Re: assisted "migration" (not) -- one more thing
While I am a writer, I don't edit myself very well -- especially after a day of physically demanding field work. I see some misspellings and missing words in my previous post -- after I sent it. No one needs to point them out :) Dave -- David M. Lawrence| Home: (804) 559-9786 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] USA | http: http://fuzzo.com -- "We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo "No trespassing 4/17 of a haiku" -- Richard Brautigan
Re: assisted "migration" (not)
Dear Grumpy Old Ecologist, "Precision" in language is a noble goal, but as someone who has spent a couple of decades writing for the public, "assisted migration" is preferable to terms like "human-assisted range extension" when communicating with the public. Most "commoners" -- who will foot the bill for most attempts to transfer species to "safer" locations -- won't have to run to the dictionary to understand what someone means by "assisted migration." Most eyes would glaze over switch channels when forced to confront your "preferred" terms. Rather than promoting understanding (among the masses), the terms would restrict understanding only to those who know the secret handshakes. In addition, to one who appreciates the beauty of language, the "preferred" terms are about as appealing as being locked in an outhouse on a hot summer day. Substituting "translocation" for "extension" leads to even more confusion among people who understand the concept of "extension," but have never heard of the term "translocation" except in some ancient spelling bee. If you're not concerned with the sound of the terms, try the syllable test: nine for "human-assisted range extension" versus six "assisted migration." Economy of language is important -- and often key to clear communication -- unfortunately the concept has evaded the awareness of many academics. The fact is, assisted migration, while somewhat confusing, is perfectly legitimate useage according to the language we commonly refer to as "English." "Migration" is defined as the act of migrating. The first definition of "migrate" in Webster's New World College Dictionary is "to move from one place to another." The first definition of "migrate" in Webster's Third New International Dictionary is "to leave one country, region, or place in order to settle in another." The problem, thus, is not reviewers and editors who fall down on the job, but grumpy people unaware of how unfamiliar they are with the language they call their own. Later, Dave -- David M. Lawrence| Home: (804) 559-9786 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] USA | http: http://fuzzo.com -- "We have met the enemy and he is us." -- Pogo "No trespassing 4/17 of a haiku" -- Richard Brautigan -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of DAVID WHITACRE Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 8:12 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: assisted "migration" (not) I agree that a fish ladder is aptly described as "assisted migration". = In fact, that is precisely the sort of thing one might accurately = describe using this term. But that is rarely, if ever, the intended = meaning of this "assisted migration" term that has unfortunately crept = into the lexicon. Generally, folks are talking about assisted range = extension/translocation. I insist that "assisted migration" is an inherently confusing and = inaccurate term, since the actions it is being applied to do not involve = migration in the sense traditionally used by biologists. I see that = human demographers and sociologists use the term "migration" to describe = human movements--also unfortunate, as such range extensions, dispersals, = or diasporas are not "migration" in the customary biological sense. At this point, we may be stuck with the term "assisted migration", and = will need to explain ever after that we're not talking about = back-and-forth migration in the traditional sense. Still, I consider it = worth battling this usage, and employing some alternative term when we = are really talking about translocation, range extensions, etc. Perhaps = it is not too late to strive for precision in our communications = surrounding the concept of moving organisms to help them survive climate = change. Language IS important (just ask George Lakoff), and we would do well to = strive for precision and accuracy in communication. BTW, though I = embrace the peer review system, here is an example where some reviewers = and editors fell down on the job, allowing this term to come into = general usage for cases of human-assisted range extensions or = translocations to combat effects of climate change. Dave Whitacre, GOE (grumpy old ecologist)
Re: assisted "migration" (not)
I agree that a fish ladder is aptly described as "assisted migration". = In fact, that is precisely the sort of thing one might accurately = describe using this term. But that is rarely, if ever, the intended = meaning of this "assisted migration" term that has unfortunately crept = into the lexicon. Generally, folks are talking about assisted range = extension/translocation. I insist that "assisted migration" is an inherently confusing and = inaccurate term, since the actions it is being applied to do not involve = migration in the sense traditionally used by biologists. I see that = human demographers and sociologists use the term "migration" to describe = human movements--also unfortunate, as such range extensions, dispersals, = or diasporas are not "migration" in the customary biological sense. At this point, we may be stuck with the term "assisted migration", and = will need to explain ever after that we're not talking about = back-and-forth migration in the traditional sense. Still, I consider it = worth battling this usage, and employing some alternative term when we = are really talking about translocation, range extensions, etc. Perhaps = it is not too late to strive for precision in our communications = surrounding the concept of moving organisms to help them survive climate = change. Language IS important (just ask George Lakoff), and we would do well to = strive for precision and accuracy in communication. BTW, though I = embrace the peer review system, here is an example where some reviewers = and editors fell down on the job, allowing this term to come into = general usage for cases of human-assisted range extensions or = translocations to combat effects of climate change. Dave Whitacre, GOE (grumpy old ecologist) - Original Message -=20 From: James J. Roper<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>=20 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU<mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>=20 Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 4:16 AM Subject: Re: assisted "migration" (not) Good point Bill. But, while some things may be labeled "assisted=20 migration" many things that fall under that heading are not. Such as=20 the Florida Torreya, the first example in the Conservation Biology = paper=20 on the topic. That would clearly be called something like "Assisted=20 range extension". So, we do not want to classify processes that are=20 fundamentally different under the same heading. And, while sure, we screw up a river, we should try to make it still=20 habitable for the regional fauna, when we screw up the planet, the job = becomes overwhelming and outside of our understanding of how to do so. Interestingly, I just read that some physicist (clearly not a = biologist)=20 says that we need to colonize Mars within the next, what, 45 years, = for=20 the continuation of the human species - that might be considered=20 "assisted migration." Cheers, Jim William Silvert said the following on 19/Jul/07 17:59: > To return to a previous posting, what would you use to describe fish = > raceways, such as those used to help salmon bypass dams? I cannot=20 > think of a better term than "assisted migration". > > Bill Silvert > > - Original Message - From: "DAVID WHITACRE"=20 > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > To: mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>> > Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:26 PM > Subject: assisted "migration" (not) > > >> "Migration" is the repeated movement back and forth of a = population. =3D >> This new phrase "assisted migration", in contrast, seems to apply = to =3D >> human assistance in dispersal/range extension, to compensate for=20 >> climate =3D >> change. >> >> Clearly the term is already spawning confusion. I suggest we banish = it =3D >> in its infancy, and use a term such as "assisted dispersal", = "species =3D >> translocation", or something that accurately describes the idea. >> >> Dave Whitacre=20 > --=20 James J. Roper, Ph.D. James J. Roper Ecologia e Din=E2micas Populacionais de Vertebrados Terrestres = Caixa Postal 19034 81531-990 Curitiba, Paran=E1, Brasil = E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> = <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> Telefone: 55 41 33857249 celular: 55 41 99870543 = Ecologia e Conserva=E7=E3o na UFPR = <http://www.bio.ufpr.br/ecologia/<http://www.bio.ufpr.br/ecologia/>> Econci=EAncia - Consultoria e Tradu=E7=F5es = <http://jjroper.googlespages.com<http://jjroper.googlespages.com/>> =
Re: assisted "migration" (not)
Good point Bill. But, while some things may be labeled "assisted migration" many things that fall under that heading are not. Such as the Florida Torreya, the first example in the Conservation Biology paper on the topic. That would clearly be called something like "Assisted range extension". So, we do not want to classify processes that are fundamentally different under the same heading. And, while sure, we screw up a river, we should try to make it still habitable for the regional fauna, when we screw up the planet, the job becomes overwhelming and outside of our understanding of how to do so. Interestingly, I just read that some physicist (clearly not a biologist) says that we need to colonize Mars within the next, what, 45 years, for the continuation of the human species - that might be considered "assisted migration." Cheers, Jim William Silvert said the following on 19/Jul/07 17:59: > To return to a previous posting, what would you use to describe fish > raceways, such as those used to help salmon bypass dams? I cannot > think of a better term than "assisted migration". > > Bill Silvert > > - Original Message - From: "DAVID WHITACRE" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: > Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:26 PM > Subject: assisted "migration" (not) > > >> "Migration" is the repeated movement back and forth of a population. = >> This new phrase "assisted migration", in contrast, seems to apply to = >> human assistance in dispersal/range extension, to compensate for >> climate = >> change. >> >> Clearly the term is already spawning confusion. I suggest we banish it = >> in its infancy, and use a term such as "assisted dispersal", "species = >> translocation", or something that accurately describes the idea. >> >> Dave Whitacre > -- James J. Roper, Ph.D. James J. Roper Ecologia e Dinâmicas Populacionais de Vertebrados Terrestres Caixa Postal 19034 81531-990 Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Telefone: 55 41 33857249 celular: 55 41 99870543 Ecologia e Conservação na UFPR <http://www.bio.ufpr.br/ecologia/> Econciência - Consultoria e Traduções <http://jjroper.googlespages.com>
Re: assisted "migration" (not)
To return to a previous posting, what would you use to describe fish raceways, such as those used to help salmon bypass dams? I cannot think of a better term than "assisted migration". Bill Silvert - Original Message - From: "DAVID WHITACRE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:26 PM Subject: assisted "migration" (not) > "Migration" is the repeated movement back and forth of a population. = > This new phrase "assisted migration", in contrast, seems to apply to = > human assistance in dispersal/range extension, to compensate for climate = > change. > > Clearly the term is already spawning confusion. I suggest we banish it = > in its infancy, and use a term such as "assisted dispersal", "species = > translocation", or something that accurately describes the idea. > > Dave Whitacre
assisted "migration" (not)
"Migration" is the repeated movement back and forth of a population. = This new phrase "assisted migration", in contrast, seems to apply to = human assistance in dispersal/range extension, to compensate for climate = change. Clearly the term is already spawning confusion. I suggest we banish it = in its infancy, and use a term such as "assisted dispersal", "species = translocation", or something that accurately describes the idea. Dave Whitacre
