat and sun exposure (as this is primarily a desert field position), work reliably both independently and as part of a team, establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and principle investigators, be comfortable working safely with moderately hazardous materials, recognize the extreme accuracy and consistency essential to long term research, follow detailed oral and/or written instructions precisely, communicate well both verbally and in writing, and be able to coordinate needs with other agencies/groups. Acute attention to small details, enthusiasm, and the ability to get along well with co-workers, supervisors, and principle investigators are musts. Ideally, the successful candidate will have field experience in plant identification and the use of dichotomous keys, experience working in a lab environment, good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, be comfortable using hand and power tools, and have field experience in research related to the research areas addressed by this LTER program as well as demonstrated skills in training and directing work of assigned staff.. RESPONSIBILITIES: Work is based out of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. Individual will participate in the on-going and multi-disciplinary Jornada Basin Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program on desertification in the Chihuahuan Desert. Research disciplines include plant ecology (~35%), aeolian studies (~20%), hydrology (~10%), animal ecology (~5%), soils (~9%), and climatology (~5%). Approximately 80% of the time will be spent outdoors collecting data, with the remaining 20% of the time spent in the lab processing samples, cleaning equipment, checking data, and maintaining appropriate documentation on the studies and lab. Although the position is usually 40 hours a week, additional hours may occasionally be required both during the week and on weekends. Specific field responsibilities include plant measurements and identification (~200 species); soil moisture measurements using a neutron probe; collection of aeolian dust and hydrology samples; handling and identification of small mammals (~20 species); and maintenance of field instruments, equipment, and infrastructure. The position will entail manual labor such as routine carrying of heavy instruments in the field for extended periods and that related to infrastructure maintenance. General responsibilities include collecting and recording moderately complex data in both field and laboratory environments in accordance with established protocols; data entry; maintaining organizational and historical data for each study; aiding principle investigators with data collection; design, testing, and/or modification of experimental equipment and procedures; and the installation of experimental apparatus. The Senior Research Assistant also supervises and coordinates the collection, recording, and error checking of research data; assists with scheduling and evaluation of assigned staff; assists with establishing and documenting study protocols; maintains experimental data, organizational data, and other records; assists with and/or supervises the setting up of experimental apparatus, instruments, and other equipment; manages a small laboratory according to federal and university regulations; maintains accurate inventory records; acts as a liason for principle investigators; provides support for visiting scientists; and performs related work as required. Information about the Jornada Basin LTER program: http://jornada-www.nmsu.edu. BENEFITS: Group medical and hospital insurance, group life insurance, state education retirement, worker's compensation, sick leave, and unemployment compensation. Review of APPLICATIONS: Review of applications will begin July 12 and continue until filled. Submit letter of interest, resume or CV, copy of unofficial transcripts, and 3 references with contact information. Electronic submissions must be in MS WORD, Rich Text Format (RTF), or PDF. Other formats will not be accepted. REPLY TO: John P. Anderson, Jornada LTER Site Manager; USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range; P.O. Box 30003 , MSC 3JER; New Mexico State University; Las Cruces, NM 88003-0001 [2995 Knox Street, Suite 200 for FedEx, etc.] Voice: 505-646-5818; Fax: 505-646-5889; Email: jande...@jornada.nmsu.edu NMSU IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
