[ECOLOG-L] Graduate position in water quality at Louisiana State University
I am seeking an outstanding student to pursue a graduate degree at either the MS or PhD level in watershed sciences. The student will conduct intensive water quality sampling in Central and South Louisiana. Minimal qualifications include a background in water quality or a similar discipline (e.g. hydrology, soil science, environmental chemistry, environmental toxicology, etc.). A strong work ethic, good academic record and evidence of excellent writing and quantitative skills are critical. The student must possess a valid U.S. driver's license. Interested candidates should send an email describing their motivation and research interests, along with a resume, unofficial college transcripts, GRE scores, and the names and contact information for three references to: y...@lsu.edu. Applications missing any of the above items will not be considered. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Start date can be as soon as the summer semester of 2014. Y. Jun Xu School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA http://www.rnr.lsu.edu/people/xu/default.htm
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Research Assistantship- PhD
I am looking for a PhD Graduate Research Assistant in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri to work on a project examining ecological interactions in temperate agroforestry systems. Qualified applicants should have a M.S. in forestry, ecology, biology, soil science or a closely related discipline, a GPA 3.2, and combined verbal and quantitative GRE scores 1100. Position is available in May 2014. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Please submit applications including a cover letter describing your interest and experience, a resume, and names and contact information of three references, copies of transcripts and GRE scores (unofficial at this time are acceptable). All applications should be sent to jo...@missouri.edumailto:jo...@missouri.edu Shibu Jose, Ph.D., H.E. Garrett Endowed Professor and Director The Center for Agroforestry Editor-In-Chief, Agroforestry Systems 203 Anheuser Busch Natural Resources Bldg. University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 Tel: (573) 882-0240 Fax: (573) 882-1977 Email: jo...@missouri.edu Web: www.centerforagroforestry.org
[ECOLOG-L] MS Grad student opportunity: River Zooplankton
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Champaign and the Illinois Natural History Survey, based out of Illinois River Biological Station, Havana IL Responsibilities: Research assistantship to support a M.S. thesis focused on some aspect of river plankton. This could potentially encompass topics such as; 1) Assessing the impact of Asian carp population dynamics on zooplankton in a large navigable river, or 2) assessing spatial or temporal patterns and trends among zooplankton species either between habitat types or over multi- year cycles in water level or landuse. Qualifications: Applicants must meet the criteria for (http://nres.illinois.edu/graduate/future/apply) and show interest in large river ecology. Send a cover letter describing your interest with a resume or CV directly to Dr. Casper. Applicants must also apply for admission to to NRES (http://nres.illinois.edu/graduate/future/apply) Salary: 1840/mth (50% time appointment) Ad Closing Date: April 25 2014 Contact/Email: Dr. Andrew F. Casper (http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/directory/show/afcasper).
[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D position at University of Florida
Ph.D. student position in behavioral ecology, spatial ecology, and evolution at the University of Florida starting Fall 2014. Applicants must have a M.S. in ecology, evolutionary biology, behavior, or a related field. If you are interested in the position, please email Dr. Rob Fletcher at robert.fletc...@ufl.edu before April 5th. With your email, please include your resume, unofficial transcrips, GRE scores, and a cover letter. The successful applicant will be awarded a fellowship through the UF Entomology program that includes four years of guaranteed funding at $22,000/year plus tuition and benefits. This position would be co-advised by Christine Miller (Entomology Nematology Department; http://millerlab.net) and Rob Fletcher (Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department; http://plaza.ufl.edu/robert.fletcher/) at the University of Florida, with field research at the Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, near Melrose, FL. Work will focus on animal behavior, population dynamics, and spatial networks using the unique research system of a cactus-feeding insect, the cactus bug (Chelinidea vittiger), and its Opuntia host plants. We have an ongoing field experiments funded through the National Science Foundation to test for the resiliency of population networks of cactus bugs to environmental change (habitat loss). The student would work in the context of these broad experiments to understand how behavior (foraging, habitat selection, dispersal, or mating strategies) drive ecological and evolutionary processes under rapid environmental change. Cactus bugs are excellent species to investigate these questions because they have short generation times, individuals can be easily tracked through mark-recapture techniques, and their habitat can be readily manipulated in the field. This system is truly unique for experimentally addressing questions regarding animal dispersal (e.g., Fletcher et al. in press; Ecology), population dynamics (Fletcher et al. 2013, Nature Communications), landscape ecology (Fletcher et al. 2011, PNAS), foraging behaviors (Miller et al. 2012, Animal Behavior), and reproduction (Miller et al. 2013, PLoS One). This position could include field and modeling components to address questions of fundamental importance that lie at the interface of ecology, animal behavior, and environmental change. Information about Gainesville, Florida: Situated in the rolling countryside of north central Florida, Gainesville is much more than a stereotypical college town. Home of the University of Florida, seat of Alachua County's government and the region's commercial hub, it is progressive, environmentally conscious and culturally diverse. The presence of many students and faculty from abroad among its 99,000-plus population adds a strong cross-cultural flavor to its historic small-town Southern roots. Its natural environment, temperate climate and civic amenities make Gainesville a beautiful, pleasant and interesting place in which to learn and to live. Gainesville has been ranked as one of the best cities to live in the United States.
[ECOLOG-L] Ecologist Position in Fairfax County. VA
The Fairfax County Park Authority's Resource Management Division, which is dedicated to interpreting and preserving Fairfax County's natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, health and inspiration of current and future generations, is seeking an experienced professional to lead its Natural Resource Management and Protection Branch. Serves as the Park Authority's senior natural resource stewardship staff member and provides policy recommendations, develops programs, secures funding and provides technical expertise to achieve the agency's natural resource stewardship mission. Manages multiple programs and projects and works independently to manage a challenging workload. Supervises a team of three full-time staff, part-time staff and contractors. Partnering and collaborating within and outside the Park Authority to build support for policies, projects and funding is an essential component of the position. This posting will remain active until 4/11/14. Please share with interested individuals. Online link: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm?action=viewJobjobID=839508hit_count=yesheaderFooter=1promo=0transfer=0WDDXJobSearchParams=%3CwddxPacket%20version%3D%271%2E0%27%3E%3Cheader%2F%3E%3Cdata%3E%3Cstruct%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27CATEGORYID%27%3E%3Cstring%3E%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27PROMOTIONALJOBS%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27TRANSFER%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27FIND%5FKEYWORD%27%3E%3Cstring%3E%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3C%2Fstruct%3E%3C%2Fdata%3E%3C%2FwddxPacket%3E Ecologist IV 14-00133 Park Authority SALARY: $33.19 - $55.31 Hourly $2,654.94 - $4,424.93 Biweekly $69,028.54 - $115,048.13 Annually OPENING DATE: 03/29/14 CLOSING DATE: 04/11/14 11:59 PM JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: The Fairfax County Park Authority's Resource Management Division, which is dedicated to interpreting and preserving Fairfax County's natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment, health and inspiration of current and future generations, is seeking an experienced professional to lead its Natural Resource Management and Protection Branch. Serves as the Park Authority's senior natural resource stewardship staff member and provides policy recommendations, develops programs, secures funding and provides technical expertise to achieve the agency's natural resource stewardship mission. Manages multiple programs and projects and works independently to manage a challenging workload. Supervises a team of three full-time staff, part-time staff and contractors. Partnering and collaborating within and outside the Park Authority to build support for policies, projects and funding is an essential component of the position. ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES: (The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.) * Develops and manages a major environmental program or permit such as the county's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) or the Park Authority's Natural Resource Management Plan; * Leads and/or conducts research into environmental issues, prepares and presents technical analyses of results to management and elected and appointed officials; * Leads and develops monitoring plans and quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) to comply with federal, state and county regulations; * Leads, develops and manages data collection and analysis procedures and prepares reports required by federal, state and county authorities and county developed plans; * Coordinates program requirements with other divisions and county agencies; * Reviews and provides input on proposed environmental legislation or regulations; * Reviews and prepares updates to county codes, ordinances, and policies related to federal and state regulations, permit requirements, the protection of streams, watersheds and county waterways, and the protection and management of terrestrial resources; * Serves as subject matter expert and principal contact on the program for elected officials, other government agencies, residents and the business community on the individual program; * Prepares, negotiates, and administers consultant support contracts; * Supervises and trains subordinate staff of Ecologists and/or other technical professionals working on related projects and assignments. * Leads implementation of watershed and stormwater policy recommendations and other county plans for the management of aquatic and terrestrial ecological resources. * Coordinates capital project selection process. Job Bulletin Page 1 of 4 http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm?action=jobbulletinJobID=8... 3/31/2014 REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES: (The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an
[ECOLOG-L] Ecohydrology Listservs?
Hi all- As much as I love Ecolog (which is a lot), sometimes I wonder if there is a listserv with a more narrow focus on my subdiscipline. Are there any ecohydrology-specific listservs that the community is aware of? I'm a current PhD student so I'd be interested a listserv that features relevant conferences meetings, job openings research opportunities, discussion of field methods modeling, as well as general discussion of ecohydrological topics. Thanks in advance! -Sam Zipper UW-Madison
[ECOLOG-L] Soliciting Submissions for a Forthcoming Special Issue of AoB PLANTS on Plant Invasions
AoB PLANTS is soliciting submissions for an upcoming Special Issue titled ‘The Role of Below-Ground Processes in Mediating Plant Invasions.’ Published by Oxford University Press, AoB PLANTS is an open-access, nonprofit journal that has been publishing peer-reviewed articles since 2010 (http://aobplants.oxfordjournals.org). The journal is indexed in Web of Science as well as other Thomson Reuters products, and its first Impact Factor Score will be released in June 2014. Edited by Inderjit (University of Delhi), this special issue will focus on the wide range of below-ground processes and characteristics that can influence the success of plant invasions and their impacts on novel environments. It will explore plant-soil feedbacks and the various mechanisms by which below-ground processes can mediate the dynamics of plant invasions. The following papers are scheduled for inclusion in this special issue, and others will be added in the coming weeks: Inderjit (University of Delhi) and Sharon Strauss (University of California, Davis) Mechanisms underlying plant invasions driven by soil processes Tanja Speek, Joop Schaminee, Jeltje Stam, Lambertus, A. P. Lotz, Wim Ozinga and Wim van der Putten (Netherlands Institute of Ecology) Local dominance of exotic plants declines with residence time: patterns and possible mechanisms Loralee Larios (University of Montana) and Katharine Suding (University of California, Berkeley) Plant neighbors and soil resource availability alter native and exotic plant-soil feedbacks Ian Dickie (Lincoln University) Co-invasions and novel mutualisms: networks of trees and fungi Keith Clay, Heather Reynolds, James Bever and Richard Phillips (Indiana University) Causes and consequences of soil microbial community changes with plant invasions Pamela Belter and James Cahill (University of Alberta) Disentangling root system responses to neighbors: implications for invasion and coexistence Sara Grove (University of California, Santa Cruz), Ingrid Parker (University of California, Santa Cruz), and Karen Haubensak (Northern Arizona University) Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in Douglas fir forests and clearcuts dominated by Cytisus scoparius, an invasive shrub Susana Rodríguez Echeverría (Universidade de Coimbra) and Anna Traveset (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies) Plant invasions: putative linkages between below- and above-ground mutualisms Robin Duponnois (National de Baillarguet) The importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant invasion processes Mette Vestergård, Regin Rønn and Flemming Ekelund (University of Copenhagen) Invasive organisms below- and above-ground Christina Birnbaum (Murdoch University), Andrew Bissett (CSIRO), Peter Thrall (CSIRO) and Michelle Leishman (Macquarie University) Role of nitrogen fixing bacterial communities in Acacia species invasion in Australia Johannes Le Roux and Allan Ellis (Stellenbosch University) Phylogenetic diversity of alpha and beta rhizobia associated with invasive wattles (genus Acacia) in South Africa’s Cape Floristic Region If you are interested in submitting a paper for inclusion in this Special Issue, please send details to SI Editor Inderjit (inderji...@gmail.com) and the Chief Editor of AoB PLANTS, Hall Cushman (cush...@sonoma.edu). The deadline for submitting to this special issue is August 15, 2014. Papers submitted to AoB PLANTS undergo double-blind peer evaluation and receive first decisions quickly (typically within 30–40 days of submission). Additionally, all open-access fees for AoB PLANTS have been waived until 2015.
[ECOLOG-L] Hiring: Research Manager I - Guam
Please apply online at www.cherokee-csg.com Established in 2005, Cherokee Services Group (CSG) is a leading provider of information technology and business support services. Its award-winning team of more than 200 employees delivers best-value IT solutions for commercial and government clients across the U.S. The company specializes in software and application services, network infrastructure services, and business process services. Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cherokee Services Group has a regional office in Fort Collins, CO, and 22 additional offices nationwide. Wholly owned by the Cherokee Nation, CSG is part of the Cherokee Nation Businesses family of companies. Background The accidental introduction of the Brown Tree Snake to Guam has led to the extinction of most of the island’s native forest avifauna, caused significant economic impacts by disruption of electrical power on the island and its military bases, and created health risks by venomous snake bites to humans, especially infants. The snake could cause similar problems on other islands in the Pacific if it is introduced through military or commercial transportation. The Fort Collins Science Center, Invasive Species Program, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), is conducting ongoing research on the biology, control, and containment of the Brown Tree Snake on Guam, Mariana Islands, in the Pacific. While the project is headquartered in Fort Collins, CO, there are several full time biologists, post-docs, and other biological staff based on Guam. In addition, a Rapid Response Team, which is responsible for investigation of possible Brown Tree Snake populations and public education on adjacent islands, is based out of the same facility located on Guam. Cherokee Services Group is hiring an experienced Research Manager for this project, to be based on Guam. The successful candidate will be expected to coordinate a crew of several biologists in the research duties of the project as described below. The Research Manager will have overall responsibility for coordinating the biological staff, including arranging work schedules, supervising and delegating data collection responsibilities, organizing, tracking, and purchasing of equipment, and supplies. Issues related to ensuring quality control of incoming data from field projects are a major component of the position. The Research manager will use and design databases in MS Access for input of data. The successful candidate will participate and contribute to the recruitment, hiring, and orientation of new project personnel. The Research Manager is also expected to direct the field team and implement the research vision of principal investigators, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, including personnel based in Guam in Fort Collins. Frequent and effective communication with all project personnel on Guam and in Ft. Collins is crucial for the success of the project. The Research Manager will be the administrative contact for all project operations on Guam and will be expected to learn and participate in field and lab activities as needed. Ability to prioritize staff efforts across multiple simultaneous field projects is essential. The field crew is involved in project data collection, implementation of experiments in field situations, preparation of materials and equipment for experiments, preparation of study sites, capture of specimens, and handling of living and dead specimens (snakes, lizards, rodents, and other vertebrates). Research duties will also include the preparation of specimens, handling recording data from tagging, logging and quality control of data, and preparation of field reports for analysis. Preparation and maintenance of sites may involve use of brush cutting equipment, power saws, and hand instruments. Therefore, coordination of safety related training and monitoring will be a key component. The Research Manager must be willing to participate in humane euthanasia and necropsy of Brown Treesnakes and other animals. The Research Manager must be able to inspire and motivate employees while providing positive and constructive feedback, and is expected to be a key participant in the professional development of biologists working on the project. The ideal Research Manager will have interpersonal skills sufficient to build and maintain partnerships with a wide range of agencies and local organizations, and will be able to develop and implement a program for local recruitment of student interns. Qualifications #9830; Master’s Degree in biology, ecology, natural resources, or related research field. #9830; Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate biological information to technical and managerial staff. #9830; Proven abilities in data quality assessment and quality control #9830; Minimum of two years documented experience in managing 2 research projects and supervising teams of
[ECOLOG-L] AAAS sponsored career webinar April 8, 2014
*Thinking Outside the Lab: Finding a fulfilling non-research career* In this webinar, you will learn firsthand from accomplished Ph.D.s who have successfully navigated a career outside of the research realm. They'll talk about their own experiences, examine a range of career options open to STEM professionals across different sectors, and discuss the analytic, communication and teamworking skills needed for these kinds of roles. Join us April 8 at 1 p.m. EDT for this exclusive event. Register http://membercentral.aaas.org/members/link?e=jill.ba...@colostate.edum=40061317destination=multimedia/webinars/thinking-outside-lab-finding-fulfilling-non-research-career -- ___ Jill S. Baron, Co-Director jill.ba...@colostate.edu John Wesley Powell Center for Earth System Analysis and Synthesis US Geological Surveyjill_ba...@usgs.gov Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory ph 970-491-1968 Colorado State University fx 970-491-1965 Fort Collins CO 80523-1499 cell 970-217-8949 http://powellcenter.usgs.gov ___ You come to nature with your theories, and she knocks them all flat -- Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
[ECOLOG-L] Primate Behavior Field Course in Costa Rica
I still have a few spots available for my Primate Behavior and Conservation Field Course in Costa Rica June 8-July 1, 2014. Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse and conservation-minded countries in the world. Students in this course will spend three weeks at the Piro Biological Station on the Osa Peninsula in Southern Costa Rica living up close and personal with the natural environment. The Osa Peninsula is renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life and is one of the few places in Costa Rica where one can observe all four of the country's primate species: white-faced capuchins, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys and spider monkeys. Other species present at the site include macaws, peccaries, sloths, curassows and jaguars. The beginning of the course will introduce students to the basics of animal behavior, primate studies and methods in primatology. During this time, students will work on deciding on a research question to pursue independently. We will discuss what makes a good research question and how to create and test hypotheses. Students will then design and carry out non-invasive projects based on the primates at the conservation center. At the end of the class, students will present their work to their classmates. It is likely that students can complete research of a caliber to be submitted to journals, or presented at scientific conferences upon their return. In addition to their scientific studies, students will be able to participate in a service-learning component of class and help with a conservation project underway at the field station. Students will come away from this course with a concrete appreciation and understanding of the diversity of the natural world, as well as practical experience in planning and carrying out an independent research project. These experiences and skills will be helpful for science majors, and also for anyone who is interested in the study of behavior and evolution. An opportunity such as this can be a truly unique and life-changing experience. Course dates are June 8-July 1, 2014. Course fee of $2,850 includes 4 credits of tuition, travel within Costa Rica, lodging and most meals. Does not include airfare to Costa Rica. To apply or for more information, email lkauff...@okcu.edu. -- Laurie Kauffman, PhD Assistant Professor of Biology Oklahoma City University 2501 N. Blackwelder Oklahoma City, OK 73106 405-208-5033 http://ocu-stars.okcu.edu/lkauffman/ Twitter: @DrYapYapi
[ECOLOG-L] What seeds would you bring?
This is more of a speculative question than you usually see on ECOLOG--dare I say fun?--but I figured this would be the perfect community to ask. If you were planning to establish a settlement that needed to be self-sufficient, what species of plants would you select? Leaving aside basic food crops, what species would be best to supply materials for everything needed for a homespun lifestyle? Or put another way--if plants were your only source for absolutely everything in your daily life, what seeds would you want to propagate? For simplicity's sake, we can assume a temperate climate, plenty of sunlight and ready access to freshwater. Fast-growing and highly productive species would be preferred, but I'm open to anything easily cultivated and worked by hand. Please send all suggestions to me off-list, and I'll compile and post a summary. - J. A.
[ECOLOG-L] Plant Ecology Field Technician
Plant Ecology Field Technician Description: Seeking 1 full-time field technician to assist with plant ecology research at Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve and Yosemite National Park. This project is part of PhD dissertation research focused on the response of plant ranges to climate change. Primary duties include plant identification and surveys. Applicants should expect to work long days in sometimes challenging conditions. Must have previous hiking experience and be able to hike 7+ miles per day over rough terrain and elevation changes carrying up to 30 pounds of field equipment. Qualifications: Ideal candidate will have previous field research experience, be self-motivated, and have a positive attitude. Enthusiastic candidates with no previous field research experience will be considered. Candidate must be willing and able to work as part of a team. Familiarity with the flora of the Sierra Nevadas a plus. Position will run from mid-July to mid-August (approximately 4 weeks). This is an unpaid position. Housing and food at the field station will be provided. Transport to and from Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve field station may be able to be arranged but otherwise technician will be expected to cover their own travel. Please send a cover letter as an email with a CV attached to Manette Sandor (manette.sandor[at]uconn.edu).
[ECOLOG-L] An interesting editorial from Nature
Nature | Editorial http://www.nature.com/news/an-elegant-chaos-1.14849 An elegant chaos Universal theories are few and far between in ecology, but that is what makes it fascinating. 11 March 2014 To some scientists in other fields, ecology must seem relatively straightforward. Many of the organisms live at a very human scale and are easy to access, especially in community ecology. Ecologists do not need special equipment to see and count elk. There are no electron microscopes, space telescopes or drilling rigs that can go wrong. Easy. And yet, ecologists know that their subject can prove as troublesome as any other. Ecology would be easy, were it not for all the ecosystems vastly complex and variable as they are. Even the most austere desert or apparently featureless moor is a dense, intricate network of thousands of species of photosynthesizers, predators, prey animals, parasites, detritovores and decomposers. As naturalist E. O. Wilson put it: A lifetime can be spent in a Magellanic voyage around the trunk of a single tree. And not all of what one might learn from such a voyage would be transferable to the next tree. History, chance, climate, geology and increasingly human fiddling mean that no two ecosystems work in the same way. Scientists like to impose structure and order on chaos, and ecologists are no different. Ecology has its grand theories, but they are riddled with conditional clauses, caveats and exceptions. There are clear patterns at the global and single-species scales, but the middle ground is, as biologist John Lawton affectionately put it in 1999, a mess. It is doubtful that the generalities that underlie the complex patterns of nature will ever be phrased succinctly enough to fit on a T-shirt. This complexity is demonstrated by work that questions a famous and elegant trophic cascade in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, discussed on http://www.nature.com/uidfinder/10.1038/507158apage 158. The theory goes that wolves, restored to the park in the 1990s after decades of absence, scare elk away from certain areas. That has a knock-on effect for the rest of the food chain, allowing aspen and willows to flourish after decades of being browsed nearly to death. But studies in recent years suggest that wolves alone do not control the ecosystem. Other factors the presence of beaver dams and grizzly bears, weather, hunting by humans and even climate change also affect the elk population and the growth of trees and shrubs. It would be useful to have broad patterns and commonalities in ecology. To know how ecosystems will respond to climate change, or to be able to predict the consequences of introducing or reintroducing a species, would make conservation more effective and efficient. But a unified theory of everything is not the only way to gain insight. More ecologists should embrace the non-predictive side of their science. Teasing out what is going on in complex systems by looking at how ecosystems evolved, and by manipulating the environment in experiments, is just as much a science as creating formulae for how ecosystems work. If ecosystems all worked in the same way, they would lose much of their mystery, their surprise and their beauty. Paradigm shifts, after all, are rare in ecology. Debates are often resolved when competing concepts combine, rather than when one pushes the other completely off the table. Take the contrasting ideas of top-down regulation of ecosystems by carnivores and bottom-up regulation effected by the nutrition available from plants. The field is slowly working towards an integrated theory to predict when the top will rule and when the bottom will be in charge and that theory will take the time to consider the middle players, the herbivores. Other ecological debates have followed a similar path. Disagreement over whether complex ecosystems are more or less stable than simpler ones, for example, is also settling to a consensus: it depends. Useful practical predictions need not stem from universal laws. They may come instead from a deep knowledge of the unique workings of each ecosystem knowledge gained from observation and analysis. Proposing sweeping theories is exciting, but if ecologists want to produce work useful to conservation, they might do better to spend their days sitting quietly in ecosystems with waterproof notebooks and hand lenses, writing everything down. Ecological complexity, which may seem like an impenetrable thicket of nuance, is also the source of much of our pleasure in nature. If ecosystems were simple puzzles that all worked in the same way, they would lose much of their mystery, their surprise and their beauty. A lot of conservation work aims to protect the complexity and variability that makes ecosystems so hard to understand, and indeed to conserve. Ecological rules are not the only reasons to promote
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: Bioinformatics/Microbial Ecology
Position in Bioinformatics/Microbial Ecology Jessica Green (http://pages.uoregon.edu/green/) and Brendan Bohannan (http://pages.uoregon.edu/bohannanlab/) are currently seeking a bioinformatics postdoctoral researcher to explore fundamental questions in microbial ecology and evolution. Applicants should have a PhD with extensive training using bioinformatics to understand the ecology and/or evolution of complex biological communities, and strong writing skills. The ideal candidate will have experience developing and applying quantitative community and population ecological methods to the analysis of environmental sequence data and next-generation sequence data. The successful candidate will play a key role in the Biology and Built Environment (BioBE) Center (http://biobe.uoregon.edu/), funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The BioBE Center is training a new generation of innovators to study the built environment microbiome - the diversity of indoor microbial life, their genetic elements and their interactions. The vision of this national research center is to understand buildings as complex ecosystems and to explore how architectural design mediates urban microbial ecology and evolution. For a description of partner projects see http://www.microbe.net/. The position is available for 1 year with the possibility for renewal depending on performance. The start date is flexible. Please email questions regarding the position to Jessica Green (jlgr...@uoregon.edu). To apply A complete application will consist of the following materials: (1) a brief cover letter explaining your background and career interests (2) CV (including publications) (3) names and contact information for three references Submit materials to ie2j...@uoregon.edu. Subject: Posting 14066 To ensure consideration, please submit applications by April 25, 2014, but position will remain open until filled. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to diversity. EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity. Research Assistant University of Oregon Institute of Ecology and Evolution Posting: 14064 Location: Eugene Closes: Open Until Filled The Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Oregon currently has an opening for a full time Research Assistant to work in the area of microbial ecology. The successful candidate will play a key role in the Biology and Built Environment (BioBE) Center (http://biobe.uoregon.edu/), funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The BioBE Center is training a new generation of innovators to study the built environment microbiome - the diversity of indoor microbial life, their genetic elements and their interactions. The vision of this national research center is to understand buildings as complex ecosystems and to explore how architectural design mediates urban microbial ecology and evolution. For a description of partner projects see http://www.microbe.net/. The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of extension dependent on funding and satisfactory performance. The University of Oregon is located in Eugene, Oregon, recently rated in the top 10 âBest Places to Liveâ (livability.com). Extensive experience using molecular techniques is required, including some combination of skills in DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, cloning, next-generation DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and phylogenetic analysis. Ability to work in a team atmosphere is a must. A Masterâs degree in biology is desirable, but individuals with a bachelor in biology or related field and extensive experience are also encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting laboratory research under the direction of Principle Investigators Jessica Green (pages.uoregon.edu/green) and Brendan Bohannan (http://pages.uoregon.edu/bohannanlab/). Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to diversity. Please e-mail a cover letter and current CV with names and contact information of three references to: ie2j...@uoregon.edu Subject: Posting 14064 Or mail to: Posting 14064, 5289 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5289. To ensure consideration, please submit applications by April 25, 2014, but position will remain open until filled. EO/AA/ADA institution committed to cultural diversity.
[ECOLOG-L] NSF awarded 690 fewer grants in 2013 than the previous year
Nature | Editorial Dont hide the decline US scientists should not be placated by the flat budget myth. Funds are decreasing, and the situation will get worse. 11 March 2014 For US researchers, the annual unveiling of the presidential budget request can be a time of both hope and trepidation. But after last years fiscal battles with Congress, complete with an embarrassing government shutdown and painful across-the-board spending cuts, it was always clear that this year there would be little to celebrate. In that atmosphere, the unveiling on 4 March of President Barack Obamas US$3.9-trillion budgetary vision for fiscal year 2015 brought both disappointment and a sigh of relief. In one sense, the proposal was optimistic: it exceeded congressional spending limits by $56 billion, and there were few deep cuts for science. But it leaves the budgets of major scientific funders, such as the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the research efforts at the Department of Energy, essentially flat (see http://www.nature.com/uidfinder/10.1038/507147apage 147). Amid a sluggish economy and zealous calls to tighten federal purse strings, the prevailing wisdom is often to be grateful for a flat budget. Things could be worse. But those projects that stand to be gutted such as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), an airborne observatory funded largely by NASA, which would have its budget slashed from $84 million to $12 million stand as painful reminders that a flat budget is not something to celebrate. The proposed $200-million boost to bring the NIHs budget to $30.2 billion is paltry, but even worse is the $1.3-billion cut that could be in store for the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIHs parent agency. What is more, inflation does not stand still for flat budgets. Overall spending on research and development would increase by 1.2% in 2015 if Obama has his way. But the rate of inflation that year is expected to be 1.7%. The outlook is worse for biomedical research here, inflation is projected to rise by 2.2% in 2015, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Research and Development Price Index. The 0.7% budgetary bump that Obama has requested will not keep pace. Indeed, flat budgets such as those proposed last week have steadily eroded the NIHs coffers over the past decade. Controlling for inflation, the NIHs budget shrank by 10% between 2004 and 2014, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington DC. The real decline is even steeper when the rate of biomedical inflation is taken into account. Rather than a relief, apparently flat budgets are a sure sign that competition for funds will grow still further. A similar trend is emerging for research and development overall: federal spending on research and development in 2014 is 15.8% lower than in 2010 when inflation is considered. Greener pastures are nowhere in sight. The presidents request was sent to Congress, which will produce a plan of its own. Included in Obamas request is a proposed $56-billion Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative that would add $5.3 billion to the nations research and development coffers. But there is little reason to hope that the initiative will make it through a US Congress determined to rein in spending, opposed to raising taxes and not generally known for a willingness to compromise. These are, after all, the same legislators who in October shut down the government for 16 days and allowed across-the-board spending cuts of 5% last year. Science suffered as a result: the NSF awarded 690 fewer grants in 2013 than the previous year, according to figures released last week by the Government Accountability Office. The NIH cut its grants by 750. The White Houses budget proposal makes it clear: there will be no compensation for these lost opportunities. Meanwhile, the economic strain on the country is immense. Mandatory spending obligations on retirement and health-care programmes, for example are soaring, squeezing discretionary spending on other worthy areas, including research. As a result, discretionary programmes are battling over slices of a rapidly shrinking pie: in 2010, discretionary funds were 39% of the budget; in 2015, they will be 30%. This means that the fight will only be more intense in years to come. Rather than a relief, apparently flat budgets are a sure sign that competition for funds will grow still further. And that things will get worse before they get better. Nature 507, 139 (13 March 2014) doi:http://sfx.umd.edu/cp?url_ver=Z39.88-2004rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal__char_set=utf8rft_id=info:doi/10.1038/507139arfr_id=info:sid/libx%3Ausmairft.genre=article10.1038/507139a
