[ECOLOG-L] A NEW COURSE: Alternative Hypotheses and AIC Model Selection
A NEW COURSE -- ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES AND AIC MODEL SELECTION Research workers in many of the life sciences are realizing the substantial limitations of statistical tests, test statistics, arbitrary alpha levels, P-values, and the dichotomous rulings concerning "statistical significance." These traditional approaches were developed at the beginning of the last century and are being replaced by modern methods that are much more useful. They provide easy-to-compute quantities such as the probability of each hypothesis/model and measures of formal evidence. Furthermore, simple methods allow formal inference (e.g., prediction/forecasting) from all the hypotheses/models in the a priori set (multimodel inference). I am planning to offer several 1-day courses on the Information- Theoretic approaches to statistical inference during 2016. These courses focus on the practical application of these new methods and are based on Kullback-Leibler information and Akaike's information criterion (AIC). The material follows the recent textbook, Anderson. D. R. 2008. Model based inference in the life sciences: a primer on evidence. Springer, New York, NY. 184pp. These courses stress science and science philosophy as much as statistical methods. The focus is on quantification and qualification of formal evidence concerning alternative science hypotheses. These courses are hosted, organized and delivered at your university, agency, institute or training center. I have given nearly 70 of these courses and they have been well received. The courses are informal and discussion and debate are encouraged. Further insights can be found at www.aic-overview.com/aic-overview.pdf If you are interested in hosting a course at your location, please contact me. Thank you. David R. Anderson quietanderson at yahoo.com
[ECOLOG-L] Wildlife Conservation Internships- Northern California
The Plumas Audubon Society is accepting applications for wildlife conservation internships available May-September 2016. Interns have the opportunity to help with Plumas Audubon’s diverse wildlife monitoring, forest health, conservation and education programs. Two interns are needed to monitor Clark’s and Western Grebes on four lakes in Plumas and Lassen Counties and to set-up and maintain bat monitoring stations from June 6 through August 21 (1 position) and September 30 (1 position). Three interns are needed for the Lake Davis Flammulated Owl study, which involves night-time owl surveys, daytime nest searching, capturing and banding owls, and habitat data collection from May 23 through July 29. Interns will be assigned primarily to the grebe/bat or the owl project, but will have the opportunity to assist with other projects including forest health work in Genesee Valley, Northern Goshawk and Spotted Owl surveys, vegetation data collection, and environmental education and outreach activities. Field work includes long hours during the night and/or day kayaking, hiking long distances, navigating with GPS, compass and maps, and observing wildlife in a variety of weather conditions including cold nights and hot days in variable terrain and environments. Interns need to be physically able to handle these conditions and need to have a positive attitude and willingness to learn diverse field techniques. Interns will camp in teams in designated areas. Applicants need to have camping and hiking gear, transportation to get to Quincy and camping locations, and health insurance. Transportation will be provided for field work. Compensation includes a $750/month volunteer stipend. Applicants need to be high school or college students (recent graduates will also be considered). Preference will be given to college students whom have completed two years in a biology/natural resource program and are interested and motivated to become wildlife biologists or natural resource professionals. Application forms are available at www.plumasaudubon.org/internships.html. Please follow the instructions on the application form. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and interns will be selected by March 15.
[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Fellow in Ecosystem Modeling, Boise State University
Position Summary Professors Alejandro (Lejo) Flores and Nancy Glenn in the Geosciences Department at Boise State University, are seeking a qualified and enthusiastic scientist-colleague for a postdoctoral position in dynamic ecosystem modeling of sagebrush-steppe ecosystems. The position is funded through grants from the NASA Terrestrial Ecology and EPSCoR programs and the Joint Fire Science Program. Core activities of this postdoctoral position include: (1) Using existing field, lidar, and hyperspectral datasets at a number of study areas in the Great Basin of the Western US to parameterize, initialize, calibrate, and verify the Ecosystem Demography (ED) model, and (2) Parameterizing and exploring the impacts of fire mitigation strategies (e.g., mowing, green strips) on the long-term distribution, abundance, and coexistence of grasses, forbs, and shrubs in these ecosystems. The successful candidate is expected to work collaboratively with and benefit from the expertise of a number of research scientists, postdocs, and graduate students with expertise in land modeling, remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems and hydrology, and land management and restoration ecology. These potential colleagues are currently housed within the Lab for Ecohydrology and Alternative Futuring (LEAF), the Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (BCAL), and the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC). Co-advisors Glenn and Flores are enthusiastic about and committed to providing mentorship and training to support the professional development of the successful candidate. We particularly welcome applications from colleagues interested in leveraging the science products developed during the postdoc to advance their independent research agenda and pursue collaborative research in collaboration with the research advisors. Minimum Qualifications • PhD in Earth System Science, Ecology, Applied Math, Physics or related disciplines • Strong quantitative background and experience in modeling and statistics • Demonstrated ability to design, conduct, and publish research related to ecosystem modeling • Excellent written and oral communication skills • Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills necessary for working in a multidisciplinary research team • Programming experience Preferred Qualifications • Experience with ED or other vegetation dynamics or land models • Experience with lidar and hyperspectral remote sensing • Expertise with scientific programming languages for data analysis such as MATLAB, Python, or R Application Applications are now being accepted and the position will close when filled. The position is a yearly appointment with potential funding and renewal for up to 2-3 years. Applicants should send as one compiled document: 1) CV; 2) one-page statement of research interests; 3) up to three publications and 4) contact information for three references. Please send materials to BOTH Lejo Flores (lejoflo...@boisestate.edu) AND Nancy Glenn, nancygl...@boisestate.edu. Additional Information University: http://www.boisestate.edu/ City of Boise: http://www.boisechamber.org/ LEAF: http://leaf.boisestate.edu/ BCAL: http://bcal.boisestate.edu/ http://fresc.usgs.gov/
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Research Assistantship (PhD) in Remote Sensing Ecosystem Science
The Department of Geosciences at Boise State University currently has an open graduate research assistantship (GRA) starting summer or fall 2016 to study the response of northern peatland ecosystems to increased temperature and elevated atmospheric CO2 with remote sensing. This project is supported by DOE’s SPRUCE experiment. This exciting project will provide the student an opportunity to better understand how a changing climate will affect the vulnerable boreal peatland forest while gaining skills and methods to monitor changes with lidar and optical remote sensing. Seasonal repeat measurements with remote sensing will be made to monitor leaf area, aboveground biomass, canopy heights, and ground inflation/deflation at the SPRUCE experiment. A canopy transmittance model will also be developed. The GRA will have the opportunity to interact with SPRUCE collaborators, present at national meetings, and become part of the Boise State University Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (BCAL) remote sensing team. We seek a highly qualified student with a strong quantitative science background and eagerness to utilize geospatial tools for ecosystem science. The ideal candidate will have a recent MS degree is ecology, forestry or equivalent nature resources discipline, strong statistics, programming, and geospatial skills. The GRA provides a full PhD stipend, health insurance, and tuition for Boise State University. Boise State is Idaho’s largest university and is a metropolitan research university of distinction situated in the capitol of Idaho. To apply: email a 2-page CV, unofficial transcripts, along with a cover letter explaining your interest to Dr. Nancy Glenn (nancygl...@boisestate.edu). For more information on BCAL: http://bcal.boisestate.edu/ and the DOE SPRUCE experiment: http://mnspruce.ornl.gov/project/overview
[ECOLOG-L] Northern Goshawk surveyors- northern California
The Plumas Audubon Society is accepting applications for 2 Northern Goshawk surveyors to conduct playback calling surveys on the Plumas National Forest in northern California from May 31 through August 15, 2016. Applicants do not need specific experience with goshawk surveys, but a strong interest in forest raptors and bird identification experience by sight and sound is necessary. The survey areas are extremely steep and rugged with many hazards routinely encountered including rattlesnakes, steep hillsides, poison oak, illegal marijuana farms, and high temperatures all in remote locations with limited cell service. The successful candidates will be very motivated to challenge their physical ability and engage in a unique adventure. Please do not apply if you are not willing to physically and mentally challenge yourself over the 2 1/2 month field season because this is some of the most challenging terrain to navigate while surveying for wildlife. Surveyors will camp on the forest for 5-day periods so camping gear is required. Field vehicles are provided, but surveyors need to provide their own transportation to the office in Quincy each week. Compensation is $13-15/hour DOE and surveyors work a regular work week (Mon- Fri) consisting of five 8-hour field days each week. Please send a cover letter and resume to David Arsenault (da...@plumasaudubon.org). Surveyors will be selected by March 15, 2016 and applications will be reviewed as they are received.
[ECOLOG-L] GIS/Field Data Manager- northern California
The Plumas Audubon Society is accepting applications for 1 GIS/field data manager position that starts May 23 and goes through August 15. Applicants need to have some practical experience with GIS and be detail orientated. This position involves managing field data from Northern Goshawk, Spotted Owl, Flammulated Owl, Aechmophorus grebe, and amphibian surveys that we conduct on the Plumas National Forest in northern CA. This is a unique position because the data manager will also assist with field surveys so that they have an intimate knowledge of the survey areas and methods. The survey areas are extremely steep and rugged with many hazards routinely encountered including rattlesnakes, steep hillsides, poison oak, illegal marijuana farms, and high temperatures all in remote locations with limited cell service. The successful candidate will be very motivated to challenge their physical ability and engage in a unique adventure. The position involves some camping so camping gear is required. Field vehicles are provided, but the GIS/data manager needs to provide their own transportation to the office in Quincy each day. Compensation is $13- 15/hour DOE and the GIS/data manager works a regular work week (Mon-Fri) consisting of five 8-hour days each week mostly in the office. Please send a cover letter and resume to David Arsenault (da...@plumasaudubon.org). The successful candidate will be selected by March 15, 2016 and applications will be reviewed as they are received.
[ECOLOG-L] Amphibian Surveyors- northern California
The Plumas Audubon Society is accepting applications for 3 amphibian surveyors to conduct visual encounter and dip net surveys along creeks on the Plumas National Forest in northern California from April 18 through September 30, 2016. Applicants do not need specific experience with amphibian surveys, but a strong interest in amphibians and reptiles is necessary. At least one of the amphibian surveyors will also help with Northern Goshawk surveys starting June 1, so experience and/or interest in forest raptors is beneficial. The survey areas are extremely steep and rugged with many hazards routinely encountered including rattlesnakes, slick rocks, steep hillsides, waterfalls, poison oak, illegal marijuana farms, and high temperatures all in remote locations with limited cell service. The successful candidates will be very motivated to challenge their physical ability and engage in a unique adventure. Please do not apply if you are not willing to physically and mentally challenge yourself over the 5+ month field season because this is some of the most challenging field work available surveying for wildlife. Surveyors will camp on the forest for 5-day periods so camping gear is required. Field vehicles are provided, but surveyors need to provide their own transportation to the office in Quincy each week. Compensation is $13-15/hour DOE and surveyors work a regular work week (Mon-Fri) consisting of four 8-hour field days and one 8-hour travel and office day each week. Please send a cover letter and resume to David Arsenault (da...@plumasaudubon.org). Surveyors will be selected by March 15, 2016 and applications will be reviewed as they are received.
