[ECOLOG-L] Transformative Field Ecology Courses at U of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station

[FLBS Group]

Enrollment remains open for transformative field ecology courses in spectacular 
western Montana at the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station.

We are especially interested in recruiting students to some of our new classes:

-- two new courses for 2018: Environmental Sensors https://goo.gl/LBUL8S & 
Field Methods in Ornithology https://goo.gl/xzRCVc
-- two courses new from 2017: Aquatic Microbial Ecology & Drone Remote Sensing 
https://goo.gl/LLeXQn
Review of scholarship applications begins within the next few weeks. Space is 
limited in these courses and interested students are encouraged to apply soon 
via  http://flbs.umt.edu/education/default.aspx.

Note that FLBS credits easily transfer to other institutions and our classes 
are open to all.

For immersive field ecology experiences in western Montana . . . Get Out Here! 
= = = > https://youtu.be/U1NK-9gauCo!

Jim Elser
Director, Flathead Lake Biological Station
Bierman Professor of Ecology, University of Montana
http://flbs.umt.edu/  Twitter: @DrLimnology

[ECOLOG-L] Socio-Ecological Resilience and the Role of the Public, March 15, 5:30-8pm - Graduate Center, CUNY NYC

[Joy Cytryn]

Please join us for the
Earth and Environmental Sciences
GEOS Colloquium

SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AND THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC
Thursday, March 15th,
5:30pm followed by a reception
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 5th Ave, New York, NY
Room 4201

“Resilience in Jamaica Bay: the science and humanity of it all,”
Adam Parris, Executive Director, Science and Resilience Institute at 
Jamaica Bay

“Why institutions matter for resilient societies”
Denise D. P. Thompson, Department of Public Management, John Jay College

 "Why resilience requires democracy: an opportunity for NYC & the role of CUNY"
Michael Menser, Philosophy and Urban Sustainability Studies, Brooklyn 
College & EES, CUNY GC

BIOs
Dr. Thompson is assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 
City University of New York where she runs the Master of Public Administration 
(MPA) Saturday program and teaches courses in Policy Analysis, Research 
Methods, International Comparative Public Administration, Emergency Management 
and Organization Theory and Management. Dr. Thompson’s research and 
publications focus on disaster risk reduction and management among the 
small-island developing states of the Caribbean. Among her published works are: 
“Non-linear Policy Change”; “Do Catastrophes in poor countries lead to 
event-related policy change? The 2010 earthquake in Haiti”; “Disaster logistics 
in small island developing states: Caribbean perspective"; and “Leveraging 
Learning to Improve Disaster Management Outcomes”
Her forthcoming book, “Disaster Risk Governance: the missing ingredient in 
Resource Poor Countries”, is scheduled for publication
in 2018.  

Adam Parris, Executive Director, Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica 
Bay:  Having lived near estuaries all his life, Adam Parris is passionate about 
positive change where people, waters, and diverse species converge at the coast 
and about making science more relevant and useful. Currently, he leads the 
Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay in New York City, a partnership 
between governmental, research, and community organizations aimed at improving 
resilience in the region’s coastal waters. Previously, he helped develop the 
Sea Level Rise Tool for Sandy Recovery, an effort to integrate science on 
future sea level rise with flood insurance information for rebuilding and 
recovery efforts. He has been involved in integrating sea level rise 
information into the coastal planning efforts of a number of Federal agencies, 
as well as the states of California, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. From 
2010 – 2015, Mr. Parris directed NOAA’s Regional Integrated Sciences and 
Assessments (RISA) program, a national effort to connect science to climate 
adaptation and preparedness decisions in different regions across the US. With 
over
50 scientists from the RISA program, he co-edited and co-authored Climate in 
Context: Science and Society Partnering for Adaptation, an in-depth exploration 
of techniques for producing usable knowledge and climate services. He enjoys 
speaking in public and has done so regularly for over 100 audiences large and 
small, including local and national media outlets. Mr. Parris won a 
Presidential Green.gov award as Climate Champion, a NOAA Administrator’s Award, 
and a Bronze medal from the Department of Commerce. He holds a Bachelor’s 
degree in English Literature and Environmental Geology from Bucknell University 
and a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Vermont. He lives in 
Brooklyn with his wife, two kids and dog, who are a constant source of 
inspiration, humility, and good humor.  www.srijb.org 

Dr. Michael Menser is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Urban 
Sustainability Studies at Brooklyn College and Earth and and Environmental 
Science and Environmental Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center and President 
and Chair of the Board of the Participatory Budgeting Project.  His research 
and publications are on participatory democracy and public participation 
particularly as they pertain to socio-ecological resilience, technology, food, 
and environmental justice and on the commons-infused concept of the 
social-public (in contrast to the more neoliberal public-private partnership).  
He was a member of community based “Alliance for a Just Rebuilding” after 
Superstorm Sandy and contributed to Prospects for Resilience: Insights from 
NYC's Jamaica Bay.  He is the author of We Decide! Participatory Democracy in 
Theory and Practice (Temple University Press 2018).

[ECOLOG-L] MS position Forest Ecology and Management

[Rodney Will]

GRADUATE STUDY IN FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (M.S.)

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State
University is seeking qualified individuals to work on a research project
looking at the effects of drought, nutrient availability, and stand density
on growth, development, and economics of loblolly pine stands. The position
will be filled at the M.S. level.

RESEARCH AREA: Loblolly pine is the most important economic species in the
southeastern US.  A future drier climate may reduce its productivity,
especially along the western margin of its range. Understanding how reduced
soil moisture interacts with nutrient availability (fertilization) and stand
density (thinning) and the associated economic ramifications is critical to
optimize management.  The successful candidate will leverage an existing
research site that has included a 30% reduction in precipitation since 2012
to examine the growth, canopy development, and wood quality of these stands
and determine how the treatments affect economic return.

STIPEND: A graduate research assistantship of $16,000 for M.S. annually for
a half-time appointment. Benefits include resident and non-resident tuition
waiver and student health insurance (for student only, family coverage
available for an additional fee). 

TENTATIVE STARTING DATE: Summer or Fall 2018

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS: B.S. in forestry, forest management, plant
biology, ecology, or related degree.  If applicable, a competitive GPA and
acceptable GRE scores are required.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested individuals should contact:

Dr. Rodney Will 
008C Agricultural Hall  
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-5444
rodney.w...@okstate.edu  

Dr. Omkar Joshi
008C Agricultural Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078
405-744-5614
omkar.jo...@okstate.edu
 


LOCATION AND FACILITIES:
 The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management is part of the
Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State
University. The University is a land grant institution with an enrollment of
about 25,000 students located midway between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The
Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management conducts
interdisciplinary research, instruction, and extension education to address
the sustainable management and conservation of the fishery, forest,
rangeland, and wildlife resources of Oklahoma and beyond. This department is
a source of cutting-edge research, quality instruction, and effective
outreach to students, landowners, managers, and public agencies. 

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc Evolutionary Ecology at Auburn University

[Matthew Wolak]

Postdoctoral Position in Evolutionary Ecology at Auburn University


The Wolak Research Group at Auburn University
(www.auburn.edu/cosam/faculty/biology/wolak/index.htm) is hiring a
Postdoctoral Research Associate to test and develop theory predicting the
evolutionary dynamics of genetic effects and phenotypic distributions in
response to selection for sexual dimorphism. The main focus of the initial
project will be theory development using mathematical or individual-based
models. However, beyond this there are opportunities for the postdoc to
expand along many possible avenues - including current laboratory
experiments and analyses on the empirical study of sexual dimorphisms. The
postdoc will be expected to assist with training graduate students, develop
synergistic projects, write grants, and produce first authored papers and
contribute to co-authored papers. Persons from groups typically
under-represented in science are strongly encouraged to apply. 


Required:
  - A Ph.D. in an appropriate field (including but not limited to evolution,
ecology, genetics) at time of hire
  - A demonstrated track record of creative, productive research
  - The ability to work in a dynamic, collaborative environment with
graduate and undergraduate students
  - A strong quantitative background
  - Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Preferred:
  - Expertise in quantitative genetics
  - Experience building mathematical or individual-based models
  - A demonstrated ability to code in at least one programming language

Availability:
The position start date is June 1 2018, but can be flexible. This is a
one-year, full-time position with the possibility of renewal for a total of
2 years, pending satisfactory work. The postdoc will also benefit from AU
fringe benefits and access to conference travel funds within the Wolak
Research Group. Additional group funds for independent projects are
available upon submission of a written proposal.
 
If interested, please email the following materials to Matthew Wolak
(matthew.wo...@auburn.edu):
  - 1) a current CV with contact information for three references
  - 2) a 2 page statement of interest in this opportunity with descriptions
of relevant skills and experience
  - 3) up to 3 PDFs of relevant publications or manuscripts in preparation

Screening of applications will begin 09 April 2018, and continue until the
position is filled. Interested persons should submit their application
materials before this date to receive full consideration.

This announcement is informal in nature and the selected candidate must be
able to meet eligibility requirements to work at Auburn University and in
the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin and
continue working legally for the proposed term of employment.


Matthew Wolak
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Auburn University

[ECOLOG-L] PhD Scholarship, Floral traits of New Zealand tree species

[Mike Clearwater]

The University of Waikato and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research are seeking
an energetic, self-motivated PhD student to work as part of a collaborative
programme studying the floral traits of New Zealand rainforest tree
species. The student will quantify key floral traits for a suite of native
rainforest trees and develop a set of research questions to explore
variation among and within species in these traits. Key traits include
nectar quantity and quality, pollen quality and flower colour.
Interspecific variation in these traits can be related to variation in
other widely-measured leaf and stem traits. Community-level variation in
nectar and pollen quality and quantity can be estimated by matching trait
data to vegetation plot data enabling the student to scale-up and develop a
national-scale nectar map for New Zealand. The student will be enrolled at
the University of Waikato with joint supervision by Dr Sarah Richardson at
Manaaki Whenua, New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute specialising in
terrestrial ecology. There will be opportunities to spend time at Manaaki
Whenua in Canterbury, and for field work throughout New Zealand.



*Key and unresolved questions could include:*

·  What is the size of the nectar resource in native forests nationally?

·  What are the environmental drivers of nectar-producing species?

·  Do nectar-producing species form a distinct functional group that
assembles along key gradients?

·  Do floral traits correlate with other floral traits, whole-plant
traits, or are they independent of leaf-, wood-, root- and whole-plant
trait spectra?

·  Can floral traits be predicted from phylogeny?

·  When applied to forest plot data and modelled with respect to
environmental gradients, can we build predictive models of nectar
availability and pollen availability in native forests?

·  Are they associations between nectar- and pollen-providing species
and threats such that ongoing pressures on the NZ forest flora are likely
to diminish or increase the nectar resource?



Students with an MSc or equivalent degree in ecology are invited to apply.  A
strong academic record and good communication skills are essential.
Previous research experience in plant ecology, plant traits or floral
ecology will be an advantage. Applicants will have a driving licence valid
for New Zealand and will be comfortable working in field and laboratory
environments.


The successful applicant will be supported by a doctoral scholarship from a
NZ MBIE Endeavour Fund research programme (NZ$27,500 per annum tax-free
stipend, plus tuition fees, for 3 years). The project is expected to
commence in 2018, applications are invited by 20 April 2018 or until the
position is filled.



Applicants are required to provide the following:

·  Curriculum vitae, including the names of two academic referees;

·  Academic transcript;

·  A brief statement describing their previous experience in plant
ecology, and why they wish to study for a PhD in plant ecology at the
University of Waikato and with Manaaki Whenua.


For information on entry requirements, including English language
proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English, go to
http://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/enrolment/higher-degrees



*Enquiries and applications should be sent by email to Associate Professor
Mike Clearwater (**mike.clearwa...@waikato.ac.nz*
*) before 20 April 2018.*


-- 

Mike Clearwater

Associate Professor

School of Science

University of Waikato

Private Bag 3105

Hamilton 3240

New Zealand



P: 64 7 838 4613

M: 64 21 203 2902

mike.clearwa...@waikato.ac.nz 



http://sci.waikato.ac.nz/staff/biol/mclearw

[ECOLOG-L] Paid Summer Internship in Restoration and Horticulture, St. Louis

[Susan Baron]

The Litzsinger Road Ecology Center (LREC), a division of the Missouri
Botanical Garden, is accepting applications for summer interns. The 34-acre
site is an environmental learning facility, consisting of an urban creek,
hardwood bottomland woodland, and prairie habitats. Interns work with staff
on various projects including site restoration, invasive species control,
native plant production, and ecological monitoring. Interns will also have
the opportunity to complete an independent research project. 

This is a 10-week paid internship in St. Louis, MO. 


For the full job description and to apply, please go to
https://usr53.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-US/MBG/Posting/View/92  The
posting will close on March 25.

[ECOLOG-L] JOB: Research Assistant in Conservation Biological Control and Sustainable Agriculture (4 months)

[David Branson]

Summer Research Assistant Job: Conservation Biological Control and
Sustainable Agriculture

Title: Biological Science Aide (GS2 or GS3)
Location: USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Lab, Sidney, Montana   

Job Description/Duties: The USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Northern
Plains Agriculture Research Laboratory in Sidney, MT is seeking an
enthusiastic and hardworking individual to serve as a biological science
aide on projects examining the influence of landscape structure and crop
diversity on pest insects and their natural enemies (e.g. ladybeetles,
parasitoid wasps).  The research is focused on developing
ecologically-based, sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to
pest management in agricultural systems.  This position will involve a
mixture of field work (~50%), and lab work to sort samples and identify
insect pests and their natural enemies (~50%).  The successful candidate
will gain hands on experience with insect field sampling methods, set up and
maintenance of field experiments and insect rearing and identification
techniques, as well as the chance to work with the diverse insect fauna
associated with cropping systems in a team oriented research environment.  

Salary: $11.68 (GS-2) or $12.74 (GS-3) per hour depending on experience and
education. The candidate will receive overtime pay when working above the
base work schedule of 40 hours a week.  Housing is not covered, but
dorm-style shared housing is available on location for ~$148 per month,
including utilities. 

Dates: May-September 2018 (this is ~a 16-week appointment with the
possibility of extension).  Please specify your available start and end
dates in your application. 

Qualifications: The candidate must be a US citizen, with a valid driver’s
license.  Additionally, the candidate should be physically fit, and
comfortable spending time outside in uncomfortable field conditions (hot,
biting insects etc.). Willingness to work long days, and weekends when
necessary is also a must. Undergraduate course work in ecology or
entomology, and previous field and lab work experience is preferred but not
required. 
Application process: Please send cover letter, resume and names and contact
information of two references (electronically) in a single file to Dr.
Tatyana Rand (tatyana.r...@ars.usda.gov).
Open Period: Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and continue
until the position is filled. For more information on our research program
visit our website at http://bit.ly/2Hst9xV or contact us directly.

USDA is an equal opportunity employer. 
Reasonable Accommodation:  If you need a reasonable accommodation for any
part of the application and hiring process, or have questions regarding
reasonable accommodation and/or accessibility for any part of the
application and hiring process, please contact the Disability Program
Manager on 202-720-6161 or through the DC Relay Service on 202-855-1234 (TDD).

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoctoral Position in Evolutionary Ecology

[Matthew Walsh]

A postdoctoral researcher position is available in the Walsh lab 
(https://walshlab.weebly.com/) in the Department of Biology at the 
University of Texas at Arlington. This position will contribute to a NSF 
CAREER grant that is testing the role of phenotypic plasticity in 
adaptation. This project is resurrecting populations of waterfleas 
(Daphnia) from lakes in Wisconsin that have recently adapted to a novel 
invasive predator. Activities associated with this position include 
field and laboratory experiments using aquatic organisms.
Duration: The duration is for two years with annual renewal contingent 
on performance.

Requirements: A Ph.D. in ecology or evolutionary biology is necessary.   

Start date: The start date is flexible although ideally the position 
will begin sometime this summer.  

To apply, e-mail Matthew Walsh (matthew.wa...@uta.edu) with a cover 
letter explaining your research interests, (2) a CV, and (3) contact 
information for three references. Review of applicants will begin 
immediately.

Arlington is a city of approximately 365,000 and is conveniently located 
in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Within a 25-mile 
radius of the center of Arlington is a workforce of over two million 
people. The city has 82 public parks, including River Legacy Parks, a 
1,300-acre oasis on the Trinity River in the heart of north Arlington. 
Arlington is the home of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the Texas Rangers 
Ballpark, and Six Flags Over Texas. Cost of living is relatively low for 
a major metropolitan area. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport 
is the fourth largest airport in the US. More information on the city of 
Arlington can be found at www.experiencearlington.org.

[ECOLOG-L] Minnesota DNR grassland bird surveyor contract RFP

[Jessica Petersen]

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources requests proposals for 
competitive-bid contracts to survey for birds in the prairies and 
grasslands of southwest Minnesota.  This project will be used to develop a 
long-term monitoring program that will require experienced bird surveyors 
for years to come.  Four surveyors will each conduct 130 hours of whole-
community bird surveys (25 – 30 mornings with suitable weather) between 25 
May and 30 June 2018.  Surveyors will be responsible for arranging and 
supplying their own transportation and lodging, but can include those 
expenses in their cost proposal.  Survey locations include sites near 
Marshall, Ortonville, and Glenwood, Minnesota.  Responders will have the 
option of submitting proposals to work in a single area or to work as a 
rover covering all sites.

Responders must first register as a vendor with the state of Minnesota: 
https://mn.gov/mmb/accounting/swift/vendor-resources/.  Approval for 
vendor registrations may take 3 - 4 days.  After receiving vendor status, 
responders will be able to access the Request for Proposals with more 
details and instructions.  All proposals must be submitted through the 
state of Minnesota's supplier portal http://supplier.swift.state.mn.us/ by 
2 April 2018, 2:00 PM CST.  The State requires that surveyors carry $1 
million general liability insurance before they can be offered the 
contract. 

[ECOLOG-L] New Career Opportunity - The Xerces Society

[Mary Ann Lau]

*Job opening: Farm Bill Pollinator Conservation Planner and NRCS Partner
Biologist*

Under the direction of the Xerces Society Senior Pollinator Conservation
Specialist (Midwest Region), and in collaboration with USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) North Dakota state office staff,
the *Farm
Bill Pollinator Conservation Planner* will provide conservation planning,
technical support and training focused on pollinators, honey bees,
declining butterflies, declining bumble bees, and other beneficial insects
to farmers and NRCS field office planners in North Dakota and Montana.
During the first several months, this position will support conservation
planning in field offices close to Bismarck.  Over time, the incumbent will
provide support to conservation planners throughout North Dakota and into
Montana. The ideal candidate will be able to bring together conservation
planning guidance that addresses multiple goals of soil, water, and
pollinator conservation.



*Location: *

Bismarck, North Dakota

*Application Deadline:* April 1, 2018

*Start Date:* May 2018

Please review full job details and application instructions here:

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

[ECOLOG-L] Having kids in an era of Climate Change

[Heneghan, Liam]

Colleagues,
I've been interested in the spate of recent pieces worrying about having kids 
in an era of climate change. This is my response for what it's worth.

http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2018/03/have-kids-or-do-not-have-kids-but-lets-not-blame-climate-change.html

What do you think about the issue?

All best wishes

Liam

Liam Heneghan
Professor of Environmental Science and Studies
Author Beasts at 
Bedtime:https://www.amazon.com/Beasts-Bedtime-Revealing-Environmental-Literature/dp/022643138X/r

Co-Director, Institute for Nature and Culture
DePaul University
Environmental Science and Chemistry Building (McGowan South)
1110 West Belden Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
Ph 773 325-2779
Fax: 773 325-7448

[ECOLOG-L] Post-doctoral researcher, global change ecology, Utah State University

[Peter Adler]

We are seeking a post-doc to join a USDA-AFRI project investigating the
impacts of increasing climate variability on rangeland production across the
western United States. The position, based in Peter Adler’s research group
at Utah State University, will involve collaboration with Katie Suding
(University of Colorado), Brady Allred (University of Montana), and John
Bradford (USGS). The post-doc will work with long-term, remotely sensed
time-series data to characterize the sensitivity of primary production to
interannual variability in weather and soil moisture. Patterns of
sensitivity will be compared across five rangeland ecoregions, and across
areas of contrasting vegetation composition within those ecoregions.  The
position is funded for two years at a salary of $48,000 per year and can
begin as early as May 1, 2018. For more information, and to apply, go to: 
http://usu.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobid=3266

[ECOLOG-L] Grant for Graduate Students in Applied Ecology, Northeast US

[Chris Nagy]

Mianus River Gorge
Research Assistantship Program (RAP)


Program Description
The Mianus River Gorge (MRG), a land trust and conservation organization in
Bedford, NY, awards a Research Assistantship Program (RAP) grant to fund a
graduate-level study that investigates environmental challenges in urban
and suburban ecosystems. RAP students are awarded a grant of $5,000/yr for
two (Master’s) or three (Doctoral) years.

The overarching purpose of this grant is to answer ecological questions
related both to conservation in urban and suburban landscapes generally,
and to specific issues affecting the MRG Preserve and/or the Mianus
Watershed. Thus, while we are happy to consider proposals from students
from any location, our local-scale interest combined with the high school
mentorship requirements (see below) means that we tend to award the grant
to students located in and/or focused on the northeast US.


Applicant Eligibility

• Applicant must be willing to mentor a high school student in our
authentic research program, the Wildlife Technician Program (WTP).
• Proposed research must directly contribute to a better understanding of
urban and suburban ecosystems from a management perspective. We are
interested in applied research that will inform land management and develop
conservation strategies for natural areas in urbanized landscape, and
provide management recommendations to our staff on stewarding the MRG
Preserve and the Mianus Watershed.
• Proposed projects can be multi-disciplinary and cover a range of topics,
e.g., wildlife biology, human ecology, watershed or forest management, and
ecosystem processes.
• Candidates must be enrolled in a U.S. accredited college (Master’s or PhD
program).
• All proposed studies should include the Gorge or its watershed as one of
the study sites although other sites may be used (and is encouraged to
provide regional relevance to your findings).


Evaluation Criteria

• Mentor potential – Does the project provide research opportunities for a
high school student? Does the applicant and their study design seem to
facilitate involvement and cooperation with a high school mentee?
• Research implications - How can the proposed research contribute to
improved management, restoration, or conservation of natural resources in
suburban and urban landscapes? How will the proposed research inform
management of the Mianus River Gorge and/or the Mianus Watershed
specifically?
• Project duration - Can the proposed project provide meaningful results
during the student’s tenure?
• Funding - Can the research be completed with existing resources?
• Innovative – Does the research utilize new methodologies, theories, or
management strategies?
• Impact on existing resource – We are interested in studies that employ
methods that minimize disturbance or impact upon the population or resource
you are studying, particularly regarding the MRG Preserve itself, whenever
possible. If invasive or destructive sampling is proposed, there should be
a strong justification for its need and a lack of alternatives.

Students interested in all aspects of applied ecology and conservation are
encouraged to submit a proposal to RAP, but this year we are particularly
interested in studies on eastern hemlock forest ecology with a focus on the
management and protection of MRGP’s old-growth hemlock forest. This could
include soil or mycorrhizal ecology and potential for restoration of
below-ground function in hemlock stands, management of hemlock wooly
adelgid, or other community-level research with strong potential to inform
on-the-ground conservation or restoration. Similar questions on
second-growth oak-hickory and/or maple-ash-birch forest management would be
welcomed as well.

With that said, proposals that relate to any aspect of applied ecology and
conservation will certainly be considered. We have funded projects
examining a wide spectrum of topics such as songbird nutrition, vernal pool
ecology, population genetics, water quality, invasive species management,
and wildlife diseases.

Application Process
Applications are reviewed in two stages. To attract a broad array of ideas,
we ask candidates to
describe their project in two to four pages. Those candidates whose
application successfully meets the above evaluation criteria will be
interviewed and asked to provide a more detailed proposal before a final
decision is made. We encourage prospective applications to contact us if
they have any questions about the grant program.

We prefer to receive applications from and interview the student that will
be conducting the research directly, but professors who are recruiting
students for a given proposal may also apply. In such cases we ask that the
professor contact us directly to discuss their project before submitting an
application.

Please apply at:
http://www.mianus.org/what-we-do/research-and-education/graduate-level/rap-application/

and email all materials to resea...@mianus.org by 5/15/18

For examples of 

[ECOLOG-L] Research Assistant Position - Washington State University

[Angela Knerl]

Research Assistant, WSU TFREC, Wenatchee, WA (Administrative 
Professional, full time). 

The incumbent will perform a wide range of duties including laboratory, 
(DNA/RNA extractions, PCR, electrophoresis, pollen germination and 
viability assays), field, and greenhouse work. Other required activities 
include data entry and preparation of graphics and reports. Must 
demonstrate proficiency in essential computer software (MS Word, Excel 
and Power Point) and the ability to learn new software. The incumbent 
must be able to locate and purchase supplies, maintain instruments, 
schedule and execute activities independently, and demonstrate 
flexibility in working on different projects, learning new procedures, 
and developing protocols as required. The incumbent will supervise the 
activities of hourly workers, and work with other technical staff and 
scientists to achieve project goals. 

Bachelor’s degree in biology, plant sciences, pomology/tree fruit 
physiology or related field is required with two years experience in 
relevant research field of investigation preferred. 

Posting closes April 1. For full description of position and application 
instructions visit: www.wsujobs.com/postings/37016. WSU is an EO/AA 
Educator and Employer

[ECOLOG-L] 11th Arthropod Genomics Symposium, Urbana, Illinois, June 7-9

[Ryerson, Daniel E]

Dear colleagues,

Apologies if you receive this message from multiple list servers as we are 
attempting to reach a wide audience.

Gene Robinson and I invite you to attend and participate in the 11th Arthropod 
Genomics Symposium to be held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
on Thursday-Saturday June 7-9, 2018. This annual meeting originated with Susan 
Brown and colleagues at Kansas State University and now rotates between them, 
Notre Dame, and us. It is a relatively informal meeting allowing for lots of 
interactions and discussion of the progress in arthropod genomics in the past 
year and prospects for the future.

We have retained the format of years before, with a plenary talk by Michael 
Lynch from Arizona State University on Thursday evening, then six talk sessions 
on Friday and Saturday each with two invited speakers (see agenda below) and 
two contributed talks, covering topics such as the i5k, microbiomes, vector 
biology, social insects, and comparative and population genomics. Each 
afternoon will have a poster session that does not overlap with the talks.

This is a relatively inexpensive meeting and we provide student residence hall 
accommodation to help minimize costs, so while we hope that faculty colleagues 
will attend, we particularly encourage students and postdocs to attend. If you 
know of labs or colleagues new to arthropod genomics, please forward this 
announcement to them as they may not be on one of the list servers we have 
access to.

For those new to genomics, on the Thursday afternoon before the meeting starts 
we will have a hands-on Bioinformatics workshop covering genome databases 
(exemplified by i5k Workspace@NAL), the Apollo tool for manual gene modeling, 
the OrthoDB orthology database, and the BUSCO tool for evaluation of genome 
assembly and gene set completeness.

On Friday evening we will have an optional dinner with May Berenbaum as 
speaker, preceded by free tours of the campus with themes of Genomics, 
Entomology, and Art.

Registration, the meeting agenda, poster abstract submission (including for 
consideration for a contributed talk if desired), lodging, and travel 
information can be obtained here.

Hugh Robertson

[ECOLOG-L] BioQUEST QUBES 2018 Summer Workshop - Wicked Problems: Investigating real world problems in the biology classroom

[Hayley Orndorf]

Wicked Problems: Investigating real world problems in the biology classroom
June 18-23, 2018
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, California
https://qubeshub.org/groups/summer2018

Climate change. Emerging infectious diseases. Water quality. Crop 
production. We invite you to explore how to use wicked problems like these 
to engage your students in your classroom, and beyond. Wicked problems are 
open-ended, complex problems without clear solutions, which involve both 
social and scientific challenges. These problems are a space to add 
effective pedagogical approaches such as case pedagogies, and community 
based or place-based learning. Wicked problems also provide a rich space to 
include systems thinking, interdisciplinary approaches, and quantitative 
skills such as data science and modeling.

Wicked problems require diverse problem solving strategies, so we encourage 
you to bring a colleague from another discipline who would be interested in 
working on wicked problems.  This workshop is hosted by BioQUEST and QUBES, 
which are interdisciplinary groups, and we welcome colleagues outside 
biology who are interested in working on biological problems. 

This workshop is appropriate for future faculty, college faculty from two 
and four year institutions, and high school faculty teaching advanced or AP 
biology. Given the breadth of the topic, all biological disciplines from 
molecular biology to ecology will find a niche. Faculty from other 
disciplines are welcome as well, and we encourage teams to apply. 

Application deadline: April 2, 2018
Application: https://qubeshub.org/groups/summer2018/application 
 
Please contact the organizers with any questions:
Kristin Jenkins, BioQUEST (kristin.jenk...@bioquest.org) or Hayley Orndorf, 
QUBES (h...@pitt.edu)

[ECOLOG-L] Summer Field Course in Tropical Resource Management

[Peter Lahanas]

2018 SUMMER FIELD COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT
 
TROPICAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION (TRM B-18)
 
COURSE LOCATION: Bocas del Toro Biological Station, Boca del Drago, Isla
Colon, Republic of Panama. The biological station is located on a hill
facing Almirante Bay and Volcan Baru on the mainland.  Coral reef and
lowland tropical rainforest ecosystems are immediately accessible from the
field station.  This juxtaposition of the two most biologically diverse
ecosystems along with Panama's rich cultural diversity provides tremendous
opportunities for education and research.  See http://www.itec-edu.org for
details. 
 
INSTRUCTOR: Leonor Ceballos, Ph.D. cand., Faculty of Science, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville Victoria 3010, Australia.  Phone: 507-6489-5570,
Email: leono...@hotmail.com.
 
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide students with various
principles and tools required to understand and manage tropical resources.
The field station is located in a tropical system in the Bocas del Toro
archipelago where natural resources, including rainforests and coral reefs,
have historically been over-utilized and mismanaged. Through lectures,
discussions, field exercises and an independent research project, students
will gain an in-depth understanding of tropical ecology and conservation.
Students will also learn through hands-on field research experience, the
importance of balancing biodiversity and natural resource conservation with
human development needs. By the end of the course, students will have
familiarized themselves with the methods and skills necessary to manage the
sustainable utilization of the innumerable and valuable natural resources of
Bocas. The course material is equivalent to a university upper-level field
course.
 
COURSE SCHEDULE: During the first few days students will receive an
orientation lecture and gain an appreciation for the history, ecology,
resource management, and socio-economics of the Bocas region. The next phase
of the course integrates traditional lectures, readings, discussions and
field exercises to provide students with a working knowledge of the
principles of biodiversity protection and familiarity with a broad range of
approaches to conservation in tropical ecosystems. Students will then draw
upon this knowledge as they design independent research projects and write
individual research proposals. Halfway through the course, the entire field
station will take a three-day trip to the Boquete highlands where students
will be able to appreciate and compare different ecosystems, such as cloud
forest and seasonal dry forest, along with their human impacts and the types
of crop production that these particular ecosystems enable. While traveling
through Panama, students will also gain a broader perspective of the
complexities of resource management and habitat conservation in the region.
Upon returning to the station, students will implement their independent
research projects and collect data for approximately one week. During the
last few days, students will analyze their data, write a research report,
and present their findings during a student research symposium. The course
schedule will be determined on site as a function of student needs and
preferences, and may be weather-dependent.

GENERAL COURSE TOPICS:

·   Natural Resource Management
·   Conservation Biology
·   Land Management Practices
·   Habitat Fragmentation and Land Degradation
·   Protected Areas
·   Ecotourism
·   Ecosystem Services
·   Climate Change and Environment
 
 
READINGS: Most readings are peer reviewed articles and will be assigned and
provided as PDFs. Some examples of readings include:

·   Costanza, R., de Groot, R., Sutton, P., van der Ploeg, S., Anderson,
S. J., Kubiszewski, I., Š & Turner, R. K. (2014). Changes in the global
value of ecosystem services. Global environmental change, 26, 152-158.
·   Moritz, C., & Agudo, R. (2013). The future of species under climate
change: resilience or decline?Science, 341, 504-508.
·   Porter-Bolland, L., Ellis, E. A., Guariguata, M. R., Ruiz-Mallén,
I., Negrete-Yankelevich, S., & Reyes-García, V. (2012). Community managed
forests and forest protected areas: An assessment of their conservation
effectiveness across the tropics. Forest Ecology and Management, 268, 6-17.
·   Foley, J. A., Ramankutty, N., Brauman, K. A., Cassidy, E. S.,
Gerber, J. S., Johnston, M., Š & Zaks, D. P. (2011). Solutions for a
cultivated planet.Nature, 478, 337-342. Etc.
 
SUGGESTED READINGS: Forsyth, A., & Miyata, K. (1984). Tropical nature: Life
and Death in the Rain Forest of Central and South America. New York: Charles
Scribner¹s Sons. This small book is written in an enjoyable and easy-to-read
format and covers a wide array of important tropical ecology topics.
 
FIELD BOOK: A field book will be required in the course. The field book will
contain all data related to group projects and the independent research

[ECOLOG-L] Revised-Field Research Technicians-Feral Hogs in Missouri

[Gompper, Matthew E.]

Position listing revised to address an incorrect start date

Two Field Research Technician positions are available to assist in a project 
evaluating the distribution of feral hogs in Missouri using camera traps. Both 
positions are 9-12 month non-benefits eligible positions. Start date is late 
March - early April, or as soon as possible. Salary is $23,000/year. The 
positions will be based in Phelps, Pulaski, and Texas Counties in south central 
Missouri. Work will generally require around 40 hours/week and may require 
working at night in remote areas. Housing and a field vehicle will be provided.

Candidates must have field research experience and have (or be close to 
finishing) a B.S. in wildlife science, biology, or a closely related 
discipline. Strong work ethic, ability to work alone or in groups, and an 
interest in wildlife management are essential. The technician will work closely 
with, and under the supervision of, an MS student from the University of 
Missouri School of Natural Resources.

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until both positions 
are filled. Submit via email a cover letter that includes a description of work 
experience and career goals, resume, and the names and contact information 
(phone and e-mail address) of 3 references to: Mary Clay, School of Natural 
Resources, University of Missouri, 302 Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO 
65211; E-mail: mac...@mail.missouri.edu

Matthew E. Gompper
William James Rucker Professor
School of Natural Resources
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211 USA
Email: gompp...@missouri.edu
phone: 573-882-9424
https://sites.google.com/site/gompperlab/home
http://www.snr.missouri.edu/fw/faculty/gompper-m.php

[ECOLOG-L] Join us for CUAHSI's Spring Cyberseminar Series on CUAHSI Water Data Services for Supporting Scientific Research and Education!

[Elizabeth Tran]

Please join us Fridays in April for
CUAHSI's Spring 2018 Cyberseminar Series:
CUAHSI Water Data Services for Supporting Scientific Research and 
Education
Host: CUAHSI

Scientists are faced with many challenges throughout the research lifecycle 
ranging from data collection and management to collaboration and reproducible 
science.  These challenges are exacerbated for large studies by increased scope 
and complexity that results from the interdisciplinary nature of water science. 
 The next generation of water scientists must be comfortable using a variety of 
software, tools, and platforms on a daily basis to efficiently and effectively 
conduct their research.  The Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of 
Hydrologic Sciences, Inc. (CUAHSI) aims to assist scientists in these efforts 
by investing in community-driven cyberinfrastructure research projects.  This 
cyberseminar series presents efforts made by CUAHSI to alleviate the burden 
common of data-related tasks and is separated into three distinct seminars that 
collectively discuss the challenges associated with data management, 
collaboration, and reproducible science.  Each seminar will focus on a specific 
scientific use cases and will demonstrate how free and open source software can 
be used to overcome data-related research challenges.  Participants will learn 
about new technologies that can assist both academic and educational water 
science settings.

All talks take place at 12:00 p.m. ET:

April 13
Data Archiving and Dissemination Tools to Support Water Science Research
Liza Brazil, CUAHSI

April 20
Cloud-hosting Water Science Data for Collaborative Research
Mark Henderson, CUAHSI

April 27
Cyberinfrastructure to Support Water Science Education and Reproducible Science
Anthony Castronova, CUAHSI

Cyberseminars will be recorded and posted online for later viewing in our 
archives.







Join Us!


Registration is free! You must register for the series in order to attend. To 
register, click 
here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information 
about joining the series.

[ECOLOG-L] Lakes Region Conservation Corps- Summer/Fall 2018

[Katri Gurney]

Interested applicants can find more information/apply online at 
https://www.squamlakes.org/summer-lrcc. Applications are reviewed in the 
order they are received. Applicants should apply by 8:30 AM on Thursday, 
March 29. 
___

The Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC) is an AmeriCorps service 
program that develops skills and experiences for conservation 
professionals. LRCC members are the driving force behind many of the 
conservation efforts of New Hampshire's Lakes Region. The program is based 
out of the Squam Lakes Association with host sites at the Squam Lakes 
Conservation Society and the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. The program 
provides hands-on conservation work experience and certifications over a 
broad range of areas, which ensures that LRCC members are capable of 
independently approaching a variety of tasks in the environmental 
conservation field. Members remove invasive species, maintain trail 
networks, lead volunteer crews, educate the public on local and regional 
conservation initiatives, and spearhead reports on conservation efforts. 
The trainings, certifications, and experiences also develop important 
professional skills that are applicable to future careers within many 
occupational and educational fields. The program ensures that LRCC members 
are capable of independently approaching a variety of tasks, acting as a 
leader, and thinking critically to solve any problem that may arise. For 
more information about the LRCC program please visit 
https://www.squamlakes.org/summer-lrcc.


LRCC members must meet the following qualifications regardless of host 
site:
-Available from May 21, 2018 through October 17, 2018 (end date dependent 
on completion of service hours)
-Must be 18 years of age by May 21, 2018
-Must be covered by health insurance for duration of program
-Must be a competent swimmer
-Able to lift 50 pounds
-Able to carry and use heavy tools while hiking
-Able to hike at least 8 miles in a day
-Able to work independently and with a group
-Must apply online
-Must pass all certification exams
-Must meet the Corporation for National Community Service's minimum 
requirements:
-Must clear all required National Service Criminal History Checks
-Must be a US citizen, US national, or legal permanent resident of the US
-Must be high school graduates, GED recipients, or must be working toward 
attaining a high school diploma or GED during their term of service


LRCC members receive the following over the course of the program 
regardless of host site:
-NH Safe Boating certification
-NH Commercial Boating license
-Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certification
-Student loan forbearance on qualifying loans.
-Living allowance  of $200 weekly, distributed biweekly
-AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,907 received upon successful completion 
of program (minimum of 900 hours)

ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE at https://www.squamlakes.org/summer-
lrcc. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Applicants 
should apply by 8:30 AM on Thursday, March 29. 



Katri Gurney
AmeriCorps Program Manager
Squam Lakes Association
ka...@squamlakes.org
https://www.squamlakes.org/summer-lrcc

[ECOLOG-L] Fwd: M.Sc. opportunity in parrot communication

[Karl Berg]

*M.Sc. in Acoustic communication in parrots.* A Biology Graduate Teaching
Assistantship and Research Assistantship are available to study parrot
communication in the lab of Dr. Karl Berg in the Department of Biology,
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.  The successful candidate will be
engaged in ongoing, long-term research into vocal communication in
Green-rumped Parrotlets. Preference will be given to applicants that can
demonstrate a genuine interest in behavioral ecology, animal behavior and
communication and that are comfortable in a Spanish-speaking culture. Lab
and course work will take place on the historic, scenic and subtropical
UTRGV Brownsville campus, near the mouth of Rio Grande and Gulf of Mexico
and includes: audio-video archival and analysis; sound spectrographic and
statistical analysis.  Expected outcomes include co-authorship in
peer-reviewed scientific papers, presentations and preparation of grant
proposals.  NSF-sponsored research is a collaborative effort between UTRGV,
the University of California at Berkeley, University of California at Davis
and the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, offering the
successful candidate the opportunity to develop professional experience at
the national and international level. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s
degree in Biology or related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0; minimum GRE
scores of 153 (verbal) and 144 (quantitative); experience or demonstrated
interest in studying animal communication and excellent written and oral
communication skills. Qualified individuals who are interested should send
an updated CV, unofficial GREs and transcripts, a writing sample and letter
of interest to karl.b...@utrgv.edu. Applicants will be reviewed as they are
received and preference for Teaching/Research Assistantships will be given
to those applicants that can meet admission requirements for Fall 2018
(April 15th, 2018).  More information can be found at http://www.utrgv.edu/
graduate/for-future-students/graduate-programs/program-
requirements/biology-ms/index.htm#item3

http://bit.ly/2p3XUT7


-- 
--
Karl S. Berg
Assistant Professor
Biological Sciences
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
One West University Blvd
Brownsville, TX 78520
956-882-5049
karl.b...@utrgv.edu

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc: Environmental Policy at William & Mary

[Rob Rose]

The Environmental Science and Policy (ENSP) program at the College of
William & Mary seeks applications for a two-year postdoctoral scholar
position in Environmental Policy to be housed in the Institute for the
Theory and Practice of International Relations (ITPIR). The discipline is
open, but the ideal candidate will be able to collaborate with faculty in
the social sciences, have some advanced quantitative methods training (R,
GIS, Stata, Python), have strong organizational and communication skills,
and will be able to engage in interdisciplinary research related to energy
and the environment. The postdoctoral scholar will also teach one
upper-level course per academic year, and arrange an environmental speaker
series in the second year. A Ph.D. is required by the time of appointment.

The position offers a competitive salary, research and travel funds, and
administrative support. The postdoctoral fellow will be mentored by two
William & Mary faculty with teaching and research interests that intersect
with Environmental Politics, and will have substantial opportunities for the
postdoctoral fellow to pursue their own research projects. The postdoctoral
scholar position will be housed at the Institute for the Theory and Practice
of International Relations (ITPIR), which supports and promotes
internationally focused research that can make a difference in the world. In
addition to housing postdocs, visiting scholars, and staff, ITPIR projects
have generated more than $44 million in external grants and contracts that
have supported more than 1,400 student and faculty researchers, and produced
research in leading scholarly journals and in outlets addressed to policy
practitioners.

This is a 9-month academic year appointment. Start date is August 10, 2018.

https://jobs.wm.edu/postings/31089

_

Robert A. Rose, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Geospatial Analysis

College of William and Mary

  raros...@wm.edu

  c...@wm.edu

Tel:   757-221-2304  

Skype: robert.rose711

@CGA_WM

 

 

 

[ECOLOG-L] FINAL CALL FOR Network analysis for ecologists using R (NTWA02)

[Oliver Hooker]

FINAL CALL FOR "Network analysis for ecologists using R (NTWA02)"

Please use the link below to access the course details.

http://bit.ly/2tFjRwANetwork_Analysis

This course is being delivered in Glasgow City Centre from 9th - 13th April 
2018 and is being delivered by Dr. Marco Scotti

Course overview: The first graphical representation of a food web dates 
back to 1880, with the pioneering works of Lorenzo Camerano. Since then, 
research on ecological networks has further developed and ecology is one of 
the fields that contributed the most to the growth of network science. 
Nowadays, ecologists routinely apply network analysis with a diverse set of 
objectives that range from studying the stability of ecological communities 
to quantifying energy flows in ecosystems. The course is intended to 
provide the participants theoretical knowledge and practical skills for the 
study of food webs. First, lessons and exercises will introduce basic 
principles of network theory. Second, ecological examples will be focused 
on binary food webs, networks depicting who eats whom in ecosystems. 

Algorithms quantifying either global food web properties or single species 
features within the trophic network will be introduced. Third, we will 
study how the architecture of the food webs can be used to investigate 
robustness to biodiversity loss, thus helping to predict cascading 
extinction events. Fourth, ecosystem network analysis (ENA), a suite of 
matrix manipulation routines for the study of energy/matter circulation in 
ecosystems, will be presented. Then, we will apply the qualitative 
algorithm of loop analysis to describe how the impacts of perturbations 
(e.g. overfishing, species invasion and global warming) may propagate 
through food web structure. Finally, we will learn how to visualize food 
web graphs to illustrate their features in an intuitive and fancy way. 

Monday 9th – Classes from 09:00 to 17:00 Module 1: Introduction to graph 
theory and network science. Basic terminology for learning the language of 
networks: from nodes and links to degree distribution. Three types of 
mathematical graphs and their properties: random networks, small-world 
networks, and scale-free networks. 

Tuesday 10th – Classes from 09:00 to 17:00 Module 2: The use of graph 
theory in ecology: (1) networks representing various interactions in 
ecological communities (e.g., predator-prey and plant-pollinator networks); 
(2) networks illustrating interactions at different hierarchical levels 
(e.g., social networks at the population level and species dispersal in the 
landscape graph). Who eats whom in ecosystems and at which rate? Binary and 
weighted food web networks. Quantitative descriptors of food web networks 
(e.g., fraction of basal, intermediate and top species, connectance and 
link density). 

Wednesday 11th – Classes from 09:00 to 17:00 Module 3: The structural 
properties of food web networks. Biodiversity loss and food web network 
robustness. How to predict secondary extinctions using the information 
embedded in the network structure of the food webs. The relevance of 
bipartite networks in ecology for the description of various interaction 
types (e.g., plant-pollinator and plant-seed disperser relationships). 

Thursday 12th – Classes from 09:00 to 17:00 Module 4: Ecosystem network 
analysis (ENA): basic principles and algorithms. Trophic considerations: 
the effective trophic position of species in acyclic food webs. Finn 
cycling index and the amount of cycling in ecosystems. Loop analysis: basic 
principles and its use for modelling signed digraphs. Application of the 
qualitative algorithm of loop analysis to predict how food web interactions 
can mediate ecosystem responses to perturbations. 

Friday 13th – Classes from 09:00 to 16:00 Module 5: Can network analysis 
help to better understand possible consequences of global warming on 
ecological communities? Network visualization with R: how to change the 
layout of graphs illustrating food web interactions and bipartite networks. 
Email oliverhoo...@statistics.com with any questions. 

Check our sister sites 
www.PRstatistics.com (ecology and life sciences) 
www.PRinformatics.com (bioinformatics and data science) 
www.PSstatistics.com (behaviour and cognition) 

email oliverhoo...@prstatistics.com

Upcoming courses below1.
February 19th – 23rd 2018
MOVEMENT ECOLOGY (MOVE01)
Margam Discovery Centre, Wales, Dr Luca Borger, Dr Ronny Wilson, Dr 
Jonathan Potts
www.prstatistics.com/course/movement-ecology-move01/

2.  February 19th – 23rd 2018
GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRICS USING R (GMMR01)
Margam Discovery Centre, Wales, Prof. Dean Adams, Prof. Michael Collyer, 
Dr. Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou
http://www.prstatistics.com/course/geometric-morphometrics-using-r-gmmr01/


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3.