1.
Ethanol competiing directly with world food supply / driving up prices
2. Progressive Fish Culturist now online
3. GIS Cplecialist Position
4. ESA Congressional Briefing on Ecosystem Services
5. Position Announcement-Kansas State University
6. Opportunities in Entomology
7. looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica (3)
8. Seasonal Field Technician (Forestry and Botany) Positions in SE Alaska
9. New field course in arctic science
10. Research Intership--Archbold Biological Station
11. PhD position - Forest ecology and hydrology - Michigan Tech
12. focusing on species' protections rather than habitats, landscapes, etc.
13. Exotic species ecology position, Mojave Desert , UNLV
14. CITIZENSHIP Ecosystem health, politics, and mind, behavior Re: focusing
on species' protections rather than habitats, landscapes, etc.
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 03:26:46 +0000
From: stan moore <hawkman11@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: ethanol competiing directly with world food supply / driving up prices
In the article linked to below, note that automobile drivers and their
demand for sustainable fuels are "driving" the market towards distilled
grains as fuels. Many of the world's poorest humans rely on grains as
staples in their food supply, and the pressure on world grain supplies will
impact poor humans disproportionately, but the cost of grain-fed meats will
rise, too.
How much additional wildland will be put into grain production, at the cost
of habitat for wild flora and fauna? How many forests will be cut down?
How sustainable can this transition be? What is the relationship between
saving greenhouse gases by switching fuels to the ecological cost of
deforestation and thus removing natural systems for carbon dioxide removal?
An interesting article by Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute can be
linked to at:
http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2981
Stan Moore San Geronimo, CA hawkman11@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:40:38 -0400
From: Gus Rassam <grassam@FISHERIES.ORG>
Subject: Progressive Fish Culturist now online
Earliest Issues of The Progressive Fish-Culturist now online
The American Fisheries Society (AFS) has placed the full text of
1935-1983 issues of The Progressive Fish-Culturist (PFC) in the
Fisheries InfoBase, the most complete source of information on fisheries
in the world. The 1935-1983 collection consists of 2,300 articles and
8,000 pages. This latest addition complements the archive of 1984-1998
PFC articles already online.
The Progressive Fish-Culturist contains papers on various aspects of
aquaculture including broodstock selection and spawning, nutrition and
feeding, health and water quality, facilities and production technology,
fish transport, and management of ponds, pens, and raceways. Papers
cover marine and freshwater species-vertebrate and invertebrate-that are
of interest to North American aquaculturalists. In 1999 the journal was
renamed the North American Journal of Aquaculture.
AFS online journals: http://afs.allenpress.com
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:56:56 -0400
From: "[windows-1252] LuAnn Marotte" <marot019@UMN.EDU>
Subject: GIS Cplecialist Position #4
GIS Specialist
Position #4
Cedar Creek Natural History Area of the University of Minnesota is looking
for a knowledgeable, self-motivated individual to generate a comprehensive,
GIS-based mapping system for Cedar Creek. The position is 40hr/wk from
May/June through August, and will be flexible to accommodate student
academic commitments in September through November. Pay will be $13.00 to
$16.00 per hour, commensurate with experience. On-site housing is
available, starting at $300 per month.
Cedar Creek Natural History Area is a nine-square-mile ecological research
reserve located 35 miles north of the Twin Cities. Cedar Creek features a
diverse mosaic of prairie, savanna, sedge meadows, bogs, open water, and
forests. Much of the scientific research at Cedar Creek examines the
ecology of our changing planet. Topics include, but are not limited to:
biodiversity, productivity, nutrient retention, effects of fire, and
herbivory by insects.
The person~Rs responsibilities will be:
Generate a comprehensive, GIS-based mapping system for Cedar Creek that can
provide an on-going and accurate tool for managing experimental sites.
Development of different layers of Cedar Creek~Rs habitats and natural
resources.
Help with the integration of these layers for educational purposes.
Minimum Qualifications: Ideal candidate will be a newly graduated or
current student working towards a bachelors or masters degree in GIS or in
natural resources with strong GIS experience.
To apply, please email: (1) a cover letter stating which position(s) you
are applying for, (2) a resume, (3) copy of your transcript (unofficial is
okay), and (4) two letters of recommendations to marot019@umn.edu. Please
use this job~Rs position number and name,as listed above, as the subject
line in your application email. Applications are being accepted now, with
the deadline of April 2nd, 2007 .
You will be considered for this position if (a) you are a US citizen or (b)
a foreign citizen attending a US college or university full-time.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and educator
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:01:39 -0400
From: Nadine Lymn <Nadine@ESA.ORG>
Subject: ESA Congressional Briefing on Ecosystem Services
The Ecological Society of America earlier this week co-sponsored a House
and Senate Congressional Briefing: Agriculture, Biology, Conservation,
The ABCs of How Nature Serves the Nation.
The briefing focused on the key role of ecosystem services in our
nation's food production and in our overall quality of life. Speakers
included former ESA President and member Dr. Kay Gross, a plant
ecologist and Director of Michigan State University's Kellogg Biological
Station.
More on the briefing, including the powerpoint presentations, can be
found on the ESA website: www.esa.org
Nadine Lymn
Director of Public Affairs
Ecological Society of America
1707 H Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington , DC 20006
202.833.8773, ext. 205
www.esa.org
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:53:01 -0400
From: "[iso-8859-1] Karlene Varnadore" <kgv@KSU.EDU>
Subject: Position Announcement-Kansas State University
Research Assistant needed for Arabidopsis ecological plant genetics
project in Europe .
We are looking for a Research Assistant to participate in a large-scale
investigation of the evolution of flowering time in the model plant,
Arabidopsis thaliana. Our approach includes analysis of the flowering
time response to a wide range of natural and manipulated environments at
levels ranging from DNA sequence variation to continental ecotype
distributions. This NSF-funded Frontiers of Integrative Biological
Research (FIBR) project is a collaborative effort of four US labs (Johanna
Schmitt, Brown University ; Stephen Welch, Kansas State University ; Michael
Purugganan , New York University; Richard Amasino, University of Wisconsin )
as well as Arabidopsis laboratories at five research institutions in
Europe . Part of this study entails establishing a set of five common
gardens in Europe at Valencia , Spain ; Oulu , Finland ; Norwich , UK ; Cologne,
Germany ; and Halle , Germany . At these sites large numbers of A. thaliana
accessions will be grown in multiple plantings synchronized with local
populations in order to assess geographic and seasonal variation in
selection of flowering time and other life history traits.
We are seeking a Research Assistant who would be interested in living at
one of the five European field sites and assisting with plant care and
measurement. Applicants must have a B.S. degree in biology or a related
science. German or Spanish language skills are desirable for this
position, but not required.
Prior research experience with plants is necessary because the Research
Assistant may operate largely independently for prolonged periods of
time. Although the primary duties involve plant care and measurement, the
successful applicant will have the opportunity to design and independently
conduct plant genetic research projects of joint interest to and in
consultation with participating host institution scientists. This
Research Assistantship has a strong training component and was conceived
as being analogous to a Fulbright fellowship. The successful applicant
will be awarded an NSF-fellow position. The fellowship stipend will be
$35,000 plus health insurance and other benefits.
To apply, please send a letter of application, resume and contact
information for three references (as pdf files) to Stephen Welch
(welchsm@ksu.edu) or Johanna Schmitt (johanna_schmitt@brown.edu). Please
reference the position number (W0007455) in the email Subject line. For
further information on the project see www.egad.ksu.edu/about.html .
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 15, 2007
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:44:06 -0400
From: Sonia Lei <Sonia.Lei@DARTMOUTH.EDU>
Subject: Opportunities in Entomology
Hi List,
I'm a junior undergrad majoring in Biology and Studio Art, and my primary interests lie in entomology and natural history. I'm wondering what kind of opportunities I might find in these two fields, not necessarily graduate work. If anyone has any advice on possible directions I can take with these interests, I'd be very grateful!
Thanks!
Sonia Lei
sonia.lei@dartmouth.edu
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:39:14 -0600
From: Maya Kapoor <mayalkapoor@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica
Hello All,
I am looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica 's Osa Peninsula . I
need images from before Corcovado National Park was created in 1975
and some more recent images. Does anyone have any suggestions for
possible sources? You can email me directly at mayalkapoor@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Maya
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:57:56 -0800
From: Troy D Heithecker <theithecker@FS.FED.US>
Subject: Seasonal Field Technician (Forestry and Botany) Positions in SE Alaska
The PNW Research station in Juneau , Alaska is still trying to fill 4 GS-05
Biological/Forestry Tech positions for the upcoming field season. Timber
and vegetation field work on second-growth thinning research projects
throughout southeast Alaska from May - October (dates flexible).
Potential candidates need forestry and/or botany experience and should be
familiar with flora of the PNW.
Salary:
GS-05: $15.23/hour (includes 24% cost of living allowance)
Applications accepted through http://www.usajobs.com/ search for the
following announcement numbers:
Foresty Tech - ADS07-WOFSJOBS-071DT
Biological Science Tech - ADS04-WOFSJOBS-009DT
For more information call or email:
Troy D. Heithecker, Ecologist
Resource Management and Productivity
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
2770 Sherwood Lane, Suite 2A , Juneau , AK , USA 99801-8545
Voice: (907) 586-8811, ext. 281 Fax: (907) 586-7848
USFS Notes Mail: theithecker
Internet Mail: theithecker@fs.fed.us
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:42:19 -0700
From: Jonathan Greenberg <greenberg@UCDAVIS.EDU>
Subject: Re: looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica
Unless someone happened to have flown it in 1975, your best bet is the
declassified CORONA imagery:
http://www.nro.gov/corona/facts.html
You can get it from:
http://edc.usgs.gov/products/satellite.html (scroll down to the CORONA
section).
This black and white photographic imagery spans 1960 to 1972, and is high
enough resolution to make out individual trees. The neat part of this is
that it was SPACEBORNE photographic imagery, which would drop the film
canister from orbit and an intercept airplane would do a mid-air capture of
the data. Very cool.
Good luck!
-----Original Message-----
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
[mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Maya Kapoor
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 10:39 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Subject: looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica
Hello All,
I am looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica 's Osa Peninsula . I
need images from before Corcovado National Park was created in 1975
and some more recent images. Does anyone have any suggestions for
possible sources? You can email me directly at mayalkapoor@gmail.com.
Thanks!
Maya
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:47:41 -0400
From: Arturo Restrepo <arturo.restrepo@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica
Maya,
Have a look at GCMD - The Mesoamerica Biological Corridor Project
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arturo Restrepo
NASA (GCMD)
Ecological Informatics Coordinator
USGS/BRD Liaison
Voice: 301.352.4616 / Fax: 301.352.0437
Email: restrepo@gcmd.nasa.gov <arestrepo@gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov>
http://globalchange.nasa.gov/
On 3/23/07 , Maya Kapoor <mayalkapoor@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
> I am looking for aerial photographs of Costa Rica 's Osa Peninsula . I need images from before Corcovado National Park was created in 1975
> and some more recent images. Does anyone have any suggestions for possible sources? You can email me directly at mayalkapoor@gmail.com.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Maya
>
[ Part 17: "" ]
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:06:58 -0400
From: "[iso-8859-1] Anja Kade" <ftank@UAF.EDU>
Subject: New field course in arctic science
Hello,
We are offering a new field course in Arctic Science at the University of
Alaska Fairbanks early this summer. Please distribute following
announcement to any interested students you know.
Thank you,
Anja Kade
Anja Kade, Ph.D.
Biology and Wildlife Department
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Phone: (907) 474-7094
Email: ftank@uaf.edu
___________________________________________________
FIELD COURSE IN ARCTIC SCIENCE
The new Field Course in Arctic Science will be offered through Summer
Sessions at the University of Alaska Fairbanks . This 16-day, 4credit
course will be taught both at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and at
the Toolik Field Station in northern Alaska from May 20 to June 6, 2007 .
The course is limited to ten finishing undergraduate or starting graduate
students. The cost of food, lodging and travel between the field sites
will be covered, and students are expected to pay for their travel to
Fairbanks , Alaska . The students will need to bring all-weather clothing
including winter jackets and rubber boots, a warm sleeping bag, and
preferably a tent.
The students will learn about the ecology of the arctic and boreal systems
through daily lectures delivered by a variety of scientists, active
participation in field sampling, and evening discussions of the relevant
science literature. The field course will span a broad range of
disciplines, including local geomorphology and natural history, fire
ecology, snow ecology, plant ecology, invertebrate and mammal biology,
carbon budgets, and the implications of a warming climate. The students
will gain a firm background in the structure and function of the
ecosystems in northern Alaska and become familiar with the tools and
techniques useful to ecological field research.
Interested students should submit a current curriculum vitae and a cover letter stating their experience and how the course would benefit them to
Anja Kade (email: ftank@uaf.edu, phone: 907-474-7094) by April 20, 2007 .
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:25:40 -0400
From: "Bohlen, Patrick" <PBohlen@ARCHBOLD-STATION.ORG>
Subject: Research Intership--Archbold Biological Station
Research Internship at the MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center
Location: Lake Placid , Florida .
Participating Dates: Minimum 6 month internship starting May-June,
2007.
A research internship is available at the MacArthur Agro-ecology
Research Center (MAERC) at Buck Island Ranch, a Division of Archbold
Biological Station in south central Florida (www.archbold-station.org).
MAERC is located at a 10,500-acre commercial cattle ranch and is
dedicated to long-term research that contributes to a better
understanding and broader awareness of the ecological, economic, and
cultural value of Florida 's cattle ranches.
Research projects at MAERC focus on wetland ecology and restoration,
effects of fire and grazing on grassland and wetland ecosystems, and the
environmental impacts of cattle ranching. Research interns spend 20
hours per week assisting the MAERC Research Biologist and 20 hours
conducting their own independent research project.
Benefits: $120/week stipend. Free housing provided on site.
Application: Please send letter of interest, resume, and contact
information for three references to Dr. Patrick Bohlen at
pbohlen@archbold-stgation.org.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2007 , or until filled.
Contact: Dr. Patrick Bohlen at e-mail above or call (863) 699-0242
(office) or (863) 414-5145 (cell).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Patrick J. Bohlen, PhD
Associate Research Biologist
Director of Research
MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center
300 Buck Island Ranch Rd.
Lake Placid , FL 33852
ph: (863) 699-0242
cell: (863) 414-5145
fax: (863) 699-2217
e-mail: pbohlen@archbold-station.org
website: http://www.maerc.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:28:57 -0400
From: "[ISO-8859-1] Tom Pypker" <tgpypker@MTU.EDU>
Subject: PhD position - Forest ecology and hydrology - Michigan Tech
Invasive earthworms from Eurasia are colonizing Michigan ~Rs Upper Peninsula.
These earthworms consume the forest floor and channelize the soil, thereby
altering the ecology and hydrology of the ecosystem. A PhD position to
investigate the effect of these invasive earthworms is available for a
highly motivated and qualified individual in the School of Forest Resources
and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University (MTU).
Desirable qualifications in the applicant include a master~Rs degree in
Ecology, Forestry or Hydrology. A strong interest in field based research,
experimental design and statistics is highly desired.
Consideration of applications begins immediately and will continue until the
position is filled. Please send a cover letter that states your research
interests and provides the names and contact information for three
references, your curriculum vitae, and any other relevant materials by email
to Tom Pypker (tgpypker@mtu.edu), School of Forest Resources and
Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton , MI 49931
Dr. Tom Pypker
Tel: 906-487-1089
e-mail: tgpypker@mtu.edu
http://forest.mtu.edu/faculty/pypker/index.html
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:56:03 +0000
From: stan moore <hawkman11@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: focusing on species' protections rather than habitats, landscapes, etc.
I am not sure that I agree that species' protections under ESA are
inadequate levels for conservation focus. One simple reason can be
explained briefly, perhaps, by noting that various species are recognized
with regard to their relationships to other species and to habitats by terms
such as "indicator species", "umbrella species", "keystone species", etc.
The sage grouse has been described in the literature as an umbrella species,
which means that management for sage grouse restoration can bring
simultaneous benefit to other species in the same biome, some of which are
obligates of sagebrush habitats and sage steppe. The peregrine falcon was
called an indicator species because its status and decline could provide
useful indication of health of the overall environment. The black-tailed
prairie dog (still not listed under ESA) has been called a keystone species
because its lifestyle and natural history attributes provide critical living
parameters for other species, including listed species such as the
black-footed ferret.
Obviously, there are limits to what protection/management for one species
can do in the grand scheme of things, even in local situations. The needs
of one endangered species can actually contradict those of a different
endangered species in the same landscape, such as for birds that flourish in
disturbed and heavily grazed habitat versus those which require more cover.
At the same time, we need to be formally focused on the simultaneous
recovery of all listed species in our management plans, not doing management
piecemeal. I also think that conservation research would do best to focus
on multiple listed speies simultaneously within a given landscape or
management area, such as one terrestrial species, one aquatic species, one
avian species, and one vegetative species within a given management area.
This would allow for a more in-depth and complex evaluation of landscape
health than focusing on one species only in a given management or research
location.
I have no problem with groups such as the Center for the Advancement of a
Steady-State Economy focusing on ecological economics related to economic
growth as a component to environmental health. But at some point, where"the rubber meets the road", we need to determine what the level should be
of a national economy so as to foster sustainability, and not to only look
at the trajectory of the economy. I continue to suggest that a good and
proper way to evaluate the size of a sustainable national economy would be
to evaluate on an empirical basis what size of a national economy could
allow for simultaneous recovery of all listed species. When we identify the
size of an economy that can allow such a recovery and ultimate
sustainability of biodiversity, then we will likely have determined the size
of an economy that is ecologically sustainable for the long term for human
society within the national ecology of any nation on the planet.
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:01:26 -0400
From: "[ISO-8859-1] Scott Abella" <scott.abella@UNLV.EDU>
Subject: Exotic species ecology position, Mojave Desert , UNLV
Research Assistant, UNLV Public Lands Institute
The Public Lands Institute at the University of Nevada , Las Vegas seeks a
research assistant for its Weed Sentry/Restoration Program to conduct
vegetation field surveys and research at Lake Mead National Recreation Area
and on other federal lands in Clark County , Nevada . The position will be
based at National Park Service offices in Boulder City , Nevada . This is a
full-time, externally funded position with benefits. The goals of the Weed
Sentry/Restoration Program are to 1) map distributions of exotic species in
Clark County and occasionally perform proactive control treatments, 2)
develop/perform research and effectiveness monitoring projects to advance
our understanding of the distribution, ecology, and control of exotic
species in southern Nevada as well as how to improve existing survey and
treatment methods, 3) provide treatment recommendations for control of
exotic species to local resource managers, and 4) document findings of
surveys and research by delivering presentations and submitting manuscripts
to peer-reviewed scientific journals or other outlets. Work is performed in
a wide variety of southern Nevada ~Rs plant communities, ranging from the
Mojave Desert to high-elevation forests. The position involves a mix of
surveys and applied management-oriented research; the successful candidate
will be interested in both these aspects of the position. This position is
a good fit for candidates interested in restoration ecology,
research/monitoring at landscape scales, and translating scientific
information in to management prescriptions.
Responsibilities: The successful candidate will conduct field surveys and
research of exotic plant species and native communities threatened by exotic
species on federal lands in Clark County ; map exotic plant infestations
using GPS and GIS technologies; perform hand pulling or herbicide treatments
in some instances; maintain records and databases of all survey data;
develop/perform research and monitoring projects, including effectiveness
monitoring of existing survey methods, treatment practices, and prediction
of species distributions; write or assist in the completion of scientific
publications on exotic species ecology and management; prepare or assist in
the preparation of scholarly presentations at professional meetings and
conferences; and assist in writing reports and funding proposals. Fieldwork
will involve traversing uneven terrain in remote areas, frequently in a hot,
desert climate. The position requires a flexible schedule and frequent local
travel. Overnight travel and camping under primitive conditions may also be
required.
Minimum Required Qualifications: Bachelor~Rs degree from an accredited
college or university in botany, ecology, biology, natural resources
management, or a closely related field, with course work in plant taxonomy,
plant identification, plant ecology or weed science. A minimum of one year
comparable experience in related fieldwork and demonstrated knowledge of
plant taxonomy and plant identification is required. Working knowledge of
major native and exotic species of the southwestern United States may be
substituted for plant taxonomy. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
programs and GPS/GIS required. U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a
Nevada driver~Rs license required. Ability to swim and ability to walk long
distances in uneven terrain in a hot, desert climate are required. The
successful candidate must pass a federal security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications: Master~Rs degree with a field-based thesis
project, four-wheel drive and boating experience, experience in field
orientation (i.e., navigation with map and compass), interest or experience
in writing scientific manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals
or other outlets, and interest or experience in restoration ecology and
supporting the application of ecologically based management prescriptions on
the ground.
Desired Characteristics:
Ability to work as a team member; excellent writing, interpersonal,
communication, and organizational skills; ability to build and sustain
collaborative relationships among diverse groups of people; ability to
analyze situations and data trends and apply to job responsibilities;
interest in scholarly activity and publications; familiarity with land
management agencies; and an affinity for the outdoors.
Review of applications will commence on April 15, 2007 , and will continue
until the position is filled. The position is contingent upon external
funding and must be renewed annually. Salary will be commensurate with
qualifications and experience.
Applications: Application materials must include a 1) cover letter, 2)
current and complete resume, and 3) the name, address, telephone, and e-mail
address of 3 professional references. In the cover letter, which should be
no more than one single-spaced page, applicants should summarize
qualifications and experience as they relate to this position, since the
initial review will serve to evaluate applicants based on documented,
relevant qualifications and work experience. Materials should be addressed
to Dr. Scott R. Abella, Search Committee Chair, Public Lands Institute, 4505
S. Maryland Parkway , Las Vegas , NV 89154-2040 , and are to be submitted via
on-line application only at https://hrsearch.unlv.edu. For assistance with
UNLV~Rs on-line applicant portal, contact Jen Feldmann at (702) 895-3886 or
email hrsearch@unlv.edu. For more information, see the UNLV website
(http://www.unlv.edu), the Public Lands Institute
(http://faculty.unlv.edu/abellas2/).
UNLV is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to
achieving excellence through diversity.
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:39:53 -0800
From: Wayne Tyson <landrest@COX.NET>
Subject: CITIZENSHIP Ecosystem health, politics, and mind, behavior Re: focusing on species' protections rather than habitats, landscapes, etc.
What troubles me most about focus on species alone is that it
relegates the rest of the system as unimportant to the body politic,
validating ignorance as an acceptable state of mind with respect to
the phenomenon of life and our part in it. On the other hand, if it
weren't for the "cuddle factor" as a driver of conscience, ecosystems
might be ignored altogether in favor of the illusion of a
civilization separate from Nature. At my gut level, I dislike zoos,
for example, but risked and endured ostracism, loss of income, and
invective when I vigorously campaigned for shifting the declining
population of California condors into a species recovery program. My
point is that what I would like is not necessarily what is the best
course of action at any given juncture of time and circumstance. In
the California condor example, I initially was outraged by the death
of a condor chick being checked by biologists in the field. I
contacted a friend who was a specialist. He interrupted my righteous
rant with an explanation of what was really going on at the time, and
I made a 180-degree turn. My point is that "being right" and other
ego-trip thinking and ranting is unimportant. What is important is
kicking these issues around, going with best judgment, changing
course according to the circumstances, and getting on with affecting
the trends toward life and away from its degradation. As Wendell
Berry once put it, ". . . to increase the possibility of life on
earth, rather than to diminish it." How it all sorts out is, after
all, Nature's way, eh?
At 01:56 PM 3/23/2007 , stan moore wrote:
>I am not sure that I agree that species' protections under ESA are>inadequate levels for conservation focus. One simple reason can be>explained briefly, perhaps, by noting that various species are recognized
>with regard to their relationships to other species and to habitats by terms>such as "indicator species", "umbrella species", "keystone species", etc. The sage grouse has been described in the literature as an umbrella species,
>which means that management for sage grouse restoration can bring simultaneous benefit to other species in the same biome, some of which are obligates of sagebrush habitats and sage steppe. The peregrine falcon was
>called an indicator species because its status and decline could provide useful indication of health of the overall environment. The black-tailed prairie dog (still not listed under ESA) has been called a keystone species
>because its lifestyle and natural history attributes provide critical living parameters for other species, including listed species such as the black-footed ferret.
>
>Obviously, there are limits to what protection/management for one species can do in the grand scheme of things, even in local situations. The needs of one endangered species can actually contradict those of a different
endangered species in the same landscape, such as for birds that flourish in
disturbed and heavily grazed habitat versus those which require more cover.At the same time, we need to be formally focused on the simultaneous
>recovery of all listed species in our management plans, not doing management piecemeal. I also think that conservation research would do best to focus
>on multiple listed speies simultaneously within a given landscape or management area, such as one terrestrial species, one aquatic species, one avian species, and one vegetative species within a given management area.
>This would allow for a more in-depth and complex evaluation of landscape health than focusing on one species only in a given management or research
>location.
>
>I have no problem with groups such as the Center for the Advancement of a Steady-State Economy focusing on ecological economics related to economic
>growth as a component to environmental health. But at some point, where"the rubber meets the road", we need to determine what the level should be of a national economy so as to foster sustainability, and not to only look
>at the trajectory of the economy. I continue to suggest that a good and proper way to evaluate the size of a sustainable national economy would be to evaluate on an empirical basis what size of a national economy could
>allow for simultaneous recovery of all listed species. When we identify the size of an economy that can allow such a recovery and ultimate sustainability of biodiversity, then we will likely have determined the size
>of an economy that is ecologically sustainable for the long term for human society within the national ecology of any nation on the planet.
