Re: [ECOLOG-L] Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)

2012-09-27 Thread Wayne Tyson

Hi Jennifer,

Good luck with it! It doesn't have to be "perfect;" in fact, it's appeal 
lies in its imperfection.


I like the restriction to five minutes part, but slides drive me nuts, and a 
regular spacing of every 15 seconds would drive me to distraction. I'd 
rather look at the speaker.


I think the name and the "type" of "presentation" are far less important 
than the substance of the ideas themselves. And I would hope that the ideas 
would be challenging ones, not just self-conscious dribbling of ecological 
jargon and pretension.


I would hope that speakers would be directly challenged in the post-session 
sessions and the speakers given time to further explain their ideas in 
rebuttal or in agreement with the criticism.


Even though I have given up going to meetings, I wish I could go to your 
sessions and the follow-ups. Maybe produce a video of the whole 
thing--especially including the bar room brawls. "Reality show?"


WT

- Original Message - 
From: "Jennifer Riem" 

To: 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: 
Call for Ignite ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)



Hi Wayne,

I'm glad to hear you like the idea. I think we're in agreement that slides 
can become more of a crutch than a tool for public speaking. One of the 
benefits of Ignite and similar styles (PechaKucha is another) is to step 
people away from over-reliance on slides and toward a more dynamic and 
engaging speaking style. Ignite is definitely intended to be less formal and 
higher energy than traditional presentations. There are some examples linked 
from the call page that demonstrate the format more effectively than I can 
describe by email.


Slides are part of the standard Ignite format that we're adopting. The 
effect of the automatic slide advancement every 15 seconds is to make the 
slides more of a prompt and pacing mechanism for the speaker and less of a 
script. There's much less opportunity to use PowerPoint as a teleprompter. A 
speaker can't really read their slides to people at pace set by Ignite. 
Which means designing a slide that's a support for the points being made, 
not a duplication of them.


We think this could be a good format for communicating the same kinds of 
science that are already presented more formally, but we're also hoping 
people will propose presentations focusing on ideas, problems, experiences, 
lessons learned, and so on, which wouldn't fit into a more formal 
presentation style and length. Much of the thought behind creating a new 
session type was prompted by hearing how much people really value the time 
they spend exchanging ideas outside of sessions, combined with an interest 
in seeing some shorter presentations types offered.


Jennifer

Jennifer Riem
Science Programs Coordinator
Ecological Society of America
jenni...@esa.org
202.833.8773 x 218

-Original Message-
From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:landr...@cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 12:06 AM
To: Jennifer Riem; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for 
Ignite ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)


Jennifer et y'all:

What a great idea! Any idea that can't be clearly explained (to your 
neighbor or grandmother) in five minutes may not be well enough worked out 
yet. Maybe y'all are just that much more talented than I am, but I'm still 
trying to summarize ideas that first occurred to me decades ago.


(But why "slides?" Have we become so dependent upon "visuals" that we can't 
understand the spoken word? And one every fifteen seconds? Gag me with a

spoon!)

Hmmm, maybe what y'all are doing is dropping the pretense of perfection that 
has weighed down academics for so long, and are just shotgunning a stream of 
consciousness and then retiring to the bar to slug out differences and build 
on each others ideas. Now, THAT I could go for!


WT

"Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief" -- Polonius (Shakespeare's Hamlet)


- Original Message - 
From: "Jennifer Riem" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 2:38 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals
(Due Nov. 29th)


Call for Proposals - New Session Type!
Ignite ESA Sessions
Deadline for Submission: November 29, 2012

98th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 4-9, 2013
http://www.esa.org/minneapolis

We invite proposals for a new session type, Ignite ESA, which will debut
during the 98th ESA Annual Meeting to be held August 4-9, 2013 in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://www.esa.org/minneapolis/ignite.php

ABOUT IGNITE ESA SESSIONS

Ignite ESA is intended to stimulate the exchange of new and exciting ideas
in a short time period. Ignite ESA Sessions will be scheduled for 1 hour and
consist of up to 10 5-minute talks presented in the Ignite style
(http://igniteshow.com/) wh

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity

2012-09-27 Thread Wayne Tyson
Thanks, Juan; I do appreciate the reference, but I am looking for a simper 
answer than that--a scientifically-based explanation of what ecosystem function 
means as an actual or theoretical feature of actual ecosystems. I am definitely 
not interested in ". . . an anthropocentric concept (as humans depend on 
ecosystems to survive) because is described as the capacity of the natural 
processes to provide an array of direct or indirect services or benefits to 
humans." I would be delighted to hear a discussion of benefits to humans some 
other time, however, but I do not want this discussion to wander off the 
central, very basic question now. 

WT


  - Original Message - 
  From: Juan Alvez 
  To: Wayne Tyson 
  Cc: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU 
  Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 10:25 AM
  Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity


  Hi Wayne,

  You can best visualize ecosystem functions in a paper written 10 years ago by 
De Groot and others,
  (Ref: de Groot, R.S., Wilson, M.A., Boumans, R.M.J., 2002. A typology for the 
classification, description and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and 
services. Ecological Economics 41, 393-408.). 
  It describes four main ecosystem functions (regulation [climate, nutrient 
cycling, polination], habitat [refugia, nursery, etc.], information [scientific 
info, recreation, cultural and aesthetic] and production [food, genetic and 
medicinal resources, raw materials, etc.] functions). 
  It is certainly an anthropocentric concept (as humans depend on ecosystems to 
survive) because is described as the capacity of the natural processes to 
provide an array of direct or indirect services or benefits to humans.

  Best,
  Juan


  On 9/26/2012 10:11 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote:

Please describe function in ecosystems. 

WT 

- Original Message - From: "Katharine Miller"  
To:  
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 4:07 PM 
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity 


Hello, 

I have used Rao's quadratic entropy to evaluate functional diversity 
between 
a number of estuaries for which I also have a GIS database.  I would like 
to 
be able to visualize which sites are more functionally similar across the 
region to evaluate patterns in dispersal, etc. 

I know it is possible to use the pairwise functional beta diversity values 
as a distance matrix in a Mantel test or multivariate regression on 
distances matrices (MRM) when comparing functional diversity to, for 
example, environmental data.  Would it also be appropriate to use these 
values in a PAM or other clustering method to identify estuaries that are 
more/less similar in functional diversity? 

This is likely to sound like a very naive question, but I have done an 
extensive literature search and have not found where this has been done 
before  - perhaps because it is a bad idea for other reasons? 

Any insights and/or references on this approach would be greatly 
appreciated. 

Thank you 


- 
No virus found in this message. 
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 10.0.1427 / Virus Database: 2441/5293 - Release Date: 09/26/12 



-- 
Juan P. Alvez, PhD
Pasture Program Technical Coordinator
UVM Extension, Center for Sustainable Agriculture
106 High Point Center, Suite 305
Colchester VT, 05446
Phone: 802-656-6116
Fax: 802-656-8874
jal...@uvm.edu | www.uvm.edu/sustagctr

UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to 
work
--

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  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
  Version: 10.0.1427 / Virus Database: 2441/5294 - Release Date: 09/27/12


Re: [ECOLOG-L] Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)

2012-09-27 Thread Jennifer Riem
Hi Wayne,

I'm glad to hear you like the idea. I think we're in agreement that slides can 
become more of a crutch than a tool for public speaking. One of the benefits of 
Ignite and similar styles (PechaKucha is another) is to step people away from 
over-reliance on slides and toward a more dynamic and engaging speaking style. 
Ignite is definitely intended to be less formal and higher energy than 
traditional presentations. There are some examples linked from the call page 
that demonstrate the format more effectively than I can describe by email. 

Slides are part of the standard Ignite format that we're adopting. The effect 
of the automatic slide advancement every 15 seconds is to make the slides more 
of a prompt and pacing mechanism for the speaker and less of a script. There's 
much less opportunity to use PowerPoint as a teleprompter. A speaker can't 
really read their slides to people at pace set by Ignite. Which means designing 
a slide that's a support for the points being made, not a duplication of them. 

We think this could be a good format for communicating the same kinds of 
science that are already presented more formally, but we're also hoping people 
will propose presentations focusing on ideas, problems, experiences, lessons 
learned, and so on, which wouldn't fit into a more formal presentation style 
and length. Much of the thought behind creating a new session type was prompted 
by hearing how much people really value the time they spend exchanging ideas 
outside of sessions, combined with an interest in seeing some shorter 
presentations types offered.

Jennifer

Jennifer Riem
Science Programs Coordinator
Ecological Society of America
jenni...@esa.org
202.833.8773 x 218

-Original Message-
From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:landr...@cox.net] 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 12:06 AM
To: Jennifer Riem; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite 
ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)

Jennifer et y'all:

What a great idea! Any idea that can't be clearly explained (to your neighbor 
or grandmother) in five minutes may not be well enough worked out yet. Maybe 
y'all are just that much more talented than I am, but I'm still trying to 
summarize ideas that first occurred to me decades ago.

(But why "slides?" Have we become so dependent upon "visuals" that we can't 
understand the spoken word? And one every fifteen seconds? Gag me with a
spoon!)

Hmmm, maybe what y'all are doing is dropping the pretense of perfection that 
has weighed down academics for so long, and are just shotgunning a stream of 
consciousness and then retiring to the bar to slug out differences and build on 
each others ideas. Now, THAT I could go for!

WT

"Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief" -- Polonius (Shakespeare's Hamlet)


- Original Message - 
From: "Jennifer Riem" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 2:38 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals 
(Due Nov. 29th)


Call for Proposals - New Session Type!
Ignite ESA Sessions
Deadline for Submission: November 29, 2012

98th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 4-9, 2013
http://www.esa.org/minneapolis

We invite proposals for a new session type, Ignite ESA, which will debut 
during the 98th ESA Annual Meeting to be held August 4-9, 2013 in 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://www.esa.org/minneapolis/ignite.php

ABOUT IGNITE ESA SESSIONS

Ignite ESA is intended to stimulate the exchange of new and exciting ideas 
in a short time period. Ignite ESA Sessions will be scheduled for 1 hour and 
consist of up to 10 5-minute talks presented in the Ignite style 
(http://igniteshow.com/) which address a common theme. Each Ignite talk will 
feature 20 slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds. Although 
there will be no time during the session for questions and answers, there 
will be a dedicated space nearby where presenters and attendees will be 
encouraged to gather for extended discussion immediately following each 
session.
Each session should be organized around a general theme that is related to 
the advancement of ecology, either conceptually or technologically. These 
sessions will provide an opportunity for ecologists to share information 
with their colleagues that would not fit into the usual session types. The 
more concise speaking slot and quick slide transitions lend themselves to a 
more conversational and storytelling presentation style. Given 5 minutes to 
speak and brief visual aids, what would you share with other ecologists? 
What would you most like to learn from your colleagues?
The One Presentation Rule does not apply to Ignite ESA talks. Speakers may 
speak in an Ignite session in addition to a traditional presentation 
elsewhere in the program. We ask that speakers not commit to more than one 
Ignite presentation, how

[ECOLOG-L] Job: Assistant Professor of Biology, Barnard College

2012-09-27 Thread David Inouye

Assistant Professor Of Biology

The Department of Biology at Barnard College, Columbia University, 
seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor (starting July 
2013) to participate in undergraduate teaching and establish an 
active, externally funded research program. We are interested in 
candidates who are broadly trained and address questions at the 
physiological and/or whole-organism level.


Teaching responsibilities include an advanced lecture, laboratory, 
and seminar course in the candidate's area of specialization, and 
participation in the core genetics course. Ph.D. and postdoctoral 
experience is required; teaching experience is desirable.


Applicants should send cv, research and teaching statements, three 
representative publications and three letters of recommendation 
electronically to 
biology...@barnard.edu. Review of 
applications will begin November 1.


Barnard College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members 
of under-represented minorities are encouraged to apply.



--
Hilary Callahan
Associate Professor, Department Chair
Department of Biological Sciences
1007 Altschul
Barnard College, Columbia University
3009 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
212-854-5405


[ECOLOG-L] WWA 18th Annual Wetlands Conference -- Call for Symposia and Presentations!

2012-09-27 Thread Stephani Pescitelli
Wisconsin Wetlands Association invites you to submit a proposal for a
symposium and/or a presentation at our 18th Annual Wetlands Conference, *Great
Wetlands, Healthy Watersheds**.*  The conference will take place at The
Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on February 12-14, 2013.



*CALL FOR SYMPOSIA DEADLINE:  September 30, 2012*

*CALL FOR ORAL & POSTER PRESENTATION DEADLINE:  **November 11, 2012*


**

*Please help us spread the word by forwarding the call for symposia and
presentations to your colleagues and associates.*

* *

*Call for Symposia:*

We seek proposals for half- or full-day organized symposia on special
topics.  See wisconsinwetlands.org/2013symposia.htm for a list of potential
symposium topics and information about how to submit a proposal.  Submission
deadline for symposium proposals is *September 30, 2012*.

*
*

*Call for Oral and Poster Presentations:*

We seek proposals for oral or poster presentations on wetland research,
restoration, and management projects, especially those related to the theme
of *Great Wetlands, Healthy Watersheds*.  We welcome presentations on work
done in all wetland community types and from around the Midwest region, as
long as the content of the presentation applies to wetlands of Wisconsin.



We encourage graduate and undergraduate students to submit abstracts and
anticipate being able to offer scholarships for students.



Visit wisconsinwetlands.org/2013CFP.htm for details, including a broad list
of suggested presentation topics, guidelines for oral presentations and
posters, and information on how to submit an abstract.  Submission deadline
for oral and poster presentation abstracts is *November 11, 2012.*



*Conference Registration Information*:

WWA invites wetland experts and enthusiasts from around the Midwest region
and beyond to join us for our 2013 conference. Online registration will
open later this fall. Early bird registration ends *January 11, 2013*.



*For more information about the conference, visit
wisconsinwetlands.org/2013conference.htm*

Thank you!
-- 

*Stephani Pescitelli*

Office Manager and Programs Assistant

Wisconsin Wetlands Association

222 S. Hamilton St. Suite 1

Madison, WI 53703

http://wisconsinwetlands.org


[ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity

2012-09-27 Thread ling huang
It sounds as though you are looking to do a cluster analysis for statistical 
grouping of like estuaries. This method is outlined in virtually all 
multivariate analysis books. PROC CLUSTER is the SAS procedure. 

Best

Ling
Ling Huang
Sacramento City College

--- On Wed, 9/26/12, Wayne Tyson  wrote:

From: Wayne Tyson 
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 7:11 PM

Please describe function in ecosystems.

WT

- Original Message - From: "Katharine Miller" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 4:07 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity


Hello,

I have used Rao's quadratic entropy to evaluate functional diversity between
a number of estuaries for which I also have a GIS database.  I would like to
be able to visualize which sites are more functionally similar across the
region to evaluate patterns in dispersal, etc.

I know it is possible to use the pairwise functional beta diversity values
as a distance matrix in a Mantel test or multivariate regression on
distances matrices (MRM) when comparing functional diversity to, for
example, environmental data.  Would it also be appropriate to use these
values in a PAM or other clustering method to identify estuaries that are
more/less similar in functional diversity?

This is likely to sound like a very naive question, but I have done an
extensive literature search and have not found where this has been done
before  - perhaps because it is a bad idea for other reasons?

Any insights and/or references on this approach would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1427 / Virus Database: 2441/5293 - Release Date: 09/26/12


[ECOLOG-L] Job: Pacific Islands climate change employment opportunity: ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION MANAGER

2012-09-27 Thread David Inouye
PICCC ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION MANAGER ID# 12483. Hawaii Cooperative 
Studies Unit. Regular, Full-Time, RCUH Non-Civil Service position 
with the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) Pacific Islands Climate Change 
Cooperative (PICCC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Continuation of employment 
is dependent upon program/operational needs, satisfactory work 
performance, availability of funds, and compliance with applicable 
Federal/State laws.


MINIMUM MONTHLY SALARY:
$3,837/Mon.

DUTIES:
Provides database and geospatial information system (GIS) leadership 
to work teams of the Pacific Islands climate Change Cooperative 
(PICCC) and the Pacific Islands Climate Science Center (PICSC). The 
PICCC is an interagency organization whose purpose is to assist those 
who manage native species, island ecosystems, and cultural resources 
in adapting their management to climate change in the Pacific 
Islands. The PICSC is a collaboration between the U.S. Geological 
Survey and a consortium of several universities led by the University 
of Hawaii at Manoa, University of Hawaii at Hilo, and University of 
Guam, focused on climate change research. Working together, PICCC and 
PICSC will acquire, manage, and serve data and products to help 
partners adapt to climate change. Leads the development of a shared 
data management system for PICCC and PICSC, and managing database and 
GIS operations on a daily basis. Primary support for GIS and data 
analyses performed by PICCC and PICSC. Duties will include 
acquisition of data sets and imagery from the region and implanting 
methods and technologies to integrate such data sets. Duties will 
also include using and adapting web-based platforms to spatially 
display natural or cultural resource data. Responsible for keeping 
staff informed of innovative advanced technologies that could be 
applied within the climate change program efforts.


PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION:
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four (4) year college or 
university. (Two (2) years of college course work (strong in computer 
science or spatial analysis) from an accredited college or university 
with three (3) years related network and enterprise application 
management experience may substitute for Bachelor's Degree). 
EXPERIENCE: Four to six (4-6) years of professional work experience 
in managing or developing GIS applications, spatial databases, and 
web interface design. Experience should include proficiency in ArcGIS 
and spatial analyst extension, GIS workflow implementation in a 
multi-user environment, and familiarity with Microsoft desktop and 
server operating systems. ABIL/KNOW/SKILLS: Knowledge of ESRI ArcGIS 
Desktop/Server application platform, Relational Database Management 
System (RDBMS: i.e. SQL Server, Oracle, etc.). Microsoft Office, and 
image analysis software (IDRISI, Image Analys for ArcGIS, etc.). 
Knowledge of and ability to use natural and/or cultural resource data 
and ability to manage databases. Ability to integrate a variety of 
GIS, image processing database, and other software. Ability to 
develop and deploy GIS and relational database systems, experience 
with some common GIS application programming interfaces or languages 
(i.e. Javascript, Python, Visual Basic, HTML. REST, and SQL). 
Expertise of ESRI's ArcGIS in an enterprise environment (leveraging a 
relational database management system such as SQL Server) is 
essential and the individual must have the ability and skill to 
develop solutions that catalog, integrate and display ecological data 
in numerous formats from a variety of sources. Fundamental 
understanding of data management principles. Ability to meet frequent 
deadlines for requested programmatic changes and be able to 
prioritize multiple tasks as the data platform and user base grows. 
Excellent oral and written communication skills. SECONDARY 
QUALIFICATIONS: Experience with database management systems, web 
application development, technical project management, familiarity 
with field GIS methods and biological monitoring/reporting protocols. 
Experience working with Pacific Island natural and/or cultural 
resource databases as they relate to Geographic Information Systems 
(GIS). Ability to effectively communicate and facilitate or organize 
meetings dealing with highly complex technical issues.


INQUIRIES: Sharon Ziegler-Chong 933-0759 (Hawaii).

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Please go to www.rcuh.com, click on "Employment"; select "Apply" and 
navigate to "See Job Announcements and/or Apply for a Job." You must 
submit the following documents online to be considered for the 
position: 1) Cover Letter, 2) Resume, 3) Salary History, 4) 
Supervisory References, 5) Copy of 
Degree(s)/Transcript(s)/Certificate(s). All online applications must 
be submitted/received by the closing date (11:59 P.M. Hawaii Standard 
Time/RCUH receipt time) as stated on the job posting. If you do not 
have access to our system and the closing date is imminent, you may 
send additional

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)

2012-09-27 Thread Andrea McMillen
Wayne, 

I think your last paragraph is beginning to get to the point of these new 
session format. 
Also, you are not obligated to put anything on the "slides" that you're asked 
to use.

- Andrea

-Original Message-
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news 
[mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Wayne Tyson
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 12:06 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call 
for Ignite ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)

Jennifer et y'all:

What a great idea! Any idea that can't be clearly explained (to your neighbor 
or grandmother) in five minutes may not be well enough worked out yet. Maybe 
y'all are just that much more talented than I am, but I'm still trying to 
summarize ideas that first occurred to me decades ago.

(But why "slides?" Have we become so dependent upon "visuals" that we can't 
understand the spoken word? And one every fifteen seconds? Gag me with a
spoon!)

Hmmm, maybe what y'all are doing is dropping the pretense of perfection that 
has weighed down academics for so long, and are just shotgunning a stream of 
consciousness and then retiring to the bar to slug out differences and build on 
each others ideas. Now, THAT I could go for!

WT

"Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief" -- Polonius (Shakespeare's Hamlet)


- Original Message - 
From: "Jennifer Riem" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 2:38 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals 
(Due Nov. 29th)


Call for Proposals - New Session Type!
Ignite ESA Sessions
Deadline for Submission: November 29, 2012

98th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 4-9, 2013
http://www.esa.org/minneapolis

We invite proposals for a new session type, Ignite ESA, which will debut 
during the 98th ESA Annual Meeting to be held August 4-9, 2013 in 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://www.esa.org/minneapolis/ignite.php

ABOUT IGNITE ESA SESSIONS

Ignite ESA is intended to stimulate the exchange of new and exciting ideas 
in a short time period. Ignite ESA Sessions will be scheduled for 1 hour and 
consist of up to 10 5-minute talks presented in the Ignite style 
(http://igniteshow.com/) which address a common theme. Each Ignite talk will 
feature 20 slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds. Although 
there will be no time during the session for questions and answers, there 
will be a dedicated space nearby where presenters and attendees will be 
encouraged to gather for extended discussion immediately following each 
session.
Each session should be organized around a general theme that is related to 
the advancement of ecology, either conceptually or technologically. These 
sessions will provide an opportunity for ecologists to share information 
with their colleagues that would not fit into the usual session types. The 
more concise speaking slot and quick slide transitions lend themselves to a 
more conversational and storytelling presentation style. Given 5 minutes to 
speak and brief visual aids, what would you share with other ecologists? 
What would you most like to learn from your colleagues?
The One Presentation Rule does not apply to Ignite ESA talks. Speakers may 
speak in an Ignite session in addition to a traditional presentation 
elsewhere in the program. We ask that speakers not commit to more than one 
Ignite presentation, however.
The program committee will schedule Ignite ESA sessions at prominent times 
during the daytime on weekdays to promote attendance. We are waiting to 
gauge community interest in the session type before determining the exact 
scheduling slots. As with all session types, accepted sessions will be 
scheduled to minimize topic overlap and to avoid any direct conflicts for 
people participating in multiple sessions.
Please visit the website for the 2013 ESA Annual Meeting for more in depth 
information on these and other types of sessions, including important 
deadlines.

http://www.esa.org/minneapolis/ignite.php

If you have any questions, please contact the Program Chair, Debra Peters, 
at debpe...@nmsu.edu, or the Program Coordinator, Jennifer Riem, at 
jenni...@esa.org.


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1427 / Virus Database: 2441/5293 - Release Date: 09/26/12


[ECOLOG-L] Fwd: Re: Donation of journals to Sri Lanka, Elephant Research

2012-09-27 Thread Michael Marsh
After over a year and some 90 email messages in my in-box, one of the 
journal series, American Naturalist that I donated to the Elephant 
Research Project in Sri Lanka has reached a University library there. 
Dr. de Silva tells me that the other series, Ecology, is waiting to be 
picked up to go to another University.
Thanks to all those who donated, and especially to the non-profit, IDEA 
WILD, which picked up the ball and took a risk to make this happen. 
Check them out, folks!

Michael Marsh


 Original Message 
Subject:Letter of acknowledgement
Date:   Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:02:41 -0400
From:   Shermin de Silva 
Reply-To:   sher...@elephantresearch.net
To: IDEA WILD , Mike Marsh 
CC: Padmalal 



Dear Mike and Anne Marie,


   Below is a letter of acknowledgement for receipt of the journals
   from Dr. Padmalal, one of the faculty at Open University of Colombo,
   with whom we work closely.


Thank you kindly,
Shermin

--
Shermin de Silva, Ph.D
Director
Uda Walawe Elephant Research Project / Trunks & Leaves Inc.
web: http://elephantresearch.net/ , http://trunksandleaves.org
blog: asianelephant.wordpress.com 
twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AsianEle 
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trunksnleaves



-- Forwarded message --
From: *U.K.G.K.Padmalal* mailto:uk...@ou.ac.lk>>
Date: Thu, Sep 27, 2012 at 4:49 AM
Subject: Re: Journal sponsors names
To: Shermin de Silva mailto:shermi...@gmail.com>>



Dear Dr Shermin De Silva

Re: Acknowledge the receipt of Journal :American Naturalist 
from the sponsors

for the journals. From Dr Shermin De Silva

This to certify that I Dr U.K.G.K.Padmalal Head of the Post Graduate Studies
on Environmental Science of the Open University of Sri Lanka properly 
received
Journal of American Naturalist from Dr. Shermin De Selva on the 28th of 
August

2012. These books will be kept in the Open University library/ Environmental
Studies Unit library for to use of need students and any other person
interested in referring the books.
I take this opportunity to thank to everyone who contributed to reach these
books to this end and we assure we will make maximum benefit from your
contribution to education. I especially Thank "Michael Marsh, Anne Marie 
Gage,

Idea Wild, and other generous donors."
Finally I appreciate Dr Shermin De Silva without whose efforts we would not
have received this collection.
Thanking you all once again


Dr U.K.G.K.Padmalal
Head Environmenatl Studies

Dr.U.K.G.K.Padmalal.Chartered Biologist
Head - Post Graduate Studies on Environmental Sciences
The Open University of Sri Lanka (www.ou.ac.lk )
Nawala,
Nugegoda,
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94-11-2881475 
emailmailto:uk...@ou.ac.lk>>


[ECOLOG-L] Wit at last? Re: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals (Due Nov. 29th)

2012-09-27 Thread Wayne Tyson

Jennifer et y'all:

What a great idea! Any idea that can't be clearly explained (to your 
neighbor or grandmother) in five minutes may not be well enough worked out 
yet. Maybe y'all are just that much more talented than I am, but I'm still 
trying to summarize ideas that first occurred to me decades ago.


(But why "slides?" Have we become so dependent upon "visuals" that we can't 
understand the spoken word? And one every fifteen seconds? Gag me with a 
spoon!)


Hmmm, maybe what y'all are doing is dropping the pretense of perfection that 
has weighed down academics for so long, and are just shotgunning a stream of 
consciousness and then retiring to the bar to slug out differences and build 
on each others ideas. Now, THAT I could go for!


WT

"Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief" -- Polonius (Shakespeare's Hamlet)


- Original Message - 
From: "Jennifer Riem" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 2:38 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] 2013 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Ignite ESA Proposals 
(Due Nov. 29th)



Call for Proposals - New Session Type!
Ignite ESA Sessions
Deadline for Submission: November 29, 2012

98th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America
Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 4-9, 2013
http://www.esa.org/minneapolis

We invite proposals for a new session type, Ignite ESA, which will debut 
during the 98th ESA Annual Meeting to be held August 4-9, 2013 in 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://www.esa.org/minneapolis/ignite.php


ABOUT IGNITE ESA SESSIONS

Ignite ESA is intended to stimulate the exchange of new and exciting ideas 
in a short time period. Ignite ESA Sessions will be scheduled for 1 hour and 
consist of up to 10 5-minute talks presented in the Ignite style 
(http://igniteshow.com/) which address a common theme. Each Ignite talk will 
feature 20 slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds. Although 
there will be no time during the session for questions and answers, there 
will be a dedicated space nearby where presenters and attendees will be 
encouraged to gather for extended discussion immediately following each 
session.
Each session should be organized around a general theme that is related to 
the advancement of ecology, either conceptually or technologically. These 
sessions will provide an opportunity for ecologists to share information 
with their colleagues that would not fit into the usual session types. The 
more concise speaking slot and quick slide transitions lend themselves to a 
more conversational and storytelling presentation style. Given 5 minutes to 
speak and brief visual aids, what would you share with other ecologists? 
What would you most like to learn from your colleagues?
The One Presentation Rule does not apply to Ignite ESA talks. Speakers may 
speak in an Ignite session in addition to a traditional presentation 
elsewhere in the program. We ask that speakers not commit to more than one 
Ignite presentation, however.
The program committee will schedule Ignite ESA sessions at prominent times 
during the daytime on weekdays to promote attendance. We are waiting to 
gauge community interest in the session type before determining the exact 
scheduling slots. As with all session types, accepted sessions will be 
scheduled to minimize topic overlap and to avoid any direct conflicts for 
people participating in multiple sessions.
Please visit the website for the 2013 ESA Annual Meeting for more in depth 
information on these and other types of sessions, including important 
deadlines.


http://www.esa.org/minneapolis/ignite.php

If you have any questions, please contact the Program Chair, Debra Peters, 
at debpe...@nmsu.edu, or the Program Coordinator, Jennifer Riem, at 
jenni...@esa.org.



-
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Re: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity

2012-09-27 Thread Wayne Tyson

Please describe function in ecosystems.

WT

- Original Message - 
From: "Katharine Miller" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 4:07 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Visualizing functional diversity


Hello,

I have used Rao's quadratic entropy to evaluate functional diversity between
a number of estuaries for which I also have a GIS database.  I would like to
be able to visualize which sites are more functionally similar across the
region to evaluate patterns in dispersal, etc.

I know it is possible to use the pairwise functional beta diversity values
as a distance matrix in a Mantel test or multivariate regression on
distances matrices (MRM) when comparing functional diversity to, for
example, environmental data.  Would it also be appropriate to use these
values in a PAM or other clustering method to identify estuaries that are
more/less similar in functional diversity?

This is likely to sound like a very naive question, but I have done an
extensive literature search and have not found where this has been done
before  - perhaps because it is a bad idea for other reasons?

Any insights and/or references on this approach would be greatly 
appreciated.


Thank you


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[ECOLOG-L] Open Position: Michigan Technological University, Chair of Biological Sciences

2012-09-27 Thread Casey Huckins
Open Position: Michigan Technological University, Chair of Biological 
Sciences


Michigan Technological University invites applications for an Associate 
or Full Professor to
serve as Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences to begin in the 
2013-2014 academic
year. The successful applicant will have an externally funded research 
program that
complements existing departmental research strengths. The Chair must 
balance the research
program with the administrative responsibilities of this position, which 
includes managing the
academic and financial affairs of the department. Preference will be 
given to applicants having
administrative experience in an academic setting with strong 
undergraduate and graduate (MS

and PhD) programs.

Formal review of applications will begin on November 1, 2012 and will 
continue until the
position is filled. Detailed information concerning the department and 
university can be viewed
at www.mtu.edu/biological/chair. Direct inquires to Susan Bagley, Search 
Committee Chair
(chairsearch...@mtu.edu). Applicants must send a PDF file with the 
following items to
chairsearch...@mtu.edu: letter of interest that discusses applicant’s 
approach to balancing
research and administration; curriculum vitae; statements of research 
interests, graduate and
undergraduate educational philosophies, and approach to administration; 
and names and contact

information of four references.

Michigan Tech is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal 
Opportunity Employer.
We have a Dual Career Assistance Program (DCAP), which assists 
departments with partner
orientation to the university and community and identification of 
possible positions for partners

(see www.dual.mtu.edu ).

Michigan Tech is also an ADVANCE institution, one of a limited number of 
universities in
receipt of NSF funds in support of our commitment to increase diversity 
and the participation

and advancement of women in STEM.

The university is in the sixth year of a strategic faculty hiring 
initiative (see www.mtu.edu/sfhi );
the current initiatives relate to Water and Transportation. Previous 
initiatives focused on

Sustainability, Health, Energy, and Computation.


[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: Riparian forest restoration and ecosystem services in Tierra del Fuego

2012-09-27 Thread David Inouye

Postdoctoral Associate,

Riparian Forest Restoration and Ecosystem Services in Tierra del Fuego

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources 
and Environmental Conservation is seeking a 
full-time Postdoctoral Associate to coordinate 
the measurement of riparian forest ecosystem 
services, specifically carbon sequestration, in 
Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile). Ecology, 
Culture & Outcomes - Linking Human Perceptions & 
Socio-ecological Thresholds for Ecosystem 
Restoration (ECO-Link) is an NSF-funded project 
in the Coupled Nature-Human Systems Program that 
brings together U.S. researchers with Argentine 
and Chilean colleagues from academic, NGO, and 
governmental institutions to determine whether a 
current lack of participation in ecosystem 
management initiatives by landowners is 
influenced by a broken incentive structure that 
does not account for feedbacks between underlying 
social perceptions and ecosystem service 
delivery. Studying efforts to control invasive 
beavers and subsequently reforest riparian zones 
on Tierra del Fuego Island, we hypothesize that 
the thresholds that separate inaction from action 
in conservation can be overcome by explicitly 
integrating social and ecological understanding 
into the design of effective incentives.


The selected candidate will conduct ecological 
research and be an active collaborator with the 
PIs, assisting with general supervision and 
coordination of the project. The position will be 
based primarily in Ushuaia, Argentina, with 
visits to Blacksburg, Virginia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Concepción, Chile.


This is a non-tenure-track position with an 
initial appointment of 12 months and the 
possibility of a two-month renewal. Salary will 
be commensurate with background and experience, 
with an excellent 
benefits 
package. Funds are also available for travel and 
activities related to the postdoc mentoring plan. 
The cost of living in Argentina is generally 
lower than in most places in the U.S. while still 
maintaining a high standard of living.


Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in ecosystem science, ecology, or related 
conservation or sustainability science field is 
required. Demonstrated proficiency in working in 
interdisciplinary and international settings and 
previous research experience in Latin America are highly desired.


Application Procedure: Online application is required.

http://www.hr.vt.edu/employment/, 
Posting #0122347


Requests for confidentiality will be respected.

Desired start date is between December, 2012, and April, 2013.

Review of applications will begin on or about 
October 15, 2012, and continue until a suitable applicant is selected.


For additional information about this position, please contact:

Dr. Christopher B. Anderson

chri...@vt.edu

Information on Work Location:

This research will take place on Tierra del Fuego 
Island, which lies at the ecotone of the 
Patagonian steppe ecosystem (identified by WWF as 
a Global 200 priority Biome) and the 
sub-Antarctic forests (identified by Conservation 
International as one of the world’s last 24 
pristine wilderness areas). The selected 
candidate will be integrated into a team of 
scientists in the Forestry Resources Lab at 
CADIC, which won the 2012 National Prize for 
Biodiversity and Sustainability Research 
(www.osara.org/journal).


As a part of Argentina’s National Scientific and 
Technical Commission’s 
(CONICET) 
network of research institutes, the Austral 
Center for Scientific Research 
(CADIC) has 
been the leading research institute in southern 
Patagonia since 1981, with non-resident staff 
beginning work as early as 1969. Today, the CADIC 
has more than 67,000 square feet of laboratories, 
library, conference hall, meeting space, dorms, 
and offices. It houses approximately 31 
researchers, 32 graduate students, 25 
technicians, and 25 support staff. Its physical 
plant maintains eight vehicles and two boats, and 
its laboratories include Anthropology and 
Archaeology, Geology, Marine Biology, Forestry 
and Agronomy, and Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.


ECO-Link Description, Context, and Partners:

The North American beaver was introduced into 
southern South America’s Tierra del Fuego 
Archipelago in 1943. Subsequently, it expanded 
its range and has become the cause of the largest 
landscape-level alterations to these southern 
Patagonian forests since the retreat of the last 
glaciation. To confront this conservation issue, 
Chilean, Argentine, and U.S. institutions have 
been collaborating since 2006 to develop a joint 
research and management program with 
institutional commitments from the Chilean 
Ministry of Environment, Chilean Agriculture and 
Livestock Service, Argentine National Parks 
Administration, A

[ECOLOG-L] Job: lecturer, ecology and evolution, University of Maryland

2012-09-27 Thread David Inouye

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
LECTURER
TITLE: Lecturer
APPOINTMENT TYPE: full-time, 9 month appointment (renewable 
annually), nontenure

track
CATEGORY: 03-Faculty-Non-Tenured,Term Contract
RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibilities will include coordination of introductory
biology course in Ecology and Evolution, teaching in
Ecology and Evolution and/or Integrative Organismal
Biology courses, advising undergraduates (including of
majors in Ecology/Evolution; Biodiversity/Conservation
Biology), assistance with teaching administration within
the Department of Biology, and involvement in
undergraduate recruitment activities.
QUALIFICATIONS: Ph. D. in an area of the Biological Sciences, strong
background in ecology and evolutionary biology, and
excellent teaching, writing, organizational, and
communication skills. Teaching experience at the college level
preferred.
DEPARTMENT: Biology
SALARY: Commensurate with experience.
POSITION AVAILABLE: January 9, 2013 preferred start date
TO APPLY: To apply, send a letter of application, a statement of
instructional philosophy and experience, a curriculum vitae,
and the names and contact information for three individuals
who are willing to write letters of reference (a single PDF
document containing all application materials is preferred).
All applications received by October 17, 2012 will receive
full consideration and review will continue until the
position is filled. Submit materials to:
jobs.umd.edu
The University of Maryland is an equal opportunity / affirmative 
action employer.