[ECOLOG-L] FW: Celebrating the International Day of Biodiversity - 2 new videos
Two short videos celebrating agricultural biodiversity enjoy! Wishing everyone a wonderful International Day of Biodiversity! Thank you to all our staff in multiple offices who contributed their thoughts and time to the following Bioversity videos: Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embeddedv=S-1PODj0TBc http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embeddedv=S-1PODj0TBc Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmugCSokMpI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmugCSokMpI Special thanks to Shawn Landersz for the video editing and the beautiful music he is playing, and to Margarita Baena in Colombia and Yasu Morimoto in Kenya for sending material from their offices. On behalf of the Bioversity communications team, enjoy and celebrate today. Kirsten Khire, APR Head of Communications Bioversity International Phone: (39) 06 6118246 Email: k.kh...@cgiar.org mailto:k.kh...@cgiar.org http://www.bioversityinternational.org/ http://www.bioversityinternational.org/
[ECOLOG-L] Jobs with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
I'm forwarding this from my colleague Debbie Bossio in Nairobi. CIAT is a wonderful organization to work with and embarking on a new collaborative project on Land, Water, and Ecosystems. Fabrice Dear Esteemed Colleagues, Greetings from Nairobi! If you know someone who is perfect for any one of these exciting new positions, it would be great if you could share the adverts with them and/or send me their names and we will follow up to contact them. Thank you in advance for any referrals. It will make all the difference! My best regards, Deborah Sorry for cross postings, we have launched with full support from a very active team! Go to: http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/AboutUs/Paginas/jobs.aspx
[ECOLOG-L] IPBES Established!
This weekend, in time for Earth Day, the Interngovenmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services was established. Here is the text from the IPBES website: IPBES was established by more than 90 Governments in Panama City on Saturday 21 April, after several years of international negotiations. ³Today, biodiversity won², said the chair of the meeting, Sir Robert Watson, Chief Scientific Advisor of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom. ³Biodiversity and ecosystem services are essential for human wellbeing. This platform will generate the knowledge and build the capacity to protect them for this and future generations.² The German city of Bonn won the bid to host the secretariat of the new independent body. See here for the full press release in English http://www.ipbes.net/component/docman/doc_download/979-press-release-englis h.html?Itemid=58 and Spanish http://www.ipbes.net/component/docman/doc_download/980-press-release-spanis h.html?Itemid=58 and here for the IISD coverage of the meeting http://www.iisd.ca/ipbes/sop2/ . Cheers! Fabrice
[ECOLOG-L] Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Hi All, Just to highlight that there is a world delegation currently meeting in Panama to decide on an Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) loosely based on the IPCC. We hope that by Saturday, the IPBES will be formed, including the location of a Secretariat (Nairobi, Seoul, Paris, Bonn, or Delhi). The conversation now is mostly on rule, procedures and the structure of the IPBES, however if any one is interested, you can find a nice summary of the daily discussion on the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (http://www.iisd.ca/ipbes/sop2/). The four goals of the IPBES should be of interest to most ecologists and include: * To identify and prioritize key scientific information needed for policymakers and to catalyse efforts to generate new knowledge; * To perform regular and timely assessments of knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services and their interlinkages; * To support policy formulation and implementation by identifying policy-relevant tools and methodologies; * To prioritize key capacity-building needs to improve the science-policy interface, and to provide and call for financial and other support for the highest-priority needs related directly to its activities. More general information on IPBES can be found at www.ipbes.net Cheers! Fabrice Fabrice DeClerck PhD Program Leader Agroecological Intensification and Risk Management Bioversity International CATIE Campus 7170 Turrialba Costa Rica, 30501 email: f.decle...@cgiar.org Phone: (506) 2558-2596 Skype: fadeclerck www.bioversityinternational.org
[ECOLOG-L] Planet Under Pressure: Agricultural Biodiversity and Our Planet
Subject: Join us for a live interactive discussion: Agricultural Biodiversity and Our Planet Dear Bioversity Friends and Colleagues, Next week is Planet Under Pressure, a major event leading up to Rio+20 in June. Planet Under Pressure is a major international conference focusing on solutions to the global sustainability challenge. Bioversity International wants to hear from you during the conference. Please join us on Tuesday 27 March at 14:00 for a live 45-minute interactive discussion entitled ³Agricultural Biodiversity and Our Planet. This moderated discussion with research leaders Bruce Cogill, Fabrice DeClerck, Stephan Weise and myself will allow our audiences direct access to our researchers and leaders. The expert panel will respond to questions and comments about how agricultural biodiversity can contribute to the global sustainability challenge and improve nutrition and livelihoods in smallholder farming communities. To join in the discussion or follow the panel chat, visit: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/index.php?id=4064 http://www.bioversityinternational.org/index.php?id=4064 at 14:00 (Rome time) on Tuesday 27th March Or take part through Twitter #abdchat The conversation will be available as an archived video and podcast after the event. We look forward to your participation. Please also share the link above with your networks prior to Tuesday. Best regards, Emile Frison
[ECOLOG-L] Position Annoucement: Professor/Researcher in Economics of Ecological Agriculture
Dear all, CATIE looking for a strong candidate in economics of ecological agriculture. I am attaching the position below, but ask that you please broadcast broadly. This is a fantastic position which provides research, teaching, development an extension activities, primarily in Mesoamerica but will global ties (EU, USA, Africa in particular). Its a fantastic position for a young, hard-working or motivated individual wanted to pursue a career with a broad and real impact in the Latin American region. Ecological Agriculture Economist Internal/External Vacancy Division: Research and Development Program: Livestock and Environmental Management (GAMMA) Immediate Supervisor: Leader of GAMMA Program Job Type: International Professional Staff Venue: Central CATIE, Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica JOB PURPOSE Mesoamerica and many parts of South America are characterized with pasture-dominated landscapes. Agricultural expansion tied to cattle ranching has been identified as a primary cause of deforestation and the degradation of ecosystem services. The Livestock and Environmental Management Group (GAMMA) at CATIE is a pioneer in the management of silvopastoral systems for competitive livestock systems, and the restoration of ecosystem services in degraded pasture landscapes. In this respect it has as one of its main priority to promote climate smart cattle production systems in the Tropical Latin American Region. The group has led regional initiatives on Payments for Ecosystem Services in pasture dominated landscapes, and with Rainforest Alliance, developed sustainable management standards for the certification of cattle farms. Currently it is implementing several projects to evaluate how¨policymixes¨ contribute to the effectiveness of conservation of biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services in agricultural landscape dominated by cattle. As such, GAMMA is seeking a highly qualified, interdisciplinary scientist to lead our efforts in developing competitive livestock systems based on silvopastoral practices; and in implementing market based incentives and regulatory frameworks for Meso-and South-America. sustainable management of cattle farms and landscapes in DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Participate in multi disciplinary team environment working on sustainable livestock systems. Analyze multiple value chains in landscapes dominated by cattle to determine how implementation of silvoapstoral systems contributes to competitiveness of livestock farms. Lead research and development projects on incentive schemes for sustainable farming systems including best management practices, certification, and payment for ecosystems services (carbon, water, biodiversity). Lead research on the valuing and payment of ecosystem services in cattle dominated landscapes including research on the costs and benefits of ecosystem service provision to society (at different scales: farm, community, county, national level). Coordinate research to evaluate the economic, social and ecological impacts of climate smart silvopastoral systems. Contribute to CATIE¹s education program by supervising Masters and Doctoral students and participation in CATIE courses. Participate in CATIE¹s extension activities, including farmer training programs. Collaborate with other programs at CATIE including: Climate Change and Watersheds; Production and Conservation in Forests; Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Publish results in peer reviewed international journals, as well as in regional extension publications. Participate in elaboration and negotiation of research and development proposals related to sustainable and climate smart livestock systems and ecosystem services. TECHNICAL SKILLS: At least a PhD degree from a recognized University in the field of Agricultural Economics, or Ecological Economics or Environmental Economics At least five years experience in the development of sustainable livestock systems (preference for ruminant production systems) or related fields Experience in modeling using system approaches At least five articles related to livestock and environment or ecosystem services published in international journals Billingual-english and spanish Experience in Latin America preferred Capacity to manage tools (software, GIS, etc.) to be applied in modeling or simulation studies DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Located in Costa Rica, CATIE combines science, graduate education and technical cooperation. Its campus is located in a tranquil and secure natural area, rich in biodiversity, providing a high quality of life. Innovation, excellence, service, integration and appreciation of diversity, are some of the values of an institution which promotes professional growth, international and multicultural exchange. For more information go to: www.catie.ac.cr Interested persons should send letter of application, curriculum vitae and salary
[ECOLOG-L] Postodoctoral Position: Environmental Physiologist (Congo)
Environmental Physiologist: Specializing in flux towers, 12 month post doctoral fixed term contract. Cirad is recruiting a post-doctorate researcher with a view to evaluating the influence of the change in land use on the partition between the “green water”, transpired by plants, and “blue water”, which is a resource for soil, rivers, lakes and aquifers. Assigned to the Ecosystems and Plantations research unit, and the new EcoSoils “Functional Ecology and Biochemistry of Soil and Agro-ecosystems” mixed research unit (UMR), (s)he will be responsible for coordinating the network of flux towers (savannah, plantation, natural forest), for identifying the determinants of the partition between transpired water and drained water on the three eco-systems, and modelling the dynamics of water storage and flows essentially. Description of the Position More specifically, the candidate will have to (i) take part in the creation of two flux towers (savannah, which will be planted, and natural forest; 6 first months of the project) and monitor the entire system with the help of the CRDPI's technical personnel and an international volunteer who will also be recruited to carry out this task; (ii) follow training courses organised as part of the climafrica project and more generally any graduate school that may be able to complete his/her profile; (iii) contribute strongly to the unit’s summarising publications in terms of water and carbon flows, particularly for the savannah ecosystem, which has been monitored for three years (alongside the unit’s researchers and post-doctorate researchers); (iv) contribute to studies on water flows in the three ecosystems, notably using the isotope analyser and models operating at ecosystem level; (v) more generally, contribute to the CRDPI's scientific life (seminars, environmental physiology training for technical personnel, management of a student from Brazzaville university). Profile Required Doctorate in environmental physiology, with significant expertise in flux towers. Good knowledge of SVAT models. Aptitude for multidisciplinary work and team work. Capacity to work in Southern countries (assignments or expatriation). International research experience would be a plus, particularly in tropical environments. Fluent English (written and spoken) essential. Location: Congo – Pointe Noire For more information: Jean-Michel Harmand UPR Correspondent for the Operation and Coordination of Plantation Ecosystems s/c UMR EcoSols 2 Place Viala Bât 12 34060 Montpellier cedex 01 France Tel.: +33 4 99 61 21 68 Email: jean-michel.harm...@cirad.fr
[ECOLOG-L] Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Social and Ecological Resilience of the Southern Idaho Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystem
Sagebrush Team PhD Assistantship Announcements Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Social and Ecological Resilience of the Southern Idaho Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystem Up to five Ph.D. research assistantships are available to join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team focusing on the social and ecological resilience of the sagebrush steppe ecosystem of the Columbia Plateau and northern Great Basin in southern Idaho. This region is a mosaic of public lands, private ranches, agricultural parcels, and areas experiencing rapid urban and recreational development. The social and ecological components, structures and processes within this ecosystem are rapidly changing as a result of population growth, economic opportunities, policy changes, land conversion, climate change, invasive species and shifts in disturbance regimes. To capture the range of variation in the system and determine thresholds for resilience, the student and faculty team will evaluate the characteristics and impacts of these drivers in study areas across a climate gradient that include minimally altered to highly impacted rangelands. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (IGERT), the students will pursue interlinked dissertation projects important for the overall theme, and work together to identify and address interdisciplinary issues critical for development of effective planning and policy for future resilience of this threatened system. The team will interact with members of five other IGERT-sponsored student/faculty teams pursuing similar objectives in other ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest and Costa Rica. This opportunity is especially appropriate for students seeking to develop skills for interdisciplinary collaboration and team-based research that addresses complex problems involving interacting human and natural systems. PhD Assistantship in Plant Ecology We seek a highly motivated PhD student to participate in a project focusing on plant community responses to environmental changes in sagebrush ecosystems, which include fire, climate, invasive species, and land conversion. The student will identify plant community factors and/or processes affecting ecosystem resiliency in response to changing disturbance regimes. Topics may include plant community composition, habitat types, and species interactions that identify a gradient of resiliency. Species interactions beyond plant-plant interactions may further affect resiliency and include plant-insect, animal and microbial interactions. Many opportunities exist to integrate these research topics with other sagebrush steppe team members focused on biogeochemical cycling, ecohydrology, wildlife ecology, and rural social systems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Contact Beth Newingham (b...@uidaho.edu), Lee Vierling (l...@uidaho.edu) and Dave Tank (dt...@uidaho.edu) for more information. PhD Assistantship in Ecohydrology We seek a highly motivated PhD student to participate in a project focusing on the interactions between ecological and hydrological patterns and processes in sagebrush ecosystems undergoing changing disturbance regimes and anthropogenic influences, including climate change, invasive species, and land conversion. Resiliency to these drivers of change can be assessed by examining changes in water status and flux in the soil and plant environment, which may be mediated by soil-plant-microbial interactions. The sagebrush steppe team seeks a student interested in topics such as 1) effects of changing climate regimes (snow to rain-dominated) and/or 2) the effects of plant community structure changes on water dynamics and feedbacks on vegetation. These spatiotemporal dynamics include changes in snow redistribution, interception, evaporation, transpiration, sublimation, and soil water content and fluxes. Many opportunities exist to integrate these research topics with other sagebrush steppe team members focused on biogeochemical cycling, plant ecology, wildlife ecology, and rural social systems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Contact Beth Newingham (b...@uidaho.edu), Tim Link (tl...@uidaho.edu), and Lee Vierling (l...@uidaho.edu) for more information. PhD Assistantship in Biogeochemical Cycling We seek a highly motivated PhD student to participate in a project focusing on biogeochemical responses to changes in the structure and function of sagebrush ecosystems, resulting from urban sprawl, climate change, invasive species and shifts in disturbance regimes. Quantifying changes in biogeochemical cycling is fundamental to understanding the resilience of sagebrush ecosystems as they respond to these drivers of change across spatial and temporal scales. We seek a student with keen interest in studying biogeochemical pools and fluxes of C, N and/or other nutrients in the context of developing indices for quantifying ecosystem
[ECOLOG-L] 5 Phd Assistantships on Socio-ecological Resilience in Hojancha Costa Rica.
Chorotega Biological Corridor-Hojancha Team PhD Assistantship Announcements Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Service Science, Entomology, Regional Planning and Sustainable Communities, Social Systems and Resilient Livelihoods, and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics of the Chorotega Biological Corridor, a crucially important Mesoamerican landscape. Up to five Ph.D. research assistantships will be available to join a collaborative team working on ecological, socio-economic, and institutional aspects of sustainable production, conservation, and sustainable rural livelihoods within the Hojancha region of Costa Rica. The linked dissertation projects will work in a region that faces a variety of natural resource management problems and where landuse changes affect, positively or negatively, the provision of ecosystem services for which increasing demand exists. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (IGERT), fellows will pursue disciplinary research important for the overall theme, and work together to identify and address interdisciplinary issues critical for effective policy development, institution building, management planning, and implementation. The team will interact with members of five other IGERT-funded student/faculty teams pursuing similar objectives in other ecosystems in Costa Rica and Idaho in which sustainability and conservation in the face of changing conditions and pressures are desired. PhD Assistantship in Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Service Science. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to study the integration of landscape ecology in landuse planning, with a special focus on spatially explicit ecosystem services. Conservation in Latin America is increasingly being driven by social-ecological drivers. Forest restoration and conservation in the Chorotega Biological Corridor has largely been driven by a strong desire by local stakeholders to reduce system vulnerability to annual droughts and severe storm events. However, a concurrent objective of the corridor is to ensure functional biological connectivity between reserves and protected areas in the region. For example, recent studies suggest that pollination and pest control services at the local scale are spatially dependent on broader scales. With a landscape ecology and ecosystem services approach, the successful candidate will work with local communities, as well as other team members, to prioritize ecosystem services are in the region. The project will include GIS analyses to determine how landuse, including conservation units, can be spatially arranged to maximize the provisioning of bundled ecosystem services. The successful candidate will have a strong background in landscape ecology, GIS and modeling. The candidate must also demonstrate the ability to work in a team setting, integrating both the human and ecological dimensions of ecosystem services. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of ecological and social resilience in the dynamic, human-dominated landscape that constitutes the Hojancha region with team members in fields such as entomology, landscape ecology, regional planning, rural sociology, and environmental and natural resource economics. Contact Alex Fremier (afrem...@uidaho.edu) and Fabrice De Clerck (fdecle...@catie.ac.cr). PhD Assistantship in Entomology and Landscape Ecology. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue studies on communities of arthropods in diverse landuses, including forest and pastures within the Chorotega Biological Corridor. Arthropods are excellent indicators of ecosystem health, but have been studied minimally following conservation efforts in the region. Research will focus on a combination of the following or related topics: 1) assessment of ecosystem services provided by arthropods, 2) examination of the impact of diverse landuses including pastures and forest lands on arthropod abundance and dispersal, and 3) determination of the effect of land management practices and landscape factors including spatial scales, on arthropod biodiversity. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of ecological and social resilience in the dynamic, human-dominated landscape that constitutes the Hojancha region with team members in fields such as ecosystem service science, landscape ecology, regional planning, rural sociology, and environmental and natural resource economics. Contact Nilsa Bosque-Pérez (nbos...@uidaho.edu), Steve Cook (steph...@uidaho.edu), and Fabrice De Clerck (fdecle...@catie.ac.cr). PhD Assistantship in Regional Planning and Sustainable Communities. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student with a background in urban
Re: [ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
I would agree with Julie's post. CATIE is in Costa Rica works throughout Meso and parts of South America on sustainable agriculture (the motto is Conserve while Producing, produce while conserving) including work on sustainable livestock management - we're in the process of finalizing Rainforest Alliance's certification standards for cattle farms.. See articles authored by Celia Harvey who now is working Conservation International. Most conservation organizations now have strong agriculture programs including TNC, WWF, CI and WCS. In addition to the authors mentioned below I would recommend Ivette Perfect. Probably one of the best agroecology programs in the world is the University of Goettingens with Teja Tscharntke, Stefan Dewenter and Alex Klein (now at Berkeley). Clarie Kremen's work on pollination also won her the MacArthur Genius Prize and should be included. Two groups that merit attention would be EcoAgriculture Partners led by Sara Scherr. See her books co-authored with Jeff McNeely (Agricultural Economist and Conservation Biologist). And the agroecology branch of the Diversitas Group which just came out with a special section on conservation in agriculture (Volume 2(1-2) of Environmental Sustainability. I would argue that this is one of the most rapidly growing branches of ecology. Fabrice On Jun 26, 2010, at 5:42 PM, Julie Cotton wrote: A quick disclosure - I work at MSU and did my graduate education at U-M, so this response pretty Midwest focused, and includes names I know as a privilege of my job and schooling. There are many great researchers out there pursuing aspects of agroecology/sustainability in the food production system that I am not mentioning, though they certainly have had significant contributions to the field. Before you start to try to reinvent the wheel, there is a strong and ongoing literature around sustainable, agriculture, and a growing one on meat production. As far as ecologists in the field, try starting with the authors of Agroecology textbooks and the new International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development [IAASTD] report: Steve Gliessman, John Vandermeer, Peter Rosset, Ivette Perfecto to name just a few. Many scientists that might be classified as agricultural researchers are strongly utilizing ecological knowledge - check out the long-term ecological research site in agriculture at MSU with many well-known researchers like Sieg Snapp and Phil Robertson. Look to the land-grant institutions with strong agroecologically-based programs for more about sustainable meat production. Here at MSU, we have cattle grazing ecologist Satiago Utsumi. There are also many social science researchers looking at ag technology adoption, political ecology, and the renewing of ancestral skills... that is another set of literature that I am less familiar with, but can mention recent influential public economics writer Raj Patel and political ecologist Jahi Chappell. Most traditional animal science departments are wary of ecological-based production methods, opting in the past to focus on feed efficiency and disease management, but there is a growing willingness to consider many alternatives. Remember that research funding is tighter than ever, so industry groups influence what can be researched in academia. Yet, the majority of cattle producers are still small - it's not until later consolidation in the production model that most cattle could be considered industrial. Anyone familiar with sustainable poultry, pork and other meat production, please chime in. In addition to the above mentions, Iowa State, University of Wisconsin-Madison, UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Cornell, and many other institutions have strong faculty in agroecology... you just need to do a little searching and you'll find a surprising amount of ecologists working in the agricultural venue - a few hundred are registered in the ESA Agroecology section. However, I would say that people researching more sustainable meat production are underrepresented and this field presents a lot of potential with both consumer preferences and the price of fuel in flux. It deserves to be said that in places where grazing animals is one of the sole sources of local food for humans (e.g. areas of Africa), the approach to and importance of both raising and sustaining animals is very different. There are many reports recently out that calculate the toll of raising meat that appear to be much more objective than interest-group led efforts. FAO's recent Livestock in a changing landscape may be of interest. Julie Cotton Academic Specialist Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Michigan State University Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596
[ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
Dear Friends, An environmental economist colleague of mine is disappointed with the CBD definition of ecosystems which gives the impression that only pristine areas are ecosystems. Can anyone point us to a more recent definition of ecosystems that explicitly includes humans as an integral part of the definition? Here is the original question: The CBD defines ecosystems as a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. I find this boring, as it leaves us humans, as special animals, out of the picture. When you read it, it is easy to think of pristine environments. Has there been any reaction or correction of this definition? I need an authoritative quote that balances the CBD´s All reactions welcome, and citations welcome! Fabrice Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596 fadecle...@catie.ac.cr Adjunct Research Scholar Tropical Agriculture Programs The Earth Institute at Columbia University
Re: [ECOLOG-L] International PhD vs. U.S. PhD
Michelle, The three year PhD is typical of the European Degrees - what is lost with the three year cycle is the course work which is virtually non-existent with the EU degrees. Personally, I found that the course work I took in my PhD was quite useful, however you might judge otherwise. I find that people are generally very accepting of foreign PhD's, what really matters is where you got it, and with whom? A PhD with Oxford, the Sorbonne, Leuven, Wageningen etc... are all well recognized. Cheers! Fabrice On Apr 6, 2010, at 5:14 AM, Michelle Cook wrote: I currently have a masters in biology and have been thinking about getting my PhD, and I would like to get some international experience as well. So my question is what is the difference between getting a PhD in the U.S. vs. getting one abroad? I have heard that international PhDs are usually research degrees (3 years) compared to a 4-5 year program in the States. In terms of future employement, will an international PhD be accepted on the samle level as a PhD earned from an accredited university in the States (i.e. for government agencies)? I am really curious to hear your thoughts as I would really like to study abroad. Thank you, Michelle Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596 fadecle...@catie.ac.cr Adjunct Research Scholar Tropical Agriculture Programs The Earth Institute at Columbia University
[ECOLOG-L] Help finding bird photos
Dear Friends - We're looking for high quality photos of the following bird species for a participatory monitoring program that we manage here in Costa Rica. The photos would be posted on our website, and would be used in posters. If you have photos of the following species, and are willing to let us use them we would greatly appreciate it. We will give credit to all photographers. Species Needed: Golden-Hooded Tanager Great Curassow Great-Green Macaw Osprey Summer Tanager Sunbittern Three-Wattled Bellbird White-Throated Robin Thanks! Fabrice Fabrice DeClerck PhD Community and Landscape Ecologist Division of Research and Development CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 30501 (506) 2558-2596 fadecle...@catie.ac.cr Adjunct Research Scholar Tropical Agriculture Programs The Earth Institute at Columbia University
[ECOLOG-L] IGERT: Interdisciplinary PhD assistantships in Idaho and Costa Rica
Ten IGERT PhD Fellowships for work in Costa Rica and Idaho The first for Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Resilience of the San Juan – La Selva Biological Corridor, a crucially important Mesoamerican landscape. And the second for Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Forest Landscape Dynamics and Ecosystem Resilience. Please note that IGERT fellowships are only available to US Citizens and Permanent Residents per NSF rules. Cheers! Fabrice University of Idaho – Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) San Juan – La Selva Biological Corridor, Costa Rica Team PhD Assistantship Announcements Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Resilience of the San Juan – La Selva Biological Corridor, a crucially important Mesoamerican landscape. Four Ph.D. research assistantships will be available to join a collaborative team working on aspects of conservation and sustainable rural livelihoods in the San Juan – La Selva Biological Corridor, a crucially important human-dominated landscape managed to provide ecological connectivity between the protected areas of southeastern Nicaragua and those of Costa Rica´s Central Volcanic Cordillera. The linked dissertation projects will work in the context of an outstanding biological corridor management initiative that seeks to attain conservation goals while meeting the challenges posed by a dynamic agro-export sector and a growing low-income rural population. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (IGERT), the individual fellows will pursue disciplinary research important for the overall theme, and work together to identify and address interdisciplinary issues critical for development of effective corridor policy, management planning and implementation. The team will interact with members of five other IGERT-sponsored student/ faculty teams pursuing similar objectives in other ecosystems in which sustainability and conservation in the face of changing conditions and pressures is desired. PhD Assistantship in sustainable rural livelihoods of small farmers and agricultural workers in a major Mesoamerican biological corridor. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to research rural livelihood dynamics of smallholders and landless people in the corridor, and to determine the extent to which these are shaped by market forces and the overall political-legal and institutional framework. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to determine livelihood security and potential trade-offs between conservation and development goals, and to identify viable options for minimizing the trade-offs. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation in the dynamic human dominated landscape that constitutes the corridor with team members in fields such as bat conservation biology, reproductive ecology of tree species, and forest ecology. Contact Dietmar Stoian (sto...@catie.ac.cr ) and Leontina Hormel (lhor...@uidaho.edu ). PhD Assistantship in ecology and conservation genetics of pollination and seed dispersal mutualisms involving bats and trees. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to research conservation ecological questions of fundamental importance to the functioning of this major Mesoamerican biological corridor, using nectarivorous and frugivorous bats and their mutualistic tree species as a model system. Habitat and resource use by bat species in logged and fragmented lowland rain forest and adjacent agricultural habitats will be characterized and bat movement patterns determined in relation to different types of human impact. Modeling techniques will be used to explore the implications of the results for corridor management for functional connectivity for flying vertebrates. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation in the dynamic human dominated landscape that constitutes the corridor with team members in fields such as reproductive ecology of tree species, forest ecology and sustainable rural livelihoods. Contact Lisette Waits (lwa...@uidaho.edu ) and Fabrice DeClerck (fdecle...@catie.ac.cr ). PhD Assistantship in reproductive ecology of bat-pollinated and bat- dispersed tree species. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to research conservation ecological questions of fundamental importance to the functioning of this major Mesoamerican biological corridor, focusing on the reproductive ecology (from pollination to seedling establishment) of bat-pollinated and bat-dispersed tree
[ECOLOG-L] IGERT PhD Fellowships for Interdisciplinary Study in the Palouse
University of Idaho Palouse Team PhD Assistantship Announcements Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Conservation Biology, Sustainable Production and Resilience of the Palouse Prairie Ecosystem. Up to five Ph.D. research assistantships will be available to join a collaborative team working on aspects of conservation of the endangered Palouse Prairie ecosystem in the context of bioregional planning in southeastern Washington State and Northern Idaho. The linked dissertation projects will work in the context of expected exurban development and sustainable agricultural production in the region. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (IGERT), the individual fellows will pursue disciplinary research important for the overall theme, and work together to identify and address interdisciplinary issues critical for development of effective planning and policy. The team will interact with members of five other IGERT-sponsored student/faculty teams pursuing similar objectives in other ecosystems in which sustainability and conservation in the face of changing conditions and pressures is desired. PhD Assistantship in Soil Biogeochemistry. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue the study of soil-plant relations and feedbacks in the endangered Palouse Prairie. The student will contribute to our understanding of resiliency in this unique ecosystem that is increasingly threatened by invasive weed species and urban sprawl. Research will focus on: 1) the importance of soil and site properties in determining the likelihood of invasion, and 2) the impact of invasive species on processes that control carbon storage and nutrient availability. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation of Palouse Prairie within a dynamic, human dominated landscape with team members in fields such as entomology, conservation/ restoration plant ecology, virus ecology, and rural and community economics. Contact Jodi Johnson-Maynard (jmayn...@uidaho.edu). PhD Assistantship in Entomology and Landscape Genetics. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue the study of populations of native insects linked to the ecological communities specific to the Palouse Prairie, now existing exclusively as widely distributed small remnants. Target populations will be key pollinators, specialist herbivores affecting predominant plant species and other indicator species. Research will focus on: 1) determining the genetic diversity and structure of arthropod populations, 2) examining how behavioral and ecological correlates of genetic structure influence level of landscape connectivity, and 3) assessing elements required to sustain connectivity as part of conservation plans. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation of Palouse Prairie within a dynamic, human dominated landscape with team members in fields such as soil science, conservation/restoration plant ecology, virus ecology, and rural and community economics. Contact Sanford D. Eigenbrode (sanfo...@uidaho.edu) and Lisette Waits (lwa...@uidaho.edu ). PhD Assistantship in Conservation/Restoration Plant Ecology. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue restoration ecology research within the Palouse Prairie and related canyon grassland systems of Northern Idaho. The field research will develop restoration methods appropriate for a range of plant communities at various stages of secondary succession to enhance resilience of those plant communities. The outcome of the research will include development of a decision tool to assist those actively involved in restoration. Research may include: 1) sequence of introduction of native species, 2) seeding techniques, 3) invasive plant management, 3) species selection for seed mixes that may incorporate native annuals, and 4) feasibility of establishment of biological soil crust. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation of Palouse Prairie within a dynamic, human dominated landscape with team members in fields such as soil science, entomology, virus ecology, and rural and community economics. The student must have a strong desire for collaboration with other students within or attached to the IGERT program. Contact Tim Prather (tprat...@uidaho.edu). PhD Assistantship in Rural and Community Economics. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue the study of rural community economics and social dynamics found in the Palouse Prairie region, including both patterns of decline and revitalization. The student will contribute to our
[ECOLOG-L] IGERT PhD Fellowships for Work in Costa Rica (Univ. of Idaho)
Friends, I am pleased to announce the following available PhD Fellowships. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any o the contacts listed if you have any questions or interest. Fabrice University of Idaho – Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) Turrialba, Costa Rica/ Volcánica Central-Talamanca Biological Corridor Team PhD Assistantship Announcements Interdisciplinary PhD Research Assistantships in Sustainable Production, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, and Resilience of the Volcánica Central-Talamanca Biological Corridor, a crucially important Mesoamerican landscape. Up to five Ph.D. research assistantships will be available to join a collaborative team working on aspects of sustainable production, conservation, and sustainable rural livelihoods within the Volcánica Central-Talamanca Biological Corridor, in Turrialba, Costa Rica. The linked dissertation projects will work in a region that faces a variety of natural resource management problems and where regional social and economic needs create pressure to increase ecosystem services. With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (IGERT), fellows will pursue disciplinary research important for the overall theme, and work together to identify and address interdisciplinary issues critical for effective policy development, management planning, and implementation. The team will interact with members of five other IGERT-sponsored student/ faculty teams pursuing similar objectives in other ecosystems in which sustainability and conservation in the face of changing conditions and pressures is desired. PhD Assistantship in Entomology and Landscape Ecology. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue studies on communities of introduced pests and native insects in coffee agroforestry systems (CAFS). Research will focus on determining 1) how coffee management practices influence the colonization, persistence, and movement of key invasive pests in the landscape, 2) how the spatial arrangement of CAFS and forest fragments within the landscape impact the movement of agricultural pests and beneficial organisms, and 3) how trends in changing landuse patterns affect movement of pests and beneficial organisms. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation in the dynamic, human-dominated landscape that constitutes the corridor with team members in fields such as rural sociology, natural resource economics, soil science, and hydrology and watershed management. Contact Nilsa Bosque-Pérez (nbos...@uidaho.edu), Sanford Eigenbrode (sanfo...@uidaho.edu), and Fabrice De Clerk (fdecle...@catie.ac.cr ). PhD Assistantship in Hydrology and Watershed Management. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue the study of hydrological sciences in mixed landuse watersheds. The broader research focus will be on impacts of landuse and climate change on ecosystem services and environmental quality. As a component of the work the student will assess water infiltration and storage in tropical soils. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation in the dynamic, human-dominated landscape that constitutes the corridor with team members in fields such as entomology, landscape ecology, soil science, rural sociology, and natural resource economics. Contact Jan Boll (jb...@uidaho.edu) and Jeff Jones (jjo...@catie.ac.cr). PhD Assistantship in Sustainable Rural Livelihoods. Seeking a highly motivated and qualified student to pursue the study of 1) rural livelihood dynamics of smallholders, and 2) to determine the extent to which livelihood dynamics may influence landuse change decisions and are shaped by market forces and the overall political-legal and institutional framework. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to determine livelihood security and potential trade-offs between conservation and development goals, and to identify viable options for minimizing the trade-offs. As a component of the work the student will identify reactive or proactive adjustments to the livelihood strategies in response to perceived or anticipated effects of climate change. In addition, the student will conduct collaborative research to examine interdisciplinary aspects of conservation in the dynamic, human-dominated landscape that constitutes the corridor with team members in fields such as entomology, landscape ecology, hydrology and watershed management, soil science, and natural resource economics. Contact J.D. Wulfhorst (j...@uidaho.edu ) and Dietmar Stoian (sto...@catie.ac.cr). PhD Assistantship in Natural Resource Economics. Seeking a highly motivated
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Carbon use efficiency with plant diversity
Keven, Here is one study we did on the subject. I can send the PDF if you like - In short we found that diversity increased the stability of carbon storage, but that if you select fast growing high density species, you can store more carbon that a mixed system. This was trees only though, we did not consider other plant or soil elements. Bunker, D.E., F.A. DeClerck, J.C. Bradford, R. Colwell, P. Garden, I. Perfecto, O. Phillips, M. Sankaran, and S. Naeem. 2005. Biodiversity loss and above-ground carbon storage in a tropical forest. Science 301:1029-1031. Fabrice On May 13, 2009, at 9:55 AM, Kevin wrote: Hi, All: If you have any thinking about one of my ideas or aware of any related literature, please join in the discussion. Do you think a higher diverse plant ecosystem would lead to a higher carbon use efficiency or lower one? A higher diversity means more distinct niche differentiation and the ecosystem should be more efficient. Then a higher proportion of GPP should flow into NPP. That is my guessing. Welcome your opinion. Thanks
[ECOLOG-L] Plant Ecologist Position in Australia
Applications close on 29th May – link to job description is below. 2009/30 Plant Ecologist CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems - Canberra, ACT International Applicants Welcome We are seeking an adaptable research scientist with an international reputation and a track record of initiating and conducting quality research within agricultural and mixed use landscapes. The position requires a person who will provide scientific leadership and create business opportunities that are aligned with our research priorities. It is envisaged that the successful candidate will develop a significant leadership role within the Agricultural Landscapes Program and the Sustainable Ecosystems Division. $131K - $164K plus Superannuation Many thanks Sue - Sue McIntyre, Senior Principal Research Scientist sue.mcint...@csiro.au Phone: (02) 62421604 CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems M: 04 1755 5311 PO Box 284, Canberra ACT 2601 http://www.csiro.au/people/Sue.McIntyre.html -- -- CIDE, CSIC | http://www.uv.es/jgpausas ___ Aeet mailing list a...@ls.cica.es http://www2.cica.es/servlist/listinfo/aeet * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: fdecle...@catie.ac.cr Phone: (506) 2558-2596 Fax: (506) 2558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: fd2...@columbia.edu Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
[ECOLOG-L] Regional Coordinator of FINNFOR
Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica El CATIE combina ciencia, educación y cooperación técnica para lograr una agricultura competitiva, la reducción de la pobreza y la conservación del ambiente, lo invitamos a ser parte de esta importante labor. Para mayor información ingresar al Web de CATIE, en la dirección: www.catie.ac.cr. Las personas interesadas en esta posición sírvanse enviar carta de aplicación, pretensión salarial y resumen curricular a la dirección electrónica: gcha...@catie.ac.cr Fecha límite de recepción de aplicaciones 30 de abril 2009 EL CATIE BUSCA ENRIQUECER SU PERSONAL EN TÉRMINOS DE GÉNERO, POR TANTO, INSTA A HOMBRES Y MUJERES EN IGUALDAD DE CONDICIONES A PARTICIPAR. EL CATIE NO HACE DISCRIMINACIÓN POR ORIGEN ÉTNICO, CREDO RELIGIOSO O POLÍTICO. ___ Internacional mailing list internacio...@catie.ac.cr http://computo.catie.ac.cr/mailman/listinfo/internacional * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: fdecle...@catie.ac.cr Phone: (506) 2558-2596 Fax: (506) 2558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: fd2...@columbia.edu Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
Re: [ECOLOG-L] rainforest forever: is it legit?
Mike, I don't know about the organization that your school is working with, however the NRDC one (Natural Resource Defense Council one (https://secure.nrdconline.org/08/biogems_costarica_tree ) is legit. I can say so with confidence because CATIE is receiving such funds to reforest 30 ha of our property and I have been asked to propose strategic placement of the reforestation to maximize connectivity between the two large forest patches on our farm. Again, I don't know any specifics about the other group though. If they work in Latin America, let me know and I can do some digging for you, we have good ties with most of the conservation groups in the area. Fabrice On Apr 1, 2009, at 1:18 PM, Palmer, Mike wrote: Dear Colleagues, Our daughter's 7th grade Geography class is having a fundraiser to buy and protect rainforest trees, and the organization they are choosing is 'rainforest forever': http://www.rainforestforever.org/index.html . The idea behind it is that donors will buy a tree, and get a certificate that has the GPS coordinates of the tree - something that will reinforce material learned in the class. Sounds good so far. However, I have never heard of this organization, and their webpage does not give any real contact information, nor any scientific justification. Indeed, there are no names of individuals associated with the organization. All the news searches I have done reveal articles that repeat the information on the web page verbatim. Nevertheless, I can find no specific information that the organization is NOT legitimate, and I do not want to confront a teacher trying to do the right thing unless I know more. Does anyone have any experience with this organization, or any knowledge of its legitimacy? --Mike Michael W. Palmer, Regents Professor, Botany Department, Oklahoma State University 104 LSE Stillwater OK 74078 USA 405-744-7717 LABORATORY FOR INNOVATIVE BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS: http://ecology.okstate.edu/Libra/ Wildfuels Blog: http://cas.okstate.edu/debo/blogs/ OSU Botany: http://botany.okstate.edu/ OSU Ecology: http://ecology.okstate.eduhttp://ecology.okstate.edu/
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Book list Ecology Biology Conservation Life Sciences
H Wayne, They did post it a while back, here is a copy with a couple additions. The Song of the Dodo – David Quamman (on of my all time favorites) A Sand County's Almanac - Aldo Leopold (required reading for all environmental scientists in the US) The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World - Michael Pollan The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Micheal Pollan Naturalist - Edward O. Wilson Biophilia – E.O. Wilson Consilience – E.O. Wilson The Diversity of Life – E.O. Wilson The Log from the Sea of Cortez (Penguin Modern Classics)- John Steinbeck Ismael – Daniel Quinn Silent Spring – Rachel Carson Oryx and Crake – Margaret Atwood (fiction) Encounters with the Arcdruid – John McPhee The Control of Nature – John McPhee Desert Solitare – Edward Abbey The Monkey Wrench Gang – Edward Abbey (fiction, and a lot of fun). Walden – Henry David Thoreau Win Win Ecology – Michael Rosensweig Fragile Dominion – Simon Levine Tears of the Cheetah: The Genetic Secrets of Our Animal Ancestors- Stephen J. O'Brien Water, Ice Stone: Science and Memory on the Antarctic Lakes- Bill Green Song for the Blue Ocean: Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas - Carl Safina Eye of the Albatross: Visions of Hope and Survival - Carl Safina Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train: Errant Economists, Shameful Spenders, and a Plan to Stop them All - Brian Czech One River - Wade Davis The Trees in My Forest - Bernd Heinrich The Richness of Life: The Essential Stephen Jay Gould - Stephen Jay Gould The Voyage of the Beagle - Charles Darwin A Plague of Rats and Rubbervines: The Growing Threat Of Species Invasions (Scope Series - Scientific Committee on Pro) - Yvonne Baskin Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change- Elizabeth Kolbert Grassland: The History, Biology, Politics and Promise of the American Prairie - Richard Manning Monster of God: The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind- David Quammen 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus - Charles C. Mann Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America - Thomas L. Friedman Last Chance to See - Douglas Adams Extinction: How Life on Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago - Douglas H. Erwin Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 (P.S.) - Simon Winchester The World Without Us - Alan Weisman King of Fish: The Thousand-Year Run of Salmon - David Montgomery Salmon Without Rivers: A History Of The Pacific Salmon Crisis - James A. Lichatowich Darwin's Dreampond: Drama on Lake Victoria- Tijs Goldschmidt Out of Eden: An Odyssey of Ecological Invasion- Alan Burdick Ravens in Winter - Bernd Heinrich Arctic Dreams - Barry Lopez The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time - Jonathan Weiner The Shock Theory, The Economy of Disaster. by Naomi Klein Deepening Democracy. Empowered participatory Governance, by Arkon Fung and Olin Wright. The book if from a series of Books from Verso Editors and prom the Real Utopias Project. The end of Poverty, by Jeffrey Sachs ( is interesting par example to contrast the change of direction in the thinking of Sachs, in contrast with his role in the Schock Therapy used in Russia by the WB and the IFM and led by him) Also a selection of Books about Utopia could be Useful like Miltons ´The Lost Paradise, Skinner Walden II, Thoreau Walden, Cabet A Trip to Icaria, Smith´s Memories of the Future, Huxley This Brave New World. E=MC2 . A Biography of the world most famous equation. David Bodanisby David Bodanis Historia del Fuego ( una historia de America Latina)Eduardo Galeano(Autor de Las Venas Abiertas de America Latina) Guns, Germs and Steel. By Jared Diamond The Next Fifty Years by Bruce Sterling ( a look in the Science of the Future) Los tres lbros de Dennis Meadows + Co: The limits of Growth, Beyong the limits of Growth a a recent version ( issued a couple of years ago). The three books give a trend of the use of the carrying capacity of our planet. On Mar 25, 2009, at 9:57 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote: Recently there was a request for suggestions for titles. If the requestor has assembled the list, could he or she please post it? I have a couple to add, both by Temple Grandin: Animals Make Us Human and Animals in Translation. WT
[ECOLOG-L] Urban Stream Restoration
I completely agree - and this is where ecology enters the fray of interdisciplinary work. We met with similar issues when trying to integrate ecology with development in an African Village. One of our planned interventions was increased linear rows of trees along roads to provide shade for pedestrians, an additional source of fuelwood, and to increase connectivity for tree dependent bird species. Nothing fancy, and certainly well intentioned. However even the road engineers working on the project with us were consulted, they were very much opposed to the idea stating that shaded roads took too long to dry, were perpetually muddy, and that muddy roads here were non-funtional (I had to agree after trying to ride the motorcyle or even drive the landcruiser on one - it was more like ice capades). We never would have imagined this without consulting with the engineers however, and being open to considering their point of view. I think that this will be a major challenge in the future - how do we communicate with large and diverse groups of stakeholders, and how do we seek consensus?? Rosenzweig's Book Win-Win Ecology: How the earth's species can survive in the midst of human enterprise follows several examples, and is an easy, but worthy read. Fabrice On Feb 24, 2009, at 8:08 AM, Robert McGuinn wrote: I agree with Matthew on this. These landscape crews are caught in the middle between several different, and most likely, unstated, management objectives. Lack of communication and understanding between ecologists, landscape architects, urban planners, and landscape maintenance staff is a persistent problem and we could do more by reaching out to these professions. After all, for all of our musings and research on ecological function, these are the people, who are most directly challenged to put something real on the ground, at least in human-dominated landscapes. The other thing is that management plans need to be established that clearly articulate functional goals for each managed landscape in question. Is it aesthetics, recreation, or ecological function, or a combination of the above? Whatever it is, it should be written down and communicated to all stakeholders. This problem, as most problems, revolves around unstated goals and perceptions and a lack of communication. Demonizing one party or another is totally unproductive behavior and is counter to effective decision making. Robert McGuinn * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: fdecle...@catie.ac.cr Phone: (506) 2558-2596 Fax: (506) 2558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: fd2...@columbia.edu Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
[ECOLOG-L] Bird Monitoring in Costa Rica (English Version)
Please respond to Pablo or John Ralh. INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR BIRD MONITORING IN COSTA RICA -- We have openings for Volunteer Bird Banding Interns at a bird monitoring station in the coastal Caribbean town of Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Positions are available throughout the year with the minimum length of stay around 2 months. Participants are expected to have experience in identifying birds, and they usually have removed from mist nets and processed at least 200 landbirds. The Primary Bander will have extensive experience operating a capture station and can be awarded up to half their airfare to and from San José, Costa Rica. Latin American Volunteers are especially encouraged and may be eligible for other reimbursements. All volunteers receive their room and board while they are staying at the well-appointed station of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Estacion Biologica, in Tortuguero (http://cccturtle.org/ccc-costarica.htm ). We and our collaborators in Costa Rica have been operating five monitoring stations near the village for over a decade. We operate mist nets for resident and migrant species and conduct migration censuses of the millions of diurnal migrants moving along the coast. For more information see http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/topics/wildlife/birdmon/landbird/tortuguero/ Positions will be open until filled. Please send (emailed text documents preferred) a resume and a cover letter that includes your bird banding experience, ability with Spanish/English, dates available, three references and any questions to Pablo A. Herrera, paherr...@fs.fed.us , AND Dr. C. John Ralph, c...@humboldt.edu, 707 825-2994 (fax 707 825-2901), U.S. Forest Service, Redwood Sciences Laboratory, 1700 Bayview Drive, Arcata, California 95521. * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscape Ecologist/Ecologo de Paisaje Dept. Agricultura y Agroforesteria CATIE 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica Email: fdecle...@catie.ac.cr Phone: (506) 2558-2596 Fax: (506) 2558-2046 Web: www.catie.ac.cr Adjunct Associate Tropical Agriculture Program The Earth Institute at Columbia University Email: fd2...@columbia.edu Skype: fadeclerck Web:www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/ *** Everything not given is lost
[ECOLOG-L] GPS with datalogging capabilities
Hi All, A quick question, does anyone know of a good field GPS which permits you to easily enter field data associated with a GPS point? For example, we're interested in spatial arrangement of trees at the pasture level and thus will be conducting a census of trees including their GPS coordinates, DBH, crown measurements and a couple of other measures. I was wondering if there was a machine with good positional accuracy (4 m) and that capability. Any suggestions are helpful. 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) 2558-2596 Fax: (506) 2558-2046 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
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Central American Plant
The Flora of Nicaragua from the Missouri Botanical Garden is by far the best resource, and even better, it is online here: http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/nicaragua/resumen.shtml Cheers, Fabrice On Mar 28, 2008, at 10:33 PM, Michael Petriello wrote: Does anyone know of a plant guide or helpful website (a guide is preferable) specific to Central American plants; even more specific, to Tropical Dry Forests or Nicaragua? I need a well-rounded and legit source for my research this summer in Nicaragua. Thanks, Mike Petriello * 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 P Think Green - don't print unless you really need to
Ecosystem and Environmental Services
A quick question for the group - is there a distinction between ecosystem services and environmental services, or are both terms synonymous? Cheers, Fabrice
Re: ECOSYSTEM Function Service Re: Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
Wayne, The questions I have reflected on and can comment on are the last three: The distinction between functions and services I thought has always been an human based distinction where services are those functions that have important human values. Don't ask me though to then list those that are functions and those that are services. For question number 5 in my biodiversity is the provider of functions. For six, absolutely it is more than numbers, composition plays a huge role, and the functional ecologist, would argue that the traits of the species present in a community or ecosystem are important. We also have plenty of evidence that for particular function, one species can indeed bet better than many, at least over the short term, which also answers number 7, the numbers, or identities must be able to change over time, which is in large part the foundation of the diversity stability debate. Cheers, Fabrice On Apr 20, 2007, at 11:33 AM, Wayne Tyson wrote: I'm a bit confused too. terHorst makes a good point, but I suspect that if there is a truth beneath the semantics and the labels and the presumptions and the homeocentric bias, it might be at once more complex and simple that we understand--or are capable of understanding. But that's why ecology is endlessly interesting, eh? Once upon a time, long, long ago, I was blatting on about ecosystem function. Then Dick Vogl said, I don't know what 'ecosystem function' is. That set me to thinking--critically, about my assumptions, because I considered Vogl to be an ecology prodigy, if not genius. One thing about him--he thought WAY out of the box, but always tied it to more or less conventional theory so those around him would have something solid to cling to while Vogl spun his magic. So perhaps terHorst's remarks should at least not be overlooked, perhaps given serious thought. 1. What IS ecosystem function? 2. What is an ecosystem service? 3. What are the differences between the two? 4. Are they related at all, and if so, just how? 5. Where does biodiversity fit into each? 6. Is there more to biodiversity than numbers? 7. Are those numbers valid in a dynamic sense over time? WT At 07:47 AM 4/20/2007, Casey terHorst wrote: 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 * 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
Is biodiversity an ecosystem function?
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
Cattle and Riparian Forest Restoration
Hello All - I have a student who is developing a proposal for a Bourlog LEAD fellowship (http://leap.ucdavis.edu/program/ ) to look at how we can work with cattle farmers in Nicaragua on the restoration of riparian forests in pasture dominated landscapes. The proposal would permit the student to work with a US faculty member, and one of the CG's and pays for travel for student, and mentors to the research site. If anyone out there is interested in working on riparian forest restoration in pasture landscapes, and would be interested in mentoring a motivated Colombia Master's student, please contact me off list. Sincerely, Fabrice De Clerck * 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
Re: ecosystem services
I think that what ESA might be pointing out is that these human dominated landscapes are dependent on EF, for example to maintain soil quality, pollination, pest control etc.. I recommend Tscharntke et al. 2005. Landscape perspective on agricultural intensification and biodiversity - ecosystem service management. Ecology Letters 8:857-874 Cheers, Fabrice On Feb 27, 2007, at 12:49 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote: At 07:52 AM 2/24/2007, David Inouye wrote: The Ecological Society has a variety of fact sheets about ecological issues, including ecosystem services: http://esa.org/teaching_learning/factsheets.php ESA has done an excellent job with this, particularly laudable for its brevity. However, I couldn't help but notice an agricultural monoculture in one of the photographs. Perhaps I am out of step, but I have long drawn what I consider a crucial distinction between agriculture and horticulture (domestication of other life-forms), which require human intervention for support, and ecosystems, which do not. Would it be useful to include such a distinction? Or is the distinction invalid? WT * 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
Ecoagriculture Partners Recruiting Director of Markets Program
For any Ecological Economists out there on the listserve, this =20 position might be of interest to you. EcoAgriculture is a fantastic organization doing cutting edge work. Cheers, Fabrice Begin forwarded message: From: Sara Scherr [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: December 20, 2006 10:22:20 AM GMT-06:00 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Ecoagriculture Partners Recruiting Director of Markets =20 Program Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =09 Ecoagriculture Partners Recruiting Director of Markets Program Dear Ecoagriculture Partners, I would like to request your assistance in helping Ecoagriculture =20 Partners recruit a Director for our new Markets Program. This =20 Program will identify, support and promote market innovations that =20 provide financial incentives for integrated agricultural production =20= and biodiversity conservation in ecoagriculture landscapes. Below is a Terms of Reference. We would be grateful if you could =20 circulate this announcement to colleagues whom you think would be =20 qualified for, and enthusiastic about, the position, or who may =20 know such individuals. The application deadline is January 31, 2007. If you have any questions about this position, please contact my =20 colleague, Seth Shames. Thanks very much for your help. Sincerely, Sara Sara J. Scherr, Ph.D. President, Ecoagriculture Partners 1050 Potomac Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 USA Tel: 202-298-3004; Fax: 202-298-3014 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.ecoagriculturepartners.org * ECOAGRICULTURE PARTNERS Director, Program on Markets for Ecoagriculture Products and Services Ecoagriculture Partners (www.ecoagriculturepartners.org) is a =20 small, rapidly-growing international non-profit organization =20 working to facilitate landscape management approaches that =20 simultaneously enhance agricultural production, support rural =20 livelihoods and conserve ecosystem services. EP seeks a =BE to full-=20= time Director for our new program on Markets for Ecoagriculture =20 Products and Services, to join our committed team by July 1, 2007 =20 or earliest available. The Director of the Markets Program will: Build and lead EP=92s program on Markets (both products and ecosystem =20= services), Support market analysis and development in selected ecoagriculture =20 landscapes, initially in Mesoamerica and East Africa; Promote exchange of market models and innovations among =20 ecoagriculture innovators; Engage in international dialogues on ecoagriculture-related market =20 issues; Support adaptation of product and ecosystem service market =20 assessment methods to achieve joint income and conservation goals =20 in ecoagriculture landscapes; Develop and maintain excellent collaborative relationships with key =20= partners in private, public and community sectors. Required: At least five years of relevant experience supporting market =20 development and analysis, particularly in developing countries; Experience working with the private sector and with farmer or =20 community conservation organizations; Demonstrated commitment to, and achievements in, promoting market =20 initiatives that achieve both conservation and agricultural =20 livelihood benefits; Masters=92 degree in relevant field; Strong skills in team-building and participatory processes; Excellent English writing and communication skills. Desirable: Market-related experience in Latin America or Africa; Fluency in reading and speaking Spanish; Experience and competence in working in diverse, cross-cultural teams; expertise in analysis of markets. Salary and benefits: Competitive salary, depending upon experience; Health and retirement benefits, life and disability insurance, 20 =20 days vacation, holidays, re-location support Initial 3-year position, renewable Location of posting negotiable. Please send your C.V., a cover letter indicating your background =20 and experience, and names and contact information for three =20 references in an email with subject line =91Director, Markets =20 Program=92 by January 31, 2007 to Seth Shames, =20 [EMAIL PROTECTED] __=20= _ top Ecoagriculture Partners | 1050 Potomac Street NW | Washington, DC =20 20007 | www.ecoagriculturepartners.org Forward email This email was sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED], by =20 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe=99 | Privacy Policy. Ecoagriculture Partners | 1050 Potomac Street NW | Washington | DC =20 | 20007
Re: question for faculty reviewing theses and dissertations
As an ecologist, one part of the answer is think of all the paper you are saving, so maybe there is something inherently wrong in printing 10 copies of a 200 page thesis? Any good graduate student will take the time to read your comments and decide which ones they agree with and which ones they do not agree with - in addition, the real changes, the important ones deal more with the science, and the content rather than the syntax and grammar in my opinion. So no, I don't think there is anything wrong with using track changes. Cheers, Fabrice On Dec 9, 2006, at 3:45 PM, Russell Burke wrote: I have a question for faculty-types who review student theses and dissertations, and I'd also like to hear from students writing such things. I'm currently reviewing the MS thesis of one of my students, this is my third time thru and it is actually in pretty good shape. I suspect only one or two more drafts and it will be ready to distribute to the rest of his committee and he can defend. that's good because he's in a real hurry to get done; he's accepted into a PhD program and they won't let him register for next term until he defends his MS thesis. But I'm worried about the changes in the way I do this, compared to previous students, and I'd like some feedback from other folks in similar situations. The previous drafts of his thesis that I've reviewed were hard copies, and I wrote directly on the hard copy, and the marks were pretty dramatic: elaborate on this point here, cut this page of text down to one short paragraph, move this to results, add a table summarizing this, etc. He had to work pretty hard to make all these changes, and many involved original work. But this most recent draft I'm reviewing using Track Changes in Word, and since he's followed my advice on the previous drafts the current suggestions are a lot less dramatic--delete this word and use this word, switch the order of these two clauses, etc. To indicate what I suggest, in many cases I actually do it--like delete the offending word and type in a better one. In one way this is quite similar to what I did on previous versions of this same thesis--cross out a word and write a different one above it. where I've come to places where I can't make such simple suggestions, I do use the Comment function to suggest more substantial changes, but there aren't many of those in this draft. so here's the question--is there something inherently wrong with the fact that now all he has to do to deal with 80% of my suggestions is take the version I've worked on, and click on Accept Changes? if so, does that mean I should only edit hard copies? if not, doesn't that mean I'm doing most of his work? Keep in mind that while he is a good honest student he is in a big hurry to finish. Dr. Russell Burke Department of Biology 114 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549 voice: (516) 463-5521 fax: 516-463-5112 http://www.people.hofstra.edu/faculty/russell_l_burke/
Re: Autorship Order: ABC or ACB?
Hello Karim, In many fields the last author is recognized as the senior author (the major professor for example) Not necessarily the person that did the most work, but the person who has the most experience and oversaw the production of the manuscript. This works well when the last author will be recognized by the readers as a senior researcher. I've been told by senior researchers that when submitting your CV, people like to see your name on publications shift from the first author in your earliest papers, to increasing numbers of papers where you are the last, or senior author. CHeers, Fabrice On Nov 22, 2006, at 9:28 AM, Karim Ledesma wrote: Hello All, I have a question about the autorship order. I have heard and read somewhere that researchers seem to know that in a 3 author paper, the responsability of the second author on the paper is lower than the third author. How well known and accepted is this idea of autorship order? If the participation of multiple authors on a paper is clear and each participated as A=80%, B=40% and C=10%. And A and B are still graduate students and C is a local person of the study area. How should the order of the authors be? ACB or ABC? Thanks for your ideas, Karim __ __ Sponsored Link Online degrees - find the right program to advance your career. www.nextag.com * 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
Re: Guidelines for Authorship
I think this is an interesting and important theme. In several recent papers, two co-authors and I really put in equal amounts of effort, and feel that there should be a footnote stating Equal Authorship, authors listed alphabetically. However there appears to be little precedence for this. Does anyone know of any examples? Cheers, Fabrice On Sep 18, 2006, at 7:35 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Sarmia et al. - in anticipation of a thread that may develop on the topic of authorship, and as a bit of a plug for our upcoming paper: In an article scheduled for the October issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, we explore trends in authorship in ecology, discuss the need for guidelines for author inclusion and byline order, and recommend several simple ways to better communicate the contribution of individual authors to the readership at large. The citation is: Weltzin, J.F., R.T. Belote, L.T. Williams, J.K. Keller, and E.C. Engel. 2006. Authorship in ecology: attribution, accountability, and responsibility. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 4(8):in press. I would be pleased to distribute a pdf reprint of the article after 1 October to anyone who requests a copy. Cheers, Jake Jake F. Weltzin Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 569 Dabney Hall University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1610 USA Cell phone: 865-207-5773 Fax: 865-974-3067 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage: http://eeb.bio.utk.edu/weltzin/ -Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU wrote: - To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU From: Samia Carrillo-Percastegui [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent by: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: 09/15/2006 08:18PM Subject: Guidelines for Authorship Can anyone give me some input on what are or should be the guidelines for authorship a peer reviewed paper? thanks a lot. Samia Carrillo-Percastegui [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remaining silent about the destruction of nature is an endorsement of that destruction * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscale 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
Call for Interest in EcoAgriculture Special Symposium at ESA 2007
Session Title: EcoAgriculture: restoring biodiversity, livelihoods, =20 and ecosystem processes in agricultural landscapes Session Coordinators: Fabrice De Clerck Dept. of Agriculture and Agroforestry Center for Research and Education in Tropical Agriculture (CATIE) Turriabla, Costa Rica Adjunct Research Fellow Tropical Agriculture Programs The Earth Institute at Columbia University Phone: (506) 556-2596 Fax:(506) 556-2046 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Someone from EP interested in being a co-organizer? Description: Hello All, I wanted to send a quick call out that we are now accepting proposal =20 presentation titles for and ESA Organizes Oral Session on =20 EcoAgriculture: restoring biodiversity, livelihoods, and ecosystem =20 processes in agricultural landscapes . This session, as with the =20 Poverty Reduction Through Ecological Restoration Session are =20 continuations of the Ecology and Poverty Alleviation Session =20 presented this past summer in Memphis. Sara Scherr from the EcoAgriculture Partnership has agreed to open =20 the session, and we have the commitment of several active members of =20 the group as well. We are very interested in having ecologists who =20 are working in agricultural landscapes on biodiversity conservation =20 and/or increasing food security (productivity). I've pasted the organized oral session proposal to this email, if you =20= are interested in participating, please send your name, contact =20 information, and proposed presentation title to me =20 ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) by tomorrow afternoon (3 pm East Coast time). =20= Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or =20 comments. Sincerely, Fabrice De Clerck Draft Document Comments, suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. If you are =20 interested in being a speaker, please insert your name, co-authors, =20 institutional affiliation, and proposed session title. If the =20 proposal is accepted by ESA, the session organizers will select 10 =20 presentations, and will seek confirmation of participation from those =20= speakers. Please return all comments, and potential speaker to =20 Fabrice De Clerck by September 15th. For information on the conference please visit: http://www.esa.org/=20 sanjose Globally, 852 million people, mainly in developing countries are =20 still chronically or acutely malnourished. At the same time, we are =20 witnessing continued loss of habitat and species extinctions in the =20 wake of agricultural development and expansion. The first of eight =20 Millennium Development Goals is =93eradicate extreme hunger and =20 poverty=94, whereas goal number seven is to =93ensure environmental =20 sustainability=94. These MDG=92s will not be reached without securing = the =20 ability of the rural poor to feed their families and supply growing =20 markets while also protecting the biodiversity and ecosystem services =20= that sustain their livelihoods. Ecologists have a distinct role to =20 play in the alleviation of global hunger, restoration of ecosystems =20 functions and processes, and conservation of biodiversity by working =20 in the agricultural landscape. At the Memphis Ecological Society of America Meeting, more than 250 =20 ecologists gathered at an organized oral session to on the =93role of =20= ecology in poverty alleviation=94 to discuss specific ways in which =20 ecology can be used to alleviate poverty and ensure environmental =20 sustainability. Through this session it was made clear that =20 ecologists are needed to =93paint the big picture.=94 The tradition of =20= elucidating complex systems and relationships and working across =20 scales and disciplines enables ecologists guide management options =20 that build on synergies between rural livelihoods, environmental =20 sustainability, and food security. In this session, we will focus our =20= attention on these three objectives and on how they can be attained =20 use the conceptual framework developed by the EcoAgriculture =20 Partnership. Ecoagriculture provides a framework for landscape =20 management and restoration that enables an integrated approach =96 =20 putting food security at the heart of conservation, and conservation =20 at the heart of food security. Much of the ecological knowledge =20 needed to address the challenges of hunger alleviation is already =20 known; we must focus on information needs and exchange and applying =20 knowledge in the appropriate social and ecological contexts. The goals of this oral session are (1) present the EcoAgriculture =20 framework, with a strong focus on ecology=92s contribution to landscape =20= management of agroecosystems, (2) to present a framework for =20 measuring landscape performance within agroecosystems (3) to present =20 case studies where the ecoagricultural framework has been =20 implemented, and to present lessons learned from these case studies, =20 (4) to engage in a discussion of the challenges and opportunities =20
Pine-Oak woodlands of Central America
Hi All - Does any one have good plot data, literature, or know of good vegetation descriptions, or biodiversity work in the pine-oak woodlands of Central America, more specifically of Honduras (and again more specifically of the Copan region?) Any information would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Fabrice * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscale 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
Re: Ancient description of ecosystem dynamics?
I recommend reading Naeem's 2002 Ecosystem Consequences of Biodiversity Loss: the evolutions of a paradigm. Ecology 83(6): 1537-1552. In it Shahid goes back to the time of the Greeks to explore the concept of ecosystems. Cheers, Fabrice On Jul 9, 2006, at 4:05 PM, Warren W. Aney wrote: I just ran across this bit of writing from almost 2,000 years ago: All that is born, all that is created, all the elements of nature are interwoven and united with each other. All that is composed shall be decomposed: everything returns to its roots: matter returns to the origins of matter. This is part of the fragmentary Gospel of Mary found in Cairo in 1896 but only recently studied and translated (this translation of the Coptic is by Jean-Yves Leloup). Authorities say it was probably written during the second century C.E. I was amazed that someone thought and wrote along these lines so long ago. It succinctly describes what an ecosystem is, using terms suggestive of more modern concepts such as biolgical communities, species interactions, mutualism, biogeochemical cycling, and decomposition regimes. Does anyone know of other ancient writings that come this close to today's concepts of how an ecosystem operates? Or is this unique? We tend to think that much of this understanding arose only within the last 100 years. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist 9403 SW 74th Ave Tigard, OR 97223 (503)246-8613 (voice) (503)246-2605 (fax) [EMAIL PROTECTED] (email) * Fabrice De Clerck PhD Landscale 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
Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes and NCEAS proposal
Hello All - After reading the NCEAS call for proposals regarding funding for Distributed Graduate Seminars (DGS) I would be interested in seeing if anyone out there would be like to develop a DGS on Conservation of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes. Here at CATIE in Costa Rica we have accomplished quite a bit of work and have some significant databases/experience on species conservation in pasture, coffee, and cacao landscapes. In particular, there are three principle questions I'd like to explore, though these would be open to consideration/discussion once partners are finalized: 1) Can agricultural landscapes be managed for the conservation of biodiversity 2) What is the relationship between biodiversity and the functioning (crop productivity, disease and pest resistance) 3) To link data in Costa Rica, and potential partners in the US, what is the role of semi-natural habitat in agricultural landscapes play in the conservation of migratory species, particularly those species that migrate between/through Costa Rica and North American landscapes. Both ecological questions and social questions, such as what drives farmers to conserve on-farm biodiversity could be open for consideration. If your are interested, please drop me an email. We are particularly interested in institutions that serve high proportions of of groups underrepresented in science. For more information on the NCEAS call for proposals, please visit: http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/opportunity/ rfp.html Cheers, Fabrice
