Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Malcolm McCallum]

Choosing a GPS is not always a simple task.
It depends a lot on what you intend to do and the conditions under
which you are doing it.
Generally, the quality of GPS range from hobbiest to survey-quality devices.

For most stuff that does not require exact point accuracy and
precision, most of your hand-held garmins, and even some phones and
such will do fine. However, if you are needing 95% CI data for each
point, you will need to use a much more expensive unit (Say the old
Tremble XL or XM).  If you require surveyor-quality, you are getting
way up there.

Now, the side of the box will tell you the precision of the
instrument, however, that is the precision under the absolute best
situtation when there are no clouds/overcast, the satelites are
perfectly distributed in the 4 quadrants of the sky, and you are on a
flat plane with no birds, bugs, or planes flying over.  This is why I
mentioned the 95% CI data.  In that case, you would need to collect
something like 180 data points at each location to get to 95% CI.  You
can geocorrect your data using several methods, or you can use a
waystation to correct your information.  However, for most uses, a GPS
is intended for landscape studies and not microscale studies.  YOu log
the site, then you measure within the site using traditional methods.
OF course, you can use the GPS for these microscale measurements, but
if you under a lot of tree cover or have a lot of clouds, or yoru sats
are in weird positions you will find your data to be fuzzy, but still
usable (usually).

If you are just trying to get within a stone's throw of your site,
then I would just get a basic garmin used by geocachers and such.  IF
you need higher quality, then its time to talk to the sales people at
tremble and find out what suits your needs.  I used to have a nice
garmin GPS that was also a palm pilot, and it worked pretty nice.  ALl
the trembles are also handheld computers.  However, I am not
super-famliar with the new phone GPS as far as how accurate/precise
they are. My bet would be not very compared to the actual
research-grade unites.

I hope this is useful for you to make a decision.

On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 5:24 PM, Merav Vonshak  wrote:
> Hi all,
> I would greatly appreciate your input on a handheld GPS device. I’m looking 
> for a GPS device that would allow me to navigate to my field sites, including 
> uploading plot locations from Google Earth or ArcGIS and viewing them in the 
> field, over an aerial photo of the site. I will also need to record data 
> points. I’m considering using an iPhone 6 or a Google Nexus 9 device, 
> wondering about the pros and cons of each options and the app I should use in 
> case I choose the iPhone or the Nexus.
> Thank you!
> Merav



-- 
Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP
Link to online CV and portfolio :
https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO

 “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich
array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a
many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature
lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share
as Americans.”
-President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of
1973 into law.

"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" -
Allan Nation

1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea"  W.S. Gilbert
1990's:  Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,
and pollution.
2000:  Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction
  MAY help restore populations.
2022: Soylent Green is People!

The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi)
Wealth w/o work
Pleasure w/o conscience
Knowledge w/o character
Commerce w/o morality
Science w/o humanity
Worship w/o sacrifice
Politics w/o principle

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may
contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized
review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not
the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message.

[ECOLOG-L] [INTERNSHIP and COURSE in PERU]

[anjali kumar]

*Dear Friends,*



We are launching several education programs at *our Education Center
Conservation* *and Sustainable Development* at the Amazon of Peru.

You can know more about our programs by checking our website
http://www.cds-peru.org/#!programs/cj09

Do not miss the chance to participate in our programs!!



The *Education Center on Conservation and Sustainable Development
* (CDS) began in 2011 as an initiative of the *Centro
Neotropical de Entrenamiento en Humedales – Perú
* to facilitate and
implement the goals of education, training, and research in different
aspects of conservation and sustainable development. It is situated in the
buffer zone of the Yanachaga Chemillén National Park in Oxapampa Province,
which includes the Oxapampa Ashaninka Yanesha Biosphere Reserve.



-

Our Education programs



**Amazon Cloud Forest Sustainability Internship Program*

This internship program is suitable for participants looking for a real
experience with local communities and environmental problems due to human
impact. This expedition covers wide topics such as riparian forest
restoration, organic cultivation, water treatment and water quality. The
program is ideal for students in biology, ecology, environmental science or
related fields. Students of sustainable development, Latin American
studies, or international relations will find this program relevant to
their degree as well. Anyone looking to improve their Spanish language
skills will have the opportunity through this project as well. The program
is structured like an internship, so it is a great resume builder! For more
information click here




**Amazon Cloud Forest Research Internship Program*



This internship program is suitable for participants looking for a research
experience at the Amazon cloud forest of Peru. The participant will design
and develop a basic or applied research project to produce relevant
information for natural resources conservation and management in Amazonian
cloud forests. Specific topics for each research will be coordinated
between participants and supervisors. The participant will learn/apply the
scientific method to develop a project including the objectives and
hypothesis that will be designed by the participant. She/he will also
define activities to develop and a work schedule for executing the
research. Students of biology, ecology, zoology, environmental studies and
others will find this program relevant to their degree as well. Anyone
looking to improve their Spanish language skills will have the opportunity
through this project as well. The program is structured like an internship,
so it is a great resume builder! For more information click here




**Experience in the field Program*



This program is suitable for participants looking for a practice experience
in the field. We bring the opportunity to participants to apply and improve
their knowledge, abilities and skills in a conservation or sustainable
development project, based on their fields of interest. During their
activities the participants will receive professional supervision in order
to achieve the proposed goals. At the end of the program, the participant
will produce a poster (English/Spanish) or a power presentation about the
project. The minimum length of this program is 2 months and it can be
developed from March to December. For more information click here




**Intercultural Program*



This program allows our participants to get to know some of our projects
and help with the development/maintenance of them. At the same time, we
create an intercultural experience with participants from all over the
world. The program is ideal for those who want to learn about conservation,
environmental science, or related fields. This experience covers a wide
range of topics, such as riparian forest restoration, organic cultivation,
and waste treatment. Participants work for a week in each project. For more
information click here




Questions about our programs and/or the application process can be made to:
Florencia Trama at *ftr...@centroneotropical.org
* or
*infocds.p...@gmail.com
*

-- 
*
Anjali Kumar, Ph.D.
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow
Washington, DC
kumar.a...@gmail.com

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Howard, Tim G (DEC)]

Merav,
The open source app Geopaparazzi can do all those things for you. It is Android 
only so would work on the Nexus, not the iPhone. You can find it in the Play 
Store. 

Cheers, 
Tim

> -Original Message-
> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-
> l...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Merav Vonshak
> Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 6:25 PM
> To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations
> 
> ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open
> attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails.
> 
> 
> Hi all,
> I would greatly appreciate your input on a handheld GPS device. I’m looking
> for a GPS device that would allow me to navigate to my field sites, including
> uploading plot locations from Google Earth or ArcGIS and viewing them in the
> field, over an aerial photo of the site. I will also need to record data 
> points.
> I’m considering using an iPhone 6 or a Google Nexus 9 device, wondering
> about the pros and cons of each options and the app I should use in case I
> choose the iPhone or the Nexus.
> Thank you!
> Merav

[ECOLOG-L] Pollen counts for wind pollinated species

[Amanda Gorton]

Hi,

I'm interested in collecting pollen count data on a monoecious, wind pollinated 
species 
(common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia), at the level of individual plants in 
a large field 
experiment I am conducting this summer.

Ideally, I would like to be able to collect the inflorescences in the field 
prior to the male 
flowers opening, store them, and then count the pollen at a later date. 
However, I am 
unsure of how to store the inflorescences or whether I will be open to open the 
flowers 
(they are very small and numerous), afterwards to count the pollen. 

Does anyone have experience with pollen counts of this nature? If you have 
suggestions on 
appropriate storage materials (water, ethanol, none), or a method to open the 
flowers and 
count pollen afterwards, please contact me at gorto...@umn.edu.

Thank you!

Amanda

-
Amanda J. Gorton
amandagorton.wordpress.com
PhD Candidate
Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN, 55108

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Trevor Middel]

Merav,

Another app to try, depending on whether you have access to ArCGIS Online,
is Collector. It's available for Windows 10, Android, and iOS I believe.
It's from ESRI and is full featured, though maybe a little buggy still. It
allows use of custom basemaps, offline editing and synchronization of data
from multiple field crews. Also, I was looking into the accuracy of tablet
and phone based GPS vs consumer grade handheld GPS units and ran across a
few sources which suggested the comparison was quite favourable. I don't
have the references handy but found them relatively quickly using Google.

We've used Garmin handhelds for years now in the field and have been quite
happy with their durability. I don't like how quickly they seem to retire
and change models, and change interfaces but we've managed to live with
that. We also just acquired a couple of rugged Android tablets from Cedar
Tree (CT7) to use as GPS/data logging devices. So far they seem quite good,
this field season will tell for sure though. They are not far off the price
of a consumer handheld GPS.
http://www.junipersys.com/Juniper-Systems-Rugged-Handheld-Computers/products/Cedar-Products


Good luck,

Trevor

On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 7:17 AM, Howard, Tim G (DEC) 
wrote:

> Merav,
> The open source app Geopaparazzi can do all those things for you. It is
> Android only so would work on the Nexus, not the iPhone. You can find it in
> the Play Store.
>
> Cheers,
> Tim
>
> > -Original Message-
> > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-
> > l...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Merav Vonshak
> > Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 6:25 PM
> > To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
> > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations
> >
> > ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open
> > attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails.
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> > I would greatly appreciate your input on a handheld GPS device. I’m
> looking
> > for a GPS device that would allow me to navigate to my field sites,
> including
> > uploading plot locations from Google Earth or ArcGIS and viewing them in
> the
> > field, over an aerial photo of the site. I will also need to record data
> points.
> > I’m considering using an iPhone 6 or a Google Nexus 9 device, wondering
> > about the pros and cons of each options and the app I should use in case
> I
> > choose the iPhone or the Nexus.
> > Thank you!
> > Merav
>

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Jeff Davis]

I’m finding fewer and fewer uses for a standalone GPS unit.  The internal GPS 
in smartphones works well enough for nearly all purposes.  And when coupled 
with the right mobile app, the smartphone GPS can outperform most standalone 
units.

I recently compiled a list of mobile mapping and other apps I have found useful 
for wildlife and botanical fieldwork.  That list is available here:

http://tinyurl.com/heyqnln 

Jeff Davis
Fresno, CA USA

> On Apr 4, 2016, at 3:24 PM, Merav Vonshak  wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> I would greatly appreciate your input on a handheld GPS device. I’m looking 
> for a GPS device that would allow me to navigate to my field sites, including 
> uploading plot locations from Google Earth or ArcGIS and viewing them in the 
> field, over an aerial photo of the site. I will also need to record data 
> points. I’m considering using an iPhone 6 or a Google Nexus 9 device, 
> wondering about the pros and cons of each options and the app I should use in 
> case I choose the iPhone or the Nexus. 
> Thank you!
> Merav 

[ECOLOG-L] Job Announcement

[Mary Ann Lau]

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT



ORGANIZATION: The Xerces Society

JOB TITLE:   Endangered Species Conservation Technician

JOB LOCATION:   Portland, Oregon—with travel to the Great Basin

or Nevada-based (negotiable)

JOB START DATE:Seasonal- 4.5 month assignment, starting May 15, 2016



http://www.xerces.org/job-opportunities/





  *Mary Ann Lau*

  *Accounting/HR Specialist*

  *628 NE Broadway, Ste 200, Portland, OR 97232-1324, USA*

*  Tel: (503) 232-6639; Toll free: 1-855-232-6639; Fax: 503-233-6794*

[ECOLOG-L] Violets of Southwestern Pennsylvania Workshop

[Norris Muth]

The PA Botany Symposium is holding the following workshop May 06, 2016 8:00 AM

This day-long workshop on Pennsylvania violets will begin with an hour of 
introduction, 
covering basic violet morphology and a survey of the violet diversity 
documented for 
southwestern Pennsylvania. The rest of the day will be devoted to hunting 
violets and field 
studies of up to 30 species native or introduced in the region. The field work 
will emphasize 
detailed study of traits as well as microhabitat characteristics and natural 
community 
associations of each species. Youll also learn about some of the recent 
taxonomic challenges 
we are working to clear up, with some problematic or poorly known species 
complexes. At the 
end of the workshop, you will be a regional expert in violets! Bring a hand 
lens, and a camera 
if you have one, and be prepared to get up close and personal with some of the 
prettiest, 
most interesting and sometimes most perplexing of our spring wildflowers.

http://paviolets.brownpapertickets.com/

[ECOLOG-L] Employment: Invasive Plant Survey, Mapping and Treatment Technicians In Nevada

[Amy Gladding]

http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx?rf=ECOLOG&req=2016-RAP-052


The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, is recruiting for fifteen (15) Research
Associates to perform botanical surveys for invasive and noxious weeds in
support of the Forest's Statewide Noxious Weed Program. As members of GBI’s
AmeriCorps program, Technicians will not only enhance the vast public lands
of northern and central Nevada, but will also take part in the national
service movement. The primary duties for this position include: treating
noxious weed populations by hand or through chemical application of
herbicides; inventorying wilderness and non-wilderness forest lands for
noxious weed populations; and mapping treatment areas and plant populations
using a hand-held PDR (personal data recorder) and GPS unit. The majority
of this work is conducted using UTV and large 4WD spray rigs (trucks)
traveling on remote 4WD roads. A multi-week training session including
invasive plant and noxious weed identification, herbicide safety (including
applicator certification), technical training with PDRs and associated
software, UTV and 4WD operation, and first aid will be provided at the
beginning of the field season.

Location:
Openings are available in Northeastern Nevada including Wells/Jarbridge (2)
and Elko (2), in central Nevada including Austin (2), Santa Rosa/Winnemucca
(2), and Ely (4), and along the eastern Sierras in Carson City/Reno (1).
Additionally we will have one crew who will split their time between the
Austin and Santa Rosa districts (2).

Timeline:
o 22- and 27-week appointments beginning May 16, 2016
o Ely, Elko, Wells/Jarbridge, Carson/Reno (22 weeks)
o Santa Rosa/Winnemucca, Austin, Austin/Santa Rosa (shared crew) (27 weeks)

Compensation:
Northeastern/central Nevada:
o Living Allowance* = $8,800 (22 weeks) or $11,000 (27 weeks)
o AmeriCorps Education Award** = $2,182.78 (22 weeks) or $2,865.00 (27
weeks)
o Housing option = USFS barracks

Carson/Reno:
o Living Allowance=$8,800
o AmeriCorps Education Award**$2,182.78 (22 weeks)
o Housing option = $75 Weekly housing stipend offered
* Final living allowance amount and AmeriCorps Education Award value are
determined by the length of the appointment

**AmeriCorps Education Award may be used for past, present or future
education experiences, including payment of qualifying federal student
loans. Loan forbearance and accrued interest payment on qualifying student
loans is also available.

Qualifications:
Technical requirements:
o The successful candidates will possess knowledge and interest in botany
and plant identification - prior experience with invasive plant management,
desirable;
o Willingness to utilize chemical herbicide treatment methods, and ability
to pass Nevada State Applicator exam;
o Experience utilizing hand-held GPS units and/or PDRs for navigation
and/or data collections, along with basic computer skills;
o Ability to carry backpack sprayer or up to 40 pounds in a backpack, and
otherwise maintain good physical condition;
o Experience operating 4WD trucks on and off-road, including mountain
forest roads;
o Knowledge and experience in operating off highway vehicles, which
includes Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV),
desirable; and
o Experience with towing and backing-up a trailer, desirable.
Additional requirements:
o Ability to self-direct and self-motivate;
o Possess good organizational skills;
o Tolerant of working in variable weather conditions, willing and able to
work outdoors in adverse weather conditions, and able to hike 2-5+ miles
daily on uneven terrain;
o Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals
and follow safe working practices;
o Communicate effectively with a diverse public;
o Possess a valid, state-issued drivers license and clean driving record;
and
o Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal
resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education
Award (limit of four in a lifetime, or equivalent of two full-time terms of
service), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal
criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code
of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) will not
engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service
Agreement.

To apply:
http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx?rf=ECOLOG&req=2016-RAP-052

[ECOLOG-L] Biological Science Aid-USGS-Canyonlands Research Station

[CRS Jobs]

UNITED STATES ~ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ~ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
TEMPORARY RECRUITMENT BULLETIN 
VACANCY NO: CRS 16-07
POSITION: Biological Science Aid, GG-0404-03
DATE OPENED:4/4/2016  
SALARY: $12.33  
DATE CLOSED:4/10/2016  


TYPE OF APPT: Temporary, Not-to-exceed 180 working days 
TOUR OF DUTY: Full-Time, with possible periods of part-time and 
intermittent work 
AREA OF CONSIDERATION: All U.S. Citizens 
LOCATION: USGS Canyonlands Research Station, Moab, Utah

The Canyonlands Research Station in Moab, Utah is recruiting for a 
seasonal biological science aid (GG-0404-03).  This is a full-time 
position with the US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science 
Center – Canyonlands Research Station starting in April 2016 through 
December 2016, Potential for work in 2017 contingent upon funding.
Description of Duties: Incumbent participates in a research program 
focusing on the ecology and physiology of plants and biological soil 
crusts, soil ecology, biogeochemistry, physical soil science, plant-soil 
interactions, and invasive plants. Course work in botany, plant 
physiology, chemistry, and soil science is optimal. Incumbent will 
conduct field sampling of biological soil crusts, vegetation, and soils 
of the Colorado Plateau with accuracy and precision specialized 
techniques at pre-selected study sites under supervision of field crew 
leader and will prepare samples and perform laboratory analysis of 
crust, plant, and soil samples to determine specific chemical, physical, 
and/or biological characteristics under supervision of a project lead. 

There are few positions to be hired from this announcement. Open dates 
are 4/4/2016 through 4/10/2016. All applications must be received by 
11:00 PM MST on 4/10/2016. 

THESE ARE TEMPORARY EXCEPTED SERVICES POSITIONS for which all qualified 
applicants, with or without Federal status, may apply and be considered. 
Appointment to these positions, however, will not convey permanent 
status in the Federal service. Appointment will only be for the duration 
of the position, normally 6-9 months. Temporary employees are covered by 
the Social Security Retirement System and annual and sick leave will be 
accrued except in intermittent status. 

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION: 
Knowledge of processes, methods & procedures of biological science; 
knowledge of routine field data collection procedures; skill in 
operation, maintenance, and servicing of biological recording and 
measuring instruments; knowledge of procedures utilized in a biological 
lab. Work is physically demanding and may involve moderate or sometimes 
extreme exposure to discomforts of rain, cold/hot weather, etc. A pre-
employment physical and current valid driver’s license required.

QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for a GG-3 you need three (3) months of field 
party experience OR one (1) year of sub-professional experience OR six 
(6) months of college with courses related to the field of employment. 
Six months of college is equivalent to 15 semester hours. Sub-
professional experience consists of working as a technician or aid in a 
laboratory or similar environment. 

BASIS OF EVALUATION: All applicants will be evaluated on the basis of 
education and experience (including unpaid or volunteer experience). 
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by 
the closing date of this announcement. 
First preference in referral will be given to eligible applicants 
entitled to 10-point veteran’s preference who have a compensable 
service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. All other qualified 
applicants entitled to veteran’s preference will be given preference 
over qualified applicants not entitled to veteran’s preference. 

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE UNITED STATES CITIZENS: Under regulations in the 
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employment in this position 
is limited to those persons who are authorized to work in the United 
States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the 
time of appointment. 

As a condition of employment, all new employees reporting for duty with 
the Department of the Interior will be paid through direct deposit to a 
financial institution of their choice. 

Applicants selected for Federal employment will be required to complete 
a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to 
determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a 
background investigation. Failure to answer all questions truthfully and 
completely or providing false statements on the application may be 
grounds for not hiring the applicant, or for firing the applicant after 
he/she begins work. Also, he/she may be punished by fine or imprisonment 
(U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001). 

Prior to or at the time of appointment, male applicants born after 
December 31, 1959, will have to certify that they have r

[ECOLOG-L] Seeking Project Manager in Kenya

[Georgia Titcomb]

The Hillary Young lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is 
seeking applicants for a project manager position to be based in Kenya from 
Sep/Oct 2016 – Sep/Oct 2017 (exact dates are flexible). The position will 
involve various administrative and field work-oriented tasks related to our 
projects studying the role of wildlife decline on disease in the East 
African tropical savannah system 
(https://labs.eemb.ucsb.edu/young/hillary/). Our current project 
investigates the role of watering holes in concentrating parasites and 
increasing disease risk through animal aggregations at water.

 

Our research sites are based at Mpala Research Centre, located in Laikipia 
County (www.mpala.org), where a variety of institutions from around the 
world conduct research and other educational activities. A lively community 
of scientists and students is present year-round. The project manager would 
have a private bedroom, access to a shared bathroom, and three meals per 
day provided. Internet access and laundry are also included, in addition to 
a $250 per month stipend for additional expenses. Mpala is located 
relatively close to the town of Nanyuki (about a 50 minute drive), where 
additional supplies are available.

 

The project manager is expected to assist in data collection in the field, 
data entry, and various administrative and logistical tasks (such as 
managing additional field assistants, facilitating permit application 
completion, and completing necessary paperwork in country). The field 
schedule will be fairly demanding for approximately four one-month periods 
during the year. During these sampling periods, the project manager will be 
expected to be spending the majority of the working day in the field for 
5-6 days per week (1/2 Saturdays, off on Sundays). Depending on the season, 
the weather can be quite hot and dry (90+ degrees F), and a typical 
sampling day will require 5+ miles of walking. Additionally, project 
managers must be sensible and vigilant, being comfortable working in 
locations where dangerous animals may be present (snakes, elephants, Cape 
buffalo). Project managers acknowledge that they are required to be 
accompanied by a Kenyan field assistant at all times when working in the 
field. Major holidays and additional time off for personal travel will also 
be granted – exact time periods are negotiable based on field schedules and 
personal requirements. 

 

Qualifications: 

1.  Education: Undergraduate degree in Biology, Environmental Science, or 
similar, or related experience.

2.  Experience: Previous field research experience, previous international 
travel, some previous parasitological experience is preferable but not 
required.

3.  Other: Able to comfortably walk 5+ miles per day in hot conditions, 
perform repetitive tasks with attention to detail, ability to take detailed 
notes and record ecological information.

4.  Personal: Good interpersonal skills, ability to live in close quarters 
with other researchers, critical thinking and problem solving skills, data 
entry skills, and ability to provide good written and verbal communication. 

 

Compensation:

Travel to and from Mpala Research Centre (flights, taxis), a private room 
at Mpala with shared bathroom, 3 meals per day, internet access, laundry, 
plus a $250 monthly stipend. 

 

Interested applicants should submit the following:

1.  Resume or CV that includes previous work experiences and related 
coursework.

2.  A cover letter describing in detail previous research experience, 
previous international travel, personal research interests, future 
academic/professional goals, and any other information relevant to the job 
description.

3.  Contact information for two academic or professional references.

 

Please send all application materials to Georgia Titcomb and Hillary Young 
(georgiatitc...@gmail.com & hillary.yo...@lifesci.ucsb.edu) by April 9th, 
2016. We encourage scientists of all backgrounds and diversities to apply!

[ECOLOG-L] Summer and Fall Natural History Workshops at the UWM Field Station

[Gretchen Meyer]

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station offers natural history
workshops that provide 
college-level instruction on focused topics under the guidance of experts. 
We offer one-day, two-day 
and week-long workshops, and housing and meals are available at the Station.
 Enrollment is limited to 
20, the atmosphere is informal and instruction is individualized.  

We are offering 9 classes for summer and fall 2016.  

Invasive Plant Management Techniques
May 21 (Saturday)

Field Herpetology: Identification of Wisconsin Amphibians and Reptiles
June 3 & 4 (Friday & Saturday). June 5 (Sunday) is optional

Sedges: Identification and Ecology (waitlist only)
June 10 & 11 (Friday & Saturday)

Vegetation of Wisconsin 
June 13 - 18  (Monday - Saturday) 

Wetland Delineation
July 8 & 9 (Friday & Saturday)

Forest Communities of Southeastern Wisconsin
July 29 & 30 (Friday & Saturday)

Wetland Hydrology
August 5 & 6 (Friday & Saturday)

Unraveling the Mysteries of Bird Migration
September 16 & 17 (Friday & Saturday)

Creative Writing About the Natural World
October 14 & 15 (Friday & Saturday)

All of our workshops can be taken for continuing education credits, and some
are available for college 
credit.  All classes are offered at the main Field Station property in
Saukville, WI, just north of 
Milwaukee.  Please visit our website
(http://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/workshops/) for information 
on credit, class descriptions, and fee information, or contact us with
questions (262-675-6844, 
field...@uwm.edu).


UWM Field Station
3095 Blue Goose Road
Saukville, WI 53080
http://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/
(262) 675-6844 | field...@uwm.edu

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Malcolm McCallum]

when using apps, if you are doing research-quality spatial analysis,
it will be important for you to know whether the app is reporting an
average or the first reading it gets.  I know that several of the
hobby-grade GPS units report an average but do not provide an estimate
of dispersion (e.g. SE, SD).  The Tremble units give you the
individual points, then you can dump out the influential outliers and
take the average yourself.  The advantage here is that if you need 95%
CI data, this will allow you to hone in on the point much more
accurately.  Usually, the outliers are LITERALLY a bird or plan flew
over you while recording that individual point, or a key sat went
behind a cloud while the other sats are in an less-than-ideal
conformation in the sky.

I suspect mos of what I am telling you is much more technical than you
really need, but since I don't know for sure your needs, I figure I
ought to try to help you out the best I can.  These details are
ignored frequently in the literature, but a plan flying over while the
other sats are in a bad conformation can cause you with a supposedly 1
ft resolution GPS to record the point 10 m or more from its actual
location.  When you are using a GPS and you notice the unit tells you
your waypoint is say 5 m to the north, then you go 5 m to the north
and it tells you its now 10 m to the east, then you follow thorugh,
and it starts telling you its 5 m to the east, its because of the
resolution ability + sat conformation + interference in the
atmosphere.  IT was always interesting to me when I would average the
points that there would be individual points that were plotted way
outside the cluster.  Those instantaneous readings can be WAY off!  :)

On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 9:17 AM, Trevor Middel  wrote:
> Merav,
>
> Another app to try, depending on whether you have access to ArCGIS Online,
> is Collector. It's available for Windows 10, Android, and iOS I believe.
> It's from ESRI and is full featured, though maybe a little buggy still. It
> allows use of custom basemaps, offline editing and synchronization of data
> from multiple field crews. Also, I was looking into the accuracy of tablet
> and phone based GPS vs consumer grade handheld GPS units and ran across a
> few sources which suggested the comparison was quite favourable. I don't
> have the references handy but found them relatively quickly using Google.
>
> We've used Garmin handhelds for years now in the field and have been quite
> happy with their durability. I don't like how quickly they seem to retire
> and change models, and change interfaces but we've managed to live with
> that. We also just acquired a couple of rugged Android tablets from Cedar
> Tree (CT7) to use as GPS/data logging devices. So far they seem quite good,
> this field season will tell for sure though. They are not far off the price
> of a consumer handheld GPS.
> http://www.junipersys.com/Juniper-Systems-Rugged-Handheld-Computers/products/Cedar-Products
>
> Good luck,
>
> Trevor
>
> On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 7:17 AM, Howard, Tim G (DEC) 
> wrote:
>>
>> Merav,
>> The open source app Geopaparazzi can do all those things for you. It is
>> Android only so would work on the Nexus, not the iPhone. You can find it in
>> the Play Store.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Tim
>>
>> > -Original Message-
>> > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-
>> > l...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Merav Vonshak
>> > Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 6:25 PM
>> > To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
>> > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations
>> >
>> > ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open
>> > attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails.
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi all,
>> > I would greatly appreciate your input on a handheld GPS device. I’m
>> > looking
>> > for a GPS device that would allow me to navigate to my field sites,
>> > including
>> > uploading plot locations from Google Earth or ArcGIS and viewing them in
>> > the
>> > field, over an aerial photo of the site. I will also need to record data
>> > points.
>> > I’m considering using an iPhone 6 or a Google Nexus 9 device, wondering
>> > about the pros and cons of each options and the app I should use in case
>> > I
>> > choose the iPhone or the Nexus.
>> > Thank you!
>> > Merav
>
>



-- 
Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP
Link to online CV and portfolio :
https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO

 “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich
array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a
many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature
lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share
as Americans.”
-President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of
1973 into law.

"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" -
Allan Nation

1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea"  W.S. Gilbert
1990's:  Many fish stock

[ECOLOG-L] Employment: Field Leads for Invasive Plant Survey, Mapping and Treatment Crews in Nevada

[Amy Gladding]

http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx?rf=ECOLOG&req=2016-RAP-076

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, is recruiting two (2) Research Associates
to serve as Field Leads for Great Basin Institute AmeriCorps members (Field
Technicians) performing botanical surveys for invasive and noxious weeds in
support of the Forest's Statewide Noxious Weed Program. The primary duties
for this position include: organizing the schedule; assisting USFS resource
staff with the logistics of weeds monitoring and treatments, as well as
general truck and UTV maintenance needs; and inputting monitoring and
treatment data into the Forest Service FACTS database on a bi-weekly basis.
The Field Lead will also serve as a mentor to the Field Technicians and is
responsible for ensuring that safety and field protocols are adhered to,
and administrative duties (e.g. completing service logs and evaluations)
are completed accurately and in a timely manner.

Additional duties include: treating noxious weed populations by hand or
through chemical application of herbicides; inventorying wilderness and
non-wilderness forest lands for noxious weed populations; and mapping
treatment areas and plant populations using a hand-held PDR (personal data
recorder) and GPS unit. The majority of this work is conducted using UTV
and large 4WD spray rigs (trucks) traveling on remote 4WD roads. A
multi-week training session including invasive plant and noxious weed
identification, herbicide safety (including applicator certification),
technical training with PDRs and associated software, UTV and 4WD
operation, and first aid will be provided at the beginning of the field
season.

Location:
One (1) opening is available along the eastern Sierras in Carson City/Reno,
and one (1) opening will rove between multiple locations around
northeastern and central Nevada. Applicants will be considered for all
available openings.

Timeline:
o 22-week (Carson) or 27-week (Northeastern Nevada) appointment beginning
May 16, 2016
o 40 hours/week

Compensation:
o $15.00/hour
o $15/day field camping per diem
o Health insurance (medical, dental, prescription) benefits fully paid

Qualifications:
Technical requirements:
o Prior leadership experience including leading/guiding field technicians
and/or volunteer groups to complete field tasks;
o The successful candidates will possess knowledge and interest in botany
and plant identification - prior experience with invasive plant management,
desirable;
o Willingness to utilize chemical herbicide treatment methods, and ability
to pass Nevada State Applicator exam;
o Experience utilizing hand-held GPS units and/or PDRs for navigation
and/or data collections, along with basic computer skills;
o Ability to carry backpack sprayer or up to 40 pounds in a backpack, and
otherwise maintain good physical condition;
o Experience operating 4WD trucks on and off-road, including mountain
forest roads;
o Knowledge and experience in operating off highway vehicles, which
includes Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV),
desirable; and
o Experience with towing and backing-up a trailer, desirable.

Additional requirements:
o Ability to self-direct and self-motivate;
o Possess good organizational skills;
o Tolerant of working in variable weather conditions, willing and able to
work outdoors in adverse weather conditions, and able to hike 2-5+ miles
daily on uneven terrain;
o Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals
and follow safe working practices;
o Communicate effectively with a diverse public; and
o Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record.

o The successful applicant(s) must complete the following background
checks: (1) AmeriCorps Criminal History Check (state and federal), (2)
National Sex Offender registry check, and (3) USDA Forest Service
background investigation.

We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal
employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage
women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to
all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without
regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information &
Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by law. We prohibit Retaliation against
individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the
employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or
participate in the investigation of any complaint or otherwise oppose
discrimination.

To apply:
http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/careers.aspx?rf=ECOLOG&req=2016-RAP-076

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Thiago Silva]

My 2c on the matter:

1) GPS (Global Positioning System) is a specific set of satellites, from
the US. But there's also GLONASS, from Russia, and others are planned for
the future, such as GALILEO (Europe) and BeiDou-2/COMPASS (China). The
general term for "satellite-based positioning method" is GNSS (Global
Navigation Satellite System). The device you buy at a store is a GPS
receiver (if it only works with the US GPS system), or a GNSS receiver, if
it can access more than one system. I'm not being pedantic, there is
practical relevance to this (below).

2) A good rule of thumb is average accuracies of ~15-30m for phones,
tablets and simple handheld receivers, ~10-15m for better handheld
receivers with good antennas. These use the so called coarse-acquisition
code, at the L1 frequency. GNSS receivers that can combine data from more
than one system (GPS + GLONASS) are very widespread now, and they will
improve these estimates simply by having access to more satellites at any
given time.

If you need sub 10-meter average accuracy, you'll need "survey grade"
receivers that use the L2 carrier frequency (precision code). L2 receiver
prices can vary by 2 orders of magnitude depending on several factors. And
they usually need an external antenna, which costs extra.

If you need sub-meter precision, then you need to use differential GPS
(DGPS), where the surveying receiver is corrected by a second, stationary
receiver (base receiver) that will quantify the expected error during your
survey. There are some subscription services that allow you to use data
from their own network of base stations, instead of your own second
receiver, such as OmniStar (http://www.omnistar.com/). But your receiver
must support these technologies. Many governments also have public base
stations whose data can be accessed, but they might not have bases near you
area of interest. The most important though, is to realize that
"differential GPS" means having more than one receiver (to compare
differences). I've seen several people bummed from not getting the expected
accuracies from their "differential GPS", when they actually have only a
single receiver. DGPS is a method, that requires specific receivers for
using it, but is not a type of device per se. By the way, RTK (Real Time
Kinematic) is a type of DGPS positioning where the correction is done in
real time (as opposed to after the survey, a.k.a post-processing).

3) A cheap way to improve the accuracy of a mobile device is to use an
external GPS, connected to the phone/tablet (or even a PC) via USB or
bluetooth. These units tend to have external/better antennas, which are
important for better accuracy.

4) There has been an explosion in sub-US$1k DGPS receiver chips in the
market now, mostly aimed at the drone market, but they are transitioning
into consumer products as well:
http://store.swiftnav.com/s.nl/it.A/id.4734/.f . These are bare chips, that
could be could be hooked up to a RasperryPi or Arduino if you're into a DYI
solution.Might be an interesting project for an engineering undergrad.

But these chips are enabling cheaper consumer products as well:
http://bad-elf.com/pages/be-gps-3300-detail (I have no affiliation or
previous experience with this specific product).


Cheers,


--
*Thiago Sanna Freire Silva*
Professor Assistente Doutor

Ecosystem Dynamics Observatory

Departamento de Geografia
Instituto de Geociências e Ciência Exatas (IGCE)
Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Rio Claro, SP - Brasil

Google Scholar Citations

Currículo Lattes


On Mon, Apr 4, 2016 at 7:24 PM, Merav Vonshak  wrote:

> Hi all,
> I would greatly appreciate your input on a handheld GPS device. I’m
> looking for a GPS device that would allow me to navigate to my field sites,
> including uploading plot locations from Google Earth or ArcGIS and viewing
> them in the field, over an aerial photo of the site. I will also need to
> record data points. I’m considering using an iPhone 6 or a Google Nexus 9
> device, wondering about the pros and cons of each options and the app I
> should use in case I choose the iPhone or the Nexus.
> Thank you!
> Merav
>
>

[ECOLOG-L] Research technician position in plant community ecology

[Nathan Kraft]

The Kraft Lab at UCLA seeks a full-time research technician in plant ecology to 
join our research 
group. The primary focus of this position will be assisting in ongoing field 
studies in annual 
plants aimed at linking functional trait variation to species coexistence at 
local and landscape 
scales. Much of this work is conducted at the Sedgwick Reserve near Santa 
Barbara, CA and 
the technician would be expected to spend multi-day stretches of time working 
at the reserve 
with members of the lab and staying in on-site researcher housing during busy 
times of the year. 
We seek someone who is detail oriented, reliable, and enthusiastic about 
working with a diverse 
group of annual plants in a beautiful but rustic field setting. This is an 
ideal position for a recent 
college graduate seeking to gain research experience before applying to 
graduate school. A 
background in plant ecology, field botany, or related fields is highly 
desirable. More details about 
the lab can be found here: http://sites.lifesci.ucla.edu/eeb-kraft/ . For more 
information please 
contact Nathan Kraft (nkr...@ucla.edu). 

__
Nathan Kraft
Associate Professor
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
621 Charles E. Young Drive South
Los Angeles, CA 90095
tel: (310) 825-3593
http://sites.lifesci.ucla.edu/eeb-kraft/

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Malcolm McCallum]

On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 2:48 PM, Thiago Silva  wrote:
> chips are enabling cheaper consumer products as well:
> http://bad-elf.com/pages/be-gps-3300-detail (I have no affiliation or
> previous experience with this specific product).
>


Your correction of terminology is much welcomed and correct!!!
I was not aware of the chips coming out, that will be a huge advantage
for a lot of folks, right?
Has to be way cheaper.

-- 
Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP
Link to online CV and portfolio :
https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO

 “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich
array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a
many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature
lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share
as Americans.”
-President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of
1973 into law.

"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" -
Allan Nation

1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea"  W.S. Gilbert
1990's:  Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,
and pollution.
2000:  Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction
  MAY help restore populations.
2022: Soylent Green is People!

The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi)
Wealth w/o work
Pleasure w/o conscience
Knowledge w/o character
Commerce w/o morality
Science w/o humanity
Worship w/o sacrifice
Politics w/o principle

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may
contain confidential and privileged information.  Any unauthorized
review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not
the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[John Anderson]

Malcolm's comments are super important if you are concerned about sub-10m
accuracy.  By chance I was just lecturing my Wildlife Students today about
this very topic.  We have always used Trimble (not "Trumble") units with
their software (even though both can be ENORMOUSLY irritating,have
compatibility issues from one generation to the next, and are sooo
non-intuitive) because a) we need sub-meter accuracy & b) we need the unit
to be honest about when it can and cannot get real data.  Many cheap GPS
units (and your phone) will happily give you a position, but as Malcolm
says, you have little idea how accurate it might be...

On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 12:21 PM, Malcolm McCallum <
malcolm.mccallum.ta...@gmail.com> wrote:

> when using apps, if you are doing research-quality spatial analysis,
> it will be important for you to know whether the app is reporting an
> average or the first reading it gets.  I know that several of the
> hobby-grade GPS units report an average but do not provide an estimate
> of dispersion (e.g. SE, SD).  The Tremble units give you the
> individual points, then you can dump out the influential outliers and
> take the average yourself.  The advantage here is that if you need 95%
> CI data, this will allow you to hone in on the point much more
> accurately.  Usually, the outliers are LITERALLY a bird or plan flew
> over you while recording that individual point, or a key sat went
> behind a cloud while the other sats are in an less-than-ideal
> conformation in the sky.
>
> I suspect mos of what I am telling you is much more technical than you
> really need, but since I don't know for sure your needs, I figure I
> ought to try to help you out the best I can.  These details are
> ignored frequently in the literature, but a plan flying over while the
> other sats are in a bad conformation can cause you with a supposedly 1
> ft resolution GPS to record the point 10 m or more from its actual
> location.  When you are using a GPS and you notice the unit tells you
> your waypoint is say 5 m to the north, then you go 5 m to the north
> and it tells you its now 10 m to the east, then you follow thorugh,
> and it starts telling you its 5 m to the east, its because of the
> resolution ability + sat conformation + interference in the
> atmosphere.  IT was always interesting to me when I would average the
> points that there would be individual points that were plotted way
> outside the cluster.  Those instantaneous readings can be WAY off!  :)
>
> On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 9:17 AM, Trevor Middel  wrote:
> > Merav,
> >
> > Another app to try, depending on whether you have access to ArCGIS
> Online,
> > is Collector. It's available for Windows 10, Android, and iOS I believe.
> > It's from ESRI and is full featured, though maybe a little buggy still.
> It
> > allows use of custom basemaps, offline editing and synchronization of
> data
> > from multiple field crews. Also, I was looking into the accuracy of
> tablet
> > and phone based GPS vs consumer grade handheld GPS units and ran across a
> > few sources which suggested the comparison was quite favourable. I don't
> > have the references handy but found them relatively quickly using Google.
> >
> > We've used Garmin handhelds for years now in the field and have been
> quite
> > happy with their durability. I don't like how quickly they seem to retire
> > and change models, and change interfaces but we've managed to live with
> > that. We also just acquired a couple of rugged Android tablets from Cedar
> > Tree (CT7) to use as GPS/data logging devices. So far they seem quite
> good,
> > this field season will tell for sure though. They are not far off the
> price
> > of a consumer handheld GPS.
> >
> http://www.junipersys.com/Juniper-Systems-Rugged-Handheld-Computers/products/Cedar-Products
> >
> > Good luck,
> >
> > Trevor
> >
> > On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 7:17 AM, Howard, Tim G (DEC) <
> tim.how...@dec.ny.gov>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Merav,
> >> The open source app Geopaparazzi can do all those things for you. It is
> >> Android only so would work on the Nexus, not the iPhone. You can find
> it in
> >> the Play Store.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> Tim
> >>
> >> > -Original Message-
> >> > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:
> ECOLOG-
> >> > l...@listserv.umd.edu] On Behalf Of Merav Vonshak
> >> > Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 6:25 PM
> >> > To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
> >> > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations
> >> >
> >> > ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open
> >> > attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected
> emails.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Hi all,
> >> > I would greatly appreciate your input on a handheld GPS device. I’m
> >> > looking
> >> > for a GPS device that would allow me to navigate to my field sites,
> >> > including
> >> > uploading plot locations from Google Earth or ArcGIS and viewing them
> in
> >> > the
> >> > field, over an aerial photo of the site. I will also 

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Fellow in Plant Invasions

[Hulme, Philip]

The Bio-Protection Research Centre, a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence 
hosted by Lincoln University, finds innovative, natural and sustainable 
solutions to protect New Zealand's plant-based, productive ecosystems from 
pests, diseases and weeds. We are now entering a new five-year funding period, 
with exciting new opportunities for students and post-doctoral research 
associates.

Within the Bio-Protection Research Centre, the Contemporary Evolution in Weed 
Invasions project seeks to provide the first comparative assessment of multiple 
evolutionary mechanisms underpinning weed invasions. Results will be critical 
in the development of improved weed risk assessment approaches that account for 
the potential for evolutionary change in alien plants. In particular, it will 
point to the risks of assuming climate matching is transferable across regions 
and the conditions under which novel environments may select for evolutionary 
change.

http://bioprotection.org.nz/research/programme/contemporary-evolution-weed-invasions


Shifts in the niche of weeds may result from changes in biotic interactions, 
phenotypic plasticity or rapid evolution in the introduced range. To examine 
these options the Postdoctoral Fellow will sample life-history traits and 
natural enemy damage of weed species across multiple sites along a similar 
latitudinal range in both the UK and NZ. Seeds from each population in each 
range will be grown in a common garden in NZ to examine whether clinal 
variation in life-history traits persists under the same environmental 
conditions. Comparison between field and common garden studies will test the 
importance of environmental, maternal and population effects on trait variation 
and how these differ between ranges. Weeds may not show strong local adaptation 
but might evolve greater phenotypic plasticity and thus perform better over a 
wider range of environments than their native congeners. For each species we 
will test the ability of provenances to maintain fitness homeostasis across 
gradients in water availability and soil fertility, using clonal material 
derived from the rootstocks of plants established in the glasshouse. 
Significant range effects would be indicative of a shift in performance that 
may facilitate invasion, and will be pertinent to examining potential 
performance under increased drought frequencies arising from climate change.

The position is funded for a period of 3 years, starting in 2016. Applicants 
will be required to have:

•A PhD in ecology or a related field

•Research experience in the area of plant invasion ecology.

•Strong skills in quantitative data analysis, particularly statistical 
modelling.

•A record of peer reviewed publications

As travel between field sites may be a feature of this position, a current 
driver’s licence is also required.

The position will report to Professor Philip Hulme (Lincoln University)

Further information can be found here:

http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/Global/HR/PostDoc1_Weed_Evolution_Descript.pdf

Application to consist of:

Cover letter expressing interest in position, your suitability for the post and 
date of availability, CV, publication list, statement of research interests, 
contact details for three references.

Applications close 29th April 2016.





Philip Hulme
Professor of Plant Biosecurity

Bio-Protection Research Centre
Burns 432
P O Box 85084
Lincoln University
Lincoln 7647
Christchurch
New Zealand

p +64 3 4230902 |
e philip.hu...@lincoln.ac.nz | w www.lincoln.ac.nz

Lincoln University, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki
New Zealand's Specialist Land-Based University

From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news 
[mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of John Anderson
Sent: Wednesday, 6 April 2016 9:48 a.m.
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

Malcolm's comments are super important if you are concerned about sub-10m 
accuracy.  By chance I was just lecturing my Wildlife Students today about this 
very topic.  We have always used Trimble (not "Trumble") units with their 
software (even though both can be ENORMOUSLY irritating,have compatibility 
issues from one generation to the next, and are sooo non-intuitive) because a) 
we need sub-meter accuracy & b) we need the unit to be honest about when it can 
and cannot get real data.  Many cheap GPS units (and your phone) will happily 
give you a position, but as Malcolm says, you have little idea how accurate it 
might be...

On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 12:21 PM, Malcolm McCallum 
mailto:malcolm.mccallum.ta...@gmail.com>> 
wrote:
when using apps, if you are doing research-quality spatial analysis,
it will be important for you to know whether the app is reporting an
average or the first reading it gets.  I know that several of the
hobby-grade GPS units report an average but do not provide an estimate
of dispersion (e.g. SE, SD).  The Tremble units give you the
individual points, the

[ECOLOG-L] 2016 ESA Annual Meeting: Call for Latebreaking Poster Abstracts (May 5 Deadline)

[Jennifer Riem]

Call for Latebreaking Poster Abstracts

101st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America; Fort Lauderdale, 
Florida; August 7-12, 2016; http://esa.org/ftlauderdale 

Deadline for Submission: May 5, 2016 
Only complete abstracts submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern Time (2:00 PM Pacific) 
will be considered. 

Novel Ecosystems in the Anthropocene

We invite abstract submissions of Latebreaking Poster abstracts for ESA's 
Centennial Meeting. Join us in sunny Fort Lauderdale this summer as we begin 
ESA's second century with sessions that explore our meeting theme, "Novel 
Ecosystems in the Anthropocene."

All abstracts will be reviewed using criteria described in the call.  Abstracts 
will be sorted into thematic sessions based on topics ranked by the submitting 
author at the time of abstract submission. By submitting an abstract, authors 
are indicating they expect to be available on the morning of Friday, August 12, 
when all Latebreaking Posters will be presented. Authors are required to 
present their posters during the entire 2 hour poster session (8:30-10:30 AM). 
Abstract titles for posters in this session will be printed in the official 
conference program and the abstracts will appear on the online program. 

For more information and to begin the submission process, please visit: 
https://eco.confex.com/eco/2016/cfp.cgi 

Re: [ECOLOG-L] water use in making chocolate.

[Michael Marsh]

Jorge,
I was interested in the posting that you are responding to, not only as 
a chocolate consumer but because of my experience as a young kid. I grew 
up in Panama and Honduras, the son of an employee of the United Fruit 
Company. The company had small-scale cacao production for a time in the 
early 1940's, bringing cacao from its own farm and from another grower 
on the shores of laguna Chiriqui  to Almirante. The beans were opened 
and the contents emptied into a vat perhaps 10 ft square and 3 ft deep. 
There is a slime surrounding the beans, very sweet and delicious, and 
the whole mass was left in the vat to ferment so that the beans could be 
washed off and dried by heating in a big, perforated revolving drum.
I have always wondered whether any use is made of the slime that I 
describe. I think it would make a wonderful syrup, and what about the 
possibilities for an alcoholic beverage after fermentation has taken place?

Mike Marsh

[ECOLOG-L] USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Position in Remote Sensing

[Kristin Byrd]

The U.S. Geological Survey announces the opening of a Mendenhall
Postdoctoral Research Opportunity in Rangeland Remote Sensing to Support
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

The announcement can be found here:
http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/opps/2016/round16/16-31%20Byrd.htm

Information on the Mendenhall Program can be found at these websites:
http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/
http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc/opps/research.html

Applicants should contact Research Advisors Dr. Kristin Byrd at
kb...@usgs.gov and Dr. Miguel Villarreal at mvillarr...@usgs.gov to develop
a research proposal. Proposals are due May 2, 2016.

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: modeling nature conservation and water quality

[Taylor Ricketts]

Postdoctoral Associate, Nature Conservation and Water Quality
Gund Institute, The University of Vermont

Position: The Gund Institute for Ecological Economics seeks a postdoctoral 
associate to develop rigorous and practical models relating nature conservation 
to water quality issues in Vermont. The 2-year position is part of a 
partnership between the Gund Institute and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 
Together we are working to understand how conservation and restoration of 
forests and wetlands can reduce nutrient pollution and improve water quality in 
Lake Champlain. The postdoc will be directed by Taylor Ricketts at The 
University of Vermont (UVM).

Responsibilities: The postdoc will: (i) develop or refine models to link land 
use with nutrient loading and retention in the watershed, (ii) simulate 
different nature-based solutions to estimate their likely biodiversity impact, 
water quality impact, and costs, (iii) optimize conservation investments to 
inform TNC’s blueprint for natural infrastructure in Vermont. In all of this 
work, s/he will interact closely with several faculty members at UVM, with TNC 
staff, and with scientists at the Natural Capital Project.

Qualifications:  Applicants must have a doctoral degree in hydrology, ecology, 
economics, or related fields. Successful candidates will have strong 
quantitative skills, specific expertise in hydrological modeling, and a 
commitment to connecting research to conservation issues.

Application: Applicants should send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and 
contact information for three references to Taylor Ricketts, Director, Gund 
Institute for Ecological Economics, at taylor.ricke...@uvm.edu.  Review of 
applications will begin on April 22, 2016 and we anticipate a start date of 
September 2016.  




Taylor Ricketts
Gund Professor, Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources
Director, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics 
University of Vermont
617 Main Street
Burlington, VT 05405
Ph: (802) 656-7796
Fax: (802) 656-2995
Skype: taylor_ricketts
Lab webpage 

[ECOLOG-L] [Job opening] Movement Ecologist/ Program Manager at Smithsonian Institution

[Peter Leimgruber]

The deadline for the application is in 10 days!!

---

Feel free to re-post

Job title:  Movement Ecologist/Program Manager for Movement of Life (MOL)
Initiative

Agency:  Smithsonian Institution

Grade:  IS 12

Position Information:  Full-time, one-year with the potential to renew,
Trust Fund


*Job Summary:*

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia
is seeking a dynamic movement ecologist to manage the Smithsonian’s *Movement
of Life (MOL) *Initiative.


MOL is developing partnerships within and outside the Smithsonian to
advance the field of movement ecology and its contributions to sustaining
biodiversity and understanding how environmental and climate change may
affect organismal movement in the future.  MOL also works closely with
*Partners
in the Sky*, a private-public partnership between the Smithsonian and
industry to advance the use of state-of-the-art technology for animal
tracking. MOL focuses on:

· Advancing new tools and technologies to address movement ecology.

· Developing standardized approaches for conducting animal movement
research around the world enabling us to scale up global tracking efforts.

· Expanding existing training programs in movement ecology through
collaboration with other training organizations (e.g. AniMove; animove.org
).


· Creating exciting new stories for our public audiences to learn
about animal movement and its role in creating and maintaining life on
Earth.



The Program Manager will be responsible for all aspect of MOL.
Additionally, the Program Manager will be expected to collaborate with
colleagues in developing and conducting theoretical and applied science in
the field of movement ecology and animal tracking.



Although MOL is physically based at SCBI in Front Royal, the Program
Manager will work across Smithsonian research centers and bureaus to
advance existing and develop new research partnerships.



Successful candidates have significant experience in conducting movement
ecological research (terrestrial, aerial, or aquatic) and field campaigns
(e.g. designing projects, tracking species in the field and remotely), and
have a sound background in analysis of animal movement data.



*Duties:*



As Program Manager of MOL the incumbent will oversee the continued
development and implementation of MOL’s overall strategy, develop and
expand existing partnerships, represent MOL at national and international
meetings, and lead research collaborations. The incumbent will provide
regular progress reports to the cross-SI MOL Working Group as well as the
Partners in the Sky steering committee.



This successful candidate will:



· Collaborate with scientists from the within SI and from around
the world to design and develop research projects on movement ecology and
how environmental and climate change may affect organismal movement.

· Encourage and promote studies of interest to MOL and to advance
SI Mission for understanding and sustaining of a biodiversity planet.

· Participate in scientific meetings and symposia, develop
scientific papers for presentation, and corresponds with members of the
scientific community involved in related research.

· Secure funds to support research projects from both internal and
external sources.

· Provide advice and assistance to technicians, students, postdocs,
and others carrying out related work.

· Perform other duties as assigned.




*Qualifications:*


· A Ph.D. in ecology or a related academic field

· Advanced knowledge in conducting movement ecology research, using
animal tracking.

· Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and in using
R for analyzing data and programming

· Demonstrated skills in communicating with a wide-range of
audiences using different outlets ranging from peer-reviewed scientific
articles to web and social media.

· Ability to coordinate collaborative research, conservation, and
training programs.



*How to apply:*

Please send letter of interest explaining your qualifications, a cv, and
the contact information of three references to scbi@gmail.com by 15
April 2016.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] GPS recommendations

[Dan Hoff]

Hey,

I just went through this for my grad project. We decided on running
Collector on an IPad mini 4. Theoretically you could run that on a IPhone 6
or a Nexus and use it for data collection as well as navigation but I bet
that screen would be small. In the past I have used Trimble Juno 5's that
have great accuracy especially with the point averaging enabled and do well
under canopy.

If you just need rough accuracy (2-4 m) and want a free app check out
Trimble's Outdoors App Suite. You might have trouble uploading a lot of
points with the free version of the app, but with the paid version (I think
I pay them $35 annually) you can upload .gpx files and then send them to
your phone. I have used this system for habitat work on private land
(hunting lease & cost share) where I needed documentation, but didn't have
access to ESRI software or the ability to spend money on a better system
and wanted a file I could look at with Google Earth.

Also if you need greater accuracy you can use a Bluetooth GPS receiver to
increase accuracy over your phone. I don't have any experience with the new
ones, but I hear Bad Elf makes a sub meter unit.

Cheers,



-- 
*Dan Hoff*