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Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2005 15:01:50 -0800
From: Stephanie Hampton < shampton@UIDAHO.EDU >
Subject: Rotifer Symposium XI, Mexico City, 11-18 March 2006
Second Circular
XI International Symposium on Rotifera
Sponsored by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Campus
Iztacala
March 11-18, 2006
Mexico City, Mexico
Rotifers are small (<1 mm) but beautiful invertebrates, harmless to
mankind. Their use as model organisms in teaching courses of biology,
as a scandalous group in evolutionary ecology, as baby food in
aquaculture and as sensitive indicators of water quality has been
widely recognized. The tradition of a periodic meeting of the
international rotifer workers initiated by the late Agnes Ruttner-
Kolisko has had a stimulatory influence on Rotifer Research. So far
nine countries have hosted these symposia ( Austria (twice), Belgium ,
Italy , Poland , Spain , Sweden , United Kingdom , USA and Thailand ). The
present XI International Rotifer Symposium will be hosted by Mexico
under the auspices of the Campus Iztacala of the National Autonomous
University of Mexico . It provides an opportunity to interact with an
international community of researchers on various aspects of Rotifera.
We therefore cordially invite you to participate in this symposium.
Please find much more conference information at the following URL: http://www.iztacala.unam.mx/rotiferaXI/
Abstract deadline is 31 Jan 2006 .
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Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 10:16:45 -0500
From: John Wallin < john.wallin@WILDNEVADA.ORG >
Subject: Conservation Director Announcement
Nevada Wilderness Project
Position Announcement
November 2005
Position Title: Conservation Director
Location: Reno, NV or Las Vegas, NV
Salary Range: Competitive
Starting Date: Immediately
************************************************************************
Position Summary (General Description):
The Nevada Wilderness Project seeks an experienced conservation biologist,
with an ability to work in the nexus between public policy and science, to
join our fast-paced efforts to protect Nevada's wildlands. This is an
exceptional opportunity for a conservation biologist interested in
developing science based wilderness proposals, and applying their
scientific expertise to land management challenges. We seek an applied
biologist who can synthesize and analyze existing scientific information,
develop new information, and translate these ideas into a format that will
influence federal land management decisions in Nevada . The primary goals
of this position will be to: 1) coordinate the wilderness field inventory
and proposal development; 2) build web-accessible database of this
information; and 3) coordinate wilderness policy and partnerships with
grassroots activity. The ideal candidate has at least an MS in conservation biology or similar
field, field experience, experience with land conservation issues and
policies, knowledge of Nevada ecosystems, outstanding communication
skills, and a proven ability to translate ecological information into
public policy and land management recommendations. A robust sense of
humor is critical.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
I. Coordination of wilderness field inventory and proposal
development
Conducting research from multiple state, local, and federal
agencies
Inventory coordinator for the ongoing statewide inventory of
potential wilderness areas (coordination includes identification and
preparation of areas to be inventoried and products needed to carry out
the inventory with efficiency and effectiveness.)
Coordination and education of coalition staff and volunteers on
inventory places and processes
Organization of information in such a way that allows prompt
access by multiple staff.
Coordinates the production of data and materials to support
wilderness designation on WSA and citizen inventoried land, including the
production of Nevada Wilderness Coalition Wilderness proposals and interim
assessments.
II. Database/web development
Work with webmaster to build database of inventory information
available on website
Provide written and graphic content for website on conservation
policies as they relate to proposed wilderness (i.e. mtn bikes,
restoration, etc)
Organize and prioritize administrative advocacy for citizen
proposed wilderness left unprotected in legislative efforts
III. Wilderness Policy and Partnerships
Work with appropriate staff in identifying priority and emerging
issues as they relate to citizen proposed wilderness
Coordinate grassroots advocacy with agency actions and citizen
proposed areas
Work with appropriate staff to develop materials to educate
membership about wilderness
Identify and cultivate new partners for site-specific advocacy as
they relate to wilderness
Identify and cultivate new partners for issue-specific advocacy as
they relate to wilderness
Act as the face of the Nevada Wilderness Project to the scientific
community, and deepen relationships with scientists in academia, federal,
state, and local agencies that promote better wilderness protections
Develop reports, and policy briefs as needed to build the
scientific case for protection, restoration, and good stewardship of
wildlands in Nevada;
This position is available immediately and will be located in our Reno
office, although a Las Vegas presence will be considered. The Nevada
Wilderness Project is an equal opportunity employer. Compensation is
competitive and depends on experience.
Applications will be accepted through 30 December 2005 or until the
position is filled. To apply please submit via email a cover letter
explaining your qualifications for this position, resume, writing sample,
and names, addresses, phone numbers of three references to: info@wildnevada.org .
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 10:47:59 -0500
From: Tom Langen < tlangen@CLARKSON.EDU >
Subject: REU Site Program in Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Clarkson University
SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES iIn ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
at CLARKSON UNIVERSITY
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
=20
THEME: Sustainable management through environmental engineering and
science.
WHO: Environmental engineering or science students expecting to
graduate between December 2006 and May 2008.
WHEN: Ten weeks, May 30 - August 5, 2006 .
WHERE: Clarkson University in Potsdam , New York .
WHAT: Conduct environmental research with faculty and graduate student
mentors.
Research projects are available in the following areas:
* aquatic and atmospheric chemistry
* green chemistry
* biodiversity and ecological sustainability
* drinking water and hazardous waste treatment technologies
* environmental stresses on biological systems
* lifecycle assessment and sustainable energy
* bioremediation and fate of subsurface contamination
BENEFITS: free room and $75/week for food, a stipend of $3,500, some travel expenses, a stimulating research environment and great summer outdoors activities.
HOW: Apply by March 1, 2006
ACHIEVEMENTS: Research results from participants in the REU program
have been presented at national conferences and won prizes at national
paper competitions.
DETAILS: For complete information on this summer's research program,
detailed description of application requirements, and a summary of past research
experiences please visit our web site http://www.clarkson.edu/reu/ or contact the Co-Investigators directly
| Stefan J. Grimberg ,
208 Rowley Laboratory Clarkson University Potsdam, NY 13699-5710 Tel (315) 268-6490 Fax (315) 268-7636 grimberg@clarkson.edu |
Tom A. Langen,163 Science Center Clarkson University Potsdam, NY 13699-5805 Tel (315) 268-7933 Fax (315) 268-7118 tlangen@clarkson.edu |
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Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 10:30:17 -0500
From: Veronique Delesalle < delesall@GETTYSBURG.EDU >
Subject: Job: 2 yr Environmental Scientist
Gettysburg College invites applications for a two-year sabbatical replacement
position at the rank of assistant professor in the interdisciplinary nvironmental
Studies Department to begin fall, 2006. Ph.D. or terminal degree in an
Environmental Science discipline, commitment to interdisciplinary teaching in the
liberal arts tradition, and research that can involve undergraduates are essential.
Specialization open but expertise in environmental health ispreferred. Full job
description can be found at: http://www.gettysburg.edu/academics/provost/
academic_positions/open%20positions.html . Send (no electronic application)
curriculum vitae and statement of teaching and research goals and have three
letters of reference (of which at least one can speak to the candidate's teaching
effectiveness) sent to: Dr. Véronique A. Delesalle, Environmental Science search,
Environmental Studies Department, Box 2455, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
17325. Review of applications will begin January 22nd, 2006 , and will continue
until a successful candidate is found.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 09:50:34 -0600
From: "Soluk, Daniel A" < Daniel.Soluk@USD.EDU >
Subject: Faculty Position in Ecology
Please post the following position announcement.
Ecologist
Department of Biology
The University of South Dakota
The Department of Biology (< http://www.usd.edu/biol/ > ) invites
applications for an Assistant Professor (nine-month, tenure-track) in
Ecology. We seek an individual with a broad background in ecology,
interested in integrative and collaborative research, who will develop a
creative externally funded research program, and exhibit excellence in
teaching/mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. Candidates
whose research explores questions above the population level, or with
interests in the ecology of wetlands, riparian zones, or aquatic systems
are especially encouraged. PhD required; post-doctoral,
research/teaching experience preferred. Salary commensurate with rank
and qualifications. Send a letter of application, curriculum vitae,
statement of research/teaching interests, and contact information for three references to: Ecology Search, Dept. of Biology, The University of
South Dakota , 414 East Clark Street , Vermillion , SD 57069 . Questions
should be directed to Dr. D.A. Soluk ( dsoluk@usd.edu ). Review of
applications begins January 14, 2006 and continues until the position is
filled. The University of South Dakota is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to increasing the
diversity of its faculty, staff and students.
Daniel A. Soluk, Assoc. Prof.
Dept. of Biology
University of South Dakota
414 East Clark St.
Vermillion, SD 57069
ph. 605 677-6172
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Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 10:28:30 -0800
From: "Fiala, Anne" < fialaa@EVERGREEN.EDU >
Subject: Existing PNW research sites need researchers...
THE "THOUSAND YEAR CHRONOSEQUENCE":=20
AN INVITATION TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Forest canopy research is an emerging field that involves the
disciplines of forest ecology, atmospheric chemistry, biodiversity
studies, and global environmental change.
Over the past 12 years, our interdisciplinary group of forest canopy
researchers and computer scientists has conducted field studies and
developed informatics tools to solve problems associated with forest
canopy data. The "Canopy Database Project" (CDP), based at The Evergreen
State College, Olympia, WA, has been supported by the National Science
Foundation since 1993. Our team has developed prototype databases and
tools to help researchers collect, manage, analyze, visualize, and
archive canopy data ( canopy.evergreen.edu < http://canopy.evergreen.edu/ >
). In 1999, we established a set of research plots in a chronosequence
of eight Douglas-fir/western hemlock stands to generate structural and
function data that we could use in our database. These stands range in
age from 50 to 950 years, and are located in the southwestern Cascades
of Washington State . For more information on the research sites visit: canopy.evergreen.edu/research_dataArchives_1kcs.asp .
With detailed forest structure measurements already collected, we now
invite researchers interested in biodiversity, ecosystem ecology, or
functional aspects of forests to conduct studies in our stands and
collaborate on research syntheses. For example, a wildlife biologist
could census the breeding birds at these sites and compare species
diversity among them, while drawing upon our existing database of stand
structure, tree density, and tree heights. A bryologist may wish to
examine host tree specificity, collecting and identifying moss
communities from our marked and measured trees.
Our field staff will provide logistical support and access to our sites
and 80+ pre-rigged trees. Visiting researchers will also have access to
our existing datasets. We will also expect that researchers will work
with us to deposit their data in usable forms in our study center, but
with complete respect for the individual researcher to work with his/her
data and publish before it becomes available to others. Combining
available data from these sites will enable investigation of hypotheses
about relationships between forest structural diversity, function, and
biodiversity. We have some funding available for researcher stipends for the Summer
2006. If you are interested in initiating a research project at one or
more of our sites, or would like more information, contact Anne Fiala
via email ( fialaa@evergreen.edu ) or phone (360 867-6788).
Many thanks. We hope to work with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Nalini M. Nadkarni Judith B. Cushing
Anne Fiala
Member of the Faculty Member of the Faculty
Research Associate
Forest Ecology Computer Science
Forest Ecology
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Anne Fiala, Research Associate
Canopy Database Project
Lab II, The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA 98505 360-867-6788
http://academic.evergreen.edu/f/fialaa/academic.htm <http://academic.evergreen.edu/f/fialaa/academic.htm>http://canopy.evergreen.edu/ < http://canopy.evergreen.edu/ >
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 14:19:26 -0500
From: Chris Habeck < grover2160@HOTMAIL.COM >
Subject: vole colony query
Does anyone on this list have an active Microtus ochrogaster or Microtus
pennsylvanicus colony, or know of a commercial/academic source for these
species? I am in need of 30+ individuals for feeding trail research in
the spring. Any help is greatly appreciated.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 16:15:03 -0500
From: "CECIL, John" < jcecil@AUDUBON.ORG >
Subject: Available Position - Michigan IBA Coordinator
Apologies if you are receiving this more than once.
Position Title: Coordinator, Michigan Important Bird Areas Program (MI
IBA)
Location: Michigan (exact location to be determined)
Purpose of the Position: The Michigan IBA Coordinator will be
responsible for implementing and coordinating the Important Bird Areas
(IBA) Program in Michigan . The Michigan IBA Program is a partnership
involving the Detroit Audubon Society, the Kalamazoo Nature Center , the
Michigan Audubon Society and National Audubon Society. The IBA Program
is an integral part of the partnership's shared mission to conserve and
restore turaecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their
habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological
diversity.
Essential Functions: Key components of the MI IBA program include the
identification of sites, the coordination of volunteers and adoption
groups in IBA monitoring and conservation action, and the development of
conservation strategies for IBAs. The MI IBA Coordinator will work with
the MI IBA Management Committee, the MI IBA Technical Committee and key
IBA partners. Working in conjunction with the MI IBA Technical
Committee, the MI IBA Coordinator will be tasked with developing state
level IBA criteria, an IBA nomination form and will begin the nomination
of potential IBAs throughout Michigan . Additional IBA Coordinator
responsibilities will include data analysis and management using
Audubon's national IBA Database, web site development, literature
searches, research summaries, and other tasks.
As a first step the MI IBA Coordinator will be responsible for the
following specific activities
* Develop an annual work plan to delineate and prioritize tasks;
* Develop a list of priority species, beginning with state and federal
priority lists, MI NFI, NABCI priority bird lists and the Audubon
WatchList;
* In conjunction with the MI IBA Technical Committee, develop
science-based criteria and thresholds for identifying IBAs and establish
protocol for data acquisition and review of sites;
* Develop content for the MI IBA web site, which will include
information listed above as developed, IBA summaries, updates on MI IBA
Program progress, links to state/national/international bird initiative
sites, and an MS Word nomination form linked to the web site, etc.;
* Coordinate the review of 75 to 100 nominated sites and the
identification of at least 50 to 100 IBAs throughout the state, starting
with potential sites suggested by MI IBA partners;
* Engage the two Audubon Chapters in Michigan, Kalamazoo Nature Center
and other key stakeholder groups and interested individuals or =
organizations in the nomination, recognition, adoption, and conservation
of Important Bird Areas;
* Conduct mailing of site nomination forms to Michigan stakeholder and
expert groups and individuals;
* In the initial year of the program, the coordinator will work with the
MI IBA Technical Committee to recognize at least three model IBAs, with =
posting of partnership signs, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and press
packages;
* Working in conjunction with the MI IBA Management Committee, promote
the IBA program by giving presentations and providing information to Detroit Audubon Society, Michigan Audubon Society, MAS sub-Chapters,
Kalamazoo Nature Center and other entities as requested;
* Identify key gaps requiring data analysis or short-term additional
monitoring needed to identify IBAs;
* Contribute to National Audubon Society's "Measures of Success" by
reporting on the status of MI IBAs;
* Assess the conservation status of identified IBAs and prioritize
sites;
* Begin developing site conservation plans for priority IBAs;
* Prepare status reports to assist in meeting IBA Contract deliverables
and other required reporting.
Additional Functions: Conduct outreach and education activities
including public presentations, written articles for popular literature
and outreach to edia on the importance of IBAs; work with development
staff in fundraising through proposals to foundations and government
agencies, donor visits and special events.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to meet deadlines are
essential.
Travel statewide which will include overnights and weekends.
Other duties as assigned.
Measurement of Performance: Annual Performance Management Plan (PMP)
Relationships:
Internal: Work with National Audubon IBA staff, VP of State Programs,
the two Chapters in Michigan , and Kalamazoo Nature Center . Strong interrelationships with other Audubon programs and administrative staff.
External: Strong relationship with staff from other conservation
organizations in Michigan and Michigan state agencies. Extensive
contact with private landowners, federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Natural Resources Conservation
Service), university and university affiliates, community leaders,
donors, media, and volunteers.
Equipment: Standard office equipment (i.e., phone, fax, copier, MS
Windows operating system computer, etc.). Familiarity if not expertise
with Microsoft Software products and GIS (ESRI) software.
Qualifications: B.S. degree is required, M.S. preferred, in
conservation biology, wildlife biology, ornithology, natural resources,
or equivalent. Keen interest in bird conservation, experience in avian
monitoring and inventory methodologies desired. Excellent public
speaking and writing skills, familiarity with a variety of software
programs, ability to organize and manage complex projects with a variety
of partners, and a willingness to travel. Fundraising experience is a
plus.
Contact
To apply send via e-mail a cover letter stating interest, curriculum
vitae, and contact information for three references to:
Lynn Tennefoss
Vice President, State Programs and Chapter Services
National Audubon Society
<mailto: ltennefoss@audubon.org > ltennefoss@audubon.org=20
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 18:40:03 -0500
From: Theresa Culley < theresa.culley@UC.EDU >
Subject: Available Position - Field Station Director, Cincinnati, OH
Director, Cincinnati Center for Field Studies
The University of Cincinnati (UC, www.uc.edu ) and the Cincinnati Nature
Center (CNC; www.cincynature.org ) are developing a field station to be located on over 1000 acres of CNC property near Milford, OH. This effort
involves the Departments of Biological Sciences, Geology, and Geography
and the Center for Environmental Studies at UC. This field station will
offer significant opportunities for field research and experiential
environmental education. The Director position is a 3-year renewable
appointment. Qualifications include a Ph.D. in a related field of science
and demonstrated success in field research. The successful candidate will
be familiar with field stations, formal and informal education programs,
and have vision and long-term planning skills, entrepreneurship, and the
ability to forge effective relationships with agencies and collaborators.
Duties will include establishing a program of field research and
monitoring, spearheading the program and facilities planning process, fund-
raising, creating and maintaining partnerships, and collaborating with
the CNC on public outreach. The position will begin 1 September 2006 .
Applications, including a CV, statement of research and teaching
experience, and list of three references and contact information should be
sent electronically or by mail to: Dr. Guy Cameron [ g.cameron@uc.edu ],
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati ,
OH 45221-0006 . Review of applicants will begin 20 January 2006 until the
position is filled. The University of Cincinnati is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, veterans and
persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 20:31:07 -0500
From: Danny Boiano < danny_boiano@NPS.GOV >
Subject: JOB OPENINGS: Biological Science Technicians (Wildlife)
Biological Science Technicians (Wildlife): The National Park Service is
seeking up to eleven biological science technicians for the 2006 summer
field season at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI). Vacancies
include up to nine GS-5 positions ($13.21/hr) and up to two GS-6 positions
($14.72/hr) and involve an array of wildlife projects. Depending on the
position, duties include 1) implementing the black bear management plan,
in which bear technicians work with both the public (education about food
storage) and the bears (marking and radio-collaring, radio telemetry,
hazing), 2) implementing the mountain yellow-legged frog restoration
project, in which introduced trout populations are removed from lakes and
streams using gill nets and backpack electrofishers and native frog
populations are monitored, or 3) monitoring bird assemblages at various
field stations in these parks. Emphasis is on field work in both team and
individual settings. Work locations and dates depend on both the position
and the timing of snowmelt. The black bear management and bird monitoring
positions are based in the frontcountry with estimated work dates from
April or May to August, September or October. The frog restoration
positions are based in high elevation wilderness with estimated work dates
from June or July to September.
Interested applicants must apply through the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov . The announcement number is SEKI-06-12EQ and
can be found by following the "Search Jobs" link at the top of the USAJOBS
homepage, and then typing in the announcement number in the "Keyword
Search" window, and then following the link to the actual announcement.
Applications must include a resume, a completed questionnaire, and a copy
of your college transcripts (if you wish to be qualified based on
experience and education). Read the announcement for specific details.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY THE JANUARY 6, 2006 DEADLINE TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR THESE POSITIONS.
For general application questions call SEKI Personnel at 559-565-3752.
For bear management and bird monitoring questions (serious inquiries only,
please), contact Rachel Mazur, SEKI Wildlife Biologist, at Rachel_Mazur@nps.gov .
For frog restoration questions (serious inquiries only, please), contact
Danny Boiano, SEKI Aquatic Ecologist, at Danny_Boiano@nps.gov .
------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Topics of the day:
1.
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Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 20:48:29 -0700
From: David A Pyke < david_a_pyke@USGS.GOV >
Subject: USGS Research Ecologist (Monitoring) Boise ID
What Are The Major Duties Of This Position?
This position is located in Boise , ID at the USGS Snake River Field Station
of the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC). FRESC is a
multi-disciplinary research center that provides scientific understanding
and technology to support sound management and conservation of our
northwestern forest and rangeland ecosystems. The personal research
assignment for this position is to develop and implement research and
monitoring strategies in the sagebrush biome with an emphasis on the
range-wide scale. The sagebrush biome spans 11 western states ( Arizona ,
California , Colorado , Idaho , Montana , Nevada , New Mexico , Oregon , Utah ,
Washington , and Wyoming ). The incumbent designs and conducts research
focused on developing and implementing statistical protocols and programs
that integrate multiple spatial and temporal scales of ecological
monitoring and conservation in the sagebrush biome. The incumbent is the
project leader for broad-scale and long-term ecological monitoring protocol
programs in the sagebrush biome, based from the FRESC Snake River Field
Station. These programs emphasize evaluating the range-wide effects of uses
and management actions on sagebrush habitats, ecological processes, and the
associated fauna. The incumbent serves as a focal point for range-wide
monitoring, coordinating closely with other USGS Biological Science
Centers. The incumbent will cooperate with other USGS scientist and client
agencies to define research goals, seek outside funding, design and conduct
research, author publications and other outreach products, and conduct data
management. The incumbent provides consultation on natural resource issues
and problems to DOI resource managers and their staff. She/He serves as the
technical advisor to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency
Framework Team representing the interests of USGS and serving as a USGS
liaison. The incumbent will have limited supervisory duties for several
subordinate employees at various grade levels.
How Do I Qualify For This Position?
BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet A below to satisfy the
basic education requirement for Ecologist, all grade levels. A. Successful
completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or
university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in biology or a related
field of science underlying ecological research that included at least 30
semester hours or the equivalent in basic and applied biological sciences.
These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours or the equivalent
in ecology, and 12 semester hours or the equivalent in physical and mathematical sciences. Research Positions: Positions that primarily involve
scientific inquiry or investigation, or research-type exploratory
development of a creative or advanced scientific nature, where the
knowledge required to perform the work successfully is typically and
primarily acquired through graduate study (Ph.D. or equivalent for GS-12
and above). The work is such that the academic preparation will equip the
applicant to perform the full range of professional work of the position
after a short orientation period. For GS-12: In addition to the basic
education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet one of the
following to qualify for the GS-12 level: **One year of appropriate
specialized experience that is in ecology, biology or a related field of
science underlying ecological research is qualifying if it is equivalent to
at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the
applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully
the duties of the position to be filled.
If this position requires specific educational coursework to qualify, or
you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you may be required
to provide a transcript or list of coursework upon request. Requests for
proof of education will be sent to you via e-mail after the announcement
closes and will allow you 48 hours to provide the required documentation.
This proof may be emailed, faxed, mailed or hand delivered to the servicing
personnel office (see 'Contact Information'). It is important that you
maintain a current/valid e-mail address.
Basis of rating: Applicants meeting basic eligibility requirements will be
rated and ranked on the knowledge, skills and abilities, and other
characteristics (KASOCs) required to perform the duties of the position.
Below is the link to OARS (USGS On-line Automated Recrutiment System).
http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/
Once in the site. Click on "Browse Vacancies" then select
Public Status vacancies - Open to current or former permanent federal
employees with federal competetive employment status obtained by holding a
competitive service appointment
- Annc # WR-2006-0275
Public Non-Status vacancies - Open to all qualifed candidates non-federal
or current or former federal permanent employees.
- Annc # WR-2006-0274
____________________________________________
David A. Pyke
USGS, Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
3200 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis, OR 97331
Phone: 541/750-7334
FAX: 541/758-8806
email: david_a_pyke@usgs.gov
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 09:45:39 -0400
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Emily_Bernhardt?= < ebernhar@DUKE.EDU >
Subject: Postdoctoral position at Duke/UNC-CH
Postdoctoral researcher sought to join an interdisciplinary research effort
examining the hydrogeomorphic and biogeochemical consequences of a large-
scale (~2000ha) river and wetland restoration project in the NC Coastal
Plain. The postdoctoral associate will help coordinate pre and post
inundation monitoring efforts, and will be expected to initiate independent
research at the site. Potential projects include determining the effects
of inundation frequency and duration on phosphorus mobilization; linking
biogeochemical function to geomorphic patch types; and/or developing linked
hydrologic-biogeochemical models. The postdoctoral associate will work
collaboratively with Emily Bernhardt ( Duke University ), Martin Doyle (UNC-
CH), and Geoff Poole (EcoMetrics, Inc) and may be housed at either Duke or
UNC. To be considered applicants should have completed their PhD, have excellent quantitative skills and relevant experience/expertise in
biogeochemistry, geomorphology and/or hydrology. Salary will be
commensurate with experience (range $35-45K). Interested applicants should
send a CV, representative publications, and three letters of recommendation
by email to Emily Bernhardt, Department of Biology, Duke University ,
Durham , NC 27708 ( ebernhar@duke.edu ). Desired start date in autumn or
winter of 2006, for likely 2-year term. Review of applications will begin
immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 14:55:00 +0100
From: mdallimer.gct@UKONLINE.CO.UK
Subject: Night vision equipment for bird observation
Does anyone on the List have any experience of using night vision equipment for
behavioural observations of birds?
I'm interested in looking at patterns of use and behaviour through the day and
night of pasture by shore birds that breed in the uplands of northern England .
Essentially I'd like to be able to identify the bird species and describe their
behaviour in as similar way as possible to what can be seen during daylight.
Any help or advice and especially experience with particular pieces of
equipment would be most welcome.
Many thanks
Martin Dallimer
---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 10:10:48 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?=3D=3Fiso-8859-1=3FQ=3FMelanie=5FKaeser=3F=3D?=
< mkaeser@JONESCTR.ORG >
Subject: Plant Ecology Research Assistant
JOSEPH W. JONES ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER
ICHAUWAY, INC.
PLANT ECOLOGY
The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center invites applications for a
temporary Hourly Research Worker position. This position will begin in May
or June 2006 and is a 3 month position to start, with the potential of
being extended up to 9 months. On-site housing is provided on a limited
basis, but is optional. The employee will assist with all aspects of
ongoing research, including a variety of field and greenhouse-based work,
such as above-ground biomass sampling, weeding and maintenance of seed
propagation garden, native seed collection, vegetation sampling, and data
entry. This position will report directly to the Plant Ecology Lead
Technician.
The 28,000-acre Research Center is located approximately 30 miles south of
Albany , Georgia . The Center's research, education, and conservation
programs focus on ecology and natural resource management. The site
includes 16,000 acres of longleaf pine forests, over 1,000 acres of
wetlands, and 26 miles of stream and river ecosystems.
Job Requirements: Ability to conduct moderate to strenuous physical
activity in the field, under demanding field conditions (i.e. heat, high
humidity, and insects), and independently follow instructions is required.
Qualifications: B.S. degree or coursework in biology, botany, horticulture,
plant ecology or a related field. Experience with plant identification, and
computer and laboratory-related experience is preferable.
Wages: $7.00 per hour (limited housing available) $9.00 per hour (without housing)
Send cover letter, resume, list of pertinent courses and list of references
with phone numbers to:
Plant Ecology Hourly Worker
Attn: Cindy Craft
Joseph Jones Ecological Research Center
Route 2 Box 2324
Newton, GA 39870-9651
Send information by Email to: cindy.craft@jonesctr.org , FAX (229)734
4707.
For specific questions or more information on this position, please
contact:
Melanie Kaeser, Plant Ecology Lead Technician by Email:
mkaeser@jonesctr.org .
Telephone: (229)734-4706.
The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center is an equal opportunity
employer.
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 13:14:21 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?California_Native_Plant_Society?= < cneifer@CNPS.ORG >
Subject: CNPS looking for Rare Plant Botanist
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Rare Plant Botanist
Full time, non-exempt at will position
Starting Date: May 16, 2006
Closing Date: June 16, or longer until the position is filled
Background
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a statewide non-profit
conservation organization, founded in 1965, with approximately 10,000
members in 32 chapters, and 15 full and part-time staff. The mission of
CNPS is to increase understanding and appreciation of California 's native
plants and to conserve them and their natural habitats through scientific
study, education, advocacy, horticulture, and land stewardship.
The Position
The Rare Plant Botanist is the lead staff person of the CNPS Rare Plant
Program which develops and maintains information resources about
California 's rare plants. The Program promotes the optimal use of good
science in the protection and conservation of rare plants. The Program
also leads the effort to place rare plant species on California and
Federal lists of endangered species. The Rare Plant Botanist conducts
literature research on rare plants; updates to the Rare Plant Inventory
database; compiles and distributes data for rare species inventory
reviews; meets with agency botanists and chapter volunteers; and serves as
the liaison with Department of Fish and Game (DFG) California Natural
Diversity Database (CNDDB), to name a few (see job description).
The Rare Plant Botanist is a full time, non-exempt at will position.
Work locations are in Sacramento , California at DFG and CNPS offices, with
required occasional travel and overnight stays for field work and
meetings.
Experience, Education, & Skills
A successful candidate will have the following experience and education:
1. At least three years of work experience as a botanist.
2. Masters Degree in Botany or related field or an undergraduate
degree with at least five years professional experience.
The Rare Plant Botanist must have the following skills and abilities:
1. Broad botanical knowledge, including plant identification,
California botany and floristics, conservation biology, and vegetation
ecology;
2. Knowledge of plant conservation laws and regulations, both California and Federal;
3. High degree of commitment and dedication to plant conservation
goals;
4. Strong computer literacy (Windows OS, Word, Excel, and email at
minimum), and strong database management skills and data entry proficiency
(Access);
5. Strong writing and verbal communication skills; familiarity with
GIS mapping methods such as ArchView, desirable;
6. Strong analytical and organizational skills, with an attention to
detail;
7. Ability to work and communicate effectively with a wide variety of
people, including CNPS volunteers, agency personnel, academics, and other
professional and amateur botanists; and,
8. Ability to work independently and as part of the CNPS team,
willingness to work within CNPS agenda and be open-minded as well as
exercise professional judgment.
Additional Job Requirements
A valid California driver's license and proof of car insurance are
required.
A background check may be conducted for successful candidates.
Salary and Benefits
$35,000 $40,000 per year plus benefits.
For More Information
To view the job description for this position, please log on to the CNPS
web site at www.cnps.org (description available in PDF format).
Application Process
Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest, a résumé, and
the names, phone numbers and email addresses of three references.
Applications should be mailed to the attention of:
Amanda Jorgenson
Executive Director
ATTN: Rare Plant Botanist
California Native Plant Society
2707 K Street, Suite 1
Sacramento , CA 95816
No phone inquiries will be accepted. Applications may be faxed or emailed
in order to meet the deadline, but an original application must also be
mailed. The fax number is (916) 447-2727 and the email address is ajorgenson@cnps.org .
CNPS is an equal opportunity employer
JOB DESCRIPTION
Rare Plant Program Botanist
Background
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a statewide non-profit
conservation organization, founded in 1965, with approximately 10,000
members in 32 chapters. The mission of CNPS is to increase understanding
and appreciation of California 's native plants and to conserve them and
their natural habitats through scientific study, education, advocacy,
horticulture, and land stewardship.
The Position
The Rare Plant Botanist is the lead staff person for the implementation of
the Rare Plant Program. The Program, a component of the Plant Sciences
Program of CNPS, is dedicated to developing and maintaining information
resources about statewide rare plants in California . The Program promotes
the optimal use of good science in the protection and conservation of
statewide rare plants. The Program also leads efforts to obtain proper
placement of rare plant species on California and Federal lists of
endangered species.
The Rare Plant Botanist is a full-time, exempt at will position. The
Rare Plant Botanist is supervised by the Executive Director.
Education
Minimum education: Masters degree in botany or related field or
undergraduate degree with at least five years of professional experience.
Experience & Skills
The Rare Plant Botanist must have the following experience and skills:
1. Broad botanical knowledge, including plant identification,
California botany and floristics, conservation biology, and vegetation
ecology;
2. Knowledge of plant conservation laws and regulations, both
California and Federal;
3. High degree of commitment and dedication to plant conservation
goals;
4. Strong computer literacy (Windows OS, Word, Excel, and email at
minimum), and strong database management skills and data entry proficiency
(Access);
5. Strong writing and verbal communication skills;
6. Strong analytical and organizational skills, with an attention to
detail; familiarity with GIS mapping methods, such as ArchView, desirable;
7. Ability to work and communicate effectively with a wide variety of
people, including CNPS volunteers, agency personnel, academics, and other
professional and amateur botanists; and
8. Ability to work independently and as part of the CNPS team,
willingness to work within CNPS agenda and be open-minded as well as
exercise professional judgment.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
The duties of the Rare Plant Botanist include the following:
Manage the Rare Plant element of the Plant Science Program and
establish day-to-day priorities for Rare Plant science activities.
Develop yearly budgets and program priorities.
Conduct or supervise research, data entry, and quality control of
the CNPS rare plant database, which is the foundation of the CNPS
Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (Inventory).
Coordinate library and herbarium research, and development and
utilization of a network of local and regional experts on California 's
rare flora. Maintain CNPS computer and hardcopy rare plant files.
Serve as primary liaison with Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Conduct and supervise
research on the status, nomenclature, distribution and abundance, and
endangerment of rare plants. Ensure proper data sharing with the CNDDB.
Arrange for distribution of CNDDB data to CNPS rare plant advocates.
Generate and distribute rare plant data and information for public
agencies, conservationists, consultants, researchers, media (listing press
releases and species in the news), and others. Answer inquiries regarding
plants in the CNPS database. Coordinate, collaborate and consult with
chapter Rare Plant Coordinators in their efforts.
Support continuing approaches to Inventory data analysis, display,
and dissemination (e.g. via computer application, the Online Inventory).
Assist efforts to create data links between agencies and other
conservation organizations and the CNPS Rare Plant Program.
Promote the proper placement of rare plant species on state and
Federal lists of endangered species, via listing petition development and
editing, cooperative efforts with DFG and USFWS, and provide scientific
information for legal action where necessary.
Attend monthly CNPS staff and Chapter Council meetings.
Represent CNPS and the Rare Plant Program at meetings (e.g.
Interagency Botanist meeting, various agency meetings) and conferences.
Conduct fieldwork and site visits, as necessary, to coordinate
efforts to identify, protect, and manage rare plants. Develop appropriate
research proposals.
Assist in conservation and education / outreach activities, time
permitting and as necessary.
Maintain and expand the CNPS rare plant reference library and
slide collection.
Recruit, train, and supervise junior staff, interns, and
volunteers within the Program.
Support CNPS fund raising efforts through writing grant proposals.
Other job duties as assigned.
Pertaining to the above duties, the following work is required of the Rare
Plant Botanist: prolonged sitting, standing, and bending; prolonged use of
a computer and mouse; extended periods of data entry; use of library,
online, and other materials for research; use of phone and email for
communication; occasional photocopying and filing; occasional field work
involving hiking and camping; driving to meetings as necessary.
Additional Job Requirements
Work time is Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day, with work to
be performed between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm.
Work locations are in Sacramento, California, at DFG and CNPS
offices, though occasional travel and overnight stays for field work and
meetings are required. There are some meetings scheduled on Saturday
throughout the year, though other weekend work may be required.
A valid California driver's license and proof of car insurance are
required, provided annually.
A background check may be conducted for successful candidates.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 14:01:46 -0400
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Sarah_Stackpoole?= < smstackpoole@WISC.EDU >
Subject: acid microwave digestion
After extracting dissolved organic nitrogen using a water extraction (not
KCL) on some agricultural soils, I want to digest these samples to
ultimately get a total nitrogen reading. I need to assemble a protocol for
an acid microwave digestion. I have heard that you can buy just a
conventional microwave oven to do this. If anyone has an established
protocol, and would like to share this, I would appreciate it.
Additionally, I am also seeking more references which use acid microwave
digestion for soil extracts.
Sarah Stackpoole
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 16:46:06 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?Lori_Campbell?= < lcampbell@FS.FED.US >
Subject: field technicians needed - immediate openings
SUMMER IN THE SIERRA NEVADA!!
We have an immediate need for field technicians for an ongoing project to
evaluate the effects of OHV use and other forms of recreation on a variety
of wildlife species and their habitat.
Employer: Sierra Nevada Research Center, USDA Forest Service, Pacific
Southwest Research Station
Location: Stanislaus National Forest
Job Title: Biological Technician (Wildlife)
Employment Duration: 3-4 months (May August 2005, exact dates vary by
position)
Immediate Openings: 1 crew leader and 1-2 field technicians with the
following expertise:
Passerine Bird surveys: (late May July; 1 position) point counts, nest
searching and monitoring; requires knowledge of Western forest birds by
sight and sound and/or experience nest searching.
Recreational use sampling: (May August; 1-2 positions) visual encounter
surveys, acoustic monitoring systems, and remote trail monitoring systems;
experience collecting recreation data is preferred.
Pay: $12.72/hr (GS-0404-04) $15.87/hr (GS-0404-06), depending on
education and experience.
Background and Job Description:
The project is based on the Calveras Ranger District of the Stanislaus
National Forest . Work will occur largely in forested habitats from 5500
8000' in elevation. Terrain is rugged and may require extensive hiking off-
trail in remote locations with a loaded pack. Car camping or backpacking
may be required. Applicants should anticipate long and physically demanding
days; steep terrain; dense habitat; and mosquitoes. Qualified applicants
must be enthusiastic, in good physical condition, able to work
independently and with others, able to work for long hours, and confident
navigating through difficult terrain using map and compass.
Proof of U.S. citizenship and possession of a valid driver's license are
required. Students are particularly encouraged to apply.
For more information regarding the above positions, please send a brief
note of inquiry to the contacts below (email inquiries preferred).
Lori Campbell: lcampbell at fs.fed.us
OHV Study
Sierra Nevada Research Center
2121 Second St. , Suite A-101
Davis , CA 95616
Please include the subject line 2006 OHV Study positions in your email
inquiry. In the inquiry, please indicate the positions in which you are
interested and whether you are currently a full-time student and are
returning to school in the fall.
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 13:56:08 -0700
From: Stephanie Eby < steph_eby@YAHOO.COM >
Subject: parasite sampling methodology
To Whomever Can Help,
I am a PhD student conducting research on the effects
of fire on ungulates in East Africa . As part of my
research I would like to test for differences in
parasite numbers in burned and unburned areas.
Specifically, I would like to study both
gastrointestinal parasites and flies. I would like to
test for gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples
and on grass samples. Ideally I would like to collect
the samples and bring them back to the states for
analysis. I was wondering if any one had done such
sampling and could give me recommendations for
procedures to use, collection methods, and
preservation methods? For flies I would like to set
up traps in both burned and unburned areas and was
wondering if anyone had recommendations for fly
trapping methods or good resources for that
information?
Thank you for your time,
Stephanie
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 16:55:22 -0600
From: AnnHild < AnnHild@UWYO.EDU >
Subject: FW: Grad assistantships available
------ Forwarded Message
From: AnnHild < AnnHild@uwyo.edu >
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 16:47:17 -0600
To: < ecolog-l@umdd.umd.edu >
Conversation: Grad assistantships available
Subject: Grad assistantships available
Please post:
Graduate Assistantships in Invasion Ecology
TWO graduate student research assistantships are available to support a
M.S. or Ph.D. student in the Department of Renewable Resources at the
University of Wyoming. Successful candidates will investigate the
relationship of weed encroachment to native populations in northern and
central Great Plains grassland communities. This research project is a
funded by a national grant to the University of Wyoming from the DOD, EPA
and DOE . Course work will be completed at the University of Wyoming and
can result in degrees in Rangeland Ecology, Restoration or UW¹s new Program
in Ecology. Field invasion sites are in Wyoming , Idaho and Colorado , and lab
and greenhouse projects are in Laramie . Students with interest in plant
evolution are preferred.
Required: The successful applicant is expected to be energetic, highly
motivated, capable of pursuing innovative research questions and able to
work for
extended periods under field conditions, in greenhouse and lab settings.
Applicant must be able to take initiative and possess good written and
interpersonal communication skills.
Preferred skills: Undergraduate degree and field experience in terrestrial
plant ecology, weed science, botany, rangeland ecology, or related
fields.One candidate should have interest and experience with plant genetics
or greenhouse germination experiments. Another candidate should be field and
greenhouse oriented, and interested in designed competitive grow-out
experiments. M.S. in botany, rangeland ecology or related field desired for
PhD applicants.
Stipend for 9 month academic year, and a summer stipend, tuition and
continuous health insurance are provided. Assistantship can begin as soon
assumer 2006.
Fax or email a resume, copies of your GRE Scores and transcripts directly
to:
Dr. Ann Hild, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming ,
Laramie , WY 82071 . Direct inquiries to annhild@uwyo.edu .
------ End of Forwarded Message
------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 17:35:09 -1000
From: Lawren Sack < lsack@HAWAII.EDU >
Subject: Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Hawaii: Dynamics of Leaf Hydraulic Conductance
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Botany, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
A Postdoctoral Fellow (2-3 yr) position is available at University of
Hawaii at Manoa in the laboratory of Dr. Lawren Sack (Botany
Department). The position is to participate in an NSF-funded study of the
responses of leaf hydraulic properties to environmental factors, their
determination in vascular architecture and membrane physiology, and their
impacts on whole-plant performance and ecology. Native Hawaiian species
and invasive species will be studied in common gardens and across the
dramatic natural moisture and soil age gradients of Hawai'i . Studies will
also focus on the evolution and function of diversity in leaf traits across
Hawaiian lineages and across arboretum-grown species of Araceae with
exceptionally diverse leaves.
Candidates interested in this position should have a PhD degree;
quantitative skills; demonstration of self-motivation, productivity and
creative thinking; ability to work as part of a team and to carry out
research in the field as well as laboratory; and backgroun in any or
several of the following: plant hydraulics, gas exchange, anatomy,
biomechanics, ecology, and/or biophysics. Stipend to be determined based
on background and experience. The start date is negotiable, but before the
end of 2006. Please send cover letter stating research interests,
experience, and CV with three names of potential referees to:<mailto: LSack@hawaii.edu > LSack@hawaii.edu . Application review will begin
July 31st, 2006 and will continue until the position is filled.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lawren Sack
Department of Botany
University of Hawai`i
3190 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: 808-956-9389
FAX: 808-956-3923
Email: LSack@hawaii.edu
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/sack/
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 08:41:26 -0600
From: Ericha Courtright < ericha@NMSU.EDU >
Subject: FIELD TECHNICIAN POSITIONS IN THE NORTHERN CHIHUAHUAN DESERT
FIELD TECHNICIAN POSITION ANTICIPATED: $7.34 - $11.34 (commensurate
with education and experience). Temporary, 4-6 months, no benefits. Start
date: ASAP. Collect/record data in the field for vegetation and soil
sampling on
monitoring and research projects. Opportunity to work with a diverse group
of scientists and technicians in the northern Chihuahuan Desert . Send letter
of application, resume and contact information for three references to:
Ericha Courtright, Jornada Experimental Range , Box 30003 , MSC 3JER,
NMSU, Las Cruces , NM 88003 or ericha@nmsu.edu . Applications will be
accepted until June 5, 2006 .
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 13:14:46 EDT
From: Wirt Atmar < WirtAtmar@AOL.COM >
Subject: Lecture of the Week: Part II: Astrobiology
This week's lecture is given by Geoff Marcy, someone you've perhaps never
heard of, but only proving once again that you can only be famous if people have
heard of you.
Nonetheless, Marcy has discovered more planets than Galileo ever dreamt of,
and as a result of his and his colleagues extraordinary work, he recently
shared the $1 million Shaw Prize. The Shaw Prize was extablished by the Hong Kong
businessman, Sir Run Run Shaw, to create awards equivalent to the Nobel Prize,
but in those areas of investigation where no Nobel Prize exists: biology,
astronomy and mathematics. The Shaw Prize has been awarded for only two years now,
and Marcy, along with Michel Mayor of the Geneva Observatory, were awarded
the prize in astronomy last year.
Although the subject of Marcy's talk is nominally astronomy, it is also
hardcore biology, even if it is at a very primitive state. Geology was the science
that informed and transformed evolutionary thought during Darwin 's time.
Comparative planetology will do the same during ours. The questions that will
dominate this coming century are: (i) is life inevitable?, (ii) is it fragile?, and
(iii) to what degree does the evolution of complex life depend on the good
fortune of specific planetary configurations of remote solar systems?
I've written before that I've always found it discouraging that people so
readily say that biology (or ecology) has no laws. It's simply not true, even
though Marcy says much the same thing in this lecture. When we do find life on
other worlds, it will almost certainly be true that it's biochemistry will be
different than our terrestrial biochemistries, perhaps anchored in a different
part of the periodic table, and almost certainly using a completely different
information-bearing schema than DNA/RNA. It will however inevitably still be
subject to Darwinian selective constraints, and thus must exhibit all of the"laws" and constraints that we see in the ecological patterns we find here on
Earth: logistic curves, predator-prey population cycles, competitive exclusions,
niche partitioning, species-area curves, nestedness, and so on.
Ecology studies the grand patterns of life, not the minutia, and those grand
patterns should be common throughout the universe.
Wirt Atmar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Evolutionary Biology Lecture of the Week for May 29, 2006 is now
available at: http://aics-research.com/lotw/
The talks center primarily around evolutionary biology, in all of its
aspects: cosmology, astronomy, planetology, geology, astrobiology, ecology, ethology,
biogeography, phylogenetics and evolutionary biology itself, and are
presented at a professional level, that of one scientist talking to another. All of
the talks were recorded live at conferences.
This is the second lecture in a summer-long series on the new science of
astrobiology.
=====================================
May 29, 2006
Part II: Astrobiology
Exoplanets, Yellowstone , & the Prospects for Alien Life
Geoff Marcy, University of California , Berkeley
52 min.
"It will be especially interesting to see whether it is astronomy
that absorbs biology, or the other way around."
-- Fred Hoyle (1915-2001)
The beginnings of formal Western science can be traced back to a single point
in time: the life and work of Copernicus (1473-1543). His major work, De
revolutionibus orbium coelestium, was published in the year of his death, after
more than three decades of thought. "The Copernican Principle" is the
philosophical statement that no "special" observers need or should be proposed to
explain our position in the heavens.
Bruno, in 1584, explained the principle in this fashion:
"Thus the earth no more than any other world is at the centre; and no
points constitute definite determined poles of space for our earth, just as she
herself is not a definite and determined pole to any other point of the ether,
or of the world space; and the same is true of all other bodies. From various
points of view these may all be regarded either as centres, or as points on
the circumference, as poles, or zeniths and so forth. Thus the earth is not in
the centre of the universe; it is central only to our own surrounding space.
Although we have greatly expanded the reach of the idea, we still conduct our
science by this same principle: that the laws of physics and chemistry are
the same everywhere, and we now call the general thought the "Principle of
Mediocrity."
If this is so -- and after 400 years of observation and investigation, we
have no reason to doubt it -- then we cannot believe that there is anything
special about the Earth or the life that inhabits it. If one earth exists, then
there must be many.
The first extrasolar planet was discovered in 1995 by Michel Mayor and Didier
Queloz of the Geneva Observatory, but we deeply believed in the existence of
these planets long before their recent discoveries.
Mayor and Queloz's finding was soon confirmed by the team of Marcy, Butler ,
Fischer and Vogt and then greatly expanded upon. Marcy and colleagues have
since discovered more than 110 planets. But in the intervening years since 1995,
we have been surprised by the diversity of the types of solar systems we've
found.
In September 2005, Geoff Marcy and Michel Mayor were awarded the $1 million
Shaw Prize for their revolutionary discoveries. In referencing his award, Marcy
said:
"We now know that other planetary systems exist, but that their
diversity renders our solar system just one type of many. The odd orbital shapes
caused by the gravitational scattering of planets by other planets makes our solar
system relatively peaceful by comparison. Perhaps life owes its existence here
on Earth to the fortuitous, delicate arrangement of the planets in our
system.
What does this imply for the prospects of other life in the universe? We
truly don't yet know. The detection of other Earth-like planets remains beyond our
current technologies, but as you will hear in the coming lectures, that may
soon change."
Marcy, like almost everyone else at the moment, expects that bacterial life
should be common in the universe, but he is quite pessimistic about the
presence of technological, "intelligent" life anywhere near us. Every observation of
the night sky for the last two hundred years has been one more negative
affirmation its nearby absence.
=====================================
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 10:31:51 -0400
From: major@GCMD.GSFC.NASA.GOV
Subject: JOB: Biological Sciences Metadata Technician
This position opportunity was announced earlier and is being re-posted.
Position Announcement: Biological sciences metadata technician
Position Location: Greenbelt , Maryland
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Assist NASA's Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) in populating the GCMD
database and the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)
database with information on ecological and biological diversity datasets.
Tasks include using custom software tools to create metadata dataset
descriptions in collaboration with the NASA customer and review of
biological/ecological controlled vocabularies.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Requires a Bachelor degree in a biological, ecological or environmental
science, basic computer skills and excellent verbal and written
communication skills.
Please email your cover letter and resume to:
Gene R. Major
major@gcmd.nasa.gov
/\ Gene R. Major
/ \ Global Change Master Directory
/ \ Science Systems and Applications, Inc.
/ GCMD \ major@gcmd.nasa.gov
/ \ http://gcmd.nasa.gov
/__________\
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 11:27:57 -0400
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Jonathan_Karr?= < jkarr@DUKE.EDU >
Subject: Duke stable isotope lab soliciting samples >
The stable isotope lab at Duke (DEVIL)is seeking new clients who need
analyses of biological or geological materials including solids, liquids
and gases, for light stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and
oxygen. We currently have very short turn-around time on samples analyzed
by EA-CFIRMS, TCEA-CFIRMS or GasBench. As an incentive, we are offering a
20% discount from our regular fees for first-time clients.
Contact Jon Karr at jkarr@duke.edu or 919-660-7418.
Lab website: http://www.biology.duke.edu/jackson/devil/
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 18:50:57 -0400
From: James Bauer < bauer@VIMS.EDU >
Subject: Research Associate Position - Isotope Biogeochemistry
A research associate position in natural abundance isotope biogeochemistry is available beginning summer 2006 in the School of Marine Science, VIMS, College of Wm. & Mary. The successful individual will assist in the collection and preparation of samples for C-14, C-13 and N-15 analyses of dissolved, colloidal, particulate, and sedimentary organic and inorganic materials, including the operation and maintenance of vacuum extraction lines and graphite target preparation for isotope ratio mass spectrometry and accelerator mass spectrometry. Familiarity with other standard analytical techniques (e.g., organic and inorganic C, N and P, oxygen, alkalinity, etc.) in fresh and marine waters, as well as with organic separation and/or microbial ecological techniques, is highly desirable. The position also requires extensive fieldwork using small boats in rivers and estuaries, as well as on ships in coastal ocean waters for up to 2-3 weeks at a time. The successful individual will!
Ideally have an undergraduate degree in chemistry or biology, and/or a master's degree in some area of aquatic or marine geochemistry or biogeochemistry. Previous experience in isotope geochemistry, as well as prior technical experience in a biogeochemistry lab and fieldwork with small boat handling is considered an asset.
This position will be filled for a minimum of 3 years. Starting pay will be $30,000 to 36,000 per year based on the level of experience. Full health and retirement benefits are included. The position will remain open until filled.
Interested individuals should send a letter of interest and experience, curriculum vitae, and names, addresses (including e-mail addresses) and phone numbers of 3 references to:
Dr. James Bauer
School of Marine Science
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
College of William and Mary
Route 1208
Gloucester Point, VA 23062-1346
phone: (804) 684-7136
e-mail: bauer@vims.edu
Jim Bauer
Professor
School of Marine Science/VIMS
College of William and Mary
Route 1208
Gloucester Point, VA 23062-1346
Phone: (804) 684-7136
email: bauer@vims.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 10:58:43 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?Lori_Campbell?= < lcampbell@FS.FED.US >
Subject: field technicians needed - small mammal trapping
SUMMER IN THE SIERRA NEVADA!!
We have an immediate need for field technicians for an ongoing project to
evaluate the effects of OHV use and other forms of recreation on a variety
of wildlife species and their habitat. Students are particularly encouraged
to apply.
Employer: Sierra Nevada Research Center, USDA Forest Service, Pacific
Southwest Research Station
Location: Stanislaus National Forest (Calaveras Ranger District, Mokelumne
and Carson-Iceberg Wildernesses)
Job Title: Biological Technician (Wildlife)
Employment Duration: 2-3 months (June July/August 2006)
Immediate Openings: 1-2 field technicians with live trapping experience
and knowledge of Sierra Nevada small mammal species identification.
Pay: $12.72/hr (GS-0404-04) $15.87/hr (GS-0404-06), depending on
education and experience.
Background and Job Description:
The project is based on the Calveras Ranger District of the Stanislaus
National Forest. Work will occur largely in forested habitats from 5500
8000' in elevation. Terrain is rugged and may require extensive hiking off-
trail in remote locations with a loaded pack. Car camping or backpacking
may be required. Applicants should anticipate long and physically demanding
days; steep terrain; dense habitat; and mosquitoes. Qualified applicants
must be enthusiastic, in good physical condition, able to work
independently and with others, able to work for long hours, and confident
navigating through difficult terrain using map and compass.
Proof of U.S. citizenship and possession of a valid driver's license are
required. Students are particularly encouraged to apply.
For more information regarding the above positions, please send a brief
note of inquiry to the contacts below (email inquiries preferred).
Heather Zeigler: hzeigler "at" fs.fed.us
Lori Campbell: lcampbell at fs.fed.us
OHV Study
Sierra Nevada Research Center
2121 Second St., Suite A-101
Davis, CA 95616
Please include the subject line 2006 OHV Study positions in your email
inquiry. In the inquiry, please indicate the positions in which you are
interested and whether you are currently a full-time student and are
returning to school in the fall.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 13:49:46 -0500
From: David White < david.white@MURRAYSTATE.EDU >
Subject: Summer Field Station Courses Available
The Hancock Biological Station on Kentucky Lake still has spots
available in four of its summer courses. Housing at the Station is available.
For further information on registration and housing, contact Gerry
Harris at gerry.harris@murraystate.edu .
Visit our web site at http://www.murraystate.edu/hbs
SESSION JUNE 19 - JULY 7
330 PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGY - An introduction to the basic principles
and concepts pertaining to ecological systems. Emphasis is placed on
energy relationships in ecosystems and on population and community
ecology. Much of the course is devoted to field observations and
experimentation (4 credit hours).
670 LIMNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS - This course will provide a conceptual
framework and techniques for measurement of physical, chemical and
biological phenomena in lakes and reservoirs. Emphasis will be placed
on experimental approaches to field and laboratory studies. (4 credit
hours - open only to graduate students).
SESSION JULY 17 - AUGUST 4
586 LIMNOLOGY - A study of the interrelationships of the physical,
chemical, and biological features of a wide variety of lakes and
streams. Laboratories include identification of the major groups of
aquatic organisms and a range of laboratory and field techniques. (4
credit hours).
561 FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES - Functional anatomy, ecology and
taxonomy of the freshwater invertebrates. Emphasis will be placed on
collection, preserving and identifying invertebrates of this region.
(4 credit hours).
David S. White
Professor, Biological Sciences
Director, Hancock Biological Station ( www.murraystate.edu/hbs )
Coordinator, Center for Reservoir Research ( www.murraystate.edu/crr )
Editor, Journal Kentucky Academy of Science ( www.kyscience.org )
561 Emma Drive
Murray, KY 42071
Phone: 270-474-2272
FAX: 270-474-0120
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 11:43:33 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?Steve=5FCzapk a?= < sczapka@GEO-MARINE.COM >
Subject: Job Announcement: Environmental Scientist =?windows-1252?Q?=96?= Entry Level
Geo-Marine, Inc., has an immediate opening for an Environmental Scientist
to provide expertise as part of a team:
- Writing, research, and field work in support of the preparation of
wetland delineations, biological assessments, environmental assessments,
natural resources management plans, and other environmental studies;
- Collecting field data using accepted standardized collection methods;
- Assisting in the preparation of project reports while adhering to project
deadlines;
- Traveling to client locations, project sites, symposia and other
meetings, other GMI offices;
- Communicating with government, academic, and industry researchers and
scientists;
- Participating in project team meetings and attending meetings with third
parties/clients;
- Researching, acquiring, and synthesizing scientific literature and data.
Education, Experience, and Skills Required: Minimum of a B.S. in one of
the following disciplines is required: environmental science, wetland
sciences, biological sciences, ecology, forestry or related field. The
ideal candidate will have experience in one or more of the following: flora
and fauna surveys, rare species surveys, wetland delineation, soil
classification, wetland hydrology, or natural resources of the mid-Atlantic
region. Other useful skills include knowledge or experience in field data
collection methods, GPS usage, ESRI GIS, National Environmental Policy Act,
Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and related policies. The
successful candidate will possess strong technical writing, organizational,
and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to manage multiple tasks
concurrently, while functioning in an environment of changing priorities
and time constraints. Fieldwork in difficult conditions and extensive
travel may be required.
Location:
Position is in the Hampton, Virginia office.
To apply:
Interested candidates should submit a scientific writing sample and
specific project work experience with their resume.
Visit our web site to post your resume and submit your application: www.geomarine.com/careers . Geo-Marine, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Specific questions regarding this position may be addressed via e-mail to:
Joe Campo ( jcampo@geo-marine.com )
Paul Block ( pblock@geo-marine.com )
Meegan Wallace ( mwallace@geo-marine.com )
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 17:15:04 +0100
From: Heather Hawk < heatherhawk@GMAIL.COM >
Subject: Modeling in integers: exporting from excel to BASIC
I have a laaaaarge set of data that I've been working with using various
stat programs that import ASCII values from excel spreadsheets, like PC-ORD
and JMP, but I'm trying to write a program for modeling in programs that
only accept values in integer form, like BASIC. Does anyone know a
relatively straightforward way of exporting or converting excel spreadsheets
to be used in BASIC modeling? Any advice on this will be tremendously
helpful, as re-punching the data is out of the question! Thanks.
Heather Hawk
heatherhawk@gmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 12:19:40 -0400
From: Songlin Fei < songlin.fei@UKY.EDU >
Subject: Ph.D. research assistant in invasive species
Graduate Research Assistantship - Invasive Species
Accessing Invasive Exotic Plants in Urban Forests
I am seeking a qualified student who wants to work with invasive exotic
plants in city parks in Lexington and Louisville Kentucky. This Ph.D.
research assistantship will begin in the fall semester 2006. Qualified
students should have a strong interest in working in the area of invasive
species and GIS technology. Opportunities exist for the student to assist
and help with other projects as they desire. This project will study the
association between the occurrence of invasive exotic plants and the
characteristics of urban forest remnants and their surrounding landscapes
(size, structure, usage, and management). The assistantship is funded by
USDA Forest Service. It pays $13,000 per year plus tuition and health
insurance. Application should be made as soon as possible and must include a
statement of research and career interests, a copy of all transcripts, GRE
scores, and three letters of recommendation. Interested students should
contact:
Dr. Songlin Fei
<mailto: songlin.fei@uky.edu > songlin.fei@uky.edu
859-257-9760
SongLin Fei, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Forest Biometrics & Spatial Analysis
University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry
204 T.P. Cooper Bldg., Lexington, KY 40546-0073
Phone: 859-257-9760; FAX: 859-323-1031
Email: <mailto: Songlin.fei@uky.edu > Songlin.fei@uky.edu
http://www.ca.uky.edu/forestry /fei.php
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 12:48:35 -0400
From: Curt Lively < clively@INDIANA.EDU >
Subject: <No subject given>
Post-Doctoral Position in the Ecology and Ecological Genetics of Disease
Indiana University, Bloomington
A post-doctoral position in disease ecology is available August 1,
2006 at Indiana University. We are especially interested in
recruiting a theoretician working on (or willing to work on)
interactions among microbes inhabiting the same host. The project
would be part of a larger NSF-funded study on microbial interactions
within ticks, working with Keith Clay, Clay Fuqua, Curt Lively and
Mike Wade (see http://www.bio.indiana.edu /gradprograms/EEB/=20
faculty.html for faculty research in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior
at Indiana University).
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop new
lines of thinking regarding microbial interactions within hosts. The
applicants=92 graduate work should be in a relevant area and a PhD is
required before the start date. The salary is $32,000 per year and
includes a comprehensive benefits program. The position is for one
year, renewable for a second year.
For more information contact Keith Clay ( clay@indiana.edu ,
812-855-8158), Curt Lively ( clively@indiana.edu , 812-855-1842), or
Mike Wade ( mjwade@indiana.edu , 812-856-4680). All applications,
including curriculum vitae, statement of research interests and
experience, and contact information for three potential referees
should be sent via email to malockha@indiana.edu , enter Microbial
Interactions Postdoc position in the subject line. Applications will
be accepted immediately and until the position is filled.
Indiana University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action
Employer and is committed to achieving excellence through cultural
diversity.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 21:25:39 +1200
From: Jon Sullivan < sullivaj@LINCOLN.AC.NZ >
Subject: New Zealand PhD Fellowship available: foodwebs and biocontrol
New Zealand PhD Fellowship Available - How native plant-insect
foodwebs can disrupt and be disprupted by weed biocontrol
Indirect effects of weed invasion and biocontrol on native plant
insect foodwebs may act to reduce the effectiveness of weed
biocontrol and reduce the abundance of native insects and plants
Current knowledge is limited on the nature and importance of these
effects. Would this knowledge result in more effective and
ecologically beneficial weed biocontrol? A New Zealand PhD fellowship
is available to explore these indirect effects using the foodweb of
native Senecio herbs and their insect herbivores, and the invasion
into this foodweb by the weed ragwort, S. jacobaea, and its
biocontrol insects.
The PhD fellowship is available in the Bio-Protection and Ecology
Division of Lincoln University, New Zealand ( http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/
section133.html ). The successful applicant will work under the
supervision of Dr. Jon Sullivan (Lincoln University, http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/story957 .html ) and Dr. Simon Fowler (Landcare
Research, http://www.landcareresearch.co .nz ).
The student should have a background in and/or interest in plant/
insect herbivore/parasitoid interactions and in applying foodweb
theory to invasion ecology. The research will involve the design,
implementation and interpretation of field and mesocosm experiments
in New Zealand.
Duration: 3 years
Stipend: NZ$23,000 per annum (tax-free) plus tuition fees*
It is open to applicants from New Zealand and from overseas
countries, but the cost of airfares to/from New Zealand is not covered.
Please see http://www.mollivan.com /science/senecios/phd.php for
further details or contact Jon Sullivan ( sullivaj@lincoln.ac.nz ).
Applications close on Friday 30 June 2006.
* fees will be covered at the domestic student rate. This can now
apply both to domestic students and international students. For
details, see http://www.minedu.govt.nz /index.cfm?
layout=document&documentid =10874&indexid=6663&indexparen tid=1216 .
______________________________ ______________________
Jon Sullivan, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Bio-Protection and Ecology Division
P.O. Box 84
Lincoln University / Te Whare Wanaka O Aoraki
Lincoln, Canterbury
New Zealand
office: Room 436a, Burns Wing, Lincoln University campus
email: sullivaj@lincoln.ac.nz
tel: (03) 325 3838 ext. 8147
fax: (03) 325 3844 for international calls and faxes, replace (03) with (643)
web: http://www.lincoln.ac.nz /story957.html?
web: http://homepage.mac.com /tabebuia/jon.html
______________________________ ______________________
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 07:46:35 -0400
From: Kevin Rosseel < Rosseel.Kevin@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV >
Subject: Exciting U.S. EPA internship posting in Washington, DC
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Steve
Dunn (contact info listed below) by Friday 6/9.
Thanks!
....................
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Atmospheric Programs, Washington DC
Internship Opportunity
EPA Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership
The Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership Program is a voluntary
state-federal partnership that encourages states to develop and
implement cost-effective clean energy and environmental strategies that
help further both environmental and clean energy goals and achieve
public health and economic benefits. Under the Partnership Program,
states work across their relevant agencies to develop and implement a
comprehensive strategy for using existing and new energy policies and
programs to promote energy efficiency, clean distributed generation,
renewable energy and other clean energy sources that can provide air
quality and other benefits.
EPA provides access to a comprehensive package of planning, policy,
technical, analytical, and information resources to help State Partners
establish and implement sound Clean Energy-Environment State Action
Plans. EPAâ€s Clean Energy-Environment Guide to Action describes 16 clean
energy policies and strategies that states have used to achieve
cost-effective clean energy. EPA also documents and disseminates
successful state clean energy policies and provides opportunities for
training and peer exchange.
The purpose of this internship is to provide research and communications
support to the State and Local Branch (SLB). SLB is within EPA Office
of Atmospheric Programs, Climate Protection Partnerships Division. The
branch maintains Web sites on state and local clean energy actions,
climate change and the urban heat island effect. Web sites maintained
by SLB include the following:
• Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership
Web site: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy /stateandlocal/
• EPA global warming site, information for public officials
Web site: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarmi ng > visitor center > public
officials
• Heat Island Reduction Initiative
Web site: http://www.epa.gov/heatislands
The intern will be responsible for working in coordination with EPA
program and communications staff to develop and publish web content
related to state and local clean energy and climate change programs.
Specific activities that the intern will be responsible for include:• Tracking state and local activities and developing web content
for the clean energy-environment state partnership
• Maintaining information resources, database, and description of
state policies and initiatives, such as executive orders, legislation
and rulemakings
• Developing information resources on clean energy opportunities for
local governments
• Updating and expanding content on state climate change actions,
including action plans and legislative initiatives
• Preparing summaries of EPA programs and services for state
partners and posting updates on-line
• Reviewing and updating content on the urban heat island effect
• Researching and updating links to state and local Web sites and
on-line resources
Interested candidates should be enthusiastic, organized self-starters
with an interest in working on state and local clean energy programs and
policies. Applicants should have excellent verbal and written
communication skills, familiarity with energy and climate change issues,
and an interest in state and local clean energy and climate change
programs.
EPA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will
be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age,
gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual
orientation, marital or family status or any other non-merit factors.
Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen.
For more information, please contact Steve Dunn at dunn.stevev@epa.gov .
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 20:26:40 +0100
From: "Kaduk, Dr J." < jk61@LEICESTER.AC.UK >
Subject: photosynthesis systems
Hello,
we are looking into buying a photosynthesis system
I would appreciate to hear about any comparisons of
ADC Lcpro+
ppsystems CIRAS 2
Licor LI6400
or any other experiences or recommendations.
I'd be happy to compile the answers and send back to the list.
Thank you very much!
Cheers,
Jörg
--
Jörg Kaduk
Lecturer
Department of Geography J.Kaduk@Leicester.ac.uk
University of Leicester joerg@jasper.stanford.edu
UK - Leicester LE1 7RH Tel: + 44 (0)116 2523848
http://www.leicester.ac.uk /geography/people/jk61.html
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 16:21:07 -0400
From: "David A. Mortensen" < dam37@PSU.EDU >
Subject: Position Open-- Penn State Coordinator of Ecology Grad Program
A position is open that involves working closely with students and
faculty
in Penn State's Ecology Graduate Program. Graduate experience in Ecology
or
other life-science field is desired. This round of applications may
close on
Friday June 2. Please apply on Penn State's "Jobs" website:http://www.psu.edu/ur/jobs .html and feel free to contact me with
questions.
Coordinator Student Services
Date Announced: 05/26/2006
Work Unit: Vice President for Research
Department: The Huck Institute of the Life Sciences
Job Number: 22472
Description: The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences is seeking a
Coordinator of Student Services to assist the Associate Director for
Educational Programs. Duties include assisting with the recruitment of
IBIOS
and IDGP graduate students and on-campus recruitment visits. Assist with
advising students, monitoring student progress. Assist with organizing
and
planning of orientation activities and team building activities between
University Park and Hershey students. Assist with curriculum and policy
matters. Interpret program policies for students and faculty and assist
with
arranging and co-facilitating professional development workshops.
Requires
Bachelor's degree (Master's or Doctoral degree in the Life Sciences
preferred) or equivalent, plus one year of work-related experience. THIS
IS
A FIXED-TERM APPOINTMENT FUNDED FOR ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF HIRE WITH
EXCELLENT POSSIBILITY OF RE-FUNDING.
David Mortensen
Chair, Ecology IGDP
Professor of Weed Ecology/Biology
Phone: 814-865-1906
dmortensen@psu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 11:11:59 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?Alain_Leduc?= < lesieur.daniel@UQAM.CA >
Subject: PhD position (Forest Succession)
PhD student position available in Forest Ecology, University of Quebec at
Montreal
Aging succession aims to understand how mortality process occurs in
absence of large scale disturbance. How this mortality involves changes in
composition and structure of forest and on how many time it occurs. The
PhD student will participate in a project funded by the Sustainable Forest
Management Network and the Quebec Natural Resources Ministry with the aim
to quantify how mortality occurs in natural boreal forest stands and how
it varied from one region to another in boreal forest of Quebec. The
project involves the use of large scale data bases such as permanent and
temporary network of plots just as comparison of forest maps of different
periods. The candidate should be willing to develop skills in statistical
analysis and modeling and a background in this field would be appropriate.
Applications should be include a brief description of undergraduate
training, research interest and experience and a motivation of why the
position is of interest. The candidate should have a master degree in
ecology or forestry. The successful candidate will receive a fellowship of
16, 500 CDN/year for a period of 3 years. This fellowship can be combined
with up to 20% of teaching assistantship and other fellowships coming from
the Industrial Chair in Sustainable Forest Management of UQAT/ UQAM.
Starting date: June 1, 2006 (or september).
Supervisor committee : Alain Leduc (UQAM) and Yves Bergeron (UQAT).
Grad study : Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences at the Université du Québec
at Montréal (UQAM)
Financial support : A stipend of $16,500 CAN/year for 3 years will be
provided.
For more information :
Alain Leduc
Scientific researcher
Département des Sciences Biologiques
Université du Québec à Montréal
CEF (UQAM), Chaire industrielle AFD - UQAT
E-mail: leduc.alain@uqam.ca
Or
Yves Bergeron
Univerisité du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Chaire industrielle AFD - UQAT
445, boulevard de l'Université
Rouyn-Noranda, QC
J9X 5E4
CANADA
Phone.: 819-762-0971 (2347)
Email: yves.bergeron@uqat.ca
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 09:39:31 -0400
From: Kevin Rosseel < Rosseel.Kevin@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV >
Subject: Upcoming job opportunity at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC: SunWise Program
Attached is a description of a position with EPA's SunWise children's
education program, which we will be advertising in June. Please send
materials to the contact person listed if you are interested.
POSITION AVAILABLE †PROTECTING CHILDRENâ€S HEALTH
U.S. EPAâ€s Stratospheric Protection Division (SPD), in the Office
of Atmospheric Programs (OAP), is seeking a highly motivated individual
to support the EPAâ€s sun safety education program, the SunWise Program. SPD works to protect the ozone layer under the Montreal Protocol
and the Clean Air Act. SPD phases out the production and import of
ozone-depleting substances, reviews and approves substitutes for
prohibited chemicals, participates in international negotiations with
other Parties to the Montreal Protocol, works with schools and
communities to foster sun-safe behaviors, and supports OAPâ€s activities
to mitigate human contributions to global climate change.
SunWise is an environmental and health education program that teaches
children how to protect themselves from overexposure to ultraviolet
radiation that can lead to adverse health effects later in life, like
skin cancer and cataracts. Over 13,000 schools in all 50 states are
signed up to use the program. SunWise is also taught in over 900
community-based education institutions, like summer camps and science
and childrenâ€s museums. Participating schools or institutions sign up
to receive a tool kit containing over 40 interactive, cross-curricular
educational activities that meet national educational standards for
health, physical education, language arts, mathematics, science, and
social studies.
Position available: This positionâ€s duties and responsibilities
include internal and external communications and outreach for the
SunWise Program. The position involves forging strong working
relationships with a wide range of partners, including national
environmental, education, and public health agencies, government
organizations, and not-for-profit groups; assistance in the development
of a range of outreach and education materials, in both printed and
electronic form; coordination of information requests from teachers,
schools, parents, dermatologists, meteorologists, and others;
coordination of focus groups and other information-gathering efforts to
ensure success of communications and education efforts; coordination
with EPAs Office of Public Affairs, Office of Childrens Health
Protection (OCHP), Office of Research and Development (ORD), and other
organizations inside and outside of EPA. The position also involves
analyzing technical material, including public health and economic
information, with a specific focus on ultraviolet (UV) radiation health
effects, economic analyses, program evaluation, and national educational
standards.
The position is likely to be advertised at a GS-9 level (salary
range $44,865-58,318), with promotion potential to GS-13, on EPAâ€s
EZ-Hire website at http://www.epa.gov/ezhire/ . Potential applicants are
invited to send resumes to Linda Rutsch, SunWise Program Director, atrutsch.linda@epa.gov , and to check the EZ-Hire site starting in mid-June
for application information.
EPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position
will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion,
age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual
orientation, marital or family status, or any other non-merit factors.
More information about the stratospheric ozone program is
available at www.epa.gov/ozone/ . More information about the SunWise
Program is available at www.epa.gov/sunwise/ .
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 06:45:06 -0700
From: MAtthew Adams < chipmm13@YAHOO.COM >
Subject: Behavioral Arachnology
Hi all,
I am looking for opinions regarding behavioral arachnology/entomology Masters/PhD programs. I have done some preliminary research and it seems that most of what is being published (at least recently) has come out of New Zealand. I was wondering if anyone else had reached this same general consensus? Ideally I am looking for a professor/program that will allow me to study some of the various behavioral aspects of the jumping spider family (Salticidae). Location is not a huge factor, and if possible I would like to start in the fall of 2007. I would love to hear your recommendations for both professors and/or programs, as my searching thus far has come up with very few options. Thanks in advance for the help everyone.
Matt Adams
------------------------------ ---
Do you Yahoo!?
Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 22:51:58 +0000
From: stan moore < hawkman11@HOTMAIL.COM >
Subject: a little bit of ecology celebrated in recent song
Folks --
One of my favorite Aldo Leopold essays (from A Sand County Almanac) was
about Draba, an obscure, plain little flower. Leopold had a wonderful way
of celebrating obscure and often overlooked artifacts of nature.
I found a song very reminiscent of that Aldo Leopold essay, on a cd called"Revival" by Gillian Welch. The song is called "Acony Bell" and I share the
verses below, which I hope this group will enjoy (the actual song recording
by Gillian Welch is fabulous with its guitar picking, etc.) :
Acony Bell
Verse1:
The fairest bloom the mountain knows
Is not an iris or a wild rose
But the little flower of which I'll tel
Known as the brave acony bell
VERSE 2:
Just a simple flower so small and plain
With a pearly hue and a little known name
But the yellow birds sing when they see it bloom
For they know that spring is coming soon
VERSE 3:
Well it makes its home mid the rocks and the rills
Where the snows lie deep on the windy hills
And it tells the world Why should I wait
This ice and snow is gonna melt away.
VERSE 4:
And so I'll sing that yellow bird's song
For the troubled times will soon be gone
submitted by Stan Moore San Geronimo, CA stangabboon@yahoo.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 19:17:29 -0700
From: krishna prasad < krisvkp@YAHOO.COM >
Subject: Re: photosynthesis systems - Krishna
Dear Dr.Kaduk,
We are using photosynthetic system from http://www.cid-inc.com/
Like other systems, it too has several merits and de-merits. It depends on the frequency of the measurements that you plan to conduct and also the basic experimental design (over forests/ agricultural systems / heterogenous landscapes etc..???
Krishna
"Kaduk, Dr J." < jk61@LEICESTER.AC.UK > wrote:
Hello,
we are looking into buying a photosynthesis system
I would appreciate to hear about any comparisons of
ADC Lcpro+
ppsystems CIRAS 2
Licor LI6400
or any other experiences or recommendations.
I'd be happy to compile the answers and send back to the list.
Thank you very much!
Cheers,
Jörg
--
Jörg Kaduk
Lecturer
Department of Geography J.Kaduk@Leicester.ac.uk
University of Leicester joerg@jasper.stanford.edu
UK - Leicester LE1 7RH Tel: + 44 (0)116 2523848
http://www.leicester.ac.uk /geography/people/jk61.html
Dr. Krishna Prasad Vadrevu Research Scientist 201 Thorne Hall, Agroecosystem Management Program 1680 Madison Avenue, The Ohio State University Wooster, OHIO, 44691-4096, USA Fax : 330-263-3686 Phone : 330-202-3539 Email : krisvkp@yahoo.com
------------------------------ ---
Topics of the day:
1. Highlights from the May issues of Ecology and Frontiers in Ecology and the
Environment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 17:18:38 -0400
From: David Inouye < inouye@UMD.EDU >
Subject: Highlights from the May issues of Ecology and Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
ESA NEWS
Immediate Release: 18 May 2006
Contact: Nadine Lymn (202) 833-8773 x2105; nadine@esa.org
or Annie Drinkard (202) 833-8773 x211; annie@esa.org
Highlights from the May issues of
Ecology and Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
- Frontiers -
Studying a world touched by humans
Archeologists have dispensed with the myth that indigenous people
lived in "harmony with nature" while ecologists have rejected the"balance of nature" concept. Both fields of study coalesce around
human actions and ecosystem changes. Archeologists and ecologists
are both realizing the worlds they study are not as pristine as they
might have thought: many pristine ecosystems studied have been
affected by agriculture and human habitation for thousands of years.
In "Why ecology needs archeologists and archeology needs ecologists,"
John Briggs, Katherine Speilman, and colleagues from Arizona State
University point to examples from Cave Creek and Perry Mesa in
Arizona , in their call for more cooperation between ecologists and
archeologists.
Using plants to restore environments
Elizabeth Simms and John Freeman present an overview of the use of
plants and their microbes in an emerging technology known as
phytoremediation for their review, "Environmental cleanup using
plants: biotechnological advances and ecological
considerations." Presenting an overview of the phytoremediation
processes and transgenic approaches to breed plants with these
properties, the scientists discuss the implications of using this technology.
Plant studies often look at how flora compete with each other. More
recent studies have focused on the positive interactions of
plants. In "The role of nurse plants in the restoration of degraded
environments," researchers from Spain review the possibility of using"nurse" plants to help facilitate the restoration of other plant
species in harsh environments.
- Ecology -
Crowds cause more than stress
In, "Mothers matter: Crowding leads to stressed mothers and smaller
offspring in marine fish," Mark McCormick of James Cook University
in Queensland , Australia shows the effects of social conditions on
the offspring of reef fish.
Community diversity affected by climate change
A study out of California shows the declines in mussel bed diversity
are the result of climate change. Jayson Smith (UCLA and California
State University ) studied mussel beds along the eastern North Pacific
Ocean and found changes in species diversity were more likely related
to large-scale changes rather than local habitat destruction.
Sugar maples and calcium
Results from the study "Response of sugar maple to calcium addition
to northern hardwood forest" reinforce and extend other regional
observations that sugar maple decline is caused in part by acid
deposition, a result of human activities.
***
Copies of the papers may be obtained by contacting Annie Drinkard at
annie@esa.org .
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is a scientific, non-profit,
9200-member organization founded in 1915. Through ESA reports,
journals, membership research, and expert testimony to Congress, ESA
seeks to promote the responsible application of ecological data and
principles to the solution of environmental problems. ESA publishes
four scientific, peer-reviewed journals: Ecology, Ecological
Applications, Ecological Monographs, and Frontiers in Ecology and the
Environment. For more information about the Society visit www.esa.org
The Ecological Society of America
Public Affairs Office
1707 H Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 833 - 8773
Fax: (202 ) 833 - 8775
Web: www.esa.org/pao
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 21:28:18 -0700
From: "Wei, Adam" < adam.wei@UBC.CA >
Subject: Your help to identify the top 10 of the most important breakthroughs in environmental or ecological sciences in the past 20 years
Dear Ecologists,
I thought it would be useful for educators or reachers to know what the top 10 breakthroughts in the past 20 years we have acheived in environmental or ecological science. In order to accomplish this task, I ask any one who is interestd in this exercise to identify one or two in your opinon the most important advancement (it can be a new scientific concept, a new technology or even a landmark paper).
Please response to me ( adam.wei@ubc.ca ) with the following format:
What (topic):
Why (two most important reasons):
One or two Reference:
I will combine all your inputs, and develop a summary. If response is good and significant I will distribute the summary to this e-mail list. Otherwise, I just respond to whoever provides inputs.
Thanks for attention,
Adam Wei, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Earth and Environmental Science
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Kelowna, British Columbia
Canada
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 11:10:29 +0100
From: William Silvert < ciencia@SILVERT.ORG >
Subject: Re: Modeling in integers: exporting from excel to BASIC
BASIC accepts floating point values - you just have to declare them as such.
I'm not sure about all forms of BASIC, but try a declaration with REAL or
FLOAT or DOUBLE.
Plus Excel has a function INT() which finds the integer part of any number
[and INT(value+0.5) does rounding]. If you really are stuck with a program
that only handles integers and your values are so small that rounding will
introduce errors, you might multiply the numbers by some value such as 1000
before rounding.
Bill Silvert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Heather Hawk" < heatherhawk@GMAIL.COM >
To: < ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU >
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 5:15 PM
Subject: Modeling in integers: exporting from excel to BASIC
I have a laaaaarge set of data that I've been working with using various stat programs that import ASCII values from excel spreadsheets, like
PC-ORD and JMP, but I'm trying to write a program for modeling in programs that only accept values in integer form, like BASIC. Does anyone know a relatively straightforward way of exporting or converting excel spreadsheets to be used in BASIC modeling? Any advice on this will be tremendously
helpful, as re-punching the data is out of the question!
Thanks.
Heather Hawk
heatherhawk@gmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 05:42:36 -0700
From: "Dr. Kaushal K. Srivastava" < kaushal_ceser@YAHOO.COM >
Subject: IInd Call for Papers: The Ecological Economics of Consumption
9th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE)
December 15 - 19, 2006, in Delhi, India www.ISEE2006.com Call for Papers for the Sub-Session The Ecological Economics of Consumption (part of Talking Across Disciplines)
Sub-Session Coordinators:
Inge Røpke (Technical University of Denmark) Atsushi Inaba (Research into Artifacts, RACE, The University of Tokyo, and Research Center for Life Cycle Assessment, AIST, Japan) Jikun Huang (Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) Kaushal K. Srivastava (Centre for Environment, Social & Economic Research, India) Lucia Reisch (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark) Maurie Cohen (New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA)
Deadline for abstract submission: July 31, 2006
Notification of accepted proposals: August 31, 2006
Submission of full paper: October 31, 2006
Abstracts: Abstracts should be limited to 250 words. Abstracts must be submitted online to the conference organizers ( www.ISEE2006.com ) and by email to the session organizers ( ir@ipl.dtu.dk ).
Aim and scope of the working session:
In ecological economics, as well as related fields such as industrial ecology and ecological design, the issue of consumption and the environment has attracted rapidly growing interest during the last 5-10 years. With this session we intend to get an impression of the present research frontier and to identify relevant directions for ecological-economic studies on consumption. To date most research has concentrated on the dynamics and implications of contemporary consumption practices in industrialized countries. It is, however, becoming increasingly relevant also to ascertain the environmental implications of consumption in countries such as India and China . Furthermore, it is more relevant than ever to study sustainable consumption alternatives to the present dominant trends. Topics of interest for this session include but are not limited to:
Basic theoretical and conceptual issues related to consumption Environmental impacts of consumption Driving forces behind consumption growth in different social settings The role of globalization in the development of consumption patterns The changing composition of consumption Technological change and consumption part of both problems and solutions Product-service systems The diffusion of Western consumer values to other parts of the world The relationship between consumption and quality of life Sustainable consumption policies: assessment of experience, new suggestions
The communication of sustainable consumption best practices? What can behavioural economics contribute to the study of sustainable consumption? Voluntary simplicity, downshifting, and alternative consumption lifestyles Distributional issues related to consumption and environment
The relationship between private and collective consumption Sustainable consumption from the perspective of transition management
Abstracts must be submitted online to the conference organizers ( www.ISEE2006.com ) and by email to the session organizers Dr. Inge Røpke (email: ir@ipl.dtu.dk ).
With regards
Dr. Kaushal K. Srivastava
Coordinator of Sub-Session: The Ecological Economics of Consumption
9th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Kaushal K. Srivastava
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Ecological Economics & Statistics
http://www.ceser.res.in/ijees.html , email: ijees@ceser.res.in
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Ecology & Development (IJED)
http://www.isder.ceser.res.in/ijed.html , email: ijed@isder.ceser.res.in
Director, Centre for Environment, Social & Economic Research, Roorkee
http://www.ceser.res.in , email: ceserres@ceser.res.in
---------------------------------
Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 09:26:35 -0400
From: Michael Fuller < mmfuller@TIEM.UTK.EDU >
Subject: Re: Modeling in integers: exporting from excel to BASIC
Heather,
Could you please provide more information on why you need to convert
your data to integers? If you need integer data because you are using
an older dialect of BASIC, have you considered using one of the newer
dialects that have a floating point data type? Otherwise there are
several ways to transform or reformat large (> 10Mb) data sets using
standard UNIX utilities.
Mike
_______________________________
Michael M Fuller, Ph.D.
The Institute for Environmental Modeling
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-1610
EMAIL: mmfuller<at> tiem.utk.edu
WEB: www.tiem.utk.edu/~mmfuller
On Jun 1, 2006, at 12:00 AM, Heather Hawk wrote:
I have a laaaaarge set of data that I've been working with using various stat programs that import ASCII values from excel spreadsheets, like PC-ORD> and JMP, but I'm trying to write a program for modeling in programs that only accept values in integer form, like BASIC. Does anyone know a
relatively straightforward way of exporting or converting excel spreadsheets to be used in BASIC modeling? Any advice on this will be tremendously
helpful, as re-punching the data is out of the question! Thanks.
Heather Hawk
heatherhawk@gmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 16:53:40 -0400
From: Susan Musante < smusante@AIBS.ORG >
Subject: AIBS Diversity Scholars and Diversity Leadership Awards: Applications and nominations due July 3rd 2006
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is now accepting
applications and nominations for two awards that promote the
participation of underrepresented minorities in the sciences:
* The AIBS Diversity Scholars Program recognizes outstanding
minority undergraduate and graduate students. Diversity Scholars will
receive a $1,000 travel award to present research at a scientific
meeting of the student's choice; free registration at the AIBS annual
meeting; free 12-month membership in AIBS; and a free 12-month
subscription to BioScience. Submit applications by 3 July 2006 for
meetings to be held between 1 January and 30 June 2007 ; for meetings
between 1 July and 31 December 2007 , the deadline is 15 January 2007 .
* The AIBS Diversity Leadership Award recognizes programs and
initiatives that actively promote a diverse community of biologists.
AIBS welcomes nominations from scientific societies, K-12
institutions, colleges and universities, government agencies,
nonprofit organizations, and community groups, as well as
institutions such as museums, botanic gardens, and field stations.
Nominations for the Diversity Leadership Award are accepted
throughout the year, with reviews conducted twice a year, at the end
of January and at the end of July.
For selection criteria and more information, and to download
application and nomination forms, please visit< http://www.aibs.org/diversity > www.aibs.org/diversity .
*****************************************
Susan Musante
Education and Outreach Program Manager
American Institute of Biological Sciences
1444 Eye St. NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
phone: 202-628-1500 x206
alt phone: 703-582-9410
fax: 202-628-1509
smusante@aibs.org
http://www.aibs.org
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 08:57:04 -0500
From: Sam Riffell < sriffell@CFR.MSSTATE.EDU >
Subject: Two (2) Ph. D. assistantships in Wildlife Science at Mississippi State
Two (2) Ph. D. assistantships in Wildlife Science at Mississippi State
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at Mississippi State University
has two (2) doctoral assistantships in the area of wildlife ecology in
agricultural landscapes. Both of these assistantships come with an
annual stipend of $20,000 plus tuition remission. Starting date is 1
January 2007 (but that could be negotiated).
Assistantship #1: Effects of CRP on northern bobwhite and
grassland birds
This assistantship specifically involves monitoring and evaluation of
CP33 Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds, a new continuous signup
Conservation Reserve Program practice designed to benefit declining
requires that each state that was allocated CP33 acreage develop a
monitoring plan following a standardized design developed by the
research committee of the southeast quail study group.
Responsibilities: The successful applicant will be responsibe for
collating and managing 3 years of bird and digital land use data from
approximately 1200 fields (600 CP33, 600 control fields) monitored in 20
states. This is a unique opportunity to determine the effect of a CRP
conservation practice on wildlife from the date of initiation using a
robust sampling design across a broad region. The applicant will also
supervise and coordinate the required state-level monitoring of CP33
contracts in Mississippi . The applicant may develop additional
project(s) that complement related projects at Mississippi State . These
projects include national assessment of CRP effects on bobwhite and
grassland songbirds; the USDA-NRCS/MSU Northern Bobwhite Conservation
Initiative; and field- and farm-level evaluation of CP33 field borders
on bobwhite and grassland bird reproductive success. The applicant would
have the opportunity to interact with a number of faculty and research
staff working on conservation issues in agricultural settings.
Qualifications: M.S. in wildlife ecology, ornithology, natural
resource/wildlife management, or related field. Candidate should have
skills in GIS, statistical analysis or both in addition to interest or
experience working with agricultural producers an other private
landowners. Successful candidate should be highly motivated with strong
academic credentials and high GRE.
Assistantship #2: Wildlife ecology in agricultural landscapes
This second assistantship is a special fellowship for outstanding
candidates interested in agroecology research. The successful applicant
would be able to develop their own project that complemented existing
research projects. Existing projects include: monitoring and evaluation
of CP33 Habitat Buffers; evaluation of mid-contract management (e.g.,
disturbance) in forest or grassland CRP habitats; response of grassland
birds, pollinators and other taxa to CRP habitats; or other topics that
mesh with these projects or deal with agricultural issues.
Qualifications: M.S. in wildlife ecology, ornithology, natural
resource/wildlife management, or related field. Candidate should have
skills in GIS, statistical analysis or both in addition to interest or
experience working with agricultural producers and other private
landowners. Successful candidate should be highly motivated with strong
academic credentials and high GRE.
Inquiry emails are welcomed and should be directed to Dr. Sam Riffell
(co-project leader) at sriffell@cfr.msstate.edu and Dr. Wes Burger at
wburger@cfr.msstate.edu . Please submit a curriculum vitae and a cover
letter that describes your interest in the position, your career goals,
GPA, GRE scores and details your work or educational experience that is
most relevant to this position.
Mississippi State University is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action
employer.
--
Sam Riffell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
Box 9690
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-0392
FAX: (662) 325-8726
Email: sriffell@cfr.msstate.edu
Physical Address for overnight shipment:
Rm 110 Thompson Hall
100 Stone Blvd.
Mississippi State, MS 39762
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 12:37:25 -0400
From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Paul_Brooks?= < brooks@HWR.ARIZONA.EDU >
Subject: Position Available: Ecohydrology field technician
The NSF funded center for Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian
Areas (SAHRA) and the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources at te
University of Arizona seek a field technician to assist with data
collection, analysis, and monitoring at a long-term ecohydrological research
facility Initially, the position will run from June through August or
September 2006, with the possibility of being extended for up to three
additional years.
The ideal candidate will have a BS (MS preferred) and background in
hydrology, meteorology, biogeochemistry, or ecosystem studies and be
familiar with eddy flux systems, stream gages, soil moisture measurement,
and associated data loggers and software. The successful candidate will be
a detailed oriented, self-starter capable of working with minimal
supervision. The position will require the successful candidate to spend
most of the summer at a field site in the Jemez Mountains of NM where (s)he
will work both alone and in small groups. Onsite housing is available.
Salary will range from $2200 to $2600 per month depending on qualifications.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Collect, archive, and distribute hydrological, meteorological, and
ecological data from data loggers.
2. Troubleshoot data acquisition systems, solar panels, and associated equipment
3. Assist with stream gauging, stream water sampling, and weather station
maintenance.
4. Assist with data collection, management, and analysis.
5. Assist with other ongoing and pending research projects as necessary.
Required Skills and Knowledge.
Ability to work safely.
Ability to communicate with team members.
Experience or ability to perform listed duties and responsibilities.
Ability to work in all types of terrain under extreme weather conditions.
Ability to perform basic data analysis, e.g., generating summary
statistics and figures.
Possess valid driver's license.
For more information please contact Paul Brooks, brooks@hwr.arizona.edu
Review of application will begin immediately and continue until the position
is filled.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 15:01:21 -0400
From: "Tom Mosca III, Ph.D." < tom@VIMS.EDU >
Subject: Re: Modeling in integers: exporting from excel to BASIC
Hello Heather,
I strongly suspect that the word "integer" was unintentionally misused. In any case, to input Excel data into a basic program, first "SAVE AS" the Excel file as a tab or comma delimited text file (FILENAME.TXE). Then use a variation on the Basic code:
OPEN "FILENAME.TXT" FOR INPUT AS #1
FOR i = 1 TO whatever '(the number of rows of data)
INPUT #1, datum1, datum2, datum3 '(however many are needed)
NEXT i
CLOSE #1
If any text (STRING$) information exists in the Excel file, it must either be removed, or the Basic code must be written so as to accomodate it. I usually just input it into a string variable and waste it, or maybe print it to the monitor so the user will be aware it was in there.
It is very easy to get into trouble inputing multiple-column data files into Basic. For example, missing values will cause the data to be inputed out of order unless some protection is built into the code. Be very careful that what you get is what you expect.
Take care, Tom
---- Original message ----
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 09:26:35 -0400
From: Michael Fuller < mmfuller@TIEM.UTK.EDU >
Subject: Re: Modeling in integers: exporting from excel to BASIC
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Heather,
Could you please provide more information on why you need to convert your data to integers? If you need integer data because you are using an older dialect of BASIC, have you considered using one of the newerdialects that have a floating point data type? Otherwise there are>several ways to transform or reformat large (> 10Mb) data sets using>standard UNIX utilities.
Mike
______________________________
Michael M Fuller, Ph.D.
The Institute for Environmental Modeling
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-1610
EMAIL: mmfuller<at> tiem.utk.edu
WEB: www.tiem.utk.edu/~mmfuller
On Jun 1, 2006, at 12:00 AM, Heather Hawk wrote:
I have a laaaaarge set of data that I've been working with using various stat programs that import ASCII values from excel spreadsheets, like PC-ORD
and JMP, but I'm trying to write a program for modeling in programs that only accept values in integer form, like BASIC. Does anyone know a
relatively straightforward way of exporting or converting excel spreadsheets to be used in BASIC modeling? Any advice on this will be tremendously
help
heatherhawk@gmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 13:27:07 -0400
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Stacy_Philpott?= < philpotts@SI.EDU >
Subject: bird exclosure data request
Dear Ecolog recipients,
We are currently working on a meta-analysis to investigate how top-down
effects of birds on arthropod assemblages and herbivory change along a
habitat intensification gradient. This paper is being prepared as part
of a Special Feature for Ecology. The basic idea will be to compare bird
exclosure studies from both natural and agricultural systems (both
temperate and tropical) to see whether top down effects are affected by
changes in habitat and food web complexity.
We are writing to make a request to those that might have unpublished
data on bird exclosure studies from forests or agricultural systems.
Ideally, the basic information that we will need is mean arthropod
numbers and herbivory for control and exclosure treatments, standard
deviation or standard error, sample size, and duration of exclosure
treatments. For those that have data to provide, we will follow up for
further information.
Please respond directly to me: philpotts@si.edu
Cheers,
Stacy Philpott, Sunshine VanBael, Russ Greenberg
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 12:31:45 -0500
From: Carey G Gelpi < cgelpi1@LSU.EDU >
Subject: Microscope suggestions
Hello,
I am currently involved in a macrofauna study of Ship Shoal off the
Louisiana coast. I would appreciate any input or suggestions for an
appropriate microscope preferably with the capability to attach a digital
camera and record images. Thanks.
Carey Gelpi
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 01:02:55 +0000
From: stan moore < hawkman11@HOTMAIL.COM >
Subject: obituary of Derek Ratcliffe, a preeminent naturalist and conservationist
Folks --
I never met Derek Ratcliffe, but I appreciated his work as I knew it related
to raptor conservation. When he passed away, I learned that Derek Ratcliffe
was far more than a great man, as I imagined hiim to be -- he was
stupendously wonderful in mind and in spirit. Here is his obituary as
written by fellow British raptor biologist Ian Newton for Ibis. Stan
Moore
Ibis
Volume 148 Page 392 - April 2006
doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2006.00538.x
Volume 148 Issue 2
Obituary
Derek Almey Ratcliffe, 19292005
Ian Newton
Dr Ratcliffe on the summit of Ben Armine, Sutherland, UK (photo: Des
Thompson
With the sudden and unexpected death of Derek Ratcliffe at the age of 75,
Britain lost the most outstanding field naturalist and conservationist of
his generation. No one within Britain equalled his knowledge over so broad a
range, from birds to butterflies, and from the ecology of montane and bog
vegetation to the biogeography of mosses and ferns. His contribution to the
study of natural history was matched by his record as a government scientist
who made a major contribution to the policy and practice of nature
conservation in Britain during the second half of the 20th century.
Derek Ratcliffe was born in London on 9 July 1929 . His father was a cinema
pianist (in the days of silent films), and his mother a teacher of French
and English. His first encounters with wild creatures were in the parks and
open spaces of London , and during holidays on his grandfather's farm near
Cromer in Norfolk (as described in his memoir In Search of Nature, 2000). In
1938 the family moved to Carlisle , where Derek attended the local grammar
school. As an intensely shy, usually silent boy, he joined the Carlisle
Natural History Society, where he gained contact with a number of fine
naturalists, notably Ernest Blezard, the curator of Natural History at the
Tullie House Museum . Blezard was an all-round naturalist, with a deep
knowledge of his home area, including the upland bird and plant communities
which occupied so much of Derek's time in later life. In the role of mentor,
Blezard taught the young Ratcliffe to make meticulous field notes, and also
instilled in him a respect for the natural world, coupled with a strong
sense of public duty. Especially in his early life, Ratcliffe was a quiet
and shy person, but energetic and driven, with an insatiable hunger for
knowledge and exploration of the natural world around him. He became an
expert nest finder, with a special love of the upland birds that would
occupy much of his later life.
In 1947, Derek won a scholarship to study zoology at the University of
Sheffield . Soon bored by anatomy and dissections, he switched to botany,
which under the influence of Professor Roy Clapham offered more scope for
field study. After graduating with a first-class honours degree, he moved to
the University of Wales at Bangor to study hill vegetation, under the
tutelage of the like-minded Paul Richards. In 1956 he completed his PhD
degree, and was offered a job with the Nature Conservancy to study and
classify the hill vegetation of Scotland , along with Donald McVean. The
results of this survey (Plant Communities of the Scottish Highlands, McVean& Ratcliffe 1962) made it possible for the first time to compare Scotland 's
montane and bog vegetation with that of Scandinavia and Central Europe . His
more popular book Highland Flora (1977) provided a condensed, accessible
account of plant life in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. By the,
Ratcliffe probably knew the mountains and moorlands of Britain better than
anyone, and this remained true for the rest of his life. While his job had
involved the study of vegetation, Ratcliffe never missed a chance to check
the hills for birds, especially the Peregrines Falco peregrinus and Ravens
Corvus corax that had fascinated him since boyhood.
In ornithology, he is perhaps known for his pioneering work on the effects
of organo-chlorine pesticides on birds of prey, and as the discoverer of
shell-thinning. Pigeon-fanciers had complained to the Home Office that
Peregrines were ruining their sport, and wanted legal protection to remove
them. The Home Office commissioned a survey by the British Trust for
Ornithology, in order to assess the current status of the species. This
survey, led by Derek, revealed that the Peregrine was in headlong decline,
with fewer than half the known pre-war territories still occupied and large
parts of the former range abandoned altogether. He had earlier noticed that
Peregrines and other birds of prey often had broken eggs in their nests, and
that clutches and broods were smaller than previously. On an idea attributed
to Desmond Nethersole-Thompson and Joe Hickey, Derek began to examine the
eggshells, comparing current with previously collected examples. He
discovered that shells collected from the late 1940s were thinned, a timing
that matched the introduction of DDT into widespread agricultural use.
Residues of organo-chlorines had by then been detected in egg contents, as
well as in the bodies of some birds. His paper describing shell-thinning in
the Peregrine and others was published in Nature (1967), followed three
years later by a much more detailed assessment, extending to a wider range
of species, in the Journal of Applied Ecology (1970). Both papers quickly
became what would now be called 'citation classics', stimulating much
further work on eggshells around the world. The pioneering findings by
Ratcliffe were thus replicated in region after region, wherever
organo-chlorine pesticides hadbeen used. However, from their introduction
in the mid-1950s, the more toxic cyclodiene organo-chlorines, such as aldrin
and dieldrin, were also killing birds outright, especially seed-eaters and
their predators. So population decline in birds of prey seemed due to a combination of reduced reproduction (caused by DDT) and reduced survival
(caused by aldrin, dieldrin and others). Despite every effort by the
agricultural and agro-chemical lobbies to discredit the evidence, pressure
to phase out the organo-chlorines gradually mounted, and in Britain their
use gradually declined through progressive restrictions over the next 25
years. In the same period, eggshells and population levels of birds of prey
gradually recovered, and by the 1990s the numbers of Peregrines,
Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus and other raptors in Britain were higher than
at any time during that century, the intervening period having also seen
large reductions in the scale of direct human persecution (in the interests
of game rearing). From Ratcliffe's pioneering start, the pressure against
the organo-chlorines soon became part of an international campaign. The
European Union banned dieldrin from agricultural use in 1981 and DDT in
1986.
Among ornithologists, Ratcliffe's name is inextricably linked with the
Peregrine Falcon. His lifetime's experience of this species was condensed
into his book The Peregrine Falcon (1980, revised 1993). His book on The
Raven (1997) is in similar vein, and just as well researched and thorough.
Four aspects stand out in my mind as important general contributions
resulting from his raptor work. He was the first to attempt a national
survey of a relatively widespread species (under the aegis of the BTO
Peregrine survey of 1962); the first to use nearest-neighbour distances as a
measure of nest spacing and density, providing an easy way of comparing nest
densities in different regions; and he was one of the first to think
seriously about the role of nest-sites in limiting bird of prey breeding
densities, and also about the presence and implications of surplus
(non-breeding) adults in populations.
He also wrote other books, including Birdlife of Mountain and Upland (1990),
Lakeland (2002), and just before his death he had completed two more, on
Galloway and the Borders (in press) and Lapland: a Natural History (2005).
In retirement, Derek and his wife, Jeannette (née Chan-Mo), set off each May
to Lapland to study and photograph breeding birds. In conversation, he
showed tremendous affection for the northern landscapes, and for the birds
and plants he had found there. His earlier exploratory spirit seemed to have
been re-kindled. After a dozen seasons spent near the Arctic Circle , he felt
ready to commit himself to print, and had just set off for another northward
expedition when he suffered a fatal heart attack on 23 May 2005 .
In the 1970s, Ratcliffe masterminded a grand inventory of Britain 's
semi-natural habitats. To justify its programme of nature reserve
acquisition, the Nature Conservancy was asked by Government to list and
justify the places that were needed in order to complete a representative
series of Britain 's remaining habitats. Ratcliffe used this opportunity for
further exploration of little known parts of Britain , developing methods for
comparing disparate places with one another and evaluating their importance,
using criteria such as size (area), naturalness, diversity and fragility.
The resulting publication, A Nature Conservation Review (1977), was the most
thorough survey of Britain 's wild places ever made. It became the
cornerstone of the Nature Conservancy's policy of site selection, and set a
standard for nature conservation philosophy.
Ratcliffe made his reputation in the 1960s and 1970s with his contribution
to pesticide research and the Nature Conservation Review. His promotion to
Deputy Scientific Director at the age of 40 reflected his immense
contribution and his versatility as a field ecologist. Three years later,
after the break-up of the Nature Conservancy, Ratcliffe became Chief
Scientist of a reorganized and now administrative Nature Conservancy Council
(NCC). His job was to oversee a programme of commissioned research with the
help of a team of specialists (mostly former colleagues). More importantly,
however, in this position he had a say in policy, and his major influence
was in getting NCC to take on the vested interests, including other
government departments, who, through their policies, were rapidly destroying
Britain 's remaining wild places. He loathed commercial forestry, which,
favoured by a system of tax breaks, was rapidly spreading over precious
upland habitats. He helped to precipitate a crucial battle with the powerful
forestry lobby in the 1980s, his arguments persuading politicians to
compromise over the afforestation of the Flow Country, the largest area of
blanket bog in Europe, before it was totally destroyed. Taxpayers, he
thought, deserved better than to see their money spent on uneconomic tree
planting programmes that destroyed priceless parts of our natural heritage.
But apart from his early efforts over the use of organo-chlorine pesticides,
he did not take on state-subsidized agriculture, possibly because its most
devastating effects were only just becoming apparent by the time of his
retirement in 1989. Moreover, his personal interests had always lain in the
uplands, rather than in the more cultivated lowlands.
Derek Ratcliffe received numerous national and international awards,
including the 'Order of the Golden Ark', presented by Prince Bernhard of the
Netherlands (1983). But he was never honoured by the State. Possibly his
outspokenness against government land-use policy over so many years was held
against him. Nevertheless, The Times newspaper included him in a list of the
20th century's most influential voices, mainly on the strength of his work
on pesticides and habitat evaluation. This recognition pleased him greatly.
In the 45 years that I knew Derek Ratcliffe, he retained his shy and
unassuming manner. He was at his most relaxed in the field, and in the
evening, after a good day, he could become a most entertaining raconteur,
mimicking the accent and mannerisms of almost anyone who popped into the
conversation. He had an enormous range of contacts, for he sought out
kindred spirits, and valued friendships. Under this diffident exterior,
however, lay an enormous authority, an unmatched breadth of understanding,
an unrivalled knowledge of every corner of wild Britain , and a steely
determination to see the best of it protected. His main impact, perhaps, was
through his highly persuasive writing, which was articulate, clear and
evocative. This was reflected in memos and personal letters, as well as in
his scientific and conservation writing. His life in the civil service, and
battles for conservation, gave him a rare and uncanny understanding of human
nature. He had a wry sense of humour, and in an instant could deflate
confident political operators and sniff out vested interests in the most
unexpected places. He remined uncompromising, passionate, sceptical and
irreverent to the end, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Ian Newton
Ibis
Volume 148 Page 392 - April 2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:49:42 -0600
From: David Inouye < inouye@UMD.EDU >
Subject: Policy News from ESA's Public Affairs Office
Policy News from ESA's Public Affairs Office
A Bi-Weekly Publication of the Ecological Society of America
June 30, 2006
In this Issue:
SUPREME COURT SPLITS ON WETLANDS PROTECTION
SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR GLOBAL WARMING CASE
HOUSE VOTES TO EXPAND OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION
INTERIOR SECRETARY EMPHASIZES CONSERVATION AT NATIONAL PARKS
HOUSE BOOSTS NSF FUNDING
SUPREME COURT SPLITS ON WETLANDS PROTECTION
A split Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers may have misinterpreted the
Clean Water Act when they prevented two Michigan landowners from
developing on wetlands.
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:38:34 -0400
From: "Mason, April E" < aemason@SMCM.EDU >
Subject: Water quality Research Technician needed
This is a repost, however we still need to fill the position.
Position: Research Technician Water Quality
Background:
Research is being conducted on stream water quality to evaluate the effectiveness of forestry best management practices. The research is being implemented in a small watershed located in Central Louisiana . We are looking for a motivated person who wishes to gain practical field and lab experience related to water quality.
Duties: Collect water samples and perform in-stream monitoring activities. Retrieve water samples from automatic samplers in remote locations after storm events. Assist with macroinvertebrate field sampling. Operate an ATV and work outdoors in all types of weather. Assist with laboratory work, such as sorting macroinvertebrate samples. Occasional overnight travel will be required.
Qualifications: We seek an enthusiastic and motivated person with a flexible schedule and capable of working independently and as part of a team. A strong interest and education experience in the natural resources or environmental science field is required. Must be comfortable driving an ATV (or willing to learn), working outdoors in all types of weather, and must be able to tolerate annoying insects.
This is a full time (40 hrs/week) position beginning immediately and lasting 6 months. There is some flexibility on start and end dates. Salary will range between $7 - 9 per hour depending on experience. Address questions regarding this announcement to April Mason by email (preferred) or phone.
To apply for this position email (preferred) or mail complete resume including references and a cover letter to:
April Mason
Louisiana State University
227 Renewable Natural Resources Building
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
amason5@lsu.edu
225-578-0783
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:00:50 -0500
From: "Guala, Gerald - Baton Rouge, LA" < gerald.guala@LA.USDA.GOV >
Subject: 2006 Annual Meeting and Symposium of the Taxonomic Databases Working Group
Greetings all,
For the first time in several years, the annual TDWG meeting will be in
the US. As the TDWG Executive Officer for North America , I strongly urge
anyone involved in (or even contemplating) biodiversity
Informatics activities to attend. This is where most of the world
experts on biodiversity informatics will be in October and
it is, without doubt, the best opportunity to become current with the
technologies and learn about projects underway across the globe. The
official announcement is below.
Cheers,
Stinger Guala
Gerald F. Guala, Ph.D.
USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center
P.O. Box 74490
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490 USA
Tel: 225.775.6280
Fax: 225.775.8883
http://npdc.usda.gov
http://plants.usda.gov
The 2006 Annual Meeting and Symposium of the Taxonomic Databases Working
Group will be held at the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis,
Missouri, USA, from 15 - 22 October 2006. The meeting web site can be
accessed here:
http://tdwg2006.tdwg.org/
The Theme of the Symposium is Building Biodiversity Data Applications>From Nomenclators to managing inconsistent taxonomies (including
Zoobank, IPNI, etc.)
Species Banks and the taxonomic work process (including EDIT)
Integrating & sharing biotic information
"Boxed" Solutions
Applications and Standards for Invasive Species
Applications and Standards for Conservation
Additional Themes for the Meeting will include (in no particular order):
The new TDWG Infrastructure
New and emerging standards
Integrating standards
Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs)
Imaging
Ontologies & semantics
Data representation languages (UML, BNF, RDF, XML)
Biodiversity Heritage Library
The Meeting will also include presentation of the work of TDWG
Subgroups/Interest Groups, with working sessions during the week. For
details of current TDWG Subgroups please visit the main TDWG web site.
Registration is open now. There is an active link on the Registration
Page to the RegOnline system which is handling registration for the
meeting and has further links to discount booking at the recommended
hotel and discount car rental. The deadline for hotel discount is 13
September 2006 . A late registration penalty fee will apply after 13
September 2006 .
Abstracts for presentations by delegates are invited. Please see the
Abstracts Page for details and Instructions for Authors. Abstracts MUST
be submitted in the required format and MUST be received by 20 August
2006 . Priority in the busy meeting schedule will be given to abstracts
received by 15 July 2006 . All abstracts will be peer reviewed.
Please accept our apologies for cross-posting if you receive this
message more than once.
On behalf of the TDWG Executive I would like to welcome you to TDWG 2006
and look forward to seeing you in St. Louis .
Regards,
Adrian Rissone
Executive Secretary
Taxonomic Databases Working Group
E-mail: A.Rissone@nhm.ac.uk (please put "TDWG 2006" in the subject line)
Gerald F. Guala, Ph.D.
USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center
P.O. Box 74490
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490 USA
Tel: 225.775.6280
Fax: 225.775.8883
http://npdc.usda.gov
http://plants.usda.gov
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:47:42 -0600
From: David Inouye < inouye@UMD.EDU >
Subject: Job: NY Natural Heritage Program: Ecologist position
I neglected to include this in a posting a few days ago for the
environmental review specialist.
POSITION TITLE: Ecologist
SUPERVISOR: Program Ecologist
LOCATION: Albany , NY
DATE POSTED: June 29, 2006
CLOSING DATE: September 15, 2006
New York Natural Heritage Program accepting applications for the
position of Ecologist.
New York boasts seven ecoregions and a diverse landscape that includes
Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes barrier dune systems, alpine communities,
thousands of acres of old-growth forests, meromictic lakes, calcareous
cliffs, and pitch pine-scrub oak barrens. Despite years of field
surveys throughout the state, many discoveries remain to be made.
The NY Natural Heritage Program is a partnership between the NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and The Nature
Conservancy. NY Natural Heritage staff are all employees of The Nature
Conservancy who are based in the NYS DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife, and
Marine Resources. The program currently has 23 employees comprised of
several ecologists, botanists, zoologists, information management and
GIS specialists, and administrative staff. Program funding has grown to
approximately $2.2M each year.
Our mission is to enable and enhance conservation of rare animals, rare
plants, and significant ecosystems. We accomplish this mission by
combining thorough field inventories, scientific analyses, expert
interpretation, and the most comprehensive database on New York 's
distinctive biodiversity to deliver the highest quality information for
natural resource planning, protection, and management.
NY Natural Heritage has a strong focus on the application of our data
to conservation, encourages innovation, supports travel to conferences,
and actively builds partnerships within New York and beyond its borders.
All staff have access to the most current technology, from hand-held
computers and field form databases to GIS and Biotics. In recognition
of its accomplishments, NY Natural Heritage was given the Outstanding
Program award by NatureServe in 2003.
Albany , NY is a small city easily accessed from surrounding rural
villages. Hiking and canoeing in the Adirondack and Catskill regions
are an easy drive from the office, while the cultural opportunities of
New York City are 2.5 hours away by train.
Attached to this e-mail is a job description for Ecologist with the New
York Natural Heritage Program. Send resume and cover letter via regular
mail to Greg Edinger, NY Natural Heritage Program Ecologist, 625
Broadway, 5TH Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4757, or via e-mail in MS Word
document format to<mailto: gjedinge@gw.dec.state.ny.us > gjedinge@gw.dec.state.ny.us before September 15,
2006.
JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE: Ecologist
TNC JOB TITLE: Field Scientist II
SUPERVISOR: Program Ecologist, New York Natural Heritage Program
LOCATION: NYS DEC, Albany, New York
PREPARED BY: Gregory J. Edinger & D.J. Evans
DATE PREPARED: June 30, 2006
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
The Ecologist participates as a team member on various projects
(particularly those involving field inventories) and serves as the
primary ecologist for one or more of these projects. He/She is
responsible for various project-related tasks, including project
planning, landscape analyses, field surveys for natural communities and
rare species, literature reviews, element occurrence record
transcription, and report preparation. He/She assists in the development
of the natural community and rare species components of the NY Natural
Heritage database. The Ecologist oversees one or more contractors and
serves as the project manager for one or more projects. He/She may
serve as a mentor for other staff on activities on which he/she has
particular expertise, but does not supervise other staff.
DUTIES:
1. Manage & Coordinate Projects: Serve as project manager for projects
by coordinating the work of NY Natural Heritage staff and contractors
working on the project and training contractors as needed. Review
contracts, administer project budgets, and act as a liaison to project
sponsors in coordination with the Program Ecologist and Director.
Present project overviews at conferences and meetings and write periodic
progress reports and final reports as needed.
2. Field Work: Conduct landscape analyses to assess ecological
integrity and identify potential inventory sites using remote sensing
data, other digital and hard-copy data layers, and information from the
scientific literature, government agencies, and knowledgeable
individuals. Conduct field surveys to document ecological communities
and rare plants in project areas using the methods and techniques
developed by the Natural Heritage Network and other experts.
3. Database Management: Transcribe, update, map, and quality control
significant natural community and rare plant element occurrence
records.
4. Classification: Assist the Program Ecologist in the development of
the state ecological community classification by transcribing and
updating of high-priority natural community element occurrence records,
maintaining natural community element files, and revising community
descriptions.
5. Innovation: Participate in the ongoing development of new tools,
methods, processes, and techniques that improve the collection, storage,
interpretation, dissemination, and application of NY Natural Heritage
information.
6. Communications: Communicate the role of the NY Natural Heritage
Program in the conservation of New York 's biodiversity, and explain
the utility of inventories and landscape analyses to partners and
potential clients. In collaboration with the Program Ecologist and
Director, communicate regularly with key project partners and others to
maintain strong partnerships and facilitate effective conservation.
7. Fund Raising: Assist in the identification and development of
funding proposals that will improve the NY Natural Heritage Program's
effectiveness at enabling and enhancing conservation.
8. Information Requests: Respond to requests for ecological
information from the NY Natural Heritage database and provide
interpretation, as needed.
9. Mentor : Serve as a mentor for other staff on activities on which
he/she has particular expertise, through in-house training sessions and
collaboration on project activities.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Advanced degree in biological sciences with course work and field
experience indicating knowledge of community ecology and rare plants of
New York State , or comparable work in another state, or research
experience. Field inventory skills desired -- both ecological field
methods and plant species identification.
2. Demonstrated experience with aerial photograph interpretation and
community mapping. Project management and administrative experience,
database management, word processing, and computer mapping skills
desirable.
3. Ability to work effectively with others under pressure and tight
deadlines in a busy office environment. Capable of working
independently to complete projects.
4. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to write
technical reports utilizing available resources.
5. Willingness to travel throughout New York State and endure the
rigors of field work for long days and extended periods.
6. Comfort articulating and advocating for the NY Natural Heritage
Program's biodiversity conservation mission.
Greg Edinger
Program Ecologist
Gregory J. Edinger, Program Ecologist
New York Natural Heritage Program
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 5th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-4757
phone: 518-402-8947
fax: 518-402-8925
E-mail: <mailto: gjedinge@gw.dec.state.ny.us > gjedinge@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Internet: < http://www.nynhp.org > http://www.nynhp.org
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:12:29 -0600
From: David Inouye < inouye@UMD.EDU >
Subject: Deadline approaching for Best MAMAS contest
BEST MAMAS CONTEST
Deadline rapidly approaching!
ESA's Public Affairs Committee announces a contest for the best MAMAS
(Maxims, Analogies, Metaphors, Anecdotes, Similes) to communicate
ecological knowledge
1st Prize: Full refund of Memphis Annual Meeting registration
2nd Prize: One year ESA membership & online subscription to journals
3rd Prize: ESA t-shirt & travel mug
Best Student Prize: One year ESA membership, includes Frontiers journal
Background:
Explaining the complexity of ecological systems to policy makers and the
public is challenging for ecologists. The Ecological Society of
America 's Public Affairs Committee is hosting an evening session that
will address the use of analogies, metaphors, anecdotes, etc. to explain
complex ecological principals. The session will include seasoned
ecologists with a flair for using MAMAS and will center on the best
submissions received via this competition.
To participate:
Entries should be no more than one page in length and should feature
your favorite Maxim, Analogy, Metaphor, Anecdote, or Simile as it
relates to the science of ecology. Please indicate the source (whether
it is your own or if it is accredited to someone else) and the context
in which it has been effectively used (e.g. during a radio interview;
before a Rotary Club, in a lecture hall). Submissions should include
full name and all contact information. ESA student members are
especially encouraged to participate in this competition.
Members of the Public Affairs Committee will presort all entries and the
top 10-30 finalists will be highlighted during the Annual Meeting
Evening Session, "Ecological Analogies, Metaphors, & Anecdotes" on
Tuesday, August 8, 8 - 10 PM. Prize winners will also be announced.
The Goal:
We hope to create an on-line database, searchable by topic, which will
be available to all ESA members for use in outreach activities. All
sources of the best MAMAS will be acknowledged.
Definitions:
Maxims - a pithy statement of general wisdom, e.g. "where there's smoke,
there's fire"
Analogies - comparing similarities between things otherwise unlike, e.g."hot is to cold as fire is to ice"
Metaphors -implied comparison, e.g. "All the world's a stage"
Anecdotes - Personal experience/story
Simile - an explicit comparison, e.g. "Her tears flowed like wine"
Submit your entry by Friday, July 7, 2006 to MAMAS@esa.org You will be
contacted by late July if your submission is a finalist to be presented
at the Evening Session during the Annual Meeting.
------------------------------
Topics of the day:
1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 07:51:50 -0400
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?S=E9bastien?= < sebgogo@HOTMAIL.COM >
Subject: post hoc and ART
Hello,
I've got experiments following a two-way ANOVA design. I'm testing the
interaction with a non parametric method: Aligned Rank Transformation
(ART). To know where are the differences, I would like to do a post hoc
test. Does anybody know how to do a post hoc test after an ANOVA on aligned
ranked data?
Thank you.
Sébastien.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2006 15:44:42 -0400
From: Barbara Reynolds < reynolds.barbara@GMAIL.COM >
Subject: tropical field stations
Dear Colleagues,
I expect to be teaching an undergraduate course in Tropical Ecology in a
year or two. I would like to take the class to one or two stations in the Neotropics where they could get some hands-on knowledge of tropical wet/dry
forests, maybe also coral reefs. We are a low-budget operation at my
school, so inexpensive accomodations, inexpensive travel, etc are important.
I would appreciate hearing from instructors who would have recommendations
for me.
Thanks so much,
Barbara (aka Kitti) Reynolds
--
Dr. Barbara C. Reynolds
Department of Environmental Studies
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 232-5048 phone
(828) 251-6041 fax
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 13:12:40 +0200
From: Salit Kark < salit@CC.HUJI.AC.IL >
Subject: Post-doc position available: Invasive Birds in Europe
Post-doc position available: Invasive Birds in Europe
A post-doctoral position is available from September 2006 for a study
on invasive birds in Europe . The post-doctoral fellow will be part of
the uropean Commission Sixth Framework multi-country consortium
DAISIE (Delivering Alien Species Inventories for Europe ). The fellow
will work together with Dr. Salit Kark and the Biodiversity Research
Group
(< http://biodiversity-group.huji.ac.il/ > http://biodiversity-group.huji.ac.il/ ),
and will be based at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. The
post-doctoral fellow will also take part in workshops of the
consortium members in Europe at least twice a year.
The study includes mapping and analysis of spatial and temporal
patterns and processes of invasion using a database of invasive birds
in Europe recently created as part of this study, and will take part
in more detailed research on the worst avian invaders. More details
in: < http://www.europe-aliens.org/ > http://www.europe-aliens.org/ .
The successful candidate will also have an opportunity to engage in
other ongoing studies and in fieldwork studying native and alien
birds in Israel . This includes a study on biodiversity changes along
altitudinal gradients in Mount Hermon and a study on the
establishment process and impacts of cavity-nesting alien birds
(e.g., the common myna, rose-ringed parakeet and several others).
Requirements: Strong ecological and statistical background,
experience with avian ecology (preference will be given to those
experienced with invasion biology and spatial ecology), experience
with GIS, experience in analyzing large databases.
The position is available for 17 months (September 2006 to January
2008). For more details and to apply, please send an e-mail with a
cover letter, your CV plus your list of publications, and names and
contact info (address and e-mail) of three references to:
Dr. Salit Kark
The Biodiversity Research Group
Dept. of Ecology, Systematics and Evolution,
The Institute of Life Sciences,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
Jerusalem 91904, Israel
Phone: 972-2-6585714 Fax: 972-2-6584741
E-mail: salit@cc.huji.ac.il
Web page: http://biodiversity-group.huji.ac.il/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 14:49:38 -0500
From: Wendee Holtcamp < bohemian@WENDEEHOLTCAMP.COM >
Subject: Australia and Tasmania
I will be spending 3 weeks in Australia Aug 2-Aug 20. I want to try to
meet up with some wildlife biologists studying various things to come
back with some article ideas to write about. I'll visit Tasmania but
only for 2 days (Aug 10-12) and the rest will be spent in or around
Brisbane and Airlie each.
Specifically I want to see if anyone on Ecolog might be willing to meet
with me and show me some "stories" that need broader coverage - some
I've heard of include
(1) the cassowary problems in north Queensland rainforest - being fed and hit by cars
(2) the Tasmanian devil disfiguring disease
(3) some beach jetties being use that have holes in them and pump the sand back to the beach? I don't know the details but given the interest in Katrina and coastal erosion caused by our dams and jetties altering the natural deposition of sand/sediment which then reduces the amount of wetlands that form... I think it would be interesting to see the innovative systems being used in Australia that I've heard about
(4) anything with native Australian wildlife - whether empirical
research or conservation issues or rehabilitation/reintroduction.
Thanks!
Wendee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology=20
Freelance Writer-Photographer
http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com=20
Online Writing Class ~starting July 22, Sep 9
BLOG http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
-- Chinese proverb
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 11:59:34 -0400
From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?John_Riggs?= < jriggs@CARROLL.EDU >
Subject: bird mortality/fecundity with food
I'm looking for some quantitative data relating passerine mortality and
fecundity to varying degress of food consumption. If anyone can help me with
this with either a published or an unpublished data set it would come in handy.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 20:20:45 -0400
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Katy_Kavanagh?= < katyk@UIDAHO.EDU >
Subject: Forest Ecosystem Modeling Postition in Idaho
Great Position in a great Department.
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Biometrics and Quantitative Modeling of Forest Ecosystems
Department of Forest Resources
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho
Please see information about the Forest Resources program following the
contact information below.
RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:
The Department of Forest Resources, College of Natural Resources ,
University of Idaho , invites applications for an academic-year, tenure-
track faculty position as Assistant Professor. The position is
approximately 40% teaching, 40% research, 5% Advising, 5% On-campus
Service, and 10% Outreach/Service/Technology Transfer.
Research responsibilities: develop an externally funded research program
that advances biometric knowledge as applied to forest resources and uses
quantitative modeling tools to understand complex terrestrial ecosystems.
This program should include collaborative work with other scientists from
a wide range of natural resource disciplines.
Teaching responsibilities: design and deliver two undergraduate
courses/year focused on forest resource measurements and inventory plus
one to two graduate courses/year.
Service and outreach responsibilities: interactions with audiences and
stakeholders outside the university and outside academia are encouraged.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Completed Ph.D. with emphasis on biometrics and quantitative modeling of
ecosystems with at least one degree in forestry or a related discipline,
experience applying biometrics and modeling skills to forest ecosystems,
ability to compete for external funding, demonstrated research publication
in refereed journals, and evidence of interest in and ability to teach
undergraduate forest and rangeland measurements.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Demonstrated interest and ability in teaching, interest and experience in
modeling biological systems, skill in verbal and written communication,
interest in and/or skill in forest mensuration, experience and training in
spatial analysis of forest or rangeland resources.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Apply online at http://www.hr.uidaho.edu . Send hard copy of the following
to address below: letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of
teaching philosophy, description of research focus, academic transcripts,
contact information for three references, and copies of one or two of your
refereed publications with a brief explanation of your role in preparing
these publications if they are coauthored.
Review of applications will begin September 8, 2006 and will continue
until a successful candidate has been identified with a prospective
starting date of January 2007.
Contact: Chair, Biometrics Search Committee, Department of Forest
Resources, College of Natural Resources , P.O. Box 441133 , Moscow , ID 83844-
1133 . pmorgan@uidaho.edu - 208-885-7507 or joellen@uidaho.edu - 208-885-
7311
Forest Resources Program
The University of Idaho is a publicly supported comprehensive land-grant
institution with principal responsibility in Idaho for performing research
and granting the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Over 13,000 students from
all states and more than 80 countries choose programs from a vast array of
disciplines.
Moscow is the gateway to a natural wonderland. It is a thriving community
of 20,000 friendly people located in the northern part of Idaho about 90
miles southeast of Spokane , Washington . The surrounding Palouse hills and
the mountains and lakes of northern Idaho provide a scenic background for
university facilities. Skiing, boating, and other outdoor recreation
resources are available within easy driving distance. They include the
Sawtooth and Hells Canyon national recreation areas, Frank Church River of
No Return Wilderness, and scenic rivers such as the Snake, Clearwater ,
Salmon, and Selway.
The Department of Forest Resources ( http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/forres/ ) is
one of five departments in the College of Natural Resources
( http://www.cnrhome.uidaho.edu ). Our vision is to be widely recognized as
leaders in education and research to advance understanding and management
of forest ecosystems. We produce outstanding graduates equipped to be
successful forest managers and scientists. Our graduates are distinguished
by their interlocking and multidisciplinary set of analytical skills and
tools. They acquire the habit of questioning assumptions as information is
gathered, summarized, and interpreted via critical thinking exercises in
various courses and based on data sets passed from course to course.
Students become familiar with local species and site variability, spatial
analysis, and data processing tools such as models and electronic
spreadsheets.
The B.S. in Forest Resources is a professional forestry program
accredited by the Society of American Foresters. In addition to their
interdisciplinary education, students can emphasize ecology, forest
ecosystem processes, forest social sciences, fire ecology and management,
remote sensing and geographic information systems, watershed management,
silviculture, forest genetics, and other specialties. All of our programs
include hands-on training, field experience and personal attention from a
faculty devoted to education.
Our research mission is to conduct and disseminate high quality, objective
and relevant research on forest ecosystems, the people who value them, and
the institutions affecting them. Our distinctive research transcends
descriptive analysis to develop an understanding of underlying mechanisms
and links that understanding to decision-making processes, and how
institutions change in response to changes in ecosystem conditions and
socioeconomic values. We present results in high impact refereed journals
and peer-reviewed literature.
Our outreach and service mission helps society understand what we have
learned. We disseminate our research results in publications, other
media, including websites, professional presentations, coursework,
workshops and continuing education activities. We help forest managers to
link decision-making to an understanding of underlying forest mechanisms
and the people; expose the general public to the rapid change in forest
science; and provide knowledge related to key issues, such as fire,
invasive species, water and sustainability.
To enrich education through diversity, the University of Idaho is an
Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 18:12:58 -0700
From: "Dr. John Pipoly" < ligeroco@YAHOO.COM >
Subject: Re: tropical field stations
Dear Dr. Reynolds,
I would very much like to recommend that you consider the facilities at the ESNACIFOR.. Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Forestales of Honduras , and its experiment station, Lancetilla (near Tela). The security is wonderful, the students will see tropical pine-oak and Liquidambar forests, lowland moist forests, mangroves, wetlands and a host of other formations with comfortable field lodging, very inexpensive meals and a very competent and interested staff.
The school has a great international reputation. The Lancetilla Botanical Garden and Experiment Station has a nature reserve surrounding it, and the largest collection of timber species from the Tropics worldwide all at maturity, along with many types of tropical fruit the students will not otherwise commonly see, especially from Southeast Asia and the Americas .
Ing. Ciro Navarro is the point of contact. The hotels of Tela were built by the United Fruit company and are very reasonable and give them a flavor of the past. It will be a rewarding experience to approach the garden... with a roadway lined by a unique yellow flowered form of Couroupita guianensis, oil palms and a host of other things.. and the coffee ! Need I say more ?
I hope these comments are useful.
John J. Pipoly III, Ph. D.
Barbara Reynolds < reynolds.barbara@GMAIL.COM > wrote:
Dear Colleagues,
I expect to be teaching an undergraduate course in Tropical Ecology in a
year or two. I would like to take the class to one or two stations in the
Neotropics where they could get some hands-on knowledge of tropical wet/dry
forests, maybe also coral reefs. We are a low-budget operation at my
school, so inexpensive accomodations, inexpensive travel, etc are important.
I would appreciate hearing from instructors who would have recommendations
for me.
Thanks so much,
Barbara (aka Kitti) Reynolds
--
Dr. Barbara C. Reynolds
Department of Environmental Studies
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Asheville , NC 28804
(828) 232-5048 phone
(828) 251-6041 fax
---------------------------------
Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.
------------------------------
End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 1 Jul 2006 to 2 Jul 2006 (#2006-173)
*************************************************************
Topics of the day:
1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 09:14:46 +0200
From: "Dekker, Jasja" < Jasja.dekker@WUR.NL >
Subject: Re: Lutra 48(2): Table Of Contents
PLEASE NOTE: all papers published in this issue of Lutra are downloadable from www.vzz.nl\lutra\lutra.htm free of charge.
LUTRA 48 ( 2 )
Editorial / Redactioneel
* From wild cats to wildcats < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_65-66Editorial.pdf >
Contributed Papers / Artikelen
* The wildcat (Felis silvestris) finally recorded in the Netherlands < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_67-90Kanters-etal.pdf >
- Kees J. Canters, Johan B.M. Thissen, Annemarie (M.A.J.) van Diepenbeek, Hugh A.H. Jansman & Kor Goutbeek
* The effects of landscape attributes on the use of small wildlife underpasses by weasel (Mustela nivalis) and stoat (Mustela erminea) < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_91-108VanVuurde-VanderGrift.pdf >
- Maarten R. van Vuurde & Edgar A. van der Grift
* In memoriam dr. Anne van Wijngaarden (1925-2004) < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_109-129Broekhuizen-VanLaar.pdf >
- Sim Broekhuizen & Vincent van Laar
Comments
* Reintroduction of the otter (Lutra lutra) in the Netherlands: did it really meet international guidelines? < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_131-134VanLiere-VanLiere.pdf >
- Bram E. van Liere & Lowie E. van Liere
* Reintroduction of the otter in the Netherlands: implementation of international guidelines in the pre-release phase < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_135-137VantHof-VanLangevelde.pdf >
- Pieter van ¡Çt Hof & Frank van Langevelde
Book reviews / Boekbesprekingen
* Seed dispersal by large herbivores: Implications for the restoration of plant biodiversity. < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_139-140ReviewSeedDispersal.pdf >
- Eric Cosyns
* Ungulate seed dispersal. Aspects of endozoochory in a semi- natural landscape. < http://www.vzz.nl/lutra/Lutra48_2_141-142ReviewSeedDispersal2.pdf >
- Maarten Mouissie
More information on membership rates, TOC-alerts, instructions for authors and the abovementioned articles, can be found on the VZZ website: www.vzz.nl ¢ª Tijdschriften & Publicaties ¢ª Lutra ¢ª Lutra info UK .
About Lutra
Lutra is a scientific journal published by the Society for the Study and Conservation of Mammals (VZZ) based in Arnhem , The Netherlands. The society is dedicated to the study and protection of native mammals in Western Europe . Lutra publishes peer reviewed scientific papers on mammals across all disciplines, but tends to focus on ecology, biogeography, behaviour and morphology. Although exceptions are made in some cases, Lutra generally publishes articles on mammal species native to Europe , including marine mammals. Lutra publishes full articles as well as short notes which may include novel research methods or remarkable observations of mammals. In addition Lutra publishes book reviews. Lutra publishes in British English as well as Dutch. Lutra publishes two issues per year and is indexed in Biological Abstracts, Zoological Records and Artik.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 14:03:03 +0000
From: Bronwyn Mitchell < dir.educate@WETLAND.ORG >
Subject: Wetland Law and Policy Course
Spaces Still Available. Register Today. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled, but what does their decision mean for wetlands? Environmental Concern is offering a comprehensive course designed to provide you with an up-to-date understanding of both the legal and policy aspects of wetland regulation. Topics will include jurisdictional issues, the permitting process, the role of various agencies, wetland mitigation, and regulatory takings. Dates: July 10 †11, 2006 Location: St. Michaels, MD Cost: $380 Register Online: www.wetland.org Phone: (410) 745-9620 Instructor: Roy Gardner, Steston Law School - Dean Gardner's areas of teaching and research include environmental and international law. An executive editor of the Boston College Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif, he graduated magna cum laude from Boston College Law School . He then clerked for Chief Judge Francis J. Boyle of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. From 1989 to 1993, he !
served in the Army General Counsel's office as the Department of the Army's principal wetland attorney, advising the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) on legal and policy issues related to the Corps of Engineers' administration of the Clean Water Act section 404 program. From 1993 until he joined the Stetson faculty in 1994, Dean Gardner worked for the Department of Defense, where he participated in negotiating international agreements with Russia , Ukraine , Kazakstan, and Belarus to facilitate the dismantlement of the former Soviet Union 's nuclear weapons. In 1999-2001, Dean Gardner was appointed to the National Research Council's Committee on Mitigating Wetland Losses. He is currently the Chairman of the United States National Ramsar Committee and a Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's Committee on Water Quality and Wetlands. Environmental Concern Inc. is dedicated to promoting the understanding and stewardship of wetlands through education and outreach! , native species horticulture and restoration and creation initiatives
Bronwyn Mitchell
Education Director
Environmental Concern Inc.
www.wetland.org
ph. (410) 745-9620
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 10:20:02 -0400
From: Kendra James < kj230875@MUHLENBERG.EDU >
Subject: Herbivory Measurement
Ecological study of herbivory often requires estimation of leaf area
removal. Methods of measuring leaf area removal vary from using visual
estimation, to utilizing more exact digital quantification. Computer
software/hardware for digital leaf area measurement , although accurate,
can be time consuming, expensive, and cannot always be brought to the
field. On the other hand, visual estimation is a very quick and easy
method to use in the field. Upon searching articles that dealt with
leaf herbivory, more than 1/3 used a form of visual estimation, often
categorizing leaves by their percent herbivory into anywhere from 3-8
categories.
Although visual estimation is a commonly used method, the
accuracy of this method is not known. Our aim is to determine the
accuracy of visual estimation in comparison to digital quantification
through the use of a web based survey. This survey is composed of 100
leaves with varying percentages of herbivory. Below the picture of the
leaf are a series of buttons listing each category of herbivory (1%<,
1-25%, 26-50%...). The surveyor then chooses the corresponding category
to which he or she believes best describes the leaf area loss. We would
greatly appreciate your anonymous participation in this survey which
should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
This is part of a larger research project that also includes the
development of leaf area measurement software for PDAs. This software
program will be accurate and easy to use in the field. If you would
like more information about this software or if you are interested in
testing a free copy once it is finished, please leave your e-mail on the
survey information page. Thank you for taking the time to read about my research and
participate in the survey. Your completion of this survey will help with
the development of better methods for herbivory measurement in the
field.
The survey can be taken at:
http://mathcs.muhlenberg.edu/leaf
Thanks again,
Kendra James
Muhlenberg College
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 10:26:54 -0400
From: =?windows-1252?Q?Anson_Hines?= < hinesa@SI.EDU >
Subject: Terrestrial Animal Ecologist
Terrestrial Animal Population/Community Ecologist
ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 06JW-6144
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is seeking a broadly-
trained animal ecologist whose research could bring new technical
expertise (e.g., molecular genetics, stable isotopes, remote sensing) to
SERC's current diverse research program. The applicant's research should
focus on animals in terrestrial habitats, including uplands and/or
wetlands. However, the taxonomic group is open, and the research may also
consider plant-animal interactions.
Successful candidates will be expected to develop a research program that
is primarily grant-funded, and we are particularly interested in
candidates with a demonstrated interest and ability to conduct
collaborative team-based research. The research program would include
work in the Chesapeake Bay region and exploit SERC's long-term study site
in the Rhode River watershed of Maryland , as well as opportunities for
other comparative study sites. That program will complement and integrate
with existing interdisciplinary research strengths at SERC, such as
invasive species, diseases, food web dynamics, landscape ecology, and
human impacts in the coastal zone.
This is a full-time, permanent Federal Civil Service position and is
offered at the GS-12 or GS-13 level (Salary range: $65,048-$100,554;
depending on qualifications). The Smithsonian Institution is a equal
opportunity employer, and women and underrepresented minorities are
encouraged to apply. Applications will be received until July 31
A more detailed description of the position and SERC's programs can be
obtained at http://www.serc.si.edu . For further information can also be
obtained by calling (202) 275-1102 (voice) or (202) 275-1110 (TTY).
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 08:10:44 -0700
From: "Herman, Steven" < HermanS@EVERGREEN.EDU >
Subject: Re: tropical field stations
Kitti: You and others might want to look at The Herman Institute of
Biological Studies, near the mouth of the Tarcoles River on Costa Rica 's
Pacific Coast . Only a few minutes away from the huge Carara National
Park, it is an area where wild Scarlet Macaws can be heard and/or seen
several times a day. Crocodiles abound in the river, and the village of
Playa Azul is relaxed and welcoming. The bird list is huge, of course,
and the flora in the park is unspoiled. Insects are spectacular.
Accomodations are spare and inexpensive. For about what it would cost
you to go birding at La Selva, you can bird, eat, and bunk at THIBS.
Check it out: www.hermaninstitute.org
Steve Herman
P.S. As a sort of disclaimer, I passively apologize for posting what may
appear to be some kind of self-promotion. Not so. The facility was
founded -and named- by one of my ex-students, and has been run by him
and other "Hermanites" (as they call themselves) along with Costa Ricans
for years. I have visited the site, though, and am proud and humbled to
have my name associated with it. It's just a great place to sample the
Neotropics.
________________________________
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of
Barbara Reynolds
Sent: Sat 7/1/2006 12:44 PM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: tropical field stations
Dear Colleagues,
I expect to be teaching an undergraduate course in Tropical Ecology in a
year or two. I would like to take the class to one or two stations in
the
Neotropics where they could get some hands-on knowledge of tropical
wet/dry
forests, maybe also coral reefs. We are a low-budget operation at my
school, so inexpensive accomodations, inexpensive travel, etc are
important.
I would appreciate hearing from instructors who would have
recommendations
for me.
Thanks so much,
Barbara (aka Kitti) Reynolds
--
Dr. Barbara C. Reynolds
Department of Environmental Studies
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 232-5048 phone
(828) 251-6041 fax
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 10:25:43 -0500
From: Wendee Holtcamp < bohemian@WENDEEHOLTCAMP.COM >
Subject: Write about Conservation & Ecology for magazines
I have some spaces left in my 6-week July 22 online writing course, and I
just opened up a new session Sep 9! The online class is aimed both at
professional and aspiring writers - many of the past students have been
scientists who want to write more for the general public or improve their
writing. The course goes through the gamut, from writing skills per se to
coming up with ideas, writing queries, and analyzing a magazine for
publication. You get any printed practical resources, including editor Q&As
from magazines such as National Wildlife, National Geographic, NG Adventure,
Sierra, Global Traveler and more. I have info at my website www.wendeeholtcamp.com/nature.htm or email me at bohemian@wendeeholtcamp.com or call 281-798-8417. I've been at this for over 10 years, and having a
scientific background never took a journalism course in my life but learned
on my own and now I'm sharing that info with others! The course cost is $200
and I also will offer the print Resources only at $95 (no class interaction
just the e-book).
Wendee Holtcamp
www.wendeeholtcamp.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wendee Holtcamp, M.S. Wildlife Ecology
Freelance Writer-Photographer
http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com
Online Writing Class ~starting July 22, Sep 9
BLOG http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
-- Chinese proverb
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 14:53:34 -0400
From: Changwoo Ahn < cahn@GMU.EDU >
Subject: Research Assistant (MS or Ph.D) position available in Fall 2006 Wetland Ecosystem Ecology
Graduate Student Opportunity (MS and/or Ph.D) in Wetland Ecosystem
Ecology, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason
University
Project details:
A Graduate Research Assistantship (MS or Ph.D) is available in the
Department of Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason
University beginning Fall 2006. Research centers on ecosystem
development and functions in created wetlands, in particular, the
relationship between icrotopography and hydrology, soil nutrients
and plant species richness/diversity. The work involves in the field
operation of survey equipment (i.e., total station) to measure
microtopography, vegetation survey, and field sampling of soil and
vegetation. It also involves the lab analysis of soil (i.e.,
colorimetric analyses of extractable inorganic nitrogen and
phosphorus, total carbon and nitrogen, and elemental analysis
including iron). The position is part of an USGS-NIWR National
Competitive Grants funded study with the Ahn Wetland Ecosystem
Laboratory at George Mason University in collaboration with Dr.Greg
Noe at USGS, National Research Program, Reston , Virginia .
Qualifications:
Candidates must have a B.S or M.S (for Ph.D student) in Wetland
Ecology, Ecology, Biology, Geology, Natural Resources and/or
Environmental Science. Successful candidate should be highly
motivated with strong academic and experiential credentials. Prior
field and lab experiences in vegetation and soil nutrient analysis
are preferable and willingness to learn the operation of total
station required. The ability to work independently as well as
collaboratively is essential to successful completion of the project.
Good writing skills are preferred. Minimal academic requirements for
undergraduates are undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and above and GRE score
of 1100 (Verbal + Quantitative) or higher. Candidate review will
begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Salary:
Research Assistantship (about $14,000 per year + tuition waiver of up
to 9 credit hrs per semester). This appointment (2-years) may begin
September 2006.
Programs: Candidates should apply to the Department of Environmental
Science and Policy for MS or Ph.D. We can expedite the admission
process for a successful candidate
(< http://mason.gmu.edu/~espp > http://mason.gmu.edu/~espp ; contact:
Annaliesa Lundblad < alundbla@gmu.edu >).
CLOSING DATE: Review of applications will begin immediately and the
position will remain open until August 12, 2006
STARTING DATE: No later than start of Fall term 2006. We prefer a
candidate that could start as early as August 14, at least two weeks
before the semester starts.
Contact information: Send cover letter detailing your interest in
this project and relevant experience/education, resume, contact
information for three references, and copies of undergraduate and/or
graduate transcripts and GRE scores to Dr. Changwoo Ahn as follows.
Dr. Changwoo Ahn
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
George Mason University
Fairfax , VA 22030
Ph. (703) 993-3978
Fax. (703)993-1066
cahn@gmu.edu
Dr.Changwoo Ahn
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
4400 University Dr., MS5F2
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444 (Tel) 703-993-3978
George Mason University (Fax) 703-993-1066
http://mason.gmu.edu/~espp/people/facultybios/ahn.html
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 12:24:00 -0700
From: DNRRecruiting DNRRecruiting < DNRRecruiting@WADNR.GOV >
Subject: Job Opportunities
The following are new opportunities that opened this week. For details on these and other ongoing recruitment activities please visit the Employment page on DNR's Internet site: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/jobs/
Derelict Vessel Removal Program Manager
Recruitment #2006-06-6693
Olympia, Wa
Closes: July 19
- CHANGES -
Environmental Analyst
Recruitment #2006-06-6754
Olympia WA
Closes: Open Until Filled - 1st screening July 12
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Interested in receiving weekly job announcements from the DNR?
Consider subscribing to our mailing list...
To Join the Mailing List:
1) Send an e-mail to: WAStateNaturalResourceJobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
2) You will receive a confirmation e-mail that will prompt you to either respond with a confirmation email OR join Yahoo groups and set up a Yahoo account.
Please respond with a confirmation e-mail.
3) You will then receive a confirmation that you have been added to the listserv.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 18:00:23 -0400
From: Jonathan Adams < jonadams@ANDROMEDA.RUTGERS.EDU >
Subject: Re: Herbivory Measurement
Kendra,
My experience is that 'naive' estimators of % herbivory loss do a lot
worse than 'experienced' users..and that the only way to improve a person's
estimates is to use sample leaf area cards that show certain percentages
blacked out as a reference point.
Actually I find people who have used Sigmascan to estimate leaf area
loss from scanned leaves tend to do the best..it seems to act as a good
training tool. After a certain level of experence they seem to become almost
as accurate as Sigmascan, when we compare the estimates side by side (though
we have not plotted the results).
Generally I find people need to be trained separately for each leaf
type. If they have learned on beech, they will not necessarily be much good
at estimating herbivory damage on white oak, until they have been show
reference cards to train them.
Jonathan
For this reason
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kendra James" < kj230875@MUHLENBERG.EDU >
To: < ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU >
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 10:20 AM
Subject: Herbivory Measurement
Ecological study of herbivory often requires estimation of leaf area removal. Methods of measuring leaf area removal vary from using visual
estimation, o utilizing more exact digital quantification. Computer software/hardware for digital leaf area measurement , although accurate, can be time consuming, expensive, and cannot always be brought to the field. On the other hand, visual estimation is a very quick and easy method to use in the field. Upon searching articles that dealt with leaf herbivory, more than 1/3 used a form of visual estimation, often categorizing leaves by their percent herbivory into anywhere from 3-8 categories. Although visual estimation is a commonly used method, the accuracy of this method is not known. Our aim is to determine the accuracy of visual estimation in comparison to digital quantification through the use of a web based survey. This survey is composed of 100 leaves with varying percentages of herbivory. Below the picture of the leaf are a series of buttons listing each category of herbivory (1%<, 1-25%, 26-50%...). The surveyor then chooses the corresponding category to which he or she believes best describes the leaf area loss. We would greatly appreciate your anonymous participation in this survey which should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. This is part of a larger research project that also includes the development of leaf area measurement software for PDAs. This software program will be accurate and easy to use in the field. If you would like more information about this software or if you are interested in testing a free copy once it is finished, please leave your e-mail on the survey information page. Thank you for taking the time to read about my research and participate in the survey. Your completion of this survey will help with the development of better methods for herbivory measurement in the field. The survey can be taken at: http://mathcs.muhlenberg.edu/leaf
Thanks again,
Kendra James
Muhlenberg College
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 15:07:33 -0700
From: "Dr. John Pipoly" < ligeroco@YAHOO.COM >
Subject: Re: tropical field stations
Another great place is the Biological Station at Ometepe, Nicaragua, which has a sister station at La Suerte on the Atlantic Slope of Costa Rica. The Lago de Nicaragua has freshwater sharks, there are lots of primates, birds, etc.
john
"Herman, Steven" < HermanS@EVERGREEN.EDU > wrote:
Kitti: You and others might want to look at The Herman Institute of
Biological Studies, near the mouth of the Tarcoles River on Costa Rica 's
Pacific Coast . Only a few minutes away from the huge Carara National
Park, it is an area where wild Scarlet Macaws can be heard and/or seen
several times a day. Crocodiles abound in the river, and the village of
Playa Azul is relaxed and welcoming. The bird list is huge, of course,
and the flora in the park is unspoiled. Insects are spectacular.
Accomodations are spare and inexpensive. For about what it would cost
you to go birding at La Selva, you can bird, eat, and bunk at THIBS.
Check it out: www.hermaninstitute.org
Steve Herman
P.S. As a sort of disclaimer, I passively apologize for posting what may
appear to be some kind of self-promotion. Not so. The facility was
founded -and named- by one of my ex-students, and has been run by him
and other "Hermanites" (as they call themselves) along with Costa Ricans
for years. I have visited the site, though, and am proud and humbled to
have my name associated with it. It's just a great place to sample the
Neotropics.
________________________________
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of =
Barbara Reynolds
Sent: Sat 7/1/2006 12:44 PM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: tropical field stations
Dear Colleagues,
I expect to be teaching an undergraduate course in Tropical Ecology in a
year or two. I would like to take the class to one or two stations in
the
Neotropics where they could get some hands-on knowledge of tropical
wet/dry
forests, maybe also coral reefs. We are a low-budget operation at my
school, so inexpensive accomodations, inexpensive travel, etc are
important.
I would appreciate hearing from instructors who would have
recommendations
for me.
Thanks so much,
Barbara (aka Kitti) Reynolds
--
Dr. Barbara C. Reynolds
Department of Environmental Studies
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Asheville , NC 28804
(828) 232-5048 phone
(828) 251-6041 fax
---------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 18:48:15 -0400
From: "Megonigal, Patrick" < megonigalp@SI.EDU >
Subject: Forest Soils/Global Change Postdoctoral Position
Forest Soils/Global Change Postdoctoral Position
A position is available for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to
contribute to an NSF-sponsored study of carbon and nitrogen cycling in a
long-term elevated carbon dioxide experiment. The Associate will lead
studies on soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization, leaching and plant
nitrogen uptake in a scrub oak forest. Expertise in some combination of
soil science, nutrient element cycling, pedogenesis, soil ecology or
biogeochemistry is desired. Familiarity with the use of stable isotopes
to study soil element cycles will be helpful. The Associate will join a
team studying the mechanisms of progressive nitrogen limitation on
carbon sequestration in soils. Although the study is located on the
property of the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the Associate will be
resident at The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. The center is
a 1200 ha complex of forest, farmland, and wetland ( www.serc.si.edu )
located a convenient distance from Washington , DC and Annapolis , MD. The
appointment is initially for 1 year and may be renewed for one
additional year. To apply, email a letter of interest and CV to the
address below by August 15th, 2006 . Applications that arrive after this
date will be considered until the position is filled. Send applications
to:
Dr. Pat Megonigal
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Email: megonigalp@si.edu
Voice: 301-812-0799
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 200606:41 :05-0700 (PDT)
From: Dr. Saeid Eslamian <eslamian@princeton.edu>
Subject: Special issue of "International Journal of Ecological Economics and Statistics" (IJEES) will be on Stream Ecology and Low Flow". Original research papers or reviews are invited in the following and related areas:
-River Economic -River Quality Modeling -Pollution Minimization -Ecological Education -Sustainable Development Modeling -Case Studies -Arid Zone River Ecology -Human & Stream Ecology -Ecological Management Modeling -Stream Physical, Chemical & Biological Treatment Processes -River Statistics and Classification -Water Reuse -Ecological Problems and Health Risk Assessment -Hydrological Analysis of Low Flows |
Important Dates:
| Deadline for paper submission | 30 September 2006 |
| Paper review | 30 November 2006 |
| Final papers submission | 15 January 2007 |
| Final papers submission | 15 January 2007 |
For more information: http://ceser.res.in/ijees/cont!self.html
Regards
Saeid Eslamian
Guest Editor-in-Chief of IJEES
Visiting Professor
Princeton University
New Jersey, USA
eslamian@princeton.edu , prof.eslamian@gmail.com
According to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, unless Africa adopts new measures to protect the environment, its forests will continue to deteriorate rapidly, resulting in a depletion of both timber and nontimber forest products. In addition, the report offers a framework to help combat illegal logging and implement a sustainable harvest of wood for products and energy.
For more information about the report, visit FAO's website at www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2003/15160-en.html
A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE FOR FOREST INFORMATION
The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), in collaboration with key international and national forestry organizations, showcased the Global Forest Information Service (GFIS) at the World Forestry Congress in Quebec in September 2003. GFIS, an international collaborative project, provides an entry point on the Internet where users can locate maps, datasets, web resources, journal articles, books and other documents relevant to their forest information needs. GFIS is committed to promoting the accessibility, credibility, quality and permanence of forest information, says Michael Kleine , Acting GFIS Coordinator.
Forest information providers have been keen to promote their products and resources through GFIS. As a global network of distributed information resources, GFIS allows its information providers to retain full ownership of their information. For users, GFIS is unlike most information services in that it provides them with the ability to search the catalogues of many different information providers simultaneously. Instead of searching several Internet sites individually, the users save time by going to GFIS to discover the information they need. GFIS currently holds over 100,000 catalogue records from numerous information providers in Africa , Asia , Europe , Latin America and North America .
Trading Might Save Nature: Economists Encourage Conservationists to Buy Biodiversity, Nature , 29 November, 2002 . By John Whitfield, http://www.nature.com/nsu/021125/021125-9.html Want wildlife? Then pay for it, say two US economists. Schemes to maintain biodiversity by funding economic development have failed on both fronts, they contend. Others are concerned that nature is not ours to trade.
In developing countries, conservation cash often comes as subsidies for ecotourism, green agriculture, education or irrigation. The hope is that economic growth will benefit nature, and that conservation will eventually become self-financing. This is "conservation by distraction," say Paul Ferraro of Georgia State University , Atlanta , and Agnes Kiss of the World Bank. Trying to save nature by funding something else rarely works, they believe.
Instead, conservation money should be used to buy biodiversity, through leasing land, for example. "The cheapest way to get what you want is to pay for what you want, rather than pay for something indirectly related to it," they argue (1). "It's the way things should go," agrees Richard Rice, chief economist at Conservation International, an environmental organization based in Washington DC . "Biodiversity is a very important commodity with a large and growing demand - this is a way to create a market." In Guyana , Conservation International has bought the logging rights for 81,000 hectares of rainforest at US$1.25 per hectare per year. "We're doing exactly what loggers do, except we don't cut down the trees," says Rice. The forest is now a nature reserve.
But there are philosophical and practical objections to trading in biodiversity. Nature is not something that can be bought and sold, says environmental scientist Jon Lovett of the University of York, UK. Paying people not to destroy biodiversity is like paying them not to kill each other, he argues. It leaves the buyer open to blackmail, if the seller demands ever larger sums not to damage an ecosystem. And the money does not always go where it should. In the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania , payments to compensate the locals for not developing the land have enriched mainly the ruling Masai council, Lovett says. "It doesn't filter down to the poorer people." "There's enormous resistance to the idea" of trading in nature, Rice concedes. "The market's still in its infancy." But in the end, he thinks that the practical benefits will settle the debate. "Successful applications will speak for themselves."
References:
(1). Ferraro, P. J. and A. Kiss. Direct payments for conservation. Science, vol. 298, pp. 1718-1719 ( November 29, 2002 ). Online: http://www.env.duke.edu/solutions/documents/Ferraro-Kiss.pdf
