[ECOLOG-L] Ecology and Environmental Science Faculty and Postdoc Recruitment Events in California by Xiamen University

[Ji Li]

College of the Environment and Ecology at Xiamen University will hold a
series of faculty and postdoctoral scholar recruitment events in Los Angeles
and San Francisco areas from February 5 to 9, 2018. We invite everyone
interested in working in the general areas of ecology and environmental
science and engineering at Xiamen University to attend these sessions. 
Session 1
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am, February 5, 2018.
Venue: 301 Science Laboratory Building, University of California, Riverside, CA

Session 2
Time: February 6, 2018.
Venue: University of California, Los Angeles

Session 3
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm, February 7, 2018.
Venue: 209, Li Ka Shing Center, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford University

Session 4
Time: February 8, 2018.
Venue: University of California, Berkeley

Session 5
Time: February 9, 2018.
Venue: University of California, Davis
Or contact Dr. Qingshun Quinn Li (Dean of College of the Environment and
Ecology, Xiamen University; email: l...@xmu.edu.cn) to schedule an
individual meeting at these locations.
The College of the Environment and Ecology (CEE) at Xiamen University (XMU)
was founded on March 2011, on the basis of the Institute of Environmental
Sciences established in 1982, and former Department of Botany/Zoology
established in 1922. It consists of three academic departments, Department
of Ecology, Department of Environmental Science, and Department of
Ecological Engineering for Environmental Sustainability. CEE offers
Bachelor, Master and PhD degree programs in Environmental Science,
Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management as well as Ecology. We
also host post-doctoral programs. Since 2012, Environment Science and
Ecology at XMU has been ranked the top 1% world-wide by Essential Science
Indicators. In 2017, the Ecology discipline at Xiamen University was
selected to be part of the "Double First-Class" plan by the central
government with the aim of developing a group of world-class higher
education institutions and disciplines. In addition, CEE, jointly with the
College of Oceanography and Earth Sciences, hosts the State Key Laboratory
of Marine Environmental Science. CEE also hosts four ministry/provincial
level research platforms and three interdisciplinary research platforms at
the university level. 
CEE currently has 66 faculty members, including 31 professors, 30 associate
professors and 5 assistant professors. Among them are Dual-appointed CAS
Academicians, Cheung Kong Chair Professor, National Distinguished Young
Scholars, awardees of Thousand Talent Plan and Minjiang Chair Professor. 
The College is recruiting about 20 faculty members in the next few years at
all ranks, especially for Chinese talents plans (Thousand Talent Plan, Youth
Cheung Kong Scholar Program, National Science Foundation for Distinguished
Young Scholars, etc.), and postdoctoral scholars for young scientists. We
have open faculty positions in the research fields of, but not limited to,
global change ecology, ecosystem ecology, wetland ecology, landscape
ecology, plant ecology, marine ecology, genetics and evolutionary ecology,
molecular ecology and bioinformatics, environmental ecology, ecological
planning, wetland ecological engineering, ecological restoration
engineering, environmental biogeochemistry, environmental toxicology,
aquatic environment technology and engineering, aquatic environment
dynamics, environmental omics, environmental remote sensing and simulation,
coastal zone environmental management, solid waste recycling, marine
pollution control, air pollution control engineering, etc.
The University will provide competitive salary and benefits, including
settlement allowance, housing subsidy, research start-up funding, in
accordance with candidate’s experience and responsibilities, and support the
successful candidate to apply for research funding and talent programs of
all levels.
If one can not attend these meetings, applicants are invited to submit CV to
ce...@xmu.edu.cn (Contact: Ms. Xinli Wang, Tel: +86-592-2186338). Review of
applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are
filled. For more details, please visit: http://cee.xmu.edu.cn.
In addition, we also invite talented young scholars to attend the Nanqiang
Youth Scholar Forum to be held in Xiamen University on April 25-27, 2018.
The University will provide travel subsidy and arrange local accommodation
for selected attendees. Application information for the Forum should be
submitted online to http://xiamenuniversity.mikecrm.com/oFcBwr7. For
questions regarding the Forum, please contact XMU Human Resources at:
recr...@xmu.edu.cn or call +86-592-2185685/+86-592-2182259. 

[ECOLOG-L] stream fish sampling crew leader

[Tom Blanchard]

Research Specialist II (Stream Sampling Crew Leader), UT Martin TEMP 
position - 18004A 
Description
 
The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Tennessee at 
Martin is seeking a stream sampling field-crew leader for a four-month 
appointment. The position will support a project evaluating the effects 
of stream restoration on fish communities in west Tennessee.
Primary duties include:
  * Supervision of two technicians under the guidance of the project’s 
primary investigators.
  * Ensuring timely collection of data and completion of laboratory 
work.
  * Coordinating and conducting stream habitat surveys and fish 
community collections.
  * Maintenance and repair of field equipment as needed.
  * Identifying and enumerating fish species in the field and 
laboratory.
  * Managing an Access database, performing data entry, and data QA/QC.
 
Qualifications
 
Minimum Qualifications
  * BS in biology, stream/wildlife ecology or related field (e.g., 
environmental sciences).
  * Experience conducting stream habitat surveys and fish community 
collections.
  * Ability to quickly learn west TN fish fauna.
  * Valid driver’s license.
  * Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds in mud-bottom streams.
  * Ability to work long hours (~10 hours) in hot and humid field 
conditions.
 
 
This is a temporary, non-exempt position for approximately four months 
(June – September).  Extension of the position is contingent on 
available funding. Low-cost housing (~$40/week) is available at the 
Reelfoot Lake Environmental Field Station or the applicant may find 
housing in Martin, TN. Research opportunities will be available to those 
interested.
 
 
Application Process:  Applicants must apply online at 
https://ut.taleo.net/careersection/ut_martin/jobdetail.ftl?
job=18004A&tz=GMT-06%3A00 and attach to the application the 
following:  a cover letter, resume, and two professional references.   
Application Deadline:  Position will remain open until filled and all 
inquiries should be directed to Dr. Blanchard or Dr. Fore via email to 
Dr. Blanchard (tbla...@utm.edu; 731-884-7594) and Dr. Fore 
(jf...@tnc.org; 731-343-2004).
Pay Grade 36 - $12.98 per hour minimum hiirng rate, salary is 
comensurate with education and experience
To view Annual Security & Fire Report - 
http://www.utm.edu/departments/publicsafety/index.php

[ECOLOG-L] Seasonal stream monitoring technicians in Utah

[Kristin Schroder]

Please see the full position announcement for additional information: 
http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/documents/jobs/Utah%20BLM%20Aquat
ic%20AIM%20Announcement%202018.pdf

POSITION TYPE: Full-time, temporary

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 9 in total, 3 Lead Technicians and 6 Field 
Technicians

WORK LOCATIONS: Multiple locations throughout Utah

PAY RATE: $13.85–$17.30, depending on experience and position. Per diem 
when traveling beyond base location. Health insurance provided.

DURATION: 5 months (May–September 2018) with potential for extension

All Technicians must be available for the two-week training starting May 
14, 2018.

In partnership with the Utah Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the 
Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is seeking experienced field 
technicians to collect stream monitoring data through BLM’s aquatic 
Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) initiative. Three field teams 
of three technicians each (1 Lead Technician and 2 Field Technicians) 
will be hired. Each team will be stationed in a separate BLM Field 
Office: one each in Salt Lake City, Vernal, and Moab, Utah. The teams 
will work closely with Utah BLM Aquatic Biologists and other BLM staff 
within the Field Offices. Crews will spend 4–8 days in a row in the 
field, often camping away from the Field Office location. Data 
collection will include water quality sampling, stream habitat data, and 
benthic macro invertebrates. 

Please see the full position announcement for additional information and 
required qualifications: 
http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/download/documents/jobs/Utah%20BLM%20Aquat
ic%20AIM%20Announcement%202018.pdf

TO APPLY
Email resume, cover letter, and three references (with phone numbers) to 
Kristin Schroder at kristin.schro...@colostate.edu. Please indicate if 
you would like to be considered for the Lead Technician.

First consideration of applicants will begin February 15, 2018. 
Applications will continue to be accepted until all positions are filled 
or until April 30, 2018, whichever comes first.

[ECOLOG-L] project manager / lead technician; plant-microbe dynamics; Kellogg Biol Station, Michigan

[Sarah Evans]

Research Project Coordinator and Research Associate: Biogeochemistry and 
genomics of plant-microbe 
interactions

We are looking for a project coordinator and research associate for a multi-PI 
project at Michigan State 
University funded by the Department of Energy. The project examines 
plant-microbe-nutrient 
interactions in grass systems in Michigan and Wisconsin to explore potential 
for bioenergy sustainability. 
It combines many approaches including microbial genomics and stable isotope 
probing; root exudate 
metabolomics and plant transcriptomics; and soil biogeochemistry and plant 
functional ecology. The 
successful candidate will be expected to serve as project manager, and will: 
coordinate laboratory and 
field work; oversee undergraduate student lab assistants; assist with the 
planning and implementation of 
experiments; and assist with data collection, entry and maintenance of a 
project-wide database. There 
will also be opportunities for contributions to experimental design, data 
analysis and manuscript 
preparation, as well as work and training in bioinformatics or other methods, 
depending on the 
background and interests of the successful candidate. This position will 
require periodic travel in 
Michigan and Wisconsin and travel between Michigan State University main campus 
(coPIs Tiemann and 
Cole labs) and the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (Evans Lab), which is 
located approximately 1.25 
hours southwest of main campus in East Lansing. This position will primarily be 
based in the Evans lab 
at Kellogg Biological Station, near Kalamazoo, MI, to coordinate with other lab 
members and field 
technicians.

Qualified candidates will have a Masters degree (or equivalent combination of 
education and research 
experience) with a focus in soil ecology, microbiology, biogeochemistry, plant 
ecology, plant biology or a 
closely related field with preference given to those with some experience in 
chemical assays, molecular 
or isotopic methods, database management, project management, or 
bioinformatics. Strong candidates 
will also possess the following attributes: a publication record from their 
graduate work (if applicable; 
papers published, in press, or submitted); creativity, independence, and the 
desire to learn new things; 
excellent communication skills, both written and oral; experience with project 
coordination and/or 
demonstration of excellent organizational skills. 

A start date of April 1, 2018 is preferred, but alternative timelines will be 
considered and should be 
noted in the cover letter. Applications should be submitted directly to MSU 
COMPASS on jobs.msu.edu 
(Posting #486736). The first application review will be February 13, 2018. 
Please contact Sarah Evans  
(evans...@msu.edu) with questions or to inquire about submitting an application 
after this period. 
Applications consist of:

1)  a brief cover letter (no more than 2-pages) that highlights past 
research accomplishments, 
describes future career and research goals and gives examples of project 
coordination and/or 
organizational skills; 
2)  a curriculum vitae; 
3)  names and contact information for three references.

MSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

About Kellogg Biological Station: KBS (www.kbs.msu.edu) is a premier biological 
research station 
located ~65 miles from the main campus of Michigan State. It is home to 11 
faculty and their graduate 
students and post-doctoral researchers, with interests ranging from 
biogeochemistry to community 
ecology to evolution, as well as full-time research staff, visiting research 
scientists, and many summer 
undergraduates. KBS is home to the KBS LTER program (www.lter.kbs.msu.edu), the 
GLBRC, and a new 
Molecular Ecology and Genomics Laboratory. The Evans Lab 
(www.saraheevanslab.weebly.com) is 
committed to creating a positive, open, and safe work environment. We also 
strive to create 
opportunities for career development for all lab members, including students, 
visitors, technicians, and 
postdocs.

Re: [ECOLOG-L] ecology text for non-academics suggestions

[Roger Long]

I always liked the old book Machinery of Nature, Paul Ehrlich, as an intro
to ecology for non-majors, but it's getting outdated. I'd love to see an
updated version of this book come out.

On Wed, Jan 31, 2018 at 7:20 AM, Patricia Swain Rice 
wrote:

> Thanks to the folks who sent recommendations for general ecology or plant
> ecology books and resources, and especially for those who included links!
> Here is a list with the original comments, sometimes with mine added in
> brackets. Since I don’t know how many students I’ll have or their
> backgrounds (non-academic but plant focused adult audience pool), I’ll be
> giving them the list and suggesting they look at them. I’ll also suggest
> they browse in a library before buying anything.
>
> Cain, Michael L., William D. Bowman, and Sally D. Hacker. 2013. Ecology.
> 3rd Ed. (4th Ed. due May, 2018, authors same but start with Bowman). Oxford
> University Press.
> It was fairly easy to consume, and had lots of material to draw
> from...though I believe it was more geared towards theoretical ecology
> rather than naturalism.
>
> Drury, William H. ed. John G.T. Anderson. 1998. Chance and change: ecology
> for conservationists. University of California Press, Berkeley.
> Bill Drury, who wrote against models like "Classical succession", and
> after he died his family asked me to edit his manuscript for an
> "alternative" Ecology text book. It is by no means perfect, but it seems to
> have held up pretty well & provokes good discussion among students
> https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0520211553/ref=
> tmm_hrd_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=1517321072&sr=8-1
>
> Ennos, Roland. 2016. Trees: a complete guide to their biology and
> structure. Comstock Publishing Associates
> It doesn't cover quite the subject matter you're looking for, but I quite
> enjoyed "Trees: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Structure" by Roland
> Ennos. It's fairly small, but technical, almost like a chapter or two from
> a broader introductory textbook. It gave me a basic overview of the natural
> history of, well, trees.
>
> Gurevitch, Jessica, Samuel M. Scheiner, and Gordon A. Fox.  2006.The
> Ecology of Plants, 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press/Sinauer Associates.
> Book intro says it is basic ecology with plant focus. How about The
> Ecology of Plants?
> https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/the-ecology-of-plants-
> jessica-gurevitch/1119336458/2679094480524?st=PLA&sid=BNB_
> DRS_New+Marketplace+Shopping+Textbooks_&2sid=
> Google_&sourceId=PLGoP164998&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzMDTBRDDARIsABX4AWyoh0
> H0gzlwUz7VH3nCytP5pCsSj0JaOwl_lTQ6bBLS-TssrvgsQSgaAgPREALw_wcB
>
> Gotelli, Nicholas J. 2008. Primer of Ecology 4th Ed. Oxford University
> Press/ Sinauer Associates.
> good and succinct, but might not be right for your audience. [technical
> with focus on models]
>
> Karban, Richard, Mikaela Huntzinger & Ian S. Pearse. 2014. How to do
> ecology: a concise handbook 2nd Ed. Princeton University Press.
> I also really like “How to do Ecology” by Karban and Hartzinger about the
> process of developing and conducting ecological research, but again, might
> not be right for this situation. [looks very useful for planning research
> projects]
>
> Keddy, Paul A. 2017. Plant Ecology, origins, processes, consequences. 2nd
> Ed. Cambridge University Press. New York.
> [Covers basics but book intro suggests reviewing basic ecology text].
>
> Marchetti, Michael P. & Peter B. Moyle. 2010. Protecting Life on Earth: an
> introduction to the science of conservation. University of California
> Press, Berkeley.
> a short non-majors ecology/conservation biology text.  I think we did a
> solid job at explaining general ecology to nonscience people.  you might
> check it out, although it is not plant centered but there are plant
> examples.
>
> Molles, Manuel C., Jr. 2014. Ecology: Concepts and applications 7th Ed.
> McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
> Manuel Molles book is good- not sure what edition is out-like the idea
> that he focuses on students understanding the language of science (figs and
> table-with helpful annotations-still use some of those in my senior level
> cons bio class)
>
> Relyea, Rick and Robert E. Ricklefs. 2017. The Economy of Nature 8th Ed.
> W.H. Freeman Publishers.
> completely redid all of the figures and photos, with lots of plant
> examples. I am pleased to report that the response from instructors and
> students has been very positive. [the chapter on line has a terrific
> discussion of soils, and plants and soil relations]
>
> Stokols, Danel. 2017. Social ecology in the digital age: solving complex
> problems in a globalized world. Academic Press/Elsevier.
> know you’re interested in identifying a general ecology text, but in case
> you’re interested in a supplemental text on social and human ecology, this
> 2018 title might be a relevant resource for you and your students:  Social
> Ecology in the Digital Age - Solving Complex Problems in a Globalized World.
>
> Other:
> ofte

[ECOLOG-L] Job: Restoration Ecologist in St. Louis, MO

[Susan Baron]

The Litzsinger Road Ecology Center (LREC), a division of the Missouri
Botanical Garden, is hiring a full-time restoration ecologist. The 34-acre
site is an environmental learning facility, consisting of an urban creek,
hardwood bottomland woodland, and prairie habitats. Primary duties will be
to work with a small team of staff members, interns, and volunteers to
conduct research and monitoring on site and implement ecological restoration
projects.

 
For the full job description and to apply, please go to
https://usr53.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-US/MBG/Posting/View/62  The
posting will close on February 14. 

[ECOLOG-L] Job Opportunity, Seasonal Field Ecology Technicians, NEON Great Lakes Domain

[Peter Weishampel]

*The National Ecological Observatory Network's Great Lakes Domain has
multiple seasonal field ecology technician positions open in Land O'Lakes,
WI. Positions focus on animal ecology (small mammal trapping and insect
collection; filling these roles our areas of greatest need) or plant
ecology (surveys of phenology, diversity, and productivity). We are
especially interested in individuals with who can start in April or May and
work at least through the end of September. To learn more and to submit an
application, please visit
https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=90c&jobId=184701&lang=en_US&source=TW
*







* Individuals with experience with animal sampling and an interest in
serving a as a crew lead on animal protocols should consider also applying
for our lead position: *

*https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=90c&jobId=184702&lang=en_US&source=TW
*








* If you are interested and have some questions feel free to contact Peter
Weishampel, Ph.D. Field Operations Manager, Great Lakes Domain National
Ecological Observatory Network pweisham...@battelleecology.org*


-- 
Peter Weishampel

[ECOLOG-L] New Special Issue from AoB PLANTS: Deer and Invasive Plants

[Gail Rice]

AoB PLANTS announces a new special issue: Interactions between White-Tailed
Deer and Invasive Plants in North America, edited by David L. Gorchov (Miami
University) and Bernd Blossey (Cornell University). 

White-tailed deer are emblematic ungulates that currently occur at elevated
densities due to anthropogenic modification of landscapes. Although elevated
deer densities often co-occur with non-native plants, it is not known
whether plant invasions are a consequence, or occur independent of deer
impacts on ecosystems, or whether these two stressors are synergistic. 

Speakers at a 2016 colloquium on “Interactions of white-tailed deer and
invasive plants in forests of eastern North America” explored these topics,
and nine of their presentations are published in this Special Issue of AoB
PLANTS. Using long-term studies of deer and invasive plants, the papers
describe interactive effects, explain the mechanisms underlying those
effects, and introduce new research approaches. 

AoB PLANTS is an open-access, nonprofit journal established in 2010 and
published by Oxford University Press. The journal has a strong focus on
environmental and evolutionary biology and its current impact factor is
2.238. All papers published in this special issue are freely available
online at http://bit.ly/2DrRD9Y

[ECOLOG-L] MRes in Sexual Selection and Cognition - University College Cork

[Michael Reichert]

MRes Studentship 18 months
 
“Trade-offs in sexual selection and cognition” 
Why do individuals vary in their cognitive abilities? EVOECOCOG, an ERC 
funded project, takes the disciplines of cognition and evolutionary 
biology into a natural setting to answer this question. It aims to do 
this by investigating a variety of proximate causes and population-level 
consequences of individual cognitive variation using a great tit Parus 
major population. 
 
This MRes position will explore potential trade-offs between traits 
involved in pre-copulatory and post-copulatory sexual selection and 
their relationships with mating success and cognitive ability. The 
student will perform laboratory analyses of sperm sampled from male 
great tits in the breeding season to measure sperm quality and 
viability, and then relate this to mating success by performing 
paternity analysis using a newly purchased state-of-the-art DNA 
sequencer. These measures will be compared to measures of signal quality 
and cognitive ability to detect potential trade-offs among these traits.
 
The chosen study system, the great tit Parus major, is one of the most 
widely used in Europe, and consists of 12 subpopulations across 
deciduous and conifer woodland fragments in Co. Cork, Ireland. A recent 
state of the art aviary is also available for experimental study at the 
School of BEES.
 
This advert is for an 18 month MRes studentship. The successful student 
will be based in the UCC Ornithology lab at the School of BEES  
http://ornithology.ucc.ie. They will join a research team led by Prof. 
John L. Quinn, consisting of 8 early career biologists working on this 
project (see http://ornithology.ucc.ie/current-projects/evolutionary-
ecology-of-cognition/), a Research Support Officer, and a range of other 
students and postdocs working on a variety of different projects in 
behavioural and applied ecology. The studentships will be cosupervised 
by Prof. J. Quinn and Dr Michael Reichert.
 
Candidates should possess a 2.1 BSc (Hons) degree or higher in a 
relevant discipline (e.g. Ecology, Zoology, Evolution, Physiology, 
Psychology). Applicants must be self-motivated with good numerical, 
communication, organisational, experimental design, and writing skills. 
Students with experience working under difficult conditions in the field 
or with an MSc are likely to have a strong advantage. A full, clean 
driving license will be important early in the MRes, and experience 
working with birds in captivity or in the wild would also be 
advantageous. A willingness to spend long periods of time in the field 
in spring, and to travel and work across different research sites is 
important. This position covers EU fee rates (€5,750 p.a.; non-EU 
members may apply but would need to cover extra international rate fees 
themselves), plus a tax-free stipend of approx. €16,000 p.a.
 
Please direct informal inquiries to Prof. John L. Quinn at 
j.qu...@ucc.ie
Application: To apply please send by email to Prof. John Quinn, 
j.qu...@ucc.ie a CV, details of 2 referees, and an accompanying 1 page 
letter. The letter should outline of your relevant experience, 
explaining why you want the studentship.
 
Dates: Application deadline is 28 February 2018. Interviews will be held 
in person or by Skype within 1 weeks. Start dates are 1 April 2018 or 
sooner!
University College Cork is one of Ireland’s largest and most successful 
universities and the studentships will be based at the School of BEES. 
Currently there are 28 faculty, ca. 20 postdocs and 35 PhD students 
across Zoology, Ecology, Plant Sciences and Geology. Cork is situated on 
the south coast of Ireland, 2.5 hours from Dublin, is served by an 
international airport, has a population of about 200,000, and is on the 
doorstep of some of the most beautiful coastline in Europe.

John Quinn (Professor in Zoology & Head of Discipline), School of 
Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES), UCC, North Mall, 
Cork, Ireland. T23 N73K
Tel (work): 00353-21-4904546 ; Tel (mobile): 00353-(0)852266122
 
Personal http://ornithology.ucc.ieSchool https://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/UCC 
http://www.ucc.ie/en/
 
 

[ECOLOG-L] Open Biology Chair Position at Virginia Commonwealth University

[Julie Zinnert]

*Applications are still being considered for the **Chair Position in
the **Department
of Biology at **Virginia Commonwealth University*

Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for the position of
Chair of the Department of Biology in the College of Humanities and
Sciences. We seek applicants with an excellent record of scholarship,
extramural funding, academic leadership, and a strong commitment to
teaching and student engagement. We are seeking candidates at the rank of
full professor, although exceptional applicants at the associate professor
level will be considered. The successful candidate's research will
complement the interdisciplinary research of the department, and the
candidate will have demonstrated an ability to work collaboratively across
diverse academic communities. The role of the Chair is to function as an
effective academic leader and vital member of the college's leadership team
while helping to advance the goals of the university, college and
department. This will include direction of visioning and strategic planning
processes of the department, advancing and shaping its multi-faceted
research and teaching programs, providing professional, intellectual, and
administrative leadership, and stewarding the daily operations of the unit.
The Chair is also responsible for evaluating faculty and staff, assigning
workloads, allocating resources, and communicating between the department
and the college.

Virginia Commonwealth University has an enrollment of 32,000 students,
including over 2,000 undergraduate and over 75 graduate students in
biology. The Department of Biology has 50 faculty with diverse teaching and
research interests including Cell Regulation, Evolution, and Ecological
Processes and Applications. In addition to a M.S. program, biology faculty
mentor students in the Integrative Life Sciences doctoral program. The
department has outstanding facilities and support from other units at VCU,
with onsite confocal microscopy core, next-gen sequencers, animal vivarium,
access to the Nucleic Acid Research Facility, Center for High Performance
Computing, as well as access to the Rice Rivers Center for Environmental
Life Sciences, a field station devoted to a wide range of ecological and
environmental research along the historic James River. Additional
information about the department and faculty can be found at
*http://biology.vcu.edu/* .

Application review *continue until the position is filled.*

All applicants are required to apply online at www.vcujobs.com and provide
a letter of application, curriculum vitae, a statement of academic
leadership that discusses creative approaches and experiences in developing
academic programs and ability to lead a diverse department toward
excellence in research, teaching and service; and the contact information
of five professional references.

*Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to diversity, equity, and
inclusion as a core component of its mission and is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and
persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.*

-- 
Julie Zinnert, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Virginia Commonwealth University
1000 West Cary Street
Richmond VA 23225
www.cpel.vcu.edu
cpelvcu.blogspot.com
twitter.com/cpelvcu

[ECOLOG-L] 8th Annual Yosemite Symbiosis Workshop!

[Carolin Frank]

Dear Colleagues,

The Eigth annual Yosemite Symbiosis Workshop will take place on May
4th-6th, 2018 at the Sierra Nevada Research Station, Yosemite National
Park. This has become a great venue for a diversity of symbiosis
researchers.  We hope to continue to attract a diverse group in 2018!

Keynote speaker 2018: Dr. Tadashi Fukami from Stanford University!

Information about our meeting:

Why: Our continuing goal is to better integrate the broad groups of
scientists that focus on symbiosis and microbiome research. Yosemite serves
as an ideal site as it is both beautiful and secluded. This will be our 8th
annual meeting and we have been consistently attracting scientists from all over
the country and overseas.

Who: The meeting is small by design (~50 participants) and we seek to focus
on scientists interested in the microbiome, cooperation, mutualism, and
symbiosis. In the past we have covered a range of symbiosis topics from
ecology and evolution to molecular mechanisms in different model and non-model 
systems. We would 
like to make room for a diverse group of people so we will initially accept
up to 3 lab members per group (including the PI) on a first come first
served basis.

When: The talks and formal meeting will be held May 5-6, 2018, though we
make accommodation arrangements available for attendees to arrive on Friday
the 4th to provide opportunities to enjoy the park. Since time at the
conference is limited, we ask attendees to submit an abstract and a
preference (talk versus poster). Priority will be given to those presenting.

Past attendees and talks can be found here:
http://www.sachslab.com/symbiosis-2015.php

Abstract and early bird registration are due on March 16th, 2018.

Where: SNRS has a set of cabins in Wawona and all within a short walk
of the conference room.  Costs: See details in the registration page. We
will only be able to accept credit card payments this year.

Link to meeting information:  http://www.sachslab.com/symbiosis-2015.php

The registration form for the 2018 Symbiosis Workshop is active:
https://snri.ucmerced.edu/form/symbiosis-workshop-2018-registration


Please direct any questions to the organizers:

Carolin Frank cfra...@ucmerced.edu
Joel Sachs jo...@ucr.edu

[ECOLOG-L] (Extended Deadline) Eels and Lamprey: Special Session (SS37) ASLO 2018 Summer Meeting

[Studio, Jonathan - studioja]

We invite you to contribute to special session (SS37) at the 2018 Summer 
Meeting of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography 
(ASLO), which is being held in Victoria, BC, Canada from June 10-15. The theme 
of this year’s meeting is ‘Water Connects’ and the session (SS37) is titled 
'Long fish on a long journey: How eels and lamprey link the mountains to the 
sea’. In short, the session is being held to (1) discuss the most recent 
information we have on all things eel and lamprey (e.g., ecology, hydrology, 
chemistry, policy, etc.), and (2) collaborate to produce a meaningful 
communication product about the status of these fish.

We hope you will consider contributing to this diverse and exciting session. 
More information about the session’s objectives can be found at 
(https://aslo.org/victoria2018/special-sessions). Please feel free to email the 
session organizer, Jon Studio (studi...@dukes.jmu.edu), with any questions or 
concerns you may have. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations at this 
session are due February 23, and can be submitted at 
(https://aslo.org/victoria2018/submission-overview).

[ECOLOG-L] Post-doctoral Researcher, Ecosystem Indicators of the New York Bight and Northwest Atlantic

[Lesley Thorne]

Post-doctoral Researcher, Ecosystem Indicators of the New York Bight and 
Northwest Atlantic

Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

Applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher (PR) are invited to work
with an interdisciplinary team of biological and physical
oceanographers at Stony Brook University, School of Marine and
Atmospheric Sciences. The PR will work on a project funded by the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation to develop
indicators to monitor the health of the New York Bight ecosystem.  The
PR will be working with large datasets on oceanographic and
atmospheric conditions, nutrient dynamics, carbonate chemistry and
living marine resources on the Northeast U.S. Shelf (NES) and with new
data collected in the New York Bight.

The objectives of this project are to develop an interdisciplinary,
multi-trophic level ocean monitoring program in the New York Bight in
order to provide information on the status of New York pelagic
resources to managers; and to inform the development of a system of
indicators of ecosystem health using existing data and observations
collected in the offshore monitoring program in order to better inform
decision making regionally and locally. This work in New York will
provide a template for monitoring to be conducted more broadly in the
Mid-Atlantic region, and this project will aim to be as consistent as
possible with Mid-Atlantic monitoring efforts. The postdoc will be an
integral part in evaluating and recommending a suite of indicators to
monitor in the New York Bight in the future.

Qualifications

·  PhD degree in a relevant discipline, such as Ecology, Fisheries
Science, Statistics, oceanography, or other related field.

·  Experience with statistical modeling and statistical analyses is
required.  Experience with R, Matlab and ArcGIS is preferred.

·  Strong written and oral communication skills, as evidenced
preferably through publications in the peer-reviewed scientific
literature and presentations to a variety of audiences

·  Strong interpersonal skills and experience in field work,
especially on oceanographic vessels is preferred.

The postdoc will be employed by New York state with an annual salary
of $50-60K depending on qualifications. This position is full-time for
one year, with annual renewal of appointment conditional on the PR
making satisfactory progress during the prior year(s) and continuation
of funding. Start date is flexible, and the successful candidate could
begin as soon as possible.

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and writing
samples (e.g. copies of relevant publications), and contact
information for at least three professional references. Please contact
Janet Nye (janet@stonybrook.edu) or Lesley Thorne
(lesley.tho...@stonybrook.edu) for further information.  To apply
please visit www.stonybrook.edu/jobs/ and follow the postdoctoral
link.  Please note requisitions 1703239 and 1703263 are for one
vacancy. The title/rank (Postdoctoral/Senior Researcher) will be
contingent upon the selected candidate's skills and experience in
their area of expertise.  Review of applications will begin
immediately, but the closing date is April 2, 2018



Lesley Thorne, Assistant Professor
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Stony Brook University,  Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000
631.632.5117
www.thornelab.com

[ECOLOG-L] MS positions in Agricultural, Environmental and Sustainability Sciences

[Bradley Christoffersen]

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the School for Earth,
Environmental, and Marine Sciences (www.utrgv.edu/seems)  aims to recruit
outstanding, underrepresented students into a newly developed master’s
program in Agricultural, Environmental and Sustainability Sciences.  As
part a USDA funded grant, we will provide two years of funding that covers
tuition and a monthly stipend to students interested in advanced sciences
related to sustainable agriculture and food systems, and are interested and
qualified to conduct graduate research on one of the projects identified
below.  As part of this program, students will be involved in opportunities
to develop skills important in agricultural careers through engaged
scholarship, and will work closely with faculty and community partners on
the various projects.

Successful candidates should possess a undergraduate degree in a related
field relevant to the graduate research, excellent written and oral
communication skills, can work in teams and in groups, and are expected to
disseminate research in multiple venues.   Interested applicants should *send
a single file* containing (1) a statement that describes both research
interests relevant to the projects below and career goals, (2) CV
containing GPA and GRE scores and any relevant course work, and (3) contact
information for three references to either Dr. Alex Racelis
alexis.racelis@utrgv,  or the faculty identified below.  The students are
expected to start in the AESS program in Summer or Fall 2018.  Interested
candidates should also visit the UTRGV Graduate School website for official
application instructions and deadlines.



(1) The cattle fever ticks (genus Boophilus) pose a threat to the American
cattle industry because they vector a disease, bovine Babesiosis. Much is
known of these blood-sucking ticks in relationship to the transmission of
disease and their life-cycle on the animal host, which has informed an
international effort to manage these pests through various modes. In
collaboration with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service-Cattle Fever Tick
Research Laboratory in Edinburg TX, the UTRGV Agroecology Lab (
www.utrgv.edu/agroecology ) explores the ecology and management of this
important agricultural pest, and is looking to fill two graduate research
assistant positions.  One graduate student assistantship position will
complement international research on classical biological control agents
through the exploration of the potential of conservation biological
control, or the use of native tick parasitoids to help with tick management
in the region.  In collaboration with animal control municipal and county
animal control, dog ticks could be collected throughout the region and
dissected to determine percent parasitism, and held for emergence of adult
wasps.  Wasp larvae could be sequenced using the same methods as *Santos et
al. 2017, (Ticks and Tick-born Diseases*), to determine the molecular
phylogenetic relationship of local *Ixodiphagous hookeri*.  The second
graduate assistantship position will explore the off-host stages of the
tick. After completing development on the host, mature females dis-attach
and drop to the ground. Preliminary observations indicate that the female
seeks the nearest shelter, usually at the base of a plant, preferably in a
root-mass or under plant detritus. In that shelter she will lay her eggs.
The eggs hatch in a few weeks and the egressing larvae surmount a nearby
plant where they await the opportunity to attach to a passing host, a
behavior known as “questing.” It is unknown if the larvae have a preference
for certain plants or if they reject certain plants, or if they simply
surmount any plant nearest to their egg mass. Preliminary research indicate
an aversion to non-graminaceous plants but for this project we propose a
systematic study including “choice” experiments with both adults and larvae
focusing on common south Texas pasture plants.Research will be
conducted at the Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory in Edinburg, TX.
For more information, please contact Dr. Alex Racelis (
alexis.race...@utrgv.edu)



(2) Giant freshwater prawn (*Macrobrachium rosenbergii*) is a commercially
important food species native to the Indo-Pacific that is widely cultivated
in many countries. The popularity of farming *Macrobrachium* stems from its
relatively broad environmental tolerances, its ability to be farmed in the
same enclosures as other aquaculture species (such as tilapia), and its
large size – individuals can exceed 12 inches in length and weigh over a
pound. Its importance as a food source, particularly in developing tropical
and subtropical areas, has been recognized by the United Nations Food and
Agricultural Organization, who provide free training and information on how
to cultivate *Macrobrachium*. The climate of the Lower Rio Grande Valley
makes it an excellent place to cultivate *Macrobrachium* at either a
subsistence, small business, or commercial level

Re: [ECOLOG-L] ecology text for non-academics suggestions

[Patricia Swain Rice]

Thanks to the folks who sent recommendations for general ecology or plant 
ecology books and resources, and especially for those who included links! Here 
is a list with the original comments, sometimes with mine added in brackets. 
Since I don’t know how many students I’ll have or their backgrounds 
(non-academic but plant focused adult audience pool), I’ll be giving them the 
list and suggesting they look at them. I’ll also suggest they browse in a 
library before buying anything.

Cain, Michael L., William D. Bowman, and Sally D. Hacker. 2013. Ecology. 3rd 
Ed. (4th Ed. due May, 2018, authors same but start with Bowman). Oxford 
University Press.
It was fairly easy to consume, and had lots of material to draw from...though I 
believe it was more geared towards theoretical ecology rather than naturalism.
 
Drury, William H. ed. John G.T. Anderson. 1998. Chance and change: ecology for 
conservationists. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Bill Drury, who wrote against models like "Classical succession", and after he 
died his family asked me to edit his manuscript for an "alternative" Ecology 
text book. It is by no means perfect, but it seems to have held up pretty well 
& provokes good discussion among students
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0520211553/ref=tmm_hrd_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=1517321072&sr=8-1
 
Ennos, Roland. 2016. Trees: a complete guide to their biology and structure. 
Comstock Publishing Associates
It doesn't cover quite the subject matter you're looking for, but I quite 
enjoyed "Trees: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Structure" by Roland 
Ennos. It's fairly small, but technical, almost like a chapter or two from a 
broader introductory textbook. It gave me a basic overview of the natural 
history of, well, trees.
 
Gurevitch, Jessica, Samuel M. Scheiner, and Gordon A. Fox.  2006.The Ecology of 
Plants, 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press/Sinauer Associates.
Book intro says it is basic ecology with plant focus. How about The Ecology of 
Plants?
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/the-ecology-of-plants-jessica-gurevitch/1119336458/2679094480524?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_New+Marketplace+Shopping+Textbooks_&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP164998&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzMDTBRDDARIsABX4AWyoh0H0gzlwUz7VH3nCytP5pCsSj0JaOwl_lTQ6bBLS-TssrvgsQSgaAgPREALw_wcB
 
Gotelli, Nicholas J. 2008. Primer of Ecology 4th Ed. Oxford University Press/ 
Sinauer Associates.
good and succinct, but might not be right for your audience. [technical with 
focus on models]
 
Karban, Richard, Mikaela Huntzinger & Ian S. Pearse. 2014. How to do ecology: a 
concise handbook 2nd Ed. Princeton University Press.
I also really like “How to do Ecology” by Karban and Hartzinger about the 
process of developing and conducting ecological research, but again, might not 
be right for this situation. [looks very useful for planning research projects]
 
Keddy, Paul A. 2017. Plant Ecology, origins, processes, consequences. 2nd Ed. 
Cambridge University Press. New York.
[Covers basics but book intro suggests reviewing basic ecology text].
 
Marchetti, Michael P. & Peter B. Moyle. 2010. Protecting Life on Earth: an 
introduction to the science of conservation. University of California Press, 
Berkeley.
a short non-majors ecology/conservation biology text.  I think we did a solid 
job at explaining general ecology to nonscience people.  you might check it 
out, although it is not plant centered but there are plant examples. 
 
Molles, Manuel C., Jr. 2014. Ecology: Concepts and applications 7th Ed. 
McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Manuel Molles book is good- not sure what edition is out-like the idea that he 
focuses on students understanding the language of science (figs and table-with 
helpful annotations-still use some of those in my senior level cons bio class)
 
Relyea, Rick and Robert E. Ricklefs. 2017. The Economy of Nature 8th Ed. W.H. 
Freeman Publishers.
completely redid all of the figures and photos, with lots of plant examples. I 
am pleased to report that the response from instructors and students has been 
very positive. [the chapter on line has a terrific discussion of soils, and 
plants and soil relations]
 
Stokols, Danel. 2017. Social ecology in the digital age: solving complex 
problems in a globalized world. Academic Press/Elsevier.
know you’re interested in identifying a general ecology text, but in case 
you’re interested in a supplemental text on social and human ecology, this 2018 
title might be a relevant resource for you and your students:  Social Ecology 
in the Digital Age - Solving Complex Problems in a Globalized World.  
 
Other:
often utilize user friendly manuals in the field
 
Blog: I will seriously risk tooting my own horn, but for the past year I've 
written an almost weekly blog that discusses recent papers in Ecology (about 
75%) and in Conservation Biology (the remainder).  Each post has background, 
hypotheses, data and a discussion of why this question is important or of 
interes

[ECOLOG-L] Looking for Volunteers to help in Peruvian Amazon

[Melanie Desch]

ARCAmazon is looking for 3 fieldwork volunteers starting March 1, 2018 
to help maintain our 4,450-hectare reserve in the Southern Peruvian 
Amazon.  Located in the Las Piedras Watershed, we are a Peruvian non-
profit focused on land conservation, investigation, and education.  Our 
mission is to increase the value of the Amazon, to conserve and protect 
it, and to connect people with rainforest. 

Duties primarily consist of maintenance on our property; this may 
include trail clearing, building maintenance, improving composting 
systems, implementation of sustainable systems, cleaning, inventory of 
tools, and more.  We are looking for people with an interest in 
protecting the forest, sharing their skills, and working in a tightknit 
community.  Be prepared to get dirty, sweat, and work hard! Other 
residents onsite include management and staff, long-term researchers, 
and research interns.  We have anywhere from 7- 50 people at our center 
at one time.  We ask for a commitment of 5-hour work days 6 days a week. 
Sundays are off and may include leisure activities: swimming in 
waterfalls, visits to a macaw clay lick, rafting downstream, walks along 
our extensive trail system, football in the community downriver, and 
more. 

You can visit our website www.conservetheamazon.org to learn more about 
our other programs and to view our facilities.
Accommodations and food are provided. Program start date is March 1, 
2018 and runs 2-3 months long.  Please respond to i...@arcamazon.org as 
soon as possible as the interview process will begin in the following 
week.  

Sincerely, Melanie Desch

Fungi/Agroforestry Director ARCAmazon
Ambassador International Living Future Institute
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
melan...@arcamazon.org

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Fellowship in Community and Spatial Ecology Impacts of Management on a Grassland Ecosystem

[Conservation GIS Lab]

*Postdoctoral Fellowship in Community and Spatial Ecology Impacts of
Management on a Grassland Ecosystem Smithsonian Conservation Biology
Institute*

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI
) is
seeking two Postdoctoral Fellows to advance the Smithsonian’s ongoing
research into wildlife distributions in grassland ecosystems, as part of a
new collaborative initiative with the American Prairie Reserve (APR)
in Montana;
Conservation Science for Restoring America’s Wild Prairie. The projects
will advance APR’s mission of creating the largest wildlife reserve in the
contiguous US. APR is restoring native biodiversity to the reserve
including conducting a large bison restoration project. As such, the
research will be both basic and applied leading to conservation and
restoration recommendations. This is a full-time, 3-year appointment, and
the fellow(s) will be based at APR with regular trips to SCBI in Front
Royal, VA.



The objectives of this fellowship are to: (1) Assess the bird and mammal
communities across ranges that differ in conservation and management
practices including in cattle and bison stocking rates and (2) Focus on
prairie dog towns, their extent and mammal community, in preparation for
black-footed ferret restoration. Both projects involve extensive GIS
and spatial
ecology experience, as well as being well versed in wildlife survey
techniques. Experience in surveying short-grass prairie bird communities is
essential for one of the fellowships.



The successful candidate will pursue innovative and applied research
questions in the field of grassland wildlife communities and their response
to management. The postdoctoral fellow will work with Drs. William McShea,
Jared Stabach and Melissa Songer at SCBI and Kyran Kunkel at APR.



Responsibilities

●   Work with Principle Investigators and APR staff to select study
sites and sampling regimes at APR and Charles M. Russel Wildlife Refuge.

●   Work with field teams to effectively survey bird communities
through point counts and mammal communities through camera traps.

●   Use remote sensing and other landuse data sources to determine
factors structuring mammal and bird communities in the study area.

●   Create scientific manuscripts based on research that are applicable
to wildlife conservation and management journals.

●To develop and present (written and oral) products suitable for
general audience explaining purpose and results of project.

●Work with Smithsonian researchers and their partners to develop
wildlife image repositories (eMammal and Wildlife Insights) into effective
research, education and outreach vehicles for wildlife conservation.

●Participate in scientific meetings and engage with colleagues and
collaborators pursuing related research questions.

●Provide guidance and assistance to technicians, students, fellow
postdocs, and others carrying out related work.



Preferred qualifications

●A Ph.D. in Wildlife Management or Conservation, Community Ecology,
or a related academic field (PhD required for full stipend).

●Expertise and experience in estimating wildlife populations in
grassland systems, especially multi-temporal analysis of land use and
management.

●Significant analysis skills in R; additional programming
experience advantageous (e.g. Java and/or Python). Extensive experience in
spatial analysis using ARC GIS or similar software.

●Experience designing, organizing, and managing ecology projects
involving camera traps.

●Enthusiasm for collaborating across institutions to jointly pursue
wildlife topics relevant to both academic and applied audiences.

●Savvy interpersonal skills to build and maintain
collaborative and productive
relationships with ranchers, conservationists, and agencies.

●Enthusiasm for living in a remote and challenging field location





Preferred start date is *early Summer 2018 or sooner*. The stipend package
is set at $60,000 per year plus housing at APR. Interested applicants
should submit a single pdf composed of cover letter, CV, and names and
contact information for 3 references to scbiecol...@si.edu by *March 1,
2018*. Please include “SI/APR Post-Doctoral Fellowship” in subject header.
The cover letter should include (i) the applicant’s earliest possible start
date; (ii) and a summary of the applicant’s research and analysis
experience in wildlife community estimation and grassland ecology.

[ECOLOG-L] PhD Position: Mathematical Biology, U Glasgow

[Colin Torney]

School of Mathematics and Statistics - Collective Decision Making in
Atlantic Salmon
Supervisors: Dr Colin Torney, Dr Shaun Killen, Prof. Colin Adams

A PhD position is available on mathematical modelling of the collective
movement patterns of Atlantic Salmon.
Further details are available here:
https://www.findaphd.com/search/projectdetails.aspx?PJID=93888
Deadline for applications is the 16th February 2018.