Re: [ECOLOG-L] Exclusive homosexuality

[David V Howe]

Female maternal relatives of gay men have higher fecundity, thus providing a 
genetic mechanism for the inclusive fitness hypothesis.
See the work of  Andrea Camperio Ciani and others:
for example: 
Factors associated with higher fecundity in female maternal relatives of 
homosexual men. The Journal of Sexual Medicine 2012.



>
> From: "Culliney, Thomas W - APHIS" 
>To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU 
>Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 1:07 PM
>Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Exclusive homosexuality
>  
>Not every trait need be for some purpose (i.e., an adaptation). Human 
>sexuality is complex, and homosexuality is a facet of it. Perhaps it has 
>something to do with the fact that humans are sexually receptive at all times 
>and engage in sex not only for procreation, but also for recreation.
>
>Tom Culliney
>
>
>-Original Message-
>From: Mitch Cruzan [mailto:cru...@pdx.edu] 
>Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 12:31 PM
>To: Culliney, Thomas W - APHIS
>Cc: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
>Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Exclusive homosexuality
>
>
>This neglects that fact that homosexuality is not an accident of history or 
>just a artifact of modern human societies.  This trait is too widespread and 
>occurs at too high a frequency in human populations to be explained by chance 
>- there must have been a selective advantage in the past.  The widespread 
>nature of this trait across human populations suggests that it must have been 
>present in the human lineage by at least the time of the second major 
>migration of hominids out of Africa around
>60,000 ybp.  The inclusive fitness argument mentioned several times by 
>contributors to this listserve is probably the best explanation for the 
>maintenance of homosexuality in human populations.
>
>Mitch Cruzan
>
>On 3/28/2013 7:46 AM, Culliney, Thomas W - APHIS wrote:
>> I was referring to strict homosexuality in humans. Granted, there probably 
>> are cases in which children of a (perhaps deceased) sibling or other close 
>> relative would be raised by a homosexual, thus raising his or her inclusive 
>> fitness, but such cases would be rare. The Darwinian fitness of a strict 
>> homosexual is, as a rule, zero. Helpers at the nest do forgo their own 
>> reproduction to help relatives raise offspring, but, as far as I know, there 
>> is no requirement for them to be homosexual.
>>
>> Tom Culliney
>>
>> From: Jonathan Colburn [mailto:col...@gmail.com]
>> Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 10:05 AM
>> To: Culliney, Thomas W - APHIS
>> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Exclusive homosexuality
>>
>>
>> Hi Tom,
>>
>> Respectfully, the Darwinian fitness sounds like inclusive fitness, which is 
>> often measured by reproductive success.  However, reproductive success of a 
>> homosexual is not always a good measure of their inclusive fitness (e.g. 
>> helpers at the nest).  Ultimately, any action that staves off fixation of 
>> alleles to zero is about as close as we can come to determining that 
>> something is inclusively fit...
>> On Mar 28, 2013 9:20 AM, "Culliney, Thomas W - APHIS" 
>> mailto:thomas.w.culli...@aphis.usda.gov>> 
>> wrote:
>> I note that the albatross article mentioned the words "natural" and 
>> "normal." Homosexuality certainly is natural, as it occurs in nature, in 
>> animals from groups ranging from arthropods to mammals (who knows what goes 
>> on in the plant kingdom?). In all cases, there appears to be an adaptive 
>> reason for the behavior. However, in its reproductive consequences, 
>> exclusive or strict homosexuality, as exhibited in humans, cannot be 
>> considered normal sexual behavior. The Darwinian fitness of homosexuals is 
>> zero. To the extent that there is a genetic component to the behavior in 
>> humans, with their diverse sexuality, the trait undoubtedly persists in the 
>> population largely through the actions of bisexual individuals leading to 
>> the production of offspring.
>>
>> The above is an argument strictly from a biological perspective, and is not 
>> a moral judgment. What two consenting adults do in private is their own 
>> business and no one else's.
>>
>> Tom Culliney
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news 
>> [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] 
>> On Behalf Of Kristen Dybala
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 10:55 PM
>> To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
>> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Expedition notice and question
>>
>> Laysan albatrosses are a fairly well-known example. Here's a (lengthy) 
>> article describing it:
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/magazine/04animals-t.html?pagewanted
>> =all
>>
>> -Kristen
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 27, 2013 at 6:53 PM, Merav Vonshak 
>> mailto:merav...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>> This story reminds me of a similar story - a male pair of Griffon 
>>> vultures (Gyps fulvus). They incubated eggs and reared other pairs'
>>> youngs as part of a breeding in captivity effor

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Jordan's rule

[David V Howe]

this appears to be the source:
Jordan, D.S. (1891) Temperature and vertebrae: a study in evolution. 
Wilder-Quarter Century Books, New York. 


>
> From: Lyndell Bade 
>To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU 
>Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 1:35 PM
>Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Jordan's rule
>  
>I agree with Dr. Resetarits.  It seems to me that it would be associated
>with David Starr Jordan.  Please see:
>
>http://vertebrates.si.edu/fishes/ichthyology_history/ichs_colls/jordan_david.html
>
>
>http://www25-temp.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/davidstarrjordan.html
>
>(The wikipedia page on him does not appear to be complete and needs
>editing.  I caught some mistakes just scrolling through it.)
>
>Best,
>Lyndell
>
>
>On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 11:13 AM, Resetarits, William <
>william.resetar...@ttu.edu> wrote:
>
>> I have no direct info on this, but it seems the most likely scenario is a
>> connection to the famous Ichthyologist and Evolutionary biologist David
>> Starr Jordan.
>>
>> William J. Resetarits, Jr
>> Professor
>> Department of Biological Sciences
>> Texas Tech University
>> Lubbock, Texas  79409-3131
>> Phone: (806) 742-2710, ext.300
>> Fax (806) 742-2963
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 8/29/12 9:25 AM, "Jan Ygberg"  wrote:
>>
>> >Dear all
>> >
>> >Maybe this one? :
>> >
>> >
>> >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_algebra
>> >
>> >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascual_Jordan
>> >
>> >Cheers
>> >
>> >
>> >Jan H. N. Ygberg
>> >Public Relations
>> >Resident Naturalists Programme Coordinator
>> >
>> >                                 EXPLORER'S INN
>> >                                           in the
>> >                     TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE
>> >A PERUVIAN SAFARIS ECO LODGE ­ A LODGE WITH A DIFFERENCE
>> >Since 1976 A SHOWCASE OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
>> >Peruvian Safaris S.A
>> >Alcanfores 459 - Miraflores
>> >Lima 18 - Peru
>> >Phone: (51 1) 447 
>> >Fax: (51 1) 241 8427
>> >E-mail: safa...@amauta.rcp.net.pe / sa...@explorersinn.com
>> >Web Site: http://www.explorersinn.com/
>> >Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/explorerslodge
>> >Twitter: @explorersinn
>> >
>> >2012/8/28 Philippe Golay 
>> >
>> >> Dear all,
>> >>
>> >> do you know who coined the expression « Jordan¹s rule » or « Jordan¹s
>> >>law »
>> >> (fish species develop more vertebrae in a cold environment than in a
>> >>warm
>> >> one) ?
>> >>
>> >> Thank you in advance.
>> >> Truly yours.
>> >>
>> >> Philippe
>> >>
>> >> 
>> >>
>> >> Philippe GOLAY
>> >> elapsoïdea
>> >> 21, chemin du Moulin
>> >> CH ­ 1233 Bernex
>> >> tel : +41(0)22 7771131
>> >> mail : g...@geneva-link.ch
>> >>
>> >> 
>> >> L¹autre jour, au fond d¹un vallon, Un serpent piqua Jean Fréron. Que
>> >> pensez-vous qu¹il arriva? Ce fut le serpent qui creva.. (Voltaire,
>> >>Poésies
>> >> mêlées)
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >--
>>
>
>
>

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Are ecologists the problem?

[David V Howe]

Here is a recent and relevant study:
Harold J Marlow, William K Hayes, Samuel Soret, Ronald L Carter, Ernest R 
Schwab and Joan Sabaté. (2009) Diet and the environment: does what you eat 
matter?
Am J Clin Nutr 89: 1699S-1703S.





From: malcolm McCallum 
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 4:07:02 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Are ecologists the problem?

Wayne,
You nailed it.  I doubt if anyone has, but, I suspect that there would
just be different environmental problems not a reduction.  It is
inevitable that every action has a reaction.

(also, the previous post was not a response to your email, I just
posted on your thread!)

M

On Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 12:37 AM, Wayne Tyson  wrote:
> Ecolog:
>
> What would the actual effect on species diversity of universal
> vegetarianism? Has anyone done the math?
>
> WT
>
>
> - Original Message - From: "James J. Roper" 
> To: 
> Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 11:58 AM
> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Are ecologists the problem?
>
>
>> A well-known statistic is that there are as many domestic animals bred
>> for food for people as there are people in the world, or more.  If we
>> consider a 10% conversion of food to mass of the consumer, the logic is
>> undeniable that if all ate lower on the food chain, we could use less
>> land to do it with.  Also, we could do it with less energy.  Another
>> detail is that more land is used to grow food for those animals than to
>> grow food for people. Just switching the land to grow food for people
>> instead of animals would mean that we could do this on much less land.
>> Habitat loss is one of the driving forces of extinctions world wide.
>> But also, pollution from high efficiency animal production is another
>> huge issue (pigs and chickens). Not to mention land degradation due to
>> grazing.
>>
>> Also well known - vegetarian diets can provide all the nutrients that
>> normal people need.
>>
>> QED - a vegetarian diet would be better for the planet (and we would
>> have much smaller problems with obesity!).
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Jim
>>
>> malcolm McCallum wrote on 09-Sep-09 0:50:
>>>
>>> I tend to believe that any absolute answer that is declared an end all
>>> answer
>>> is probably not the answer.  For example, I'm not convinced that everyone
>>> jumping into a vegetarian diet is going to suddenly or even slowly
>>> save the world.
>>> Especially, considering that some of these stats are based on unrealistic
>>> estimates.
>>>
>>> For example, suggesting that x acres of corn would feed x number of cows
>>> and
>>> that would feed x number of people whereas the x acres of corn would feed
>>> way
>>> more people is flawed.  Humans cannot survive on a corn diet.  Even if
>>> we expanded
>>> this to grains and soybeans, humans cannot survive on a corn-soybean
>>> diet.
>>> Why?  because vegetables in general are low in two or three essential
>>> amino acids
>>> that humans must get in their diet.  those amino acids are produced by
>>> animals
>>> and so you must ultimately get them from animals or artificially
>>> produced products.
>>>
>
>
> 
>
>
>
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>



-- 
Malcolm L. McCallum
Associate Professor of Biology
Managing Editor,
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
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            and pollution.
2000:  Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction
          MAY help restore populations.
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[ECOLOG-L] Polgar Fellows sought

[David V Howe]

The Hudson River Foundation is developing a directory of Tibor T. Polgar 
Fellows.
If you are a past participant, please email Helena: hel...@hudsonriver.org or 
call 212-483-7667. 
If you know any former Fellows, please pass on this information.
Thank you.

[ECOLOG-L] Postdoc position: Research in ecology education/curriculum design, New Jersey

[David V Howe]

The Rutgers University Graduate School of Education is seeking to fill a 
postdoctoral position in ecology education/curriculum design.  This 
position is part of a 3 year IES funded project:  “Systems and Cycles: 
Using Structure-Behavior-Function Thinking as a Conceptual Tool for 
Understanding Complex Natural Systems in Middle School Science.” This is 
an interdisciplinary project across the Graduate School of Education and 
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University and 
the College of Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Responsibilities include taking a leadership role in designing and 
packaging curriculum units, developing teacher materials and professional 
development, and coordinating classroom research and data analysis. This 
individual will be a collaborator on our research team who will be fully 
involved in research and writing.  The successful candidate will have 
demonstrated success in research and scholarly publication in the areas of 
science education and curriculum design.

Qualifications: PhD required. Must have experience with curriculum design 
and technology-enhanced learning environments. Strong background in 
biology or environmental science preferred.

Start date: June 1, 2009
Interested candidates should send a letter of inquiry and CV to Dr. Cindy 
Hmelo-Silver (cindy.hmelo-sil...@gse.rutgers.edu) or Dr Rebecca Jordan 
(rebeccacjor...@yahoo.com).

Re: [ECOLOG-L] Freeware for undergrad ecology course?

[David V Howe]

Have you tried Populus?
http://www.cbs.umn.edu/populus/index.html

~David Howe
Rutgers University
Lecturer, Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Natural Resources
Educational Technologist, Program in Science Learning


- Original Message 
From: Schlosser Jacqueline (seal) 
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2009 10:56:23 AM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Freeware for undergrad ecology course?

Dear Ecologger

I'm looking for a free and easy to use software to use in my ecology course. 
For one lab exercice, my students have to fill in cohort tables (survivorship, 
mortality, fecundity etc.) to draw different survivorship curves. To make this 
exercice more interesting and applied, I'd like to find a program that would 
allow the students to enter this data and get a graph back, that shows them the 
popultation increas/decrease over the next 100-200 years. With this program 
they could play with the data and see what implications different management 
decisions (ie protecting early life stage vs. late life stages) would have for 
this population. 

Does anyone know of such a free/shareware? I appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
__

Jacqueline Schlosser, Ph.D.
ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences 
Institut of Natural Resource Sciences
Grüental, Postfach 335
CH-8820 Wädenswil


Telefon +41 (0)58 934 5792
Fax +41 (0)58 934 5853

www.cascadesystems.ch 
www.unr.ch
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