Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals of place-based belonging. For more, see http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew/Papers/450641/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Biotic_Nativeness_A_Historical_Perspective a.k.a. chapter 4 of Richardson's Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 mc...@asu.edu or anek...@gmail.com http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew
[ECOLOG-L] Research tech position, plant evolutionary and ecological genetics
RESEARCH TECHNICIAN POSITION: PLANT EVOLUTIONARY/ECOLOGICAL GENETICS, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI A one-year, full-time technician position is available beginning June, 2012 in the Baucom lab in the Dept of Biological Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. General research in the laboratory addresses plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Duties will include working at the University’s main campus in Cincinnati, OH and a nearby field research site. The technician's immediate responsibilities will be to carry out large field and greenhouse experiments, thus, the willingness and ability to work outside in the summer heat is a necessity. The technician will also be required to perform molecular genetics studies as well as general lab maintenance--previous experience with basic molecular techniques such as DNA isolation, PCR and cloning is desired. The candidate should have a BA or BS in biology, genetics, horticulture or plant sciences, previous experience performing independent research, the ability to work well in a group environment, and the willingness to supervise undergraduates. The position is ideal for a highly motivated person interested in gaining field and laboratory skills prior to starting graduate school. While I cannot accept official applications until this position is created at the University level, if this would be a position in which you might be interested, please email a CV, a cover letter of qualifications and interests, and the names and contact information of three references to regina.bau...@uc.edu. Please feel free to contact me with any questions at the above email. Review of applications will begin March 20, 2012 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. Salary is commensurate with experience and includes benefits. -- Regina S. Baucom Assistant Professor Dept of Biological Sciences 721 Rieveschl Hall University of Cincinnati Cincinnati OH 45221 (513) 556-9721 Baucom Lab http://homepages.uc.edu/~baucomra/Baucom_Lab/Home.html gina.bau...@gmail.com
[ECOLOG-L] Nature Conservation Society of South Australia--Grant Availability
http://environmentinstitute.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/nature-conservation-society-conservation-biology-grant-now-open/ -- clara b. jones Blog: http://vertebratesocialbehavior.blogspot.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/cbjones1943
[ECOLOG-L] Publication Announcement : 'Human Specialness': The Historical Dimension the Historicisation of Humanity
You might be interested to know about the publication of the above book by Peter Xavier Price. Here is what I have to say about it in my blog: http://neilpaulcummins.blogspot.com/ In my last blog entry I quoted some text from the first journal article (that I am aware of) which refers to my work. The first full-length book responding to my work has now appeared. The book is written by Peter Xavier Price who is based at the Sussex Centre for Intellectual History. Price provides an interesting critique of my first book: Is the Human Species Special?: Why human-induced global warming could be in the interests of life http://www.cranmorepublications.co.uk/ His book is entitled: 'Human Specialness': The Historical Dimension the Historicisation of Humanity http://www.cranmorepublications.co.uk/77 Here is some of what he has to say: What is it about humanity that places it far above other life-forms? Why does it often perceive itself to be so unique when the natural world is teeming with biological anomalies? Perhaps even more tentatively, can humans truly claim to be the remedial agents destined to solve the current global environmental crisis? In Neil Paul Cummins' recent book, Is the Human Species Special?, the author sets out to address these very questions by speculating that mankind is indeed special because it represents the pinnacle of the evolutionary process. Employing a radical thesis which bears a remarkable resemblance to the infamously distorted dictum of the Vietnam War (i.e., that of 'destroying the village in order to save it'), Cummins suggests that mankind has reached a paradoxical stage in its development, whereby its imminent downfall may suddenly prove to be the means of its ultimate redemption. Thus, in this swashbuckling interpretation of the human response to environmental uncertainty, Cummins paints a picture of the human condition as seemingly analogous to the closing act in a grand, teleological narrative of biological endeavour and primordial purpose. 'Could it be', he speculates, 'that in order to fulfil its purpose and be the saviour of planetary life … humanity had to believe that it was potentially the destroyer of planetary life?'. From the outset, it is important to note that Cummins' publication is an accomplished work – at once entertaining as it is erudite. The author clearly exhibits the full depth and range of his innate interdisciplinarity as he weaves seemingly disparate strands from his economic, environmental and philosophical background into a tightly argued and well-constructed piece. But what, we may be entitled to ask, are the inherent pitfalls to the bold thesis that he has constructed? Indeed, some may even believe that it falls short at the first hurdle. For how, they might argue, can the wiping out of a whole village constitute any sort of liberation for its inhabitants? Yet, as valid as this criticism may appear to be on the surface, it should be acknowledged that Cummins does in fact cover his tracks in this respect when he proposes that it is the imminence of the environmental disaster (rather than the purported disaster itself) that will ultimately ensure the planet's survival. Therefore, as far-fetched as the overarching argument may appear to be to some, it is simply wrong to accuse the author of outright contradiction. This essay, then, is in large part an attempt to sketch out a far more convincing alternative to Cummins' arguments; but not, as may be expected, to what is essentially the central argument contained therein. In doing so, it aims to redeploy Cummins' ideas and to use them as a catalyst for further discussion; though, perhaps, in a direction that he mostly neglects or even ignores. At this initial stage, and in the interests of brevity, we may wish to describe this endeavour 'an assessment of the relative absence of history in Cummins' idiosyncratic account of human specialness'. For, appositely, this essay also seeks to highlight the importance of recognising humanity's unique sense of its own historicity – and, by extension, the decisive role that this must surely play in any adjudication of what it is to be an exceptional species. It is hoped, therefore, that we have already gone some way towards accounting for the choice phrases (i.e. 'historical dimension' and 'historicisation of humanity') which both comprise the frontispiece to this work. Nonetheless, what they mean in precise terms should become increasingly transparent as the essay develops. Suffice it to say that, having achieved this, we will then be in a much better position to review the suppositions undergirding Cummins' work. Indeed, Cummins' shortcomings are even further compounded by his exploitation of a number of schemes within his thesis which, as we have shown, are demonstrably historical, and yet do not appear to be historically accounted for. For it surely cannot have escaped notice that Mandeville’s early account of wealth-creation, via the paradox
[ECOLOG-L] Post-Masters Research Training Opportunity with U.S. EPA Global Change Research Program
Please share this announcement with any recent or s Dear ECOLOGers- Please share this announcement with any recent or soon to graduate Master's students with excellent GIS skills. We are looking for a candidate with: * An interdisciplinary background or interest in a wide variety of natural/environmental sciences, including aquatic ecosystems, urban systems and planning, water resources, land use change, climate change, etc. * Strong analytic capabilities, particularly in spatial analysis of large datasets within a GIS environment * Strong interest in applying GIS tools to a variety of global change assessments * Interest in GIS scripting and tool development, for example using Python * Excellent communication skills including cartography The work is highly interdisciplinary and interactive with applicability to EPA and other agency programs. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with excellent skills in geography, urban planning, environmental science, natural resources, or related fields. Below are links to the complete fellowship announcement and instructions on submitting an application. Thank you for your help in circulating this announcement to appropriate applicants. Kind regards, Phil Morefield ORISE fellowship announcement website: http://orise.orau.gov/epa/description.aspx?JobId=1200 Research Project Description Research Participation Program Office of Research and Development National Center for Environmental Assessment U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Arlington, VA EPA-ORD/NCEA-IO-2011-01 Project Description: A postgraduate research training opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA). This appointment will be served with the Global Change Research Program (GCRP) in Arlington, Virginia. The GCRP, located in the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD), works to build the capacity of programs, managers, and other decision-makers to assess and respond to global change (i.e., climate and land use) impacts on the environment and human health. Research and assessment activities are focused on a number of areas: ambient air quality, ambient water quality, the built environment (including water and wastewater infrastructure), aquatic ecosystems, and human health. For more information about the GCRP activities in NCEA, visithttp://www.epa.gov/ncea/global/. This research training opportunity, in the development of GIS-based decision support tools, will support a linked, interdisciplinary set of projects with the overarching goal of improving our understanding of the implications of climate and land-use change for U.S. water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and urban areas. This research will ultimately help inform EPA about reducing environmental and societal vulnerabilities to climate change through appropriate adaptation strategies. This project involves (1) analyses of land-use change projections for the conterminous U.S. to 2100 and (2) vulnerability analyses of regions and watersheds to global changes. The research participant will have an opportunity to engage with a team of scientists at EPA on a variety of climate change projects in the pursuit of creating Geographic Information System (GIS) products and effective GIS-based decision support tools for managers and decision makers. The research participant could be involved in the following activities: * Development of custom geoprocessing tools for ESRI ArcGIS that perform or facilitate analyses of model output, including climate, land use, and hydrology, generally with nationwide extent and high spatial and temporal resolution; * Preparation of tabular and spatial data for analyses and assessments conducted by the GCRP; * Distribution of data products, including preparation of metadata, custom spatial analyses, and utilization of data distribution mechanisms; * Creation and use of custom GIS tools for the analysis of climate model output in data formats such as NetCDF; * Analyses of scenarios of nationwide land-use changes and climate-model output; * Development of web-based tools on platforms such as ArcGIS Server; * Syntheses and description of results in reports and journal articles; and * Presentation of research results at relevant conferences and to audiences of varied backgrounds. The participant will also engage in training activities that ensures that all environmental data generated or used are scientifically sound, legally defensible, and of known and acceptable quality for their intended uses. Qualifications: Applicants must have received a master’s degree in geography, computer science, environmental science, natural resources, or a related field within four years of the desired starting date, or have completed all degree requirements prior to the
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
Even if we agree as to what native means, phrases such as native to Texas are problematic, and not just because, as Matt Chew points out, human political constructs vary with time. If a tree is native to one little corner of Texas, then the statement native to Texas applies, but what does it mean? It might be politically significant, for instance for state laws governing exploitation of the species, but biologically not very useful. It seems to me that for biological purposes, the concept of native should be tied to some biologically oriented construct, such as Holdridge's life zones. Of course, a person out for a walk my come upon a species and wonder if it is found in the area because of human intervention. Phrasing the question as Is this species native to this area? would probably be understood, but perhaps it would be better to ask in terms of human intervention, i.e., Is this species introduced? Sometimes it is easier to account for what humans do than for what nature does. Martin M. Meiss 2012/3/13 Matt Chew anek...@gmail.com The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals of place-based belonging. For more, see http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew/Papers/450641/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Biotic_Nativeness_A_Historical_Perspective a.k.a. chapter 4 of Richardson's Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 mc...@asu.edu or anek...@gmail.com http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
Y'all: Since I grew up deep in the Post-Oak Timber Belt of Texas, I probably have everything wrong, as my knowledge is in the folk category. My great-grandfather moved to Texas after the Civil War, and I took out the bob-wahr that he had stapled to post-oaks before the turn of the century (20th). I had to chop out the wire which by then (ca 1948?) was deeply imbedded into the heartwood. How did you get the idea that post-oaks were not native to Texas? I presume that you mean indigenous or that you mean that they evolved in that nutrient-poor sand, but I'd rather that you told me what you mean. WT PS: In Texas, native means born there. I wasn't. I was a prune-picker. - Original Message - From: David L. McNeely mcnee...@cox.net To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 9:04 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native Gunnar, where in the world would that question come from? Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species. So far as it being preEuropean, if that is required for you to define something as native, a substantial portion of Texas is covered by a native forest of post oak and black jack, and is called The Cross Timbers. It likely got its name from being made up of Post Oak, which was during Texas colonial days more commonly called Cross Oak by English speaking immigrants to that part of northern Mexico. David McNeely Gunnar Schade g...@tamu.edu wrote: Howdy! I am trying to figure out whether post oak (Quercus stellata) can rightfully called native to Texas (compared to, e.g., a species like water oak, Quercus nigra). So I wonder if there is a good definition of what native means out there ... Thanks, Gunnar -- David McNeely - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2113/4866 - Release Date: 03/12/12
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
Good grief, Matt. How long the region we now call Texas has been called that is irrelevant, and how much territory the name has encompassed at various times is also irrelevant. The question had to do with whether Post Oak was native to the region now called Texas. Short answer, without knowing the inquirer's criteria for native, is yes. It is silly to make a statement claiming that I suggest that Texas has been Texas for any particular period of time. The question was about a geographic locality, not the political matter of who called it what when. However, historical evidence suggests that Spanish speakers were the first to apply a name similar to Texas, and that it was based on their name for one or more Native American groups. I pointed out that _Quercus stellata_ has gone by other names (though the binomial does suggest Star Oak, I am not aware of it ever going by that common name), one of which (Cross Oak) gives a clue to its presence and indeed abundance in the area now known as Texas because the same term was applied to a large forested area, the Cross Timbers, by English speakers during that time. Spanish speakers called the same woodland, which stretches across a large swath of the state, _Monte Grande_. The name Cross Timbers seems to have been written for the first time formally on a map by Stephen F. Austin in the 1820s. I see no reason to suggest that the English speakers of the time would have given a name to a landscape based on an introduced tree. No one suggested Post Oak is a Texas endemic. It occurs throughout a fairly large portion of the eastern U.S. McNeely Matt Chew anek...@gmail.com wrote: The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals of place-based belonging. For more, see http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew/Papers/450641/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Biotic_Nativeness_A_Historical_Perspective a.k.a. chapter 4 of Richardson's Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 mc...@asu.edu or anek...@gmail.com http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew -- David McNeely
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
From a land-manager's perspective regarding the post oaks of the Texas region, most likely one would say that post-oaks havenaturalizedas many introduced species do. Whether the species was introduced by animal or weather phenomena is a debate not worth having. But for fun I thought I would add the POV of a stewardship technician: that if it isn't running amok, then I have more aggressive plant species to try to corral. Cordially yours, Tacy Fletcher (uses pseudonym Cayt Fletch on facebook) also tflet...@pnc.edu Fletch From: Martin Meiss mme...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:39 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native Even if we agree as to what native means, phrases such as native to Texas are problematic, and not just because, as Matt Chew points out, human political constructs vary with time. If a tree is native to one little corner of Texas, then the statement native to Texas applies, but what does it mean? It might be politically significant, for instance for state laws governing exploitation of the species, but biologically not very useful. It seems to me that for biological purposes, the concept of native should be tied to some biologically oriented construct, such as Holdridge's life zones. Of course, a person out for a walk my come upon a species and wonder if it is found in the area because of human intervention. Phrasing the question as Is this species native to this area? would probably be understood, but perhaps it would be better to ask in terms of human intervention, i.e., Is this species introduced? Sometimes it is easier to account for what humans do than for what nature does. Martin M. Meiss 2012/3/13 Matt Chew anek...@gmail.com The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals of place-based belonging. For more, see http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew/Papers/450641/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Biotic_Nativeness_A_Historical_Perspective a.k.a. chapter 4 of Richardson's Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 mc...@asu.edu or anek...@gmail.com http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
Tacy, I believe that a naturalized species is generally considered to be one that after introduction has established a viable population. http://69.90.183.227/doc/articles/2002-/A-00249.pdf Post oak is not an introduced species in Texas, it is native by any definition. When Europeans came on the scene, it was here. No human agent is known to have brought it. Unlike honeybees that moved across the landscape as an invasive ahead of migrating Europeans, post oak was already here. mcneely Tacy Fletcher cay...@yahoo.com wrote: From a land-manager's perspective regarding the post oaks of the Texas region, most likely one would say that post-oaks havenaturalizedas many introduced species do. Whether the species was introduced by animal or weather phenomena is a debate not worth having. But for fun I thought I would add the POV of a stewardship technician: that if it isn't running amok, then I have more aggressive plant species to try to corral. Cordially yours, Tacy Fletcher (uses pseudonym Cayt Fletch on facebook) also tflet...@pnc.edu Fletch From: Martin Meiss mme...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:39 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native Even if we agree as to what native means, phrases such as native to Texas are problematic, and not just because, as Matt Chew points out, human political constructs vary with time. If a tree is native to one little corner of Texas, then the statement native to Texas applies, but what does it mean? It might be politically significant, for instance for state laws governing exploitation of the species, but biologically not very useful. It seems to me that for biological purposes, the concept of native should be tied to some biologically oriented construct, such as Holdridge's life zones. Of course, a person out for a walk my come upon a species and wonder if it is found in the area because of human intervention. Phrasing the question as Is this species native to this area? would probably be understood, but perhaps it would be better to ask in terms of human intervention, i.e., Is this species introduced? Sometimes it is easier to account for what humans do than for what nature does. Martin M. Meiss 2012/3/13 Matt Chew anek...@gmail.com The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals of place-based belonging. For more, see http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew/Papers/450641/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Biotic_Nativeness_A_Historical_Perspective a.k.a. chapter 4 of Richardson's Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 mc...@asu.edu or anek...@gmail.com http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew -- David McNeely
[ECOLOG-L] 2012 ESA Student Section Awards
Hello ECOLOG members, The Ecological Society of America Student Section is offering many awards to help participating students with their travel and at the same time recognize their achievements at the 97th ESA Annual Meeting in Portland, OR. Please forward this to your ecology related schools and departments undergraduate and graduate student listservs. The many awards include: Union of Concerned Scientists - ESA Student Section EcoService Award Academic Excellence Award for Young Women in Ecology National and International Travel Awards Best Undergraduate Presentation Awards The Fourth Annual Outstanding Student Research in Ecology Awards Eco-Vision Competition, Photography Contest For more information about these awards please visit our website: http://www.esa.org/students/section/node/449 Deadline May 1st, 2012. Thank you and stay involved! The 2011-2012 ESA Student Section Board ESA-SS website: http://www.esa.org/students/section/node/449 ESA-SS facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4239397781/ ESA-SS twitter: esa_students
[ECOLOG-L] Masters of Science Position
A Masters of Science research assistantship will be available at Clemson University to study quantifying population size, species diversity, and community level responses of small mammals to experimentally altered oak forests in the Hudson Valley of New York. Sudden oak death (SOD), a fungal pathogen, is expected to infect oak forests throughout the east coast of the United States and this study which began in 2008, examines the population ecology and feeding ecology of small mammals in response to SOD. Field research will continue this summer and the project will focus on analyzing the population dynamics, species interactions, and community level responses of small mammals in NY. The project will involve fieldwork in NY during the summer of 2012 and data analysis of 2008-2012 data will begin in Fall 2012 (at Clemson University, South Carolina). Research will focus on using tools such as Program MARK and PRESENCE to develop population estimates and occupancy models for small mammal populations. Stipend/Salary: Current annual stipend levels for graduate students at Clemson University are $14,000 per year before taxes. Students must serve as a teaching assistant each semester. In addition to the stipend, students have health insurance and tuition remission. A start date of Summer 2012 at the latest is strongly preferred. Qualifications: A BS in zoology, biology, ecology, conservation biology, forestry, wildlife ecology, or other related disciplines is required. Applicants with a BA degree will only be considered if substantial relevant experience can be shown. Prior research experience is required including both substantial field experiences. Especially desirable are applicants with previous experience conducting mark-recapture population modeling and stable isotope biogeochemistry. Experience with developing field-based projects is preferred. Application Process: Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and review will continue until candidates are chosen. Applications received before April 15th 2012 are guaranteed consideration. Clemson University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. Interested applicants are asked to e-mail the following documents listed below to Dr. Kate McFadden (in ONE PDF file please- k...@clemson.edu). Please specify in your letter when you would be available to start. Required Documents: 1. Cover letter outlining research interests, academic and professional backgrounds 2. Resume/CV 3. Copies of transcripts (unofficial copies acceptable at this point) 4. GRE scores if available 5. Reprints if available 6. Names, email, phone number, and contact addresses of three references -- Kate McFadden, Ph.D. G27 Lehotsky Hall School of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environmental Science Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Office: (864) 656-4141
[ECOLOG-L] COURSE: Coastal Herpetology, May 14-25
The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS is pleased to offer the course, Coastal Herpetology from May 14-25, 2012. The coastal plain of the Southeast boasts an outstanding diversity of amphibians and reptiles, making the region an excellent place to study these often reclusive and elusive creatures. This course will provide students with an introduction to herpetology through lectures and associated readings,discussions of original research papers, and a class project. Topics covered will include the ecology, evolution, life history, diversity, behavior, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. There will also be many field excursions highlighting the methods and techniques for capturing and studying amphibians and reptiles. Be prepared to get wet and muddy since we will be exploring the marshes, pine woods, bayous, and other habitats as we search for and learn about the amphibians and reptiles of the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The application deadline is May 1, 2012. College credit is available through the University of Southern Mississippi or one of many affiliated universities. For more information, visit us at www.usm.edu/gcrl or contact the instructor, Dr. Matthew Chatfield, at mattc...@tulane.edu.
[ECOLOG-L] PhD. position in Restoration Ecology
PhD position in Restoration Ecology Michigan Technological University A fully funded (4-years) PhD position is available for a highly motivated and qualified individual to research in the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University (MTU). The student has the opportunity to work on project investigating the creation of fertile islands. In particular, founder effects, diversity, community structure and rates of recruitment within denuded grassland ecosystems. Desirable qualifications in the applicant include a masters degree in Ecology, Botany, Forestry, or other biology related field. A strong background or interest in field based research, teaching, experimental design and statistics is highly desired. Additionally, the student must be confident and meticulous in the use of a dichotomous key. Partial support of the students stipend will come from TAing Vegetation of North America in the Fall semester. The student will be responsible for 2-3 lab sections/week. The quality of life for MTU students is outstanding. MTU is located in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula on the South Shore of Lake Superior. The region is dominated by publicly-owned forests, and is rated as a great place for outdoor adventure (see National Geographic Adventure Magazine). MTU is in Houghton, Michigan and is a small community with all the characteristics of such (safe, inexpensive, friendly). The School of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences was recently ranked No. 1 in Faculty Scholarly Productivity by The Chronicle of Higher Education (a popular U.S. newspaper for academics). The schools faculty members were also ranked No. 1 in the number of forestry journal citations by a study published in the Journal of Forestry. Consideration of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please send a cover letter that states your research interests and provides names and contact information for three references. Also include your curriculum vitae and any evidence of scholarly activity (ie - publications). Please email (no phone calls please) all application material to Dr. Catherine Tarasoff (ctara...@mtu.edu). Suitable candidates will be required to apply to the graduate program within the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences (free of charge).
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
to get back to the original question, here is the USDA take on the matter: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=QUSTmapType=nativityphotoID=qust_002_avp.tif mcneely Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Are you sure you're not seeing recolonization? The Texas of my boyhood was largely spent camping out in the post-oak timber belt, and I personally pulled stumps as my part of clearing them to plant alien pasture grasses, goobers, hairy vetch, and other crops recommended by the county agent. From the mid-ninteenth century until the present era, such clearing has been tantamount to doing God's will. Maybe God has something to do with the recolonization of the post-oaks, the grass-burrs, the briar patches, the poison ivy and all the other plants and animals that once populated that region? WT - Original Message - From: Tacy Fletcher cay...@yahoo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:20 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native From a land-manager's perspective regarding the post oaks of the Texas region, most likely one would say that post-oaks havenaturalizedas many introduced species do. Whether the species was introduced by animal or weather phenomena is a debate not worth having. But for fun I thought I would add the POV of a stewardship technician: that if it isn't running amok, then I have more aggressive plant species to try to corral. Cordially yours, Tacy Fletcher (uses pseudonym Cayt Fletch on facebook) also tflet...@pnc.edu Fletch From: Martin Meiss mme...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:39 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native Even if we agree as to what native means, phrases such as native to Texas are problematic, and not just because, as Matt Chew points out, human political constructs vary with time. If a tree is native to one little corner of Texas, then the statement native to Texas applies, but what does it mean? It might be politically significant, for instance for state laws governing exploitation of the species, but biologically not very useful. It seems to me that for biological purposes, the concept of native should be tied to some biologically oriented construct, such as Holdridge's life zones. Of course, a person out for a walk my come upon a species and wonder if it is found in the area because of human intervention. Phrasing the question as Is this species native to this area? would probably be understood, but perhaps it would be better to ask in terms of human intervention, i.e., Is this species introduced? Sometimes it is easier to account for what humans do than for what nature does. Martin M. Meiss 2012/3/13 Matt Chew anek...@gmail.com The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals of place-based belonging. For more, see http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew/Papers/450641/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Biotic_Nativeness_A_Historical_Perspective a.k.a. chapter 4 of Richardson's Fifty Years of Invasion Ecology: The Legacy of Charles Elton. Matthew K Chew Assistant Research Professor Arizona State University School of Life Sciences ASU Center for Biology Society PO Box 873301 Tempe, AZ 85287-3301 USA Tel 480.965.8422 Fax 480.965.8330 mc...@asu.edu or anek...@gmail.com http://cbs.asu.edu/people/profiles/chew.php http://asu.academia.edu/MattChew - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2113/4868 - Release Date: 03/13/12 -- David McNeely
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
That USDA range map for post oak touches on a point raised earlier. Those civic-minded oaks conform their range exactly to US state and national boundaries, and nowhere is it introduced. And, Dave M., despite your Good grief to Matt C.. don't you think it's appropriate to pay some attention to the temporal nature of geographic boundaries? Does it sound right to say Dinosaurs once roamed New York City? It sounds sillier when applied to a city rather than a state, but the principle is the same. When speaking carefully we can insert the phrase ...what is now... Martin M. Meiss 2012/3/13 David L. McNeely mcnee...@cox.net to get back to the original question, here is the USDA take on the matter: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=QUSTmapType=nativityphotoID=qust_002_avp.tif mcneely Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Are you sure you're not seeing recolonization? The Texas of my boyhood was largely spent camping out in the post-oak timber belt, and I personally pulled stumps as my part of clearing them to plant alien pasture grasses, goobers, hairy vetch, and other crops recommended by the county agent. From the mid-ninteenth century until the present era, such clearing has been tantamount to doing God's will. Maybe God has something to do with the recolonization of the post-oaks, the grass-burrs, the briar patches, the poison ivy and all the other plants and animals that once populated that region? WT - Original Message - From: Tacy Fletcher cay...@yahoo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:20 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native From a land-manager's perspective regarding the post oaks of the Texas region, most likely one would say that post-oaks havenaturalizedas many introduced species do. Whether the species was introduced by animal or weather phenomena is a debate not worth having. But for fun I thought I would add the POV of a stewardship technician: that if it isn't running amok, then I have more aggressive plant species to try to corral. Cordially yours, Tacy Fletcher (uses pseudonym Cayt Fletch on facebook) also tflet...@pnc.edu Fletch From: Martin Meiss mme...@gmail.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 8:39 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native Even if we agree as to what native means, phrases such as native to Texas are problematic, and not just because, as Matt Chew points out, human political constructs vary with time. If a tree is native to one little corner of Texas, then the statement native to Texas applies, but what does it mean? It might be politically significant, for instance for state laws governing exploitation of the species, but biologically not very useful. It seems to me that for biological purposes, the concept of native should be tied to some biologically oriented construct, such as Holdridge's life zones. Of course, a person out for a walk my come upon a species and wonder if it is found in the area because of human intervention. Phrasing the question as Is this species native to this area? would probably be understood, but perhaps it would be better to ask in terms of human intervention, i.e., Is this species introduced? Sometimes it is easier to account for what humans do than for what nature does. Martin M. Meiss 2012/3/13 Matt Chew anek...@gmail.com The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals of place-based belonging. For more, see
Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native
As a lowly student I would like to echo Wayne and McNeely's responses to Dr. Chew's statements. To imply that the members of the list would benefit from being reminded that Texas has not always been called Texas implies that we are all rather ignorant. At best there was some semantic fun in the statements; as I take Dr. Chew's attempt to enlighten us, the pedant making the statement was probably the only one having much fun. Dr. Chew, I have read much of what you post here and gather that you are bent on having ecologists recalibrate their view of invasive species. I am quite fond of contrarian viewpoints, and prone to eagerly accept them. As such, I would normally be very inclined to agree with your exhortation that we all take a skeptical and nuanced look at the dogma of recent evidence of introduction implies catastrophic negative impacts. However, this stance is not giving the rest of us much credit for our ability to think critically and the manner in which you make your arguments makes me extremely skeptical. In short, I'm saying that you'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar, to which you might reply with something of this sort: http://xkcd.com/357/. My point being, we all know what is meant by the idiom, and we're all doing our best to communicate through the imperfect and imprecise medium of written language. If you give the rest of the world the benefit of the doubt that we! might have some clue about what we're talking about or that we're capable of critically evaluating other's statements, maybe, just maybe we'll give you the benefit of the doubt and try to listen to what you're saying instead of dismissing you as a blowhard. -Jason Persichetti -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of David L. McNeely Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 10:16 AM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] definition of native Good grief, Matt. How long the region we now call Texas has been called that is irrelevant, and how much territory the name has encompassed at various times is also irrelevant. The question had to do with whether Post Oak was native to the region now called Texas. Short answer, without knowing the inquirer's criteria for native, is yes. It is silly to make a statement claiming that I suggest that Texas has been Texas for any particular period of time. The question was about a geographic locality, not the political matter of who called it what when. However, historical evidence suggests that Spanish speakers were the first to apply a name similar to Texas, and that it was based on their name for one or more Native American groups. I pointed out that _Quercus stellata_ has gone by other names (though the binomial does suggest Star Oak, I am not aware of it ever going by that common name), one of which (Cross Oak) gives a clue to its presence and indeed abundance in the area now known as Texas because the same term was applied to a large forested area, the Cross Timbers, by English speakers during that time. Spanish speakers called the same woodland, which stretches across a large swath of the state, _Monte Grande_. The name Cross Timbers seems to have been written for the first time formally on a map by Stephen F. Austin in the 1820s. I see no reason to suggest that the English speakers of the time would have given a name to a landscape based on an introduced tree. No one suggested Post Oak is a Texas endemic. It occurs throughout a fairly large portion of the eastern U.S. McNeely Matt Chew anek...@gmail.com wrote: The general definition of 'native' is 'not introduced'. It is a historical criterion, not an ecological one, and it rests entirely on absence of evidence for introduction. That definition has not changed at all since it was first fully codified in England in 1847. David McNeely's claim that Post oak has been in Texas probably for much of its existence as a species suggests that Texas has been Texas for a very long time indeed. But Texas, as a place identified by various sets of boundaries, is itself post European by the standard David provided. By 1847 Texas was already flying the fifth of its six European-derived flags, during the Mexican-American War. And of course, post oak certainly isn't endemic to any version of Texas, no matter how expansively imagined; most post oaks have not been in Texas in any way. The tree hasn't even been called 'post oak' for much of its existence as a species. Whether it was a species at all before being described and named _Quercus_stellata_ by Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim late in the 18th century is arguable, but it is certain that _Quercus_stellata_ translates more literally to star oak than post oak. Very Texan. While this is all good semantic fun, it also draws attention serious conceptual weaknesses in our vague ideas and ideals
[ECOLOG-L] INTERFACE exchange opportunity
Collaborative Exchange Program Integrated Network for Terrestrial Ecosystem Research on Feedbacks to theAtmosphere and ClimatE (INTERFACE) is an NSF-funded network that aims to improve projections of climate change by bringing together researchers working on climate models, ecosystem models, and on field based climate change experiments. To further facilitate collaboration in the research community, INTERFACE plans to sponsor a limited number of collaborative exchanges for US-based graduate students, in which students who primarily work with models spend a brief period (up to one month) working in an experimental setting, or students who primarily work on global change experiments spend a brief period (up to one month) working in an ecosystem or Earth system modeling setting. These exchanges should ideally allow the student to continue working on a similar topic, but from a different perspective. Interested graduate students should identify a laboratory in which they would like to work, and should secure approvals from their advisor and the exchange labs PI. To apply, students should submit as a SINGLE PDF file that contains (in this order): (1) a two-page proposal explicitly stating the questions being addressed and why the collaboration will facilitate answering them, (2) an NSF-style CV, (3) a one-page budget justification, and (4) brief letters of support from the advisor and the PI of the lab the student will visit. Files should be saved as APPLICANTS LAST NAME_FIRST NAME. Applications should be sent to Aimée Classen aclas...@utk.edu. Applications will be reviewed starting on the fourth Monday of April and travel is expected to happen between May and September. Allowable expenses include airfare, meals while traveling to and from the exchange location, and housing. These funds cannot be used to cover classes at the host institution or student/ PI salary. Exchanges may be partially or fully sponsored by INTERFACE.
[ECOLOG-L] Questionnaire on comprehensive value/ecological services of US rangelands to justify grasshopper control programs
A one page questionnaire has been distributed by the U. of Wyoming to help estimate comprehensive values of western US rangelands based on rankings of ecological services/values provided by western rangelands. The main impetus for the survey is to justify the importance of large-scale grasshopper control programs by USDA-APHIS using insecticides on rangeland. The survey was provided to parties interested in grasshopper management, but it would be helpful if ecologists could provide input by ranking the importance of the 15 ecological services/values of western rangelands included in the questionnaire and adding missing items. Note the deadline for responses of March 19th. The one page survey can be downloaded at the following link. If the link doesnt work, email me. http://www.box.com/s/d8iili0urejj3no193dj
[ECOLOG-L] linear and nonlinear regression comparison
Does anyone know how to statistically compare the slope of a linear regression equation to the slope of a nonlinear (i.e., exponential) regression equation? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
[ECOLOG-L] Call for Lightning Talks now open for Conference on Informatics for Phylogenetics, Evolution, and Biodiversity (iEvoBio)
The Call for Lightning Talks is now open for the 2012 conference on Informatics for Phylogenetics, Evolution, and Biodiversity (iEvoBio), at http://ievobio.org/ocs2/index.php/ievobio/2012. See below for instructions. Lightning talks are short presentations of 5 minutes. They are ideal for drawing the attention of the audience to new developments, tools, and resources, or to subsequent events where more in-depth information can be obtained. Please also see our FAQ for more information (http://ievobio.org/faq.html#lightning). Lightning talks will be part of the more interactive program elements on both conference days. Submitted talks should be in the area of informatics aimed at advancing research in phylogenetics, evolution, and biodiversity, including new tools, cyberinfrastructure development, large-scale data analysis, and visualization. Submissions should be 1 page long at most and include a title, a list of contributors, and an abstract. The abstract should provide an overview of the talk's subject. Reviewers will judge whether a submission is within scope of the conference (see above). If applicable, the abstract must also state the license and give the URL where the source code is available so reviewers can verify that the open-source requirement(*) is met. Review and acceptance of lightning talks will be on a rolling basis. The deadline for submission is the morning of the first day of the conference (July 10), but see below. Further instructions for submission are at the following URL: http://ievobio.org/ocs2/index.php/ievobio/2012/schedConf/cfp Please make sure to choose the Lightning Talks track for your submission. Note that the number of lightning talk slots is finite and that therefore the track may fill up early. We cannot accept lightning talks until the open-source requirements are met, and so waiting with that until the deadline risks that the track is full by that time. We ask all submitters of lightning talks to be willing to also serve as reviewers of such, as described above. Lightning talks are only 1 of 5 kinds of contributed content that iEvoBio will feature. The other 4 are: 1) Full talks (open until April 2), 2) Challenge entries, 3) Software bazaar demonstrations, and 4) Birds-of- a-Feather gatherings. The Call for Challenge entries remains open (see http://ievobio.org/challenge.html). The calls for contribution to the other two sessions will open later, and will remain open until shortly before the conference or until the respective track fills up. In addition, 2012 iEvoBio sponsor Biomatters Ltd will be running the Geneious Challenge alongside this year’s iEvoBio Challenge, see http://ievobio.org/geneious_challenge.html for more information. More details about the conference and program are available at http://ievobio.org. You can also find continuous updates on the conference's Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/iEvoBio and Google+ page, or subscribe to the low-traffic iEvoBio announcements mailing list at http://groups.google.com/group/ievobio-announce. iEvoBio 2012 is sponsored by the US National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) and by Biomatters Ltd., in partnership with the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) and the Systematic Biologists (SSB). The iEvoBio 2012 Organizing Committee: Hilmar Lapp, US National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (chair) Robert Beiko, Dalhousie University Nico Cellinese, University of Florida and Florida Museum of Natural History Robert Guralnick, University of Colorado at Boulder Rebecca Kao, Denver Botanic Gardens Ellinor Michel, Natural History Museum, London Nadia Talent, Royal Ontario Museum Andrea Thomer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (*) iEvoBio and its sponsors are dedicated to promoting the practice and philosophy of Open Source software development (see http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php) and reuse within the research community. For this reason, if a submitted talk concerns a specific software system for use by the research community, that software must be licensed with a recognized Open Source License (see http://www.opensource.org/licenses/), and be available for download, including source code, by a tar/zip file accessed through ftp/http or through a widely used version control system like cvs, Subversion, git, Bazaar, or Mercurial.
[ECOLOG-L] Summer Field Assistant Position at Grand Teton National Park
Hello, I am seeking two field assistant to participate in the dissertation project entitled The effects of a complex trophic structure of mammalian host species on the ecology of emerging infectious diseases. Please read the position description below. Best regards, Leticia Hiring Organization: University of Missouri at Saint Louis Position Description: I am looking for two volunteer field assistants to help with the dissertation project entitled The effects of a complex trophic structure of mammalian host species on the ecology of emerging infectious diseases, which will be carried out at Grand Teton National Park. Field assistants will be required to set up simultaneously two grids per week (220 traps), followed by baiting and checking the traps every day (early morning and evening). Research assistant responsibilities include data recording , data entry, collection of rodent blood/ectoparasite samples, lab organization, trap cleaning and blood sample processing. Qualifications/Experience: Previous field work experience, rodent trapping and rodent bleeding is preferred but not required. Undergraduate or graduate qualified field course and lab experience is preferred. Volunteers should be highly motivated with a strong interest in disease ecology and mammalian communities. Generally, students should: 1. be in good physical and mental condition 2. be able to cope with early morning starts, long hikes and mosquitoes 3. be comfortable being away from family and friends for long periods of time 4. have a positive attitude 5. be patient, willing to learn, committed and proactive Salary/funding: No salary is available at this time. However lodging, meals and transportation will be provided. Term of Appointment: May 20th, 2012 to August 19th 2012 Application Deadline: Until filled Comments: If interested in the position, please email the following to Leticia Gutiérrez (leticiagutier...@mail.umsl.edu) a) CV including relevant coursework, research and field experience b) Letter of interest c) 2 letters of reference from people familiar with your academic and/or work performance. Contact Information: Leticia Gutiérrez (DVM) PhD(c) of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics Research Bldg. R223, Biology Department University of Missouri at St. Louis One University Blvd. 63121-4400 Saint Louis, MO Date Posted: 03/14/2012
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Stream Ecology Summer Technician with the Montana Natural Heritage Program
Please share this announcement with ECOLOG subscribers or suitable colleagues to get the word out, Thank you for circulating to appropriate applicants. Cheers, Dave JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Aquatic Ecology Field Technician (summer) Dates: June 15 through September 15, 2012 (start/end date negotiable) Location: Eastern and Western, Montana (Based in Helena, MT—subsidized housing may be available) APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 15, 2012 APPLICATION SCREENING: Screening begins as soon as applications are received The position is for one full-time, summer field technician to assist the MT Natural Heritage Program Aquatic Ecologist on various contract funded river projects in the Yellowstone and Missouri River Basins. A project focus will be to sample and analyze macroinvertebrate, periphyton and fish communities in prairie streams and rivers within the CBNG and Coal Tracts areas of SE Montana. Additionally, a MT DEQ Project will collect various stream habitat data from 30 valley and mountain streams to determine relationships between sediment levels and macroinvertebrate communities. The technician will spend three months working with the Aquatic Ecologist and traveling to approximately 75 field sites. Biweekly pay will be based on 80 hours in the field (not to exceed 520 hours total). Each field stint may be up to 8 days in duration and rustic camping is expected (often on BLM and USFS lands with no facilities). We will typically spend ½ day per site surveying, travel to th! e next site finish and camp nearby. Per diem is paid, but personal camping gear is not provided. RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary duties will include establishing transects, mapping stream reaches, filling out field forms, sampling fish using seines and macroinvertebrates /periphyton using EMAP and MT DEQ protocols. Pebble counts and other sediment quantification techniques will be used. Data entry or macroinvertebrate processing may occur, but it will largely be a field position. A protocol training day will be provided. QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must possess a four-year degree or currently be enrolled at a college or university pursuing a degree in ecology, fisheries, natural resource management, environmental studies or other similar area. Candidates must be in good physical condition, capable of working long days in the field under hot, rugged conditions, and be comfortable wading in mucky prairie streams or fast, bouldery rivers. Ability to work under these conditions is essential. Candidates should be comfortable working and camping in remote areas under rustic conditions. Skills in the following areas are valuable: good attention to detail oriented tasks (i.e., pebble counts, field note-taking, labeling sample bottles), easy going, working well in an isolated setting, wilderness safety and first aid training, and experience with navigating forest service roads, maps and backcountry travel. Experience with relevant fish or macroinvertebrate sampling fieldwork or stream sampling! skills are desirable, but not necessary. A valid US driver’s license and a safe driving record are required. SALARY: $12-14/hour DOE APPLICATION PROCESS: Email or mail a 1-2 page resume and cover letter, including three references with telephone numbers and email addresses, to the contact information below. No phone calls please. CONTACT: David Stagliano Montana Natural Heritage Program Aquatic Ecologist 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620-1800 Email: dstagli...@mt.gov http://mtnhp.org/
