[ECOLOG-L] Seeking Master's students in evolutionary ecology
The Eco-Evo Lab at California State University, Northridge invites applications from undergraduates interested in pursuing a Master’s of Science in Biology. In particular, we are seeking a M.S. student to work on an NSF-funded project that examines the limits to strong effects of evolution on contemporary ecological interactions. The student will help to perform selection experiments on microcosms of protozoa consumers and their bacterial prey that live inside of carnivorous pitcher plants. We are examining how dispersal and gene flow may alter the evolution of protozoa traits, and how these effects may cascade down to affect bacterial prey diversity and community structure. In general, research in our lab focuses on the interface between ecological and evolutionary processes. We address how rapid evolution affects species interactions, such as competition, predation, and mutualism. We are also interested in how interactions among multiple species in natural communities affect selection on traits and evolutionary trajectories. Research in the lab encompasses a variety of study systems, including (1) microbial communities of protists and bacteria that live inside carnivorous pitcher plants, (2) symbiotic algae associated with coral reef organisms, and (3) invasive plant species in California grasslands. Students are encouraged to develop their own independent research projects. More information is available at http://www.ecoevolab.com The Eco-Evo lab is committed to fostering diversity in STEM. The student will serve as a mentor and role model to undergraduate students that are underrepresented in the field of ecology. CSUN is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian-American-Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Women and members of underrepresented groups in ecology are especially encouraged to apply. Northridge is located in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and provides access to many different natural habitats. The location is within a short commute of Santa Monica and Hollywood. The Biology program at CSUN has a reputation of turning out excellent Master’s students who often continue on to top-tier Ph.D. programs. CSUN was recently recognized by *Nature* as one of the top 25 Rising Institutions for Research in North America. Our interactive group combines faculty and students from the Ecology & Evolution program, the Marine Biology program, and the Microbiology program (http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology). Previous research experience and a passion for answering scientific questions will strengthen candidates’ applications. Interested students should contact Casey terHorst (casey.terho...@csun.edu). In your email, please describe your research interests, any previous research experience, and your career goals. Include a CV or resume, if possible. Formal applications to the department are due on February 15, 2019, but interested students should contact me this Fall semester 2018. --- Casey terHorst Associate Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu http://www.ecoevolab.com
[ECOLOG-L] Post-doc opportunity
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Microbial Ecology The Eco-Evo Lab at California State University, Northridge is searching for a post-doctoral researcher with skills in microbial ecology and interests in community ecology, evolutionary ecology, or eco-evo feedbacks. The position includes one year of funding, with potential for a second year renewal, from a recent grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant focuses on eco-evolutionary dynamics of protozoa and bacteria that live inside carnivorous pitcher plants. The goal is to examine how dispersal and genetic variation affect the relative effect of rapid evolution and adaptation on ecological processes at the local scale. The post-doc will be based in Casey terHorst’s lab at Cal State Northridge in Los Angeles, CA, but will also work closely with Catalina Cuellar-Gempeler at Humboldt State University and Tom Miller at Florida State University. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in microbiology, ecology, evolution, or a related field. A successful candidate must be able to work independently conducting experiments in both lab and field settings. As the goal of the project is to examine how protozoan (predator) evolution affects bacteria (prey) communities, experience with aseptic techniques, molecular work, and bioinformatics associated with the study of microbial communities is a plus. A record of publication in this area of research will strengthen an application. The Eco-Evo lab is committed to fostering diversity in STEM. The post-doc will be expected to train, mentor, and serve as a role model to students that are underrepresented in the field of ecology. CSUN is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian-American-Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Women and members of underrepresented groups in ecology are especially encouraged to apply. In addition, teaching opportunities may also be available, but are not required. Salary will be based on relevant experience. Interested candidates should combine the following into a single pdf file: (1) a cover letter or short (~1-2 pages) statement that describes your past and future research interests, (2) a CV, (3) names and contact information for two potential references. Submit the single pdf file via email to casey.terho...@csun.edu. The ideal start date is January 2019, but this date is flexible. Initial review of applications will begin on September 1, 2018. If you plan on attending the Ecological Society of America meeting in New Orleans in August, please contact Casey terHorst (casey.terho...@csun.edu) to try to meet up there. For more information about research in the lab, visit ecoevolab.com. --- Casey terHorst Associate Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu http://www.ecoevolab.com
[ECOLOG-L] M.S. positions at Cal State Northridge
Eco-Evo Lab at California State University, Northridge is seeking outstanding candidates for the M.S. program in Biology. Research in our lab focuses on the interface between ecological and evolutionary processes. As community ecologists, we are interested in how species interactions affect species and genetic diversity in communities. In particular, we are interested in how rapid evolution affects species interactions, such as predation, competition, and mutualism. Moreover, as evolutionary biologists, we are interested in how interactions among multiple species in natural communities affect selection on traits and evolutionary trajectories. Our research combines theoretical and empirical approaches to tackle these questions. Current research projects in the lab focus on (1) how evolution affects the diversity and stability of bacteria and protozoa communities that live inside carnivorous pitcher plants, (2) genetic variation and evolution of symbiotic algae living on coral reefs, and (3) genetic diversity in invasive species in California grasslands. Students are encouraged to develop independent research projects in any of these systems. More information is available at http://www.ecoevolab.com Northridge is located in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and provides access to many different natural habitats. The location is within a short commute of Santa Monica and Hollywood. The Biology program at CSUN has a reputation of turning out excellent Master’s students who often continue on to top-tier Ph.D. programs. CSUN was recently recognized by *Nature* as one of the top 25 Rising Institutions for Research in North America. Our interactive group combines faculty and students from the Ecology & Evolution program ( http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/ecology-evolution) and Marine Biology program ( http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/marine-biology). The ideal candidate will have previous research experience, familiarity with the R programming language, and a passion for science. Interested students should contact Casey terHorst (casey.terho...@csun.edu). In your email, please describe your research interests, any previous research experience, and your career goals. Include a CV, if possible. Formal applications are due on February 15, but interested students should contact me well before then. Members of under-represented groups in ecology are especially encouraged to apply. --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu http://www.ecoevolab.com
[ECOLOG-L] 2 Marine Biologist/Ecologist positions at Cal State Northridge
espect for the rights of each individual. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, medical information, marital status, or veteran status. For more information about the University, check our website: http://www.csun.edu In compliance with the Annual Security Report & Fire Safety Report of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, California State University, Northridge has made crime-reporting statistics available on-line at http://www.csun.edu/sites/default/files/clery-report.pdf. Print copies are available in the library and by request from the Department of Police Services and the Office of Faculty Affairs. The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position. Applicants who wish to request accommodations for a disability may contact the Office of Equity and Diversity, (818) 677-2077. --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu http://www.ecoevolab.com
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Is Nature still a credible journal? Or is this the era of Kardasian science?
I don't think that these metrics should be used as a strict metric of quality, but I don't think they can be dismissed either. The same media that report on pop culture phenomena are also now used to report news from the New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR. Many people now use Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, etc as their primary news source. If a Nature story makes it into somebody's newsfeed and is actually read, I think that's a victory for scientific literacy and public awareness of science. Aside from communication with the general public, articles that were mentioned frequently on Twitter were 11 times more likely to be cited than less frequently mentioned articles (Eysenback 2011). While these metrics should not be used as a proxy for the quality of a paper, they are likely a good proxy for the broader impact of a paper. Casey --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu http://www.ecoevolab.com On Wed, Apr 15, 2015 at 5:49 PM, David Duffy ddu...@hawaii.edu wrote: While perusing an abstract in Nature this week , https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.nature.com_nature_journal_v520_n7547_full_520266d.html-3FWT.ec-5Fid-3DNATURE-2D20150416d=AwIFaQc=Oo8bPJf7k7r_cPTz1JF7vEiFxvFRfQtp-j14fFwh71Ur=pLB0OGe38hM4pJZZFglWpQz-fLkc9E0r1Osik9lzZgYm=bJdzNbfCLo89y35bYSXP8vE9jX3Vvu4mxHVJq8DZJ_Es=SDVOoPmfoKEhFLnVLiFFuu6aM63z9OOjP66G12u6s4Me= I found a button to click called Article Metrics. Once clicked, I found it had three different metrics: 1. citations (zero as the article is brand new, but likely to be frequent in the future), an alimetric score apparently based on 9 tweets and one reddit, and a map of Twitter demographics (n = 5). The alimetric score is calculated based on two main sources of online attention: social media and mainstream news media. Citations have their problems as a growing literature documents, but turning over judgement of quality to Twitter and Reddit suggests Nature is pandering to the standards society uses to judge the Kardasians, Miley Cyrus and Prince Harry in Las Vegas. And we want Congress and the public to take science seriously? David Duffy -- David Duffy 戴大偉 (Dài Dàwěi) Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit Botany University of Hawaii 3190 Maile Way Honolulu Hawaii 96822 USA 1-808-956-8218
[ECOLOG-L] EcoEvoLab Blog
Apologies (kind of) for the mass email of self-promotion, but I'm hoping to draw your attention to our new blog... The EcoEvoBlog, which can be found at http://www.ecoevolab.org. The first blog post is now up: Does the Squeaky Wheel Deserve the Grease? http://www.ecoevolab.com/the-squeaky-wheel/ If you'd like to subscribe to the blog, there is also a box in which you can enter your email on the right hand column. The goal of the blog is to generate discussions, rather than provide information, so we hope that you'll participate. This blog is completely a selfish enterprise for us in the lab. Sometimes there are issues that we just want to get off our chest, or other issues on which we want to get feedback from others. Sometimes we want to talk about a really cool paper we just read, or sometimes we want to tell everybody about something new that we just learned. In other words, there isn’t a clear goal for this blog, other than to share what’s going on in the lab with the outside world. It is intended to be a forum for discussion and we encourage you to engage with us and with others in this forum. We hope that you find it useful. Casey --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Expanding opportunity and innovation in science
I agree with some of these items and disagree with others, and don't
really want to argue those points in this forum.
My bigger concern is that if this list is meant to come from a group
of scientists, it should include scientific data, rather than opinion
and hostility. Are there data that tenure promotes exploitation and
laziness? I wouldn't be surprised if there were, but expressing this
point as personal experience, rather than a statistical trend, is no
different than saying that global warming is a farce because it is
cold where I am today. I am less sure that there are data to support
spousal hires as deplorable, without merit (surely there is SOME
merit, or nobody would do it), and reducing innovation and
productivity in science. In my experience, I have seen such hires
work out incredibly well for departments and for the field of science,
but again, that is just my experience and may or may not reflect a
broader trend.
Although there are some good points to be made here, expressing them
in such a way is unlikely to convince scientifically-minded people (I
wish this meant everybody).
---
Casey terHorst
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8303
Office Phone: (818) 677-3352
casey.terho...@csun.edu
On Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 7:54 AM, Aaron T. Dossey bugoc...@gmail.com wrote:
I am interested in feedback on this:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/national-postdoc-union/ideas-for-expanding-opportunity-and-innovation-in-science-careers-version-2-revi/454721067976787
Ideas for expanding opportunity and innovation in science careers - Version
2 (REVISED) August 18, 2013 (3:00 PM EST)
August 18, 2013 at 3:07pm
Ideas for expanding opportunity and innovation in science careers - Version
2 (REVISED)
August 18, 2013 (3:00 PM EST)
1) Elevating the White House Office of Science and Technology to
cabinet-level.
2) Expand the number and size of common core facilities for various research
needs (analytical chemistry cores, sequencing cores, animal facility cores,
etc.) and the number of stable career staff scientists positions
('permanent' with benefits) - but have them report not to an individual PI
or faculty boss, but to the department as an institutional resource (not the
property of an individual PI).
3) Remove “trainee” (student and postdoc) salaries/stipends from research
grants and make them all competitive fellowships, or (but this second one
has some problems) give the money to institutions to pay student stipends
with so that individual professors do not do the hiring or control the
trainee’s employment/salary/benefits directly.
4) Mandate that all institutions eligible for federal funding allow postdocs
(and possibly graduate students) to be sole Principle Investigators on
grants which they write if they choose.
5) Invest in/create/fund a much wider variety of permanent/stable staff
scientist career track positions at institutions geared toward Ph.D.'s -
particularly for core research service facilities (which should be expanded
greatly).
6) Fund “Innovation Incubators” for postdocs (but with independent
researcher titles) to work in common labspace, no offices, and using core
facilities to pursue our research without a faculty boss. These researchers
could do a lot with such limited resources, as long as we have independence.
We could pursue our own funding and even stay in those positions if we don’t
feel the need to seek higher titles – just remain productive in that job
indefinitely. Those of us who want a larger lab of our own can use the
position to create preliminary data and apply for grants to do it – either
to “earn” more lab space at the same institution or apply for positions at
other institutions.
7) Limit the number of employees that an individual faculty scientists (or
“permanent” scientists in federal agencies and national labs) lab can have –
limit on grad students, postdocs, and technicians. Possibly only limit
trainees (grad students and postdocs). This will allow faculty scientists to
actually focus more on science and less on administration of large
laboratory empires. Often the lab bosses are disconnected from much of the
research going on in the largest labs. This causes an ackward situation
whereby the indepdent scientist (postdoc, etc.) who conceived and conducted
the research must add the boss to a senior position on the grant or
publication artificially, thus making it impossible to distinguish whose
ideas they were and who did the work, further exacerbating the difficulty
for the employee to get their own independent position and lab. This
situation has a severely negative impact on the innovation per dollar of
federal funding.
8) End the system of tenure for faculty, it's an out-dated system which
severely hampers innovation, reduced career opportunities in science and
incentivizes exploitation and laziness.
9) Make
[ECOLOG-L] Post-doc in Evolutionary/Community Ecology
Please pass this advertisement along to interested parties. Sebastian Schreiber and Casey terHorst are looking for qualified candidates for a two-year post-doctoral position, shared between our labs at UC Davis and Cal State, Northridge. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in ecology, evolution, or mathematical biology, with relevant experience in community ecology or evolutionary ecology. Successful candidates will be able to work independently conducting experiments in both lab and field settings. Experience with model selection techniques or mathematical modeling would be very helpful, but are not required. The goal of the project is to examine the effects of trait evolution within species on the stability of multispecies communities. The post-doc will conduct laboratory microcosm experiments with protists and bacteria to test the predictions of mathematical models. The post-doc will also be encouraged to play a role in developing models that incorporate both ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Lab work will primarily be based at California State University, Northridge (in Los Angeles), but the post-doc will also spend a significant amount of time interacting with the Center for Population Biology at UC Davis. Salary will be based on relevant experience. Interested candidates should send a one-page statement of research interests, a CV, and names and contact information of three potential references, as a single pdf file via email to casey.terho...@csun.edu. The ideal start date is August 2014, but is flexible. Initial review of applications will begin on April 30. Minority candidates and members of underrepresented groups in Ecology are especially encouraged to apply. --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu
[ECOLOG-L] Two funded positions for MSc. Graduate Students available at CSU Northridge
I am posting this on behalf of colleagues (Drs. Steve Dudgeon and Janet Kubler). Please direct inquires to janet.kub...@csun.edu. - Please see the ads below describing two positions for prospective graduate students seeking MSc degrees in marine biology and pass along to students you think may be interested. The positions are funded for 2 years beginning this summer or fall semester 2014. Please not the deadline for completed applications of 15 March 2014. (1) Implications of oceanic pH change for nutrient availability to algae. Two-year graduate assistantship for a research Masters of Science in Biology to address the interaction of ocean acidification and nutrient enrichment on *Ulva sp*. Assistantship includes salary, research expenses, travel to conferences and potential reduced or waived tuition, for either U.S. or international students. We are looking for a motivated student with an interest in the broader context of climate change and human impacts on the environment, to join a growing research group in Marine Biology at California State University at Northridge, beginning Summer or Fall 2014. Contact Dr. Janet Kübler janet.kub...@csun.edu for more information and to arrange to visit the lab, or apply directly to the Biology Department ( http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/ms-admission-process-and-requirements) Applications must be received by March 15, 2014. (2) The primary production bonus of ocean acidification. Two-year graduate assistantship for a research Masters of Science in Biology to investigate the possibility that *Ulva sp*. will have greater rates of primary production as ocean pH declines. Assistantship includes salary, research expenses, travel to conferences and potential reduced or waived tuition, for either U.S. or international students. We are looking for a motivated student with an interest in the broader context of climate change and human impacts on the environment, to join a growing research group in Marine Biology at California State University at Northridge, beginning Summer or Fall 2014. Contact Dr. Janet Kübler janet.kub...@csun.edu for more information and to arrange to visit the lab, or apply directly to the Biology Department ( http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/ms-admission-process-and-requirements) Applications must be received by March 15, 2014.
Re: [ECOLOG-L] 4th SciFund challenge launches! Help support ecology research
I'll just add one more ecology-related project to the list: Can Genetic Diversity Preserve a Friendship?. Shannon Bayliss, California State University, Northridge. https://experiment.com/projects/can-genetic-diversity-preserve-a-friendship *Symbiodinium* is algae that reproduces in as little as 24 hours; 10,000 times faster than the average American woman! They also play crucial roles in the health of coral reefs, as they form mutualisms with reef organisms. I will examine how diverse communities of *Symbiodinium *can rapidly evolve in response to increased nutrients. Evolution of one partner could be key to the survival of the mutualism and to the persistence of a healthy ecosystem. --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 9:08 AM, David Shiffman david.shiff...@gmail.comwrote: Hello, everyone! The 4th SciFund Challenge, a crowd-funding event for scientific research, launched today! It's like KickStarter for science, and there are several ecology projects included. Please consider donating (any amount helps and some projects have rewards associated with different donation levels), or helping to spread the word! My project is what are the feeding habits of threatened shark species? https://experiment.com/projects/what-are-the-feeding-habits-of-threatened-sharks I will be using stable isotope analysis to study the feeding ecology of coastal sharks species here in South Florida, data that will help managers to conserve threatened species. Other projects of potentially interest to ecologgers include: 1) Signs of Change: creating time-lapse movies of environmental change using crowd-sourced digital photography. Chuck Cannon, Texas Tech https://experiment.com/projects/signs-of-change-documenting-environmental-change-using-crowd-sourced-time-lapse-photography Almost everyone carries a smart phone or digital camera these days. This project will develop a simple method of placing a sign at an environmentally interesting site so that together we can document and monitor changes in our landscape and its seasonality. 2) Can we predict how social primates move?. David Pappano, Princeton. https://experiment.com/projects/can-we-predict-how-social-primates-move This project uses dynamic network algorithms and geospatial data to understand association and movement patterns in geladas. Geladas are an Old World monkey that has a highly modular social system with strong fission-fusion dynamics. 3) What's in that new TV Screen? Toward greener OLED's. Walter Weare, NC State https://experiment.com/projects/what-s-in-that-new-tv-screen-toward-greener-oled-s-at-nc-state-chemistry Organic LED's are the future of more environmentally friendly displays and lighting. We are developing new and more sustainable methods for making the light emitting materials in these future devices. With your help we can speed these discoveries! 5) Where is pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay? Claire Regan, Penn State University https://www.experiment.com/projects/where-is-pollution-entering-the-chesapeake-bay-watershed By identifying the pollution hotspots of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the three most important stressors can be targeted together for management. 6) In the bedroom with Giant Sea Bass: Investigating mating behavior of an endangered megacarnivore. Brian Clark, California State University https://experiment.com/projects/in-the-bedroom-with-giant-sea-bass-investigating-mating-behavior-of-an-endangered-megacarnivore Reproductive strategies lay the foundation for an organism's success. Understanding these strategies and behavior of Giant Sea Bass is vital in the preservation of this endangered species. 7) Can Fungi restore the American Chestnut? Andrew Tomes, SUNY. https://experiment.com/projects/can-fungi-help-us-restore-the-american-chestnut Mycorrhizae are soil fungi that form crucial partnerships with many land plants. Investigating the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on American chestnut will lead to cultivation strategies that could help restore this formerly prominent North American tree species. 8) Searching for Seahorses and Sustainability. Lindsay Aylesworth, University of British Columbia. https://experiment.com/projects/searching-for-seahorses-sustainability How do you study the distribution and habitat preferences of a species that is hard to find? Check out the latest research on seahorses to find out. 9) Using Genetic Techniques to Protect Fiji's Fisheries. Erin Eastwood, Columbia University. https://experiment.com/projects/using-genetic-techniques-to-protect-fiji-s-fisheries Subsistence fisheries are extremely important to rural communities in Fiji. However, as many reef fishermen switch from eating their catch
[ECOLOG-L] M.S. in Evolutionary Ecology
The Evolutionary Ecology Lab at California State University, Northridge is seeking outstanding candidates for the M.S. program in Biology. Research in our lab focuses on interactions between ecological and evolutionary processes. As community ecologists, we are interested in how species interactions affect species and genetic diversity in communities. In particular, we are interested in how rapid evolution affects species interactions, such as predation, competition, and mutualism. Moreover, as evolutionary biologists, we are interested in how interactions among multiple species in natural communities affect selection on traits and evolutionary trajectories. Our research combines theoretical and empirical approaches to tackle these questions. Current research projects in the lab focus on (1) interactions among bacteria and protozoa that live inside carnivorous pitcher plants, (2) the evolution of mutualisms between corals and symbiotic dinoflagellates, and (3) genetic diversity in invasive species in California grasslands. Students are welcome to develop independent research projects in any of these systems, but are also encouraged to explore other systems in which eco-evolutionary research questions can be tested. Our website is about to undergo a re-launch with new information in January, but meanwhile there is still information available at http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/casey-terhorst. Northridge is located in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and provides access to many different natural habitats. The location is within a short commute of West LA, Santa Monica, Hollywood, or most locations in the Valley. The Biology program at CSUN has a reputation of turning out excellent Master’s students who often continue on to top-tier Ph.D. programs. This interactive group combines faculty and students from the Ecology Evolution program ( http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/ecology-evolution) and Marine Biology program ( http://www.csun.edu/science-mathematics/biology/marine-biology). Interested students should contact Casey terHorst (casey.terho...@csun.edu). In your email, please describe your research interests, any previous research experience, and your career goals. Include a CV, if appropriate. Formal applications are due on February 15, but if you are interested, please contact me well before then. Members of under-represented groups in ecology are especially encouraged to apply. --- Casey terHorst Assistant Professor Department of Biology California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Office Phone: (818) 677-3352 casey.terho...@csun.edu
[ECOLOG-L] Graduate Student Positions in Evolutionary Ecology
The terHorst Lab is recruiting 1-2 students to the Masters program at California State University, Northridge for Fall 2013. Research in my lab generally focuses on community ecology and the factors that allow species to coexist. In particular, I am interested in how rapid evolution on contemporary time scales alters the outcome of species interactions and affects coexistence and genetic diversity in communities. My research combines theoretical and experimental approaches that bridge the gap between evolutionary biology and community ecology. More information is available at http://www.msu.edu/~terhors3 I have used several systems to explore these questions, including interactions between invasive and native species in California grasslands, natural microcosm communities inside carnivorous pitcher plants, symbioses between corals and algal symbionts, and communities of epifaunal marine invertebrates. Students are welcome to work in any of these systems, but are also encouraged to develop work in other appropriate field or laboratory systems. Projects that include a theoretical component are encouraged, so programming skills are useful, but are not required. Some examples of potential Masters student projects are: (a) genetic variation in invasive ability and selection on traits during invasion, (b) the effect of gene flow on local adaptation in natural microcosm communities, (c) contemporary evolutionary responses to global change. Northridge is located in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and provides access to many different natural habitats. The location is within a short commute of West LA, Santa Monica, Hollywood, or most locations in the Valley. The Biology program at CSUN has a reputation of turning out excellent Masters students who often continue on to top-tier Ph.D. programs. More information about the Biology program is available at http://www.csun.edu/biology Interested candidates should send email inquiries to casey.terho...@kbs.msu.edu describing their career goals and previous research experience. Include a CV/resume, if appropriate. You should also give a sense of your research interests, but these need not be specific plans, as students will be encouraged to develop their own independent projects during their first year. Underrepresented groups in ecology are especially encouraged to apply. Applications to CSUN are due by March 15, but potential applicants should contact me well before then to determine whether or not you should apply. Interested applicants can also meet with me at the Benthic Ecology Meeting in Savannah, GA from 3/20-3/24. Casey terHorst Current position: Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University Fall 2013: Assistant Professor, California State University, Northridge
Re: [ECOLOG-L] planned contrasts replacing 2-way ANOVA
There should be no problem with using a priori contrasts. No adjustment of the p-value is required, UNLESS the contrasts are non-orthogonal, which is often the case when more than two hypothesis tests. If the contrasts are not orthogonal, some type of adjustment (e.g. Bonferroni) is required, which will lower the power you would otherwise gain with a planned contrast. Casey - Casey terHorst Ecology Evolution Program Department of Biological Science Florida State University 319 Stadium Drive King Life Science Building Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295 terho...@bio.fsu.edu Quoting Asaf Sadeh asaffi...@yahoo.com: I am planning a 2x2 factorial experiment whe Dear list members, I am planning a 2x2 factorial experiment where I record several response variables to test several hypotheses. Some of these hypotheses can be tested using the usual 2-way ANOVA. That is, the significance or non significance of the two main effects and their interaction is expected to provide sufficient information to draw conclusions regarding these hypotheses. However, another hypothesis focuses on one of the four treatment combinations, and would be best approached by comparing this focal treatment with the other three. However, if I use the 2-way ANOVA, some possible results may be inconclusive, and require further post hoc analyses with a reduced threshold for significance. Since my a-priori hypothesis calls for 3 specific contrasts, it makes statistical sense to me that I can skip the 2-way ANOVA and only perform these 3 contrasts without reducing the significance threshold. The logic behind this is that these 3 planned contrasts replace the 3 component tests of the 2-way ANOVA procedure (2 for the main effects and one for their interaction) that are each always done without any change to the significance threshold. Though I have found support for this approach on online statistics lectures notes, I have never seen it taken in any published study, and I wonder if it is indeed kosher (and if it can be expected to pass reviewers). I would highly appreciate input on this, and especially references to back this approach in case it is valid. Thank you very much, Asaf
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Are ecologists the problem?
There was an interesting article in the August issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment that suggests ecologists have a much larger carbon footprint than the average American, largely because of air travel to meetings, field sites, etc. - Casey terHorst Ecology Evolution Program Department of Biological Science Florida State University 319 Stadium Drive King Life Science Building Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295 terho...@bio.fsu.edu Quoting Kevin McCluney kevin.mcclu...@asu.edu: I recently attended the 2009 annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America (ESA). The theme of this yearÂs meeting was sustainability. There were many great talks on this subject and a few truly pessimistic ones. One speaker proposed that human beings are, by our very nature, destined to consume and reproduce as much as possible, and despite our best efforts, this will lead to our own demise. During the same talk the speaker also asked, Âwho is responsible? He answered his question by saying that we at this conference are just as much a part of the problem as anyone else. Is this true? I know I myself have taken many steps to lower my footprint and many other ecologists have as well. For instance, at last yearÂs ESA meeting in Milwaukee there was an interesting occurrence at local restaurants. The first night of the conference I had a really good veggie burger at one restaurant. I went back later in the week for another. The waitress apologized they were all out. She went on to explain that the manager had heard our conference was coming to town, so bought extra ahead of time, but ran out of those quickly anyway. The manager then went to the local grocery store and bought more. But alas, by the time I returned, they had run out of those as well. Further, when I dine with friends at ESA meetings, I often find that more than half the table orders vegetarian entrees. Why does eating vegetarian matter so much? Modern, industrialized livestock production is one of the more environmentally destructive human endeavors. It contributes roughly one fifth of all our greenhouse gas emissions, more than all cars, and these gases are major contributors to the rapid climate change weÂre experiencing. Livestock production also may, in certain cases, be leading to deforestation and destruction of important ecosystems, as well as to pollution of rivers, lakes, and even oceans. In addition, we all know that basic ecological principles hold that it takes less resources to raise plant based food sources than meat based, since energy is lost as you move up the food chain. Thus we can feed more people and use fewer resources on a plant-based diet. All this caused the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently to proclaim that the best thing a person could do to reduce their impact on climate change was to eat a more plant- based diet. My wife and I havenÂt stopped at eating low on the food chain. WeÂve also joined community supported agriculture, where we buy a share of produce from a local farm. The farmer gets upfront economic security and we get very affordable, local, fresh organic produce. We pay just $18 per week for a large bag of food. At this price we can afford to supplement our diet with additional organic items from the grocery store. WeÂve also taken a variety of other steps, from riding my bike to work, to offsetting car and air travel through renewable energy from an independently certified company, to buying 100% of our electricity from renewable sources through our local utility for as little as $15 per month. While we may not be reaching the small ecological footprint of those in many third world countries, weÂve done our best to come in line with our planetÂs limits while maintaining a decent quality of life. So, are ecologists just as much a part of the problem as everyone else? Are all ecologists the same? What are the variety of lifestyle choices made by ecologists? Not only would the answers to these questions provide a response to the ESA presenter, but I think the answer would be interesting to a wide audience. I propose that ESA conduct a poll of members, asking questions about lifestyle choices and demographics, comparing ours to that of the general public. If we are not different, this would be a bit of a wake-up call. However, if we are different, then perhaps some of our lifestyle choices would be informative to understanding how to achieve a more sustainable society. If there is one thing I learned from a cultural anthropology course I once took, it was that there isnÂt just one right way to live. Human cultures throughout the world are very diverse. But, from the inside of one culture it is often very hard to see other ways to live. Let us not be trapped in our culture, but seek a better understanding of all the ways of living, so that we might find a more sustainable path. -- Kevin E. McCluney
Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
I've always had difficulty understanding how a static measure (such as biodiversity, or even something like biomass) can be called a function. This is partly just a semantic issue, but largely a real issue as well. Casey -- Casey terHorst Department of Biological Science CON 115 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quoting Fabrice De Clerck [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I have a quick question for the listserve for which I would be interested in hearing people's opinions, and experiences. The question is: Is biodiversity an ecosystem service? Those of us that work in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning studies typically regard biodiversity at the provider of services and functions. Tilman's biodiversity and productiity, the biodiversity and stability work, biodiversity and pollination (Klein), biodiversity and pest control (Perfecto). Meanwhile in much of the development and economics literature, biodiversity itself is a unique service and function where it is not uncommon to see people state that we will work with farmers to improve the capacity of coffee farms to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water. Are both correct or is it important to distinguish between biodiversity serving as a function, and biodiversity as the provider of services. All comments are welcome on- or off the listserve. Cheers, Fabrice * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (506) 558-2596 Fax: (506) 558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
