[ECOLOG-L] Letter of response to Pyron article

[David Inouye]

 Scientists (Alexandre Antonelli & Allison Perrigo)from the Gothenburg 
Global Biodiversity Centre 
 
have led an effort to respond to the 22 November article published in 
the Washington Post entitled *'We don’t need to save endangered species. 
Extinction is part of evolution.'* by R. Alexander Pyron. After great 
input from over *1200 people in over 60 countries*, a final letter is 
now ready for submission to the Washington Post, with only minor 
editorial changes expected - download the letter here 
.


*If you would like to be listed as signatory to the letter, which will 
be sent in a day or so, you have until *December 1^st , 19.00 Central 
European Time to sign on.


See the letter and sign at *https://goo.gl/E1i83Z* 




David Inouye

[ECOLOG-L] M.S. Assistantship in landscape conservation at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

[Christopher Gabler]

Title: 
M.S. Assistantship in landscape conservation in South Texas

Location: 
Laguna Atascosa NWR, Los Fresnos, Texas &
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas

Compensation:
$10,800 per year (12-month)
Housing provided
Full tuition scholarship

Start Date:
01/15/2018

Last Date to Apply:
12/15/2017

Description:
Laguna Atascosa NWR (LANWR), in partnership with the Friends of LANWR 
(Friends), University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), and The 
Conservation Fund (TCF) is seeking an intern/graduate research assistant 
in landscape conservation. Laguna Atascosa manages about 100,000 acres 
in deep South Texas. The habitat types managed include Tamaulipan 
thornscrub, coastal prairie, and a variety of both salt- and freshwater 
wetlands. The LANWR is seeking research assistant applicants who are 
interested in conserving the last remaining habitat in South Texas for 
wildlife species such as the ocelot, aplomado falcon, and Kemp’s ridley 
sea turtle. Efforts are under-way to establish wildlife corridors for 
the endangered ocelot. Extraordinary progress has been made since 1999, 
and LANWR along with partners need assistance in identifying remaining 
tracts available for purchase, verifying those tract’s viability in a 
wildlife corridor for ocelots and other species, construction of a GIS-
based dataset and maps to be used by land managers, and finally, 
developing the foundation for formal landscape conservation designs for 
future land managers. 

LANWR will provide housing in a bunk house (dormitory style) equipped 
with bunk beds. The selected student should expect to share a room with 
another intern/student of the same sex. The LANWR will also provide a 
vehicle for transportation while working or conducting the research 
project. The student will work 19 hours a week at LANWR focusing 
primarily on the landscape conservation and land acquisition 
initiatives. The position will also include work in the Friends 
Bookstore and the LANWR Visitor Services Program helping attend to 
visitors, lead tours, answer questions, help at public events, maintain 
facilities and equipment, complete data entry, etc. 

In addition to the work for LANWR, the student will be expected to 
enroll in a UTRGV Master’s program in either Ocean, Coastal, and Earth 
Science (OCES); Agricultural, Environmental and Sustainability Science 
(AESS); or Biology, and to pursue a Thesis option related to landscape 
conservation. UTRGV will provide a full tuition scholarship of $6,720 
per year, as well as an in-state tuition waiver if the student is not a 
Texas resident.

Qualifications:
Applicants must submit a letter of interest and a resume before December 
15, 2017. Interviews will begin in early December. Applicants must have 
a Bachelor's degree in biology, environmental science, or a related 
field. The successful applicant will be expected to meet the admissions 
criteria for their chosen UTRGV Master’s program and enroll full-time 
pursuing the thesis option. The available research assistantship 
provides a 12-month stipend of $900 per month ($10,800 per year), is 
benefits eligible, includes a full tuition scholarship of $6,720 per 
year, and includes a waiver for in-state tuition for out-of-state 
students. The internship portion of the program provides the 
aforementioned $10,800 stipend plus housing at Laguna Atascosa NWR. 
Applicants must be US citizen or have documentation to work in the US, a 
driver's license, and a passport. Candidates will also be required to 
pass a background check if selected for this position. They should have 
prior field experience. Ideal candidates will also have some experience 
with GIS. Applicants must be able to handle extreme heat and humidity 
and be able to carry 30 pounds over uneven terrain.

Contact Persons:
Dr. Christopher Gabler, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Rio 
Grande Valley
christopher.gab...@utrgv.edu 

[ECOLOG-L] Content opinions for course on Ecological Theory

[Cord Eversole]

Dear Fellow Eco-loggers,

I am currently putting together a course on Ecological theory that is 
aimed at teaching/discussing/understanding/etc the major theories that 
have been developed in the field of ecology. This course will hopefully 
aid graduate students in familiarizing themselves with and understanding 
a broad array of the ecological theories that commonly aid in our 
understanding and explanation of natural phenomena. More specifically, I 
would like this course to benefit graduate students that are studying 
for preliminary exams, thesis/dissertation defenses, or other scenarios 
that knowledge of these topics may be required or come up.

With this said, I am hoping to get opinions from folks who have taught 
courses on this topic, or can draw from previous experiences relative to 
this (e.g., as past or current graduate students, advisers, committee 
members, etc.) as to what the most important ecological/biological 
theories you think graduate students and young ecology professionals 
should be familiar with. My goal is to find common threads among 
respondents and use that to aid in outlining the course. 


Obviously, many may say that they are all important. However, given the 
time constraints of a course, it is necessary that the list be narrowed 
down to key topics.

Any response to this will be greatly appreciated!

Best,

Cord B. Eversole, Ph.D., AWB
Assistant Professor of Wildlife Research
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University- Kingsville
cord.evers...@gmail.com

[ECOLOG-L] Tenure Track Position in GIS SUNY Potsdam

[Jessica Rogers]

Hi All,
I’d love to have a new colleague with ecology orconservation background, but
the job can come from many different directions!  The job applications are
due by January 8th, 2018 to begin in the Fall 2018.  We’re building a brand
new program and would love creative people to help us get it off the ground.
 The University and the Geology Department are intensely committed and we’re
just building a brand new dedicated GIS lab space.  Ph.D. or Masters with
teaching experience required.  
 
https://employment.potsdam.edu/postings/3730
 
I’m chairing the search, so I’m happy to answer any questions.  
Thanks,
Jess Rogers

PS - Sorry for any cross-list postings.  

[ECOLOG-L] Ph.D. Positions: Evolutionary, behavioral, & conservation ecology - Tulane University

[Jordan Karubian]

Ph.D. opportunities in the Karubian Lab

The Karubian Lab (http://karubian.tulane.edu) is seeking applications to begin 
Ph.D. studies in Fall 2018.

The Karubian lab is based at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 
at Tulane University, in 
New Orleans LA. We have an accomplished group of students, and take pride in 
the supportive and 
diverse environment our lab and department provide. Students receive TA-ships 
that cover stipend and 
tuition costs during their time at Tulane, and several students have received 
competitive National 
Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships and other sources of external 
support. 

The Karubian lab has a strong commitment to linking research to real world 
conservation outcomes via 
meaningful engagement with local communities in the areas where we work. Both 
these projects have 
important links to contemporary social issues, and incoming students are 
encouraged to participate in 
and contribute to these efforts. Please see 
http://karubian.tulane.edu/engagement/overview/ for more 
information.

The Karubian lab is committed to increasing diversity in STEM. Students from 
Latin America and other 
groups that are traditionally under-represented in ecology and evolution are 
particularly encouraged to 
apply.

Prospective applicants should contact Dr. Jordan Karubian (j...@tulane.edu) 
with a statement of interest 
and CV. 

We are currently recruiting up to 3 students, for the following projects; 
please state which of the 
project(s) you are applying to in your contact email: 

(1) Evolutionary ecology and conservation of South American palms.

The over-arching goal of this project is to better understand the forces that 
regulate distributions and 
diversity of palms. This student will develop independent research that 
combines fieldwork on 
ecological processes in tropical rainforest (e.g., dispersal, competition, 
survival) with laboratory-based 
genetic approaches (e.g., population genetics / genomics, transcriptomics). 
Students will build upon 
previous and ongoing NSF-funded work that links behavior of dispersal agents to 
seed and pollen 
movement; characterizes ecological and genetic drivers of non-random seedling 
survival; and 
documents how naturally occurring environmental variation interacts with human 
activities to shape 
patterns of diversity. Please see 
http://karubian.tulane.edu/research/plant-animal-interactions/ for more 
information.

(2) Behavioral ecology and effects of lead exposure on Mockingbirds 

This student will develop independent research in New Orleans to investigate 
how exposure to lead, a 
common contaminant in urban environments, impacts health and behavior of the 
northern mockingbird 
Mimus polyglottos. Our pilot work suggests that lead levels in mockingbird 
adults may be associated 
with increases in aggressive behavior. The student working on this project will 
characterize pathways of 
lead uptake; relate exposure to physiological condition, cognition, aggressive 
behavior and reproductive 
success; and explore the mechanistic (genomic and endocrine) underpinnings of 
these effects. Please 
see http://karubian.tulane.edu/research/gulf-coast-ecology/ for more 
information.

(3) Effects of habitat conversion on avian diversity and behavior.

This student will continue over a decade of work in a fragmented landscape in 
northwest Ecuador that 
examines the impacts of habitat change on avian diversity. The project will 
involve some combination of 
mist netting, analysis of satellite imagery, telemetry/tracking, and molecular 
analysis. Please see 
http://karubian.tulane.edu/research/conservation-biology/ for more information

Re: [ECOLOG-L] UCSC Project Scientist and Specialist positions (Ecology or Oceanography)

[Elliott Hazen]

NOAA’s Environmental Research Division  in collaboration with UC Santa Cruz’s 
Institute of Marine Science is hiring up to two positions in Monterey, CA to 
start as soon as possible and closing on January 16th, 2018. Our research 
interests span oceanography to ecology, particularly how data science can be 
used to sustain healthy marine ecosystems. We are looking for a PhD level 
scientist with strong programming and statistical skills for help with ongoing 
projects analyzing top predator distribution and fisheries data relative to 
oceanographic processes. This position could be an ecologist, modeler, 
oceanographer, statistician or data scientist. Skills working with remotely 
sensed or modeled oceanographic data (e.g. NetCDFs) and statistics in R or 
Matlab are highly preferred.

For the Project Scientist, we are looking for someone with a PhD (postdoc or 
beyond) to lead and collaborate on ongoing research projects. Please see ad 
here https://apo.ucsc.edu/academic_employment/jobs/JPF00509-18T.pdf and apply 
here https://recruit.ucsc.edu/apply/JPF00509.

Applications are accepted via the UCSC Academic Recruit online system, and must 
include a letter of application that addresses how you meet the basic and 
preferred qualifications, a curriculum vitae, one to three writing samples (of 
published material), and the names and contact information for at least three 
individuals who we could contact for letters of recommendation.  
Documents/materials must be submitted as PDF files.

[ECOLOG-L] Webinar & Deadline Approaching: NEON/QUBES Faculty Mentoring Network

[Megan Jones]

The deadline is approaching – 5 December – to join the QUBES/NEON Data 
Education Fellows  Faculty Mentoring 
Network and implement educational materials using National Ecological 
Observatory Network (NEON) data in your classroom. Join our 30-minute webinar - 
Monday 4 December at 3pm EST - for more information on NEON educational 
resources and QUBES Faculty Mentoring Networks.

Your students can work with real data to learn key concepts. The Faculty 
Mentoring Network format allows you to interact with colleagues who are also 
implementing NEON data-centered activities in their classroom to learn from 
what each other does.  Already teach using NEON data? Join the FMN to share 
your education resource with others and prepare it for publication.  For more 
information check out the QUBES/NEON Data Education Fellows 
 page. 

FMN dates: 1 hr. online meetings every two weeks Jan - May 2018.  Deadline for 
application 5 December 2017.

Webinar Details: Zoom meeting (Monday, 4 December, 3pm Eastern)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/172713615 
Or Telephone: US: +1 408 638 0968  or +1 646 876 9923  or +1 669 900 6833 
Meeting ID: 172 713 615

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Fellowships in Ecology and Organismal Biology at Chapman University

[Jennifer Funk]

The Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University 
(Orange County, California) invites applications for its postdoctoral 
teaching and research fellows program. Appointments will begin in summer 
2018 for two years with a third year extension possible. Schmid College 
Fellows are outstanding early-career scientists who provide innovative 
teaching and mentorship to undergraduate students in our Grand 
Challenges Initiative (http://www.chapman.edu/GCI), as well as advance 
independent research in collaboration with a member of the faculty. 
Fellows are offered a competitive salary, benefits, research support, 
and personalized professional development in teaching and research.

Chapman University has a vibrant and productive group of faculty working 
in the areas of ecology and organismal biology.  Possible projects and 
mentors are listed below.
 
Molecular mechanisms of plant interactions with various biotic stresses 
and daily environmental fluctuations (Hagop Atamian, 
atam...@chapman.edu) 

Comparative genomics and biomimetics of silk-like fibers from hagfish 
slime (Douglas Fudge, fu...@chapman.edu)

Plant physiological ecology of tropical forests (Greg Goldsmith, 
goldsm...@chapman.edu)
 
Effects of climate change on northern peatland ecosystems; controls of 
anaerobic carbon cycling and greenhouse gas dynamics in wetlands (Jason 
Keller, jkel...@chapman.edu) 
 
Behavior and neuroendocrinology of quail (Patricia Lopes, 
lo...@chapman.edu)
 
Changes in behavior and physiology among breeding common loons entering 
their teens and 20s; a long-term study of known-age, territorial 
individuals (Walter Piper, wpi...@chapman.edu)
 
Intertidal invertebrates and trait-mediated effects of climate change 
(William Wright, wwri...@chapman.edu)

File review will commence on January 8, 2018 and will continue until all 
positions are filled.  For more information, please see the full 
advertisement at https://jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/470756/schmid-
college-teaching-and-research-fellows/

[ECOLOG-L] REU in STEM Education at North Dakota State University

[Jennifer Momsen]

Do you have an outstanding undergraduate student interested in learning and
teaching in STEM? If so, please encourage them to apply for our REU
program, Growing Up STEM.

We are excited to announce the 6th year of our summer REU in
discipline-based education at North Dakota State University. Our program is
an excellent opportunity for students interested in learning and teaching
of STEM at the undergraduate level. Students work in a cohort of
undergraduate scholars over a 10-week period during the summer and are
immersed in hands-on research experiences in discipline-based education
research. Students are housed on-campus and earn a $5000 stipend.

Students may have the opportunity to present their research at a national
conference with travel support from our REU. Additional travel funding is
available for travel to and from Fargo for those in financial need.

Our program begins May 29, 2018 and runs through August 3, 2018.
Applications due February 2, 2018.

For more information, including descriptions of potential research
projects, please visit http://www.ndsu.edu/cider/reu/
-or-
Email Jennifer Momsen (jennifer.mom...@ndsu.edu) or Warren Christensen (
warren.christen...@ndsu.edu)


-- 
Jenni Momsen, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
North Dakota State University
223 Stevens Hall
Dept. 2715, P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
Voice: 701.231.5560
Fax: 701.231.7149
Web: https://momsenlab.wordpress.com/

[ECOLOG-L] Did you get a BS/BA to pursue a career in a wildlife-related field? If so, please consider taking our survey!

[Hooker,Katie R]

We are a group of graduate students at the University of Florida soliciting 
responses for a survey on volunteering experiences in wildlife-related fields. 
If you completed a Bachelor’s degree (in any field) with the goal of pursuing a 
career in a wildlife-related field, we want to hear from you! We are interested 
in learning more about your wildlife-related volunteering, internship, and 
employment experience and your current employment and education status.

The survey should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous.

Please follow this link to take the survey: 
https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3yIneUZWCi4X6w5

If you have any questions about the survey please contact Karen Bailey at 
karen.bai...@ufl.edu



Katie Rose Hooker

PhD Student, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

University of Florida

[ECOLOG-L] Mini-symposium and short training course on New Advances in Land Carbon Cycle Modeling

[Yuanyuan Huang]

Dear colleagues,

We are happy to invite you to join us in a mini-symposium and short 
training course on land carbon cycle modeling, held on May 19-26, 2018 at 
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA. 

Students, post-docs and young scientists who want to learn carbon cycle 
modeling and modelers who want to gain simplicity in coding, diagnostic 
capability, and computational efficiency are especially welcome. We will 
talk about (1) New theories on land carbon storage dynamics; (2) Matrix 
representations of land carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles;
(3) A unified diagnostic system for full understanding of uncertainty 
sources (4) Carbon cycle data assimilation system for both flux- and pool-
based data (5) Semi-analytic spin-up for computational efficiency. 
Detailed information in available from the attachment.

Interested participants can send your application, using form 
http://www2.nau.edu/luo-lab/?workshop to Dr. Lifen Jiang, 
lifen.ji...@nau.edu, by February 1, 2018.

Looking forward to seeing you in Flagstaff and having fun hiking in grand 
canyon.

Sincerely,
Yuanyuan

[ECOLOG-L] Funded MSc and PhD positions available in Conservation Biology at Guangxi University, Nanning, China

[christos mammides]

The Behavioral and Community Ecology, Conservation Biology Group at Guangxi
University (Nanning, China; http://animal-ecology-guangxi.com/) is excited
to offer opportunities for three-year MSc or PhD projects in conservation
biology and related fields. Our faculties’ expertise and research interests
(see summaries below) cover a variety of topics in animal behavior,
ecotoxicology, landscape ecology, natural resource management, and urban
ecology. This year we are particularly interested in recruiting students
who are interested in conservation biology and would like to work on one of
the projects offered by Associate Prof. Christos Mammides.

The degrees are granted through our International Training Program, and
academic work is in English. Students apply with a March 31 2018 deadline
to the China Government Scholarship (CGS) program, as well as to the
College of Forestry; CGS provides waivers of tuition and housing fees, and
a monthly stipend. In the first year, students take courses in basic
Chinese language and in Chinese culture. In addition, courses in
professional classes related to ecology and evolution are required to
graduate (4 for PhD, 7 for MSc), as well as successful completion of the
thesis project.

Applicants are required to have their previous degree completely finished
at the time of application. Applicants with a proven track record of
successful publication in peer-reviewed journals, or advanced quantitative
or programming skills, will have an advantage. We hope that candidates will
explore the research interests, summarized below, and then begin to think
about possible projects. Interested applicants should contact Dr. Mammides,
attaching a CV, a short project proposal (<750 words), and the e-mail
addresses of three references. Review of the applications will start
immediately.

*Information on our research faculties’ expertise and interests*

Prof. Eben Goodale (eben.good...@outlook.com) has worked on a range of
projects from the acoustic behavior of birds, to community ecology and
species interactions, to issues of conservation biology.

Associate Prof. Aiwu Jiang (ai...@163.com) has extensive experience
studying the birds of Guangxi. He is working on projects involving the
breeding ecology of birds in limestone regions, and also the effects of
toxins on breeding.

Associate Prof. Christos Mammides (cmammi...@outlook.com) is a quantitative
conservation biologist interested in studying the mechanisms by which
anthropogenic activities affect biodiversity, and in exploring the
socio-economic factors that drive those activities. Dr. Mammides is also
interested in quantifying the effectiveness of the various types of
protected areas, and in assessing the effects of those areas on local
peoples’ livelihoods.

*Information about the College of Forestry at Guangxi University (GXU)*

The College of Forestry at GXU is one of China’s largest forestry schools.
The International Training Program was started in 2015 as a cooperation
among several labs with both Chinese national and international
researchers. Guangxi University (>25,000 students) is located in the
subtropical city of Nanning, is part of the National 211 University Scheme
of China, and aims to become a major research hub in Southern China.
Nanning forms the natural gateway between China and South-East Asia, with
Vietnam a mere 300 km away and direct international connecting flights
available to most major cities in Asia. Housing is available on campus and
campus life is bustling with many places to eat, good sporting and
entertainment facilities, and varied student activities.

-- 
Christos Mammides | Associate Professor | Guangxi University |
College of Forestry | Nanning | Guangxi | People’s Republic of China |
530005 |

[ECOLOG-L] Research Associate (9-month): Grassland management in Midwestern National Parks

[Devan McGranahan]

I'm excited to announce that funding is available for a temporary
(nine-month) full-time Research Associate in the Range Science Program at
North Dakota State University. The employee will be responsible for
conducting a study of grassland ecosystem management at National Park
Service properties in the Midwest, primarily through surveys and interviews
with NPS staff. Expected products include a final report to the NPS and a
peer-reviewed paper. While the data tend towards the social sciences side
of natural resource management, a robust understanding of grassland ecology
and grazing management is required.

Terms of employment are flexible to accommodate a broad range of potential
applicants. The ideal candidate will have at least a Master’s degree and
commensurate experience in a field relevant to natural resources management
or ecology and conservation. Applications from recent doctoral graduates
seeking a short-term post-doc are encouraged. Applications from outstanding
candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience will be
considered.
Compensation begins at $16/hour for a maximum of nine months of full-time
employment; negotiations for higher pay based on experience are welcome.
The position is available 10 January 2018 although outstanding candidates
could begin earlier or later depending on availability.

There are more details and contact information on my website:
https://www.ndsu.edu/range/faculty_and_staff/devan_mcgranahan/

[ECOLOG-L] McNair Program Coordinator at UW-River Falls

[Kevyn Juneau]

Hi All,

University of Wisconsin-River Falls is looking for a McNair Program 
Coordinator: https://jobs.uwrf.edu/postings/3936

The Program Coordinator for the UW-River Falls McNair Scholars Program will 
report to the McNair Program Director and provide day-to-day management of the 
McNair program. This is a full-time, 12-month academic staff position. 
Responsibilities will include assisting with recruiting and interviewing 
eligible scholars, coordinating program services for McNair Scholars, informing 
scholars of university resources, advising students on course options and 
extracurricular activities, serving as an advocate and liaison for scholars 
with various university departments and outside organizations, and traveling 
with scholars to local, state and national conferences. The Coordinator will 
also facilitate institutional research for the McNair grant and assist the 
director in annual grant reporting and five-year grant renewal. The McNair 
Scholars Program is a part of the U.S. Department of Education TRIO programs 
and serves 26 students annually. The McNair Scholars Program has been at the 
University of Wisconsin-River Falls since 1999.

The McNair Scholars Program operates on a five-year grant cycle and was 
selected for another cycle of funding in September 2017. Due to the grant 
funding contingency, this academic staff appointment will be reviewed annually 
and is not eligible for rolling horizon contracts.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a dedication to supporting 
under-represented students in higher education and to these students obtaining 
a Ph.D., which is the mandated goal of the McNair Scholars Program. Experience 
working with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students 
is also appreciated as the grant expresses a STEM commitment.

Required Qualifications:
* Master's degree or higher.
* Minimum of two years of work experience in a college or university, either 
teaching or providing student services.
* Experience working with low-income students, first-generation students, 
and/or minority students.
* Excellent organizational and communication skills.
* Ability to support student participation and attendance at national academic 
conferences. This requires travel and chaperoning skills both in and out of 
state.
* Valid driver's license is required.
* Availability on nights and weekends as needed on occasion.
To apply, visit: https://jobs.uwrf.edu/postings/3936


**
Kevyn J. Juneau, Ph.D., Certified Ecologist
Assistant Prof. of Conservation and Environmental 
Science
Plant and Earth Science Department
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
410 S. 3rd Street
River Falls, WI 54022
Kevyn.Juneau(at)uwrf.edu | 715-425-4958