Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 3 May 2001 to 4 May 2001
To: Recipients of ECOLOG-L digests <ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU>
Status: R
There are 20 messages totalling 1375 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. American Chestnuts (5)
2. Stomatal Distribution
3. Job: Research Collaborator, Wetland, Ecosystem or Landscape Ecology, SE
C
4. Job: Research Technician - Global Change Ecology & Paleoecology, Carlet
n
College
5. Help With Campbell Data Logger Programming
6. plasticizers in aquarium equipment (2)
7. Here are instructions for unsubscribing and subscribing to ECOLOG-L
8. Environmental Job Openings from EnviroNetwork
9. American Chestnuts/Passenger Pigeon
10. American chestnuts/passenger pigeons
11. Master's research assistantship available
12. leaf area meter
13. JOB OPENING-WATERSHED LANDSCAPE ECOLOGIST
14. Job Opening - NRDC Forest Initiative
15. Call for comments - OCP
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 07:05:57 -0500
From: David McNeely <mcneely@UTB1.UTB.EDU>
Subject: Re: American Chestnuts
Wow! I had no idea. So the billions of passenger pigeons that were reporte
ly
around in the "pristine" conditions that supposedly prevailed before market
hunting was supposed to have decimated them and eventually caused their
extinction were actually a consequence of release from earlier predaton by
people? Do we have rigorous science that supports this?
John Gerlach wrote:
> Although I'm not an expert in this area, it seems to me that the larges
> impact would have been on native American's. As their numbers were redu
ed
> before the loss of the Chestnut, the impact was not noticed. There was
> apparently a similar situation when American passenger pigeon and red
> squirrel populations exploded following both emigration and population
> reductions of Native Americans.
>
> John Gerlach
>
> Postdoctoral Research Fellow
> Ecology Graduate Group
> Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science
> University of California
> One Shields Avenue
> Davis, CA 95616
> (530) 752-1701
> FAX (530) 752-4361
> jdgerlach@ucdavis.edu
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
> [mailto:ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU]On Behalf Of Ted Weber
> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 7:05 AM
> To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
> Subject: American Chestnuts
>
> David,
>
> I am not sure the loss of the American Chestnut has been completely
> mitigated by replacement species like maple and red oak.
>
> American Chestnut originally comprised about a quarter of the trees in
> eastern U.S. forests. Chestnut mast was an important part of many wildl
fe
> species' diets; they produced bumper crops generally every year (more o
ten
> than oaks), and these nuts were higher in nutritional value than acorns
or
> hickory nuts. Thus, chestnuts may have supported a larger wildlife carr
ing
> capacity.
>
> See Morgan, J., and S. H. Schweitzer. 2000. The Importance of the Ameri
an
> Chestnut to the Eastern Wild Turkey. [Online] Available at
> http://chestnut.acf.org/wildlife_10.htm .
>
> Ted Weber,
> Watershed Management and Analysis Division
> Chesapeake and Coastal Watershed Service
> Maryland Department of Natural Resources
> Tawes State Office Building, E-2
> Annapolis, MD 21402
> phone: 410-260-8790
> FAX: 410-260-8779
> email: tweber@dnr.state.md.us
>
> ==========================================
>
> Visit http://www.ecologyfund.com to protect
> wild land for free, just by clicking a button!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David M. Bryant [mailto:dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU]
> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 7:42 PM
> To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
> Subject: Re: Sustainable environment
>
> Pat,
>
> This idea of # species = community/ecosystem function has concerned me
or
> some time and until recently I haven't been able to put my finger on th
> source.
>
> True the sugar maple (or red oak, or red maple depending on your locali
y)
> has replaced the American Chestnut in NE hardwood forests, and we have
> barely noticed a change in ecosystem structure or function. This may b
> due to the general relations of species with forest trees. But what
> happens when coevolution creats more strict specialization among specie
?
> For instance Hornbills and Boabab trees. If Boababs disappear would
> hornbills nest in other trees or would thier reproductive fitness suffe
?
> This may become a testable hypothesis in New England hemlock forests.
> myself have never seen a goshawk nest in anything but a hemlock. I'm n
t
> an ornithologist so if I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll hear about it.
>
> In some cases, in particular tropical systems where coevolution may be
uch
> more developed, relationships between species may be much tighter than
e
> imagine. In most temperate ecosystems one or two keystone species may
> occur, but in ancient tropical forests many more specialists may create
an
> arch made entirley of keystones. Remove even a few species and a chain
> reaction could result that would impress Fermi.
>
> Unfortuanately, the only way to test this is digitally, unless you know
of
> someone with an ecosystem to spare?
>
> David M. Bryant dmbryant@cisunix.unh.edu
> Dept. of Natural Resources 603-862-4433
> 215 James Hall
> University of New Hampshire
> Durham, NH 03824
>
> "Not all that is counted counts
> and not all that counts can be counted"
> A. Einstein
> ###########################################
>
> This message has been scanned for viruses.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 09:29:04 -0400
From: Stan Wullschleger <w5d@ORNL.GOV>
Subject: Stomatal Distribution
ECO-LOG,
I'm interested in finding a list in which tree species (deciduous
broadleaves) are categorized as either amphistomatous or hypostomatous. I
appreciate the fact that stomates on most tree leaves are located on the
lower surface, but there are exceptions. Various members Populus, for
example, have stomates on both the upper and lower leaf surfaces.
I would appreciate knowing whether such a list exists.
Thanks,
-----------------------------------
Stan Wullschleger
Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422
Tel (865) 574-7839
Fax (865) 576-9939
E-mail w5d@ornl.gov
-----------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 11:00:04 -0400
From: "David W. Inouye" <di5@umail.umd.edu>
Subject: Job: Research Collaborator, Wetland, Ecosystem or Landscape Ecology
SERC
Research Collaborator, Wetland, Ecosystem, or Landscape Ecology. We are
seeking an individual at the Post-doctoral level to assist a team of
scientists involved in a 4-year project funded by EPA. The project involves
investigators from Penn State University, Virginia Institute of Marine
Sciences, Environmental Law Institute, FTN Associates, East Carolina
University, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). The
project is titled 'Ecological and Socioeconomic Indicators for Integrated
Assessment of Aquatic Ecosystems of the Atlantic Slope'. We seek an
individual to work with 5 SERC PI's. The primary goal of the project is to
identify biotic and abiotic indicators of ecosystem change, primarily those
associated with human activities. The SERC team will compare several
mesohaline estuaries with watersheds that differ in land cover composition.
The linked watershed-estuary systems will be within the basins of Chesapeake
Bay, Delaware Bay and Pamlico Sound, and will include uplands, streams,
tidal and non-tidal wetlands, and shallow intertidal habitats. The
successful applicant will be expected to be involved in project planning,
oversee daily project activities, and organize a team of technicians to
conduct field research. The incumbent also will participate in writing
reports and scientific publications and will regularly participate in
meetings with SERC and other consortium representatives. Experience in
wetland ecology, wetland assessment, and landscape ecology preferred but
other areas of expertise will be considered. The successful applicant must
be able to work as part of a team, travel regularly for purposes of
conducting field work and attending meetings, and coordinate others in both
field and laboratory settings. Valid driver's license is required.
Full-time 12 month contract; preferred start date between June 30 and August
1, 2001. Salary: Approximately $40,000 + benefits. For inquiries, contact
Dr. Dennis Whigham at 443-482-2226 by phone or email at whigham@serc.si.edu.
To apply for the position, send a letter, resume, and the names of 3
references to Dennis at: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Box 28,
Edgewater, MD 21037. The deadline for applications will be June 15, 2001.
-----------------------------------------
Dennis F. Whigham
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Box 28
Edgewater, MD 21037
PHONE: 443-482-2226
FAX: 443-482-2380
EMAIL: Whigham@serc.si.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 11:15:38 -0400
From: "David W. Inouye" <di5@umail.umd.edu>
Subject: Job: Research Technician - Global Change Ecology & Paleoecology,
Carleton College
JOB TITLE: Research Technician - Global Change Ecology & Paleoecology
(full-time - renewable annually up to 5 years)
DEPARTMENT: Biology
DATE OPEN: July 2001
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
Carleton College currently seeks a Research Technician to assist in its
Biology Department. Primary purpose will be the study of long-term
interactions among fire, vegetation, climate, carbon, and permafrost across
a gradient from Manitoba, Canada, to the northern Great Plains.
RESPONSIBILITIES
=B7 Process and analyze lake and peat sediment cores for pollen,=
macrofossils,
charcoal, carbon, nitrogen, and 210-Pb.
=B7 Submit samples for oxygen isotopes, rock magnetics, and AMS radiocarb
n
dating.
=B7 Help train undergraduate students.
=B7 Assist in developing project records and peer-reviewed publications.
=B7 Opportunities for developing own projects and publications including
presentation at national meetings.
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must have at least a BA/BS in Ecology, Geology, or related
fields. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in northern
biomes and paleoecological techniques, especially pollen counting.
Please submit a letter of interest and CV, along with the names, addresses,
email, and phone numbers of three professional references to Dr. Phil
Camill, Carleton College, Department of Biology, One North College Street,
Northfield, MN 55057 (pcamill@carleton.edu). Northfield is conveniently
located 45 miles south of Minneapolis/St. Paul. We offer competitive
compensation and an attractive benefit package. Carleton College is an equal
opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 11:38:24 -0700
From: Tim Kunin <kunin@PRODIGY.NET>
Subject: American Chestnuts
My impression is that the passenger pigeons required the unbroken forest and
that the extinction was a result of the destruction of the forest to make
way for farming by white settlers. Obviously this is coincident with the
removal of Native Americans, but I have not seen any research that suggests
that there were small numbers of passenger pigeons prior to European
settlement. Early European explorers were awed by the size of the flocks,
so I think an explanation that is based on the lessoning of hunting pressure
is in error.
My impression is that they were adapted to live in huge flocks and the
destruction of the forest made it impossible for those numbers of birds to
exist. Obviously, the introduction of the chestnut blight in 1904 didn't
cause the death of the birds, because they were extinct by the time that the
blight had reached the Ohio Valley. The massive hunting of the pigeons with
shotguns probably contributed to the decline, but I'm not sure that they
could have survived once the forests were felled.
Incidentally, if you are interested in making a free contribution to the
American Chestnut Foundation's efforts to back cross a blight-resistant
American Chestnut, you can go to the Plant-a-Tree - Chestnut page on
EcologyFund
(http://www.ecologyfund.com/registry/ecology/donate_chestnut.html) where
eight site visits pays to plant a tree, or registering on other sites
through affiliate links can plant several trees in the ACF research farm in
Virginia. For a discussion of the back-cross methodology try the for more
info link
(http://www.ecologyfund.com/registry/ecology/info_plant_tree.html#chestnut)
or the ACF website, (www.acf.org).
Tim Kunin
----- Original Message -----
From: David McNeely <mcneely@UTB1.UTB.EDU>
To: <ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 5:05 AM
Subject: Re: American Chestnuts
> Wow! I had no idea. So the billions of passenger pigeons that were
reportedly
> around in the "pristine" conditions that supposedly prevailed before
market
> hunting was supposed to have decimated them and eventually caused their
> extinction were actually a consequence of release from earlier predaton
by
> people? Do we have rigorous science that supports this?
>
> John Gerlach wrote:
>
> > Although I'm not an expert in this area, it seems to me that the l
rgest
> > impact would have been on native American's. As their numbers were
reduced
> > before the loss of the Chestnut, the impact was not noticed. There
was
> > apparently a similar situation when American passenger pigeon and
ed
> > squirrel populations exploded following both emigration and popula
ion
> > reductions of Native Americans.
> >
> > John Gerlach
> >
> > Postdoctoral Research Fellow
> > Ecology Graduate Group
> > Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science
> > University of California
> > One Shields Avenue
> > Davis, CA 95616
> > (530) 752-1701
> > FAX (530) 752-4361
> > jdgerlach@ucdavis.edu
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
> > [mailto:ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU]On Behalf Of Ted Weber
> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 7:05 AM
> > To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
> > Subject: American Chestnuts
> >
> > David,
> >
> > I am not sure the loss of the American Chestnut has been completel
> > mitigated by replacement species like maple and red oak.
> >
> > American Chestnut originally comprised about a quarter of the tree
in
> > eastern U.S. forests. Chestnut mast was an important part of many
wildlife
> > species' diets; they produced bumper crops generally every year (m
re
often
> > than oaks), and these nuts were higher in nutritional value than a
orns
or
> > hickory nuts. Thus, chestnuts may have supported a larger wildlife
carrying
> > capacity.
> >
> > See Morgan, J., and S. H. Schweitzer. 2000. The Importance of the
American
> > Chestnut to the Eastern Wild Turkey. [Online] Available at
> > http://chestnut.acf.org/wildlife_10.htm .
> >
> > Ted Weber,
> > Watershed Management and Analysis Division
> > Chesapeake and Coastal Watershed Service
> > Maryland Department of Natural Resources
> > Tawes State Office Building, E-2
> > Annapolis, MD 21402
> > phone: 410-260-8790
> > FAX: 410-260-8779
> > email: tweber@dnr.state.md.us
> >
> > ==========================================
> >
> > Visit http://www.ecologyfund.com to protect
> > wild land for free, just by clicking a button!
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: David M. Bryant [mailto:dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU]
> > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 7:42 PM
> > To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
> > Subject: Re: Sustainable environment
> >
> > Pat,
> >
> > This idea of # species = community/ecosystem function has concerne
me
for
> > some time and until recently I haven't been able to put my finger
n the
> > source.
> >
> > True the sugar maple (or red oak, or red maple depending on your
locality)
> > has replaced the American Chestnut in NE hardwood forests, and we
ave
> > barely noticed a change in ecosystem structure or function. This
ay be
> > due to the general relations of species with forest trees. But wh
t
> > happens when coevolution creats more strict specialization among
species?
> > For instance Hornbills and Boabab trees. If Boababs disappear wou
d
> > hornbills nest in other trees or would thier reproductive fitness
suffer?
> > This may become a testable hypothesis in New England hemlock fores
s. I
> > myself have never seen a goshawk nest in anything but a hemlock.
'm
not
> > an ornithologist so if I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll hear about it.
> >
> > In some cases, in particular tropical systems where coevolution ma
be
much
> > more developed, relationships between species may be much tighter
han
we
> > imagine. In most temperate ecosystems one or two keystone species
may
> > occur, but in ancient tropical forests many more specialists may c
eate
an
> > arch made entirley of keystones. Remove even a few species and a
hain
> > reaction could result that would impress Fermi.
> >
> > Unfortuanately, the only way to test this is digitally, unless you
know
of
> > someone with an ecosystem to spare?
> >
> > David M. Bryant dmbryant@cisunix.unh.edu
> > Dept. of Natural Resources 603-862-4433
> > 215 James Hall
> > University of New Hampshire
> > Durham, NH 03824
> >
> > "Not all that is counted counts
> > and not all that counts can be counted"
> > A. Einstein
> > ###########################################
> >
> > This message has been scanned for viruses.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 13:03:20 -0400
From: Howard S Neufeld <neufeldhs@APPSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Help With Campbell Data Logger Programming
Dear All,
I was wondering if there are magnanimous people out there, skilled in
programming a Campbell 21x data logger, who might want to assist me with a
short program? Seems if you lay off programming these beasties for 8
years, you forget how to do it.
If anyone would like to help, or you know someone with those skills who
I might contact, would you let me know?
I would greatly appreciate it!!
Thanks a bunch!
Howie Neufeld
------------------------------------------
Howard S. Neufeld, Professor and
Director of the Graduate Program in Biology
572 Rivers St.
Department of Biology
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2027
------------------------------------------
Tel. 828-262-2683
FAX 828-262-2127
------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 11:27:01 -0500
From: "Henshel, Diane S." <dhenshel@INDIANA.EDU>
Subject: Re: plasticizers in aquarium equipment
Josef -
Would you clarify that statement of "leach relatively quickly"?
Is 30 days the half life for leaching? If so, then the leaching really
takes 10 half lives, or 300 days, to reach 95%, I believe, completion. I
sincerely doubt that 30 days is the time for 100% leaching, since that would
mean the half life is a day or so. Way too short, so far as I understand
that process.
Diane Henshel
-----Original Message-----
From: Josef Ackerman [mailto:ackerman@UNBC.CA]
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 5:10 PM
To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: plasticizers in aquarium equipment
Hi Ethan
There are plasticizers in all of these things, but they
leach relatively quickly (30 days for PVC if I recall
correctly from the NSF [National Sanitation Foundation]
summaries). The key in any experiment is to condition
the equipment prior to use. That should work in most
applications, but it certainly is worth exploring.
Good luck
Joe Ackerman
--------------------------------------------------
| Dr. Josef Daniel Ackerman |
| Associate Professor |
| Environmental Studies Program |
| University of Northern British Columbia |
| Prince George, BC, CANADA V2N 4Z9 |
| |
| Tel: (250) 960-5839 Fax: (250) 960-5539 |
| email: ackerman@unbc.ca |
| WWW: http://quarles.unbc.ca/nres/jda.htm |
--------------------------------------------------
On Thu, 3 May 2001, Ethan Clotfelter wrote:
> Hi,
>
> This may not be appropriate for this listserv, but here goes...
>
> Anyone know anything about the plasticizer content of common aquarium
> equipment (filter casings, hard PVC tubing, etc.)? Given the evidence
f
> endocrine disrupting effects of things like bisphenol-A and phthalates
n
> numerous species of fish, it seems like someone would have looked into
t.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ethan Clotfelter
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Dr. Ethan Clotfelter
> Department of Biology
> 549 River Avenue
> Providence College
> Providence, RI 02918-0001
>
> Phone/voice: (401) 865-2950
> FAX: (401) 865-1438
> Email: eclotfel@providence.edu
> Web: http://www.providence.edu/bio/faculty.html
>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 13:57:58 -0400
From: "David W. Inouye" <di5@umail.umd.edu>
Subject: Here are instructions for unsubscribing and subscribing to ECOLOG-L
As the academic year comes to a close, some of you may want to be reminded
of how to signoff if you'll be away from your e-mail account during the
summer field season.
David Inouye
Instructions for subscribing and unsubscribing to ECOLOG-L
To subscribe, send the message
sub ecolog-l Your Name
to
listserv@umdd.umd.edu
To unsubscribe, send the message
signoff ecolog-l
to
listserv@umdd.umd.edu
If you are not using the same e-mail address that you used to subscribe,
you will not be able to unsubscribe, and I will have to do it for you.
To get the FAQ, send the message
get ecolog-l FAQ
to
listserv@umdd.umd.edu
To set your subscription to the digest form, send the message
set ecolog-l digest
to
listserv@umdd.umd.edu
David Inouye, list owner and moderator
di5@umail.umd.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 12:20:11 -0400
From: EnviroNetwork@NATURALIST.COM
Subject: Environmental Job Openings from EnviroNetwork
Title: Wastewater Engineer
Company: Clough Harbour & Associates
Location: Albany, New York
For more information click below:
http://www.naturalist.com/eco-jobs/index.cfm?temp=job&job=3677
Title: Environmental Engineer
Company: Clough Harbour & Associates
Location: Richmond, Virginia
For more information click below:
http://www.naturalist.com/eco-jobs/index.cfm?temp=job&job=3676
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 13:21:25 -0500
From: Jorgensen.Eric@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV
Subject: American Chestnuts/Passenger Pigeon
I'll take a shot at this.
It is probably a certainty that the habitat degradation that is being
described contributed some to the Passenger Pigeon's demise. However, the
Passenger Pigeon had remarkably low fecundity for a species as numerous as
it was - and it is widely regarded that hunting per se is responsible for
their loss. The Pigeons nested and roosted in great concentrations which
made it easy to collect their eggs and squabs, and to shoot the adults: all
of these were common food items in the markets of the day.
This book is collectors item - I found a copy in a used book store. It is
a great authority on Ectopistes migratoria;
Schorger, A.W. 1955. The passenger pigeon; its natural history and
extinction. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 424pp.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 09:45:46 -0700
From: John Gerlach <gerlach1@PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: American Chestnuts
OK, from my program notes I believe the speaker was Thomas W. Neumann who
gave a presentation entitled "Prehistoric human impacts on the ecology of
the eastern United States and implications for management practices" at a
1997 ESA symposium in Albuquerque entitled "The role of native peoples in
shaping ecosystems". I just tried an online search for his publications but
nothing turned up - I believe they were published in an archaeological or
historcal journal. I did photocopy two articles about the pigeons so I know
they exist but the articles are buried in file boxes with many other
articles. Perhaps you can get his address if you check the ESA program
materials from that meeting.
John Gerlach
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Ecology Graduate Group
Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 752-1701
FAX (530) 752-4361
jdgerlach@ucdavis.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
[mailto:ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU]On Behalf Of Tim Kunin
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 11:38 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: American Chestnuts
My impression is that the passenger pigeons required the unbroken forest and
that the extinction was a result of the destruction of the forest to make
way for farming by white settlers. Obviously this is coincident with the
removal of Native Americans, but I have not seen any research that suggests
that there were small numbers of passenger pigeons prior to European
settlement. Early European explorers were awed by the size of the flocks,
so I think an explanation that is based on the lessoning of hunting pressure
is in error.
My impression is that they were adapted to live in huge flocks and the
destruction of the forest made it impossible for those numbers of birds to
exist. Obviously, the introduction of the chestnut blight in 1904 didn't
cause the death of the birds, because they were extinct by the time that the
blight had reached the Ohio Valley. The massive hunting of the pigeons with
shotguns probably contributed to the decline, but I'm not sure that they
could have survived once the forests were felled.
Incidentally, if you are interested in making a free contribution to the
American Chestnut Foundation's efforts to back cross a blight-resistant
American Chestnut, you can go to the Plant-a-Tree - Chestnut page on
EcologyFund
(http://www.ecologyfund.com/registry/ecology/donate_chestnut.html) where
eight site visits pays to plant a tree, or registering on other sites
through affiliate links can plant several trees in the ACF research farm in
Virginia. For a discussion of the back-cross methodology try the for more
info link
(http://www.ecologyfund.com/registry/ecology/info_plant_tree.html#chestnut)
or the ACF website, (www.acf.org).
Tim Kunin
----- Original Message -----
From: David McNeely <mcneely@UTB1.UTB.EDU>
To: <ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 5:05 AM
Subject: Re: American Chestnuts
> Wow! I had no idea. So the billions of passenger pigeons that were
reportedly
> around in the "pristine" conditions that supposedly prevailed before
market
> hunting was supposed to have decimated them and eventually caused their
> extinction were actually a consequence of release from earlier predaton
by
> people? Do we have rigorous science that supports this?
>
> John Gerlach wrote:
>
> > Although I'm not an expert in this area, it seems to me that the l
rgest
> > impact would have been on native American's. As their numbers were
reduced
> > before the loss of the Chestnut, the impact was not noticed. There
was
> > apparently a similar situation when American passenger pigeon and
ed
> > squirrel populations exploded following both emigration and popula
ion
> > reductions of Native Americans.
> >
> > John Gerlach
> >
> > Postdoctoral Research Fellow
> > Ecology Graduate Group
> > Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science
> > University of California
> > One Shields Avenue
> > Davis, CA 95616
> > (530) 752-1701
> > FAX (530) 752-4361
> > jdgerlach@ucdavis.edu
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news
> > [mailto:ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU]On Behalf Of Ted Weber
> > Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 7:05 AM
> > To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
> > Subject: American Chestnuts
> >
> > David,
> >
> > I am not sure the loss of the American Chestnut has been completel
> > mitigated by replacement species like maple and red oak.
> >
> > American Chestnut originally comprised about a quarter of the tree
in
> > eastern U.S. forests. Chestnut mast was an important part of many
wildlife
> > species' diets; they produced bumper crops generally every year (m
re
often
> > than oaks), and these nuts were higher in nutritional value than a
orns
or
> > hickory nuts. Thus, chestnuts may have supported a larger wildlife
carrying
> > capacity.
> >
> > See Morgan, J., and S. H. Schweitzer. 2000. The Importance of the
American
> > Chestnut to the Eastern Wild Turkey. [Online] Available at
> > http://chestnut.acf.org/wildlife_10.htm .
> >
> > Ted Weber,
> > Watershed Management and Analysis Division
> > Chesapeake and Coastal Watershed Service
> > Maryland Department of Natural Resources
> > Tawes State Office Building, E-2
> > Annapolis, MD 21402
> > phone: 410-260-8790
> > FAX: 410-260-8779
> > email: tweber@dnr.state.md.us
> >
> > ==========================================
> >
> > Visit http://www.ecologyfund.com to protect
> > wild land for free, just by clicking a button!
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: David M. Bryant [mailto:dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU]
> > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 7:42 PM
> > To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
> > Subject: Re: Sustainable environment
> >
> > Pat,
> >
> > This idea of # species = community/ecosystem function has concerne
me
for
> > some time and until recently I haven't been able to put my finger
n the
> > source.
> >
> > True the sugar maple (or red oak, or red maple depending on your
locality)
> > has replaced the American Chestnut in NE hardwood forests, and we
ave
> > barely noticed a change in ecosystem structure or function. This
ay be
> > due to the general relations of species with forest trees. But wh
t
> > happens when coevolution creats more strict specialization among
species?
> > For instance Hornbills and Boabab trees. If Boababs disappear wou
d
> > hornbills nest in other trees or would thier reproductive fitness
suffer?
> > This may become a testable hypothesis in New England hemlock fores
s. I
> > myself have never seen a goshawk nest in anything but a hemlock.
'm
not
> > an ornithologist so if I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll hear about it.
> >
> > In some cases, in particular tropical systems where coevolution ma
be
much
> > more developed, relationships between species may be much tighter
han
we
> > imagine. In most temperate ecosystems one or two keystone species
may
> > occur, but in ancient tropical forests many more specialists may c
eate
an
> > arch made entirley of keystones. Remove even a few species and a
hain
> > reaction could result that would impress Fermi.
> >
> > Unfortuanately, the only way to test this is digitally, unless you
know
of
> > someone with an ecosystem to spare?
> >
> > David M. Bryant dmbryant@cisunix.unh.edu
> > Dept. of Natural Resources 603-862-4433
> > 215 James Hall
> > University of New Hampshire
> > Durham, NH 03824
> >
> > "Not all that is counted counts
> > and not all that counts can be counted"
> > A. Einstein
> > ###########################################
> >
> > This message has been scanned for viruses.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 14:37:49 -0400
From: "R. O. Bierregaard, Jr." <rbierreg@EMAIL.UNCC.EDU>
Subject: American chestnuts/passenger pigeons
Following up on the side thread on passenger pigeon extinction that
began with restoring chestnuts, David Wilcove's description of the
whole process in his book, "The Shadow of the Condor," is a great
review of what we know and suppose to have happened (and doesn't
include Amerindian hunting pressure keeping populations low prior to
European settlement). That (and the rest of the book!) is worth
reading for anyone interested in extinction events.
Rob Bierregaard
--
Rob Bierregaard
**********************************************************
Phones: 704 333 2405
Biology Department 704 547 3499
UNC-Charlotte Faxes: 704 333 2404
9201 University City Blvd. 704 547 3128
Charlotte NC 28223-0001 rbierreg@email.uncc.edu
http://www.bioweb.uncc.edu/bierregaard/
**********************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 14:31:06 -0400
From: Alan Johnson <alanj@CLEMSON.EDU>
Subject: Master's research assistantship available
M.S. Student Research Assistantship in MODELING HABITAT USE
A research assistantship is available to support one M.S. student at
Clemson University beginning in the Fall semester 2001. The research is
funded by the National Gap Analysis Program, and will focus on improving
models for the prediction of habitat use by vertebrates based on principles
of landscape ecology. This will include investigating the functional
connectivity of potential habitat, developing metapopulation models, and
performing population viability analyses for selected species. Applicants
should have strong quantitative skills and experience/interest in ecology
or a related discipline. Applicants should have a minimum of a 3.2 GPA as
an undergraduate, and a combined GRE score of 1100 (verbal +
quantitative). Depending upon interests and career goals, the student may
elect to enter any of the following graduate programs: (1) Aquaculture,
Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, (2) Biological Sciences - Zoology, or (3)
Environmental Toxicology.
Applications or inquiries can be directed to either Dr. Alan Johnson or Dr.
Craig Allen (see contact information below). APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE
RECEIVED BY MAY 31, 2001. To apply, please send cover letter, resume,
transcripts, GRE scores and contact information for 3 references.
Alan R. Johnson
Department of Environmental Toxicology
Clemson University
P.O. Box 709
Pendleton, SC 29670
phone (864) 646-2984
fax (864) 646-2277
e-mail: alanj@clemson.edu
http://cufp.clemson.edu/entox/
Craig R. Allen
SC Cooperative Fish & Wildlife
Research Unit
G27 Lehotsky Hall
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634
phone (864) 656-4461
fax (864) 656-1034
e-mail: allencr@clemson.edu
http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/AFW/Coop/
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 12:20:24 -0600
From: Michele Slaton <mslaton@WOL.WESTERN.EDU>
Subject: leaf area meter
Ecologgers:
I am considering buying a portable leaf area meter from either Dynamax
or CID, Inc. Does anyone have a leaf area meter from one of these
companies, and, if so, do you recommend it? Can anyone recommend
another company that has them at reasonable prices? It will be used
primarily for student purposes on a variety of leaf sizes.
Thanks,
Michele
Michele Slaton, Ph.D.
Visiting Professor of Biology
Department of Sciences
Western State College
Gunnison, CO 81231
(970) 943-2479
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 15:46:02 -0400
From: Donald Weller <weller@SERC.SI.EDU>
Subject: JOB OPENING-WATERSHED LANDSCAPE ECOLOGIST
JOB OPENING-WATERSHED LANDSCAPE ECOLOGIST. The Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center (SERC) has an immediate opening for a
postdoctoral research associate or research technician to join projects
relating watershed nutrient discharges to watershed geography and
developing indicators of watershed and estuarine ecosystem health.
Applicants at the postdoctoral level should have a Ph.D. in science or
geography. Applicants at the technician level should have a Masters
degree. All applicants should have experience with ARC/INFO GIS
software, multivariate statistical analysis (particularly using SAS
software), and background in landscape ecology, ecosystem ecology,
biogeochemistry, nutrient transport, or hydrology. Other desirable
skills include: computer programming, simulation modeling, remote
sensing (particularly with ERDAS Imagine), or use of global positioning
systems. The incumbent will be an active participant in project
planning, data analysis, and scientific publications and must be able to
work as part of a research team. The position is funded by a 4 year
grant from the EPA STAR program. Salary $30,000-40,000 (depending on
qualifications) plus benefits. For best consideration, send letter of
application, resume, graduate and undergraduate transcripts (photocopies
are fine), and names of three references by May 29, 2001 to Dr. Donald
Weller (weller@serc.si.edu), SERC, P.O. Box 28, Edgewater, MD
21037-0028. For more information on SERC visit http://www.serc.si.edu.
EOE.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 14:58:29 -0500
From: Daniel J Twedt <dan_twedt@USGS.GOV>
Subject: Re: American Chestnuts
According to a paper presented at the recent Southern Silvicultural
Research Conference (20-22 March 2001), the full effect of American
Chestnut loss has not yet been realized. In their presentation, D. H. Van
Lear (Clemson Univ.) and his co-authors suggested that the demise of
American Chestnut has resulted in proliferation of rhododendron thickets.
These thickets suppress forest tree regeneration and threaten major
modifications to the eastern forest complex.
Presentation title: American Chestnut, rhododendron, and the future of
Appalachian cove forests.
***********************************************************
Dan Twedt
Wildlife Biologist
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
2524 South Frontage Road
Vicksburg, MS 39180
601-629-6605
601-636-9541 (fax)
dan_twedt@usgs.gov
***********************************************************
Ted Weber
<TWEBER@DNR.ST To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
ATE.MD.US> cc:
Sent by: Subject: American Chestnuts
"Ecological
Society of
America:
grants, jobs,
news"
<ECOLOG-L@UMDD
.UMD.EDU>
05/03/2001
09:05 AM
Please respond
to TWEBER
David,
I am not sure the loss of the American Chestnut has been completely
mitigated by replacement species like maple and red oak.
American Chestnut originally comprised about a quarter of the trees in
eastern U.S. forests. Chestnut mast was an important part of many wildlife
species' diets; they produced bumper crops generally every year (more often
than oaks), and these nuts were higher in nutritional value than acorns or
hickory nuts. Thus, chestnuts may have supported a larger wildlife carrying
capacity.
See Morgan, J., and S. H. Schweitzer. 2000. The Importance of the American
Chestnut to the Eastern Wild Turkey. [Online] Available at
http://chestnut.acf.org/wildlife_10.htm .
Ted Weber,
Watershed Management and Analysis Division
Chesapeake and Coastal Watershed Service
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Tawes State Office Building, E-2
Annapolis, MD 21402
phone: 410-260-8790
FAX: 410-260-8779
email: tweber@dnr.state.md.us
==========================================
Visit http://www.ecologyfund.com to protect
wild land for free, just by clicking a button!
-----Original Message-----
From: David M. Bryant [mailto:dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU]
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 7:42 PM
To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: Sustainable environment
Pat,
This idea of # species = community/ecosystem function has concerned me for
some time and until recently I haven't been able to put my finger on the
source.
True the sugar maple (or red oak, or red maple depending on your locality)
has replaced the American Chestnut in NE hardwood forests, and we have
barely noticed a change in ecosystem structure or function. This may be
due to the general relations of species with forest trees. But what
happens when coevolution creats more strict specialization among species?
For instance Hornbills and Boabab trees. If Boababs disappear would
hornbills nest in other trees or would thier reproductive fitness suffer?
This may become a testable hypothesis in New England hemlock forests. I
myself have never seen a goshawk nest in anything but a hemlock. I'm not
an ornithologist so if I'm wrong, I'm sure I'll hear about it.
In some cases, in particular tropical systems where coevolution may be much
more developed, relationships between species may be much tighter than we
imagine. In most temperate ecosystems one or two keystone species may
occur, but in ancient tropical forests many more specialists may create an
arch made entirley of keystones. Remove even a few species and a chain
reaction could result that would impress Fermi.
Unfortuanately, the only way to test this is digitally, unless you know of
someone with an ecosystem to spare?
David M. Bryant dmbryant@cisunix.unh.edu
Dept. of Natural Resources 603-862-4433
215 James Hall
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
"Not all that is counted counts
and not all that counts can be counted"
A. Einstein
###########################################
This message has been scanned for viruses.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 13:17:00 -0700
From: Steve Erickson <wean@WHIDBEY.NET>
Subject: Re: American Chestnuts
>Obviously, the introduction of the chestnut blight in 1904 didn't
>cause the death of the birds, because they were extinct by the time that
the
>blight had reached the Ohio Valley.
=====================================
Could functional extinction of the passenger pigeon have been a
causal factor in the chestnut blight epidemic? There were reports of
flocks of millions of the birds roosting in relatively small areas.
The effects on nutrient cycling must have been profound - that's a
lot of guano! Once the birds no longer performed this function, could
this have somehow altered the soil so as to result in the chestnut
trees becoming more susceptible to the blight pandemic?
I realize the above is simplistic, but does it seem plausible?
-Steve Erickson
Frosty Hollow Ecological Restoration
Box 53, Langley, WA 98260
(360) 579-2332
wean@whidbey.net
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 13:46:24 -0700
From: Josef Ackerman <ackerman@UNBC.CA>
Subject: Re: plasticizers in aquarium equipment
Hi Diane
Your understanding of the leaching process is correct. If I recall
correctly, the half life was much shorter, but I do not have the
information with me to verify that at the moment as I am not in my office.
I trust that Ethan or other interested parties can obtain the information
about a particular polymer from the NSF or related associations.
Yours
Joe Ackerman
--------------------------------------------------
| Dr. Josef Daniel Ackerman |
| Associate Professor |
| Environmental Studies Program |
| University of Northern British Columbia |
| Prince George, BC, CANADA V2N 4Z9 |
| |
| Tel: (250) 960-5839 Fax: (250) 960-5539 |
| email: ackerman@unbc.ca |
| WWW: http://quarles.unbc.ca/nres/jda.htm |
--------------------------------------------------
On Fri, 4 May 2001, Henshel, Diane S. wrote:
> Josef -
> Would you clarify that statement of "leach relatively quickly"?
> Is 30 days the half life for leaching? If so, then the leaching really
> takes 10 half lives, or 300 days, to reach 95%, I believe, completion.
I
> sincerely doubt that 30 days is the time for 100% leaching, since that
ould
> mean the half life is a day or so. Way too short, so far as I understa
d
> that process.
> Diane Henshel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Josef Ackerman [mailto:ackerman@UNBC.CA]
> Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 5:10 PM
> To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
> Subject: Re: plasticizers in aquarium equipment
>
>
> Hi Ethan
>
> There are plasticizers in all of these things, but they
> leach relatively quickly (30 days for PVC if I recall
> correctly from the NSF [National Sanitation Foundation]
> summaries). The key in any experiment is to condition
> the equipment prior to use. That should work in most
> applications, but it certainly is worth exploring.
>
> Good luck
>
> Joe Ackerman
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> | Dr. Josef Daniel Ackerman |
> | Associate Professor |
> | Environmental Studies Program |
> | University of Northern British Columbia |
> | Prince George, BC, CANADA V2N 4Z9 |
> | |
> | Tel: (250) 960-5839 Fax: (250) 960-5539 |
> | email: ackerman@unbc.ca |
> | WWW: http://quarles.unbc.ca/nres/jda.htm |
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> On Thu, 3 May 2001, Ethan Clotfelter wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > This may not be appropriate for this listserv, but here goes...
> >
> > Anyone know anything about the plasticizer content of common aquar
um
> > equipment (filter casings, hard PVC tubing, etc.)? Given the evid
nce of
> > endocrine disrupting effects of things like bisphenol-A and phthal
tes on
> > numerous species of fish, it seems like someone would have looked
nto it.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Ethan Clotfelter
> >
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Dr. Ethan Clotfelter
> > Department of Biology
> > 549 River Avenue
> > Providence College
> > Providence, RI 02918-0001
> >
> > Phone/voice: (401) 865-2950
> > FAX: (401) 865-1438
> > Email: eclotfel@providence.edu
> > Web: http://www.providence.edu/bio/faculty.html
> >
>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 May 2001 17:58:46 -0400
From: "Robertson, Ross" <rrobertson@NRDC.ORG>
Subject: Job Opening - NRDC Forest Initiative
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT-STAFF RESOURCE SPECIALIST
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a national non-profit
environmental organization, is seeking a Staff Resource Specialist to
work on our Forest Initiative in our San Francisco office. NRDC has
over 450,000 members, and our staff includes lawyers, scientists, policy
analysts, and resource specialists who are working together to protect
public health and the environment. To learn more about NRDC, visit our
web site at www.nrdc.org.
The Resource Specialist's primary responsibilities will include:
* overseeing NRDC's program to conduct supply audits of
large homebuilding corporations who have committed to eliminate their
use of wood from endangered forests;
* assisting these companies to identify and procure
environmentally certified lumber as an alternative to old growth wood
from endangered forests; and
* securing commitments from other homebuilders to
eliminate their use of wood from endangered forests, and implementing
these agreements.=20
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the
implementation of all portions of this project. Other responsibilities
will include assisting NRDC in meeting fundraising goals; representing
NRDC in political, scientific, and media forums; supporting NRDC
campaigns to protect forest ecosystems; public speaking and public
education; and report writing. Substantial domestic travel will be
required.
Qualifications
FOREST POLICY: Candidates must have professional experience in
developing and implementing chain-of-custody audit procedures for
tracking wood products in the supplies of large corporate wood
consumers. Candidates should also have a working knowledge of forest
policy, especially forest certification. Familiarity and contacts with
other forest advocacy organizations and with forest industry groups is
desirable. =20
PRIVATE SECTOR OUTREACH: Candidates must have the ability to recruit
supporters and secure partners from the private sector in NRDC's green
building and forest certification programs. Candidates should also have
the ability to negotiate, develop, and implement partnership agreements
with building industry and forest products representatives. Some
background in business/economics and familiarity with corporate
operations and decision-making is highly desirable. Knowledge of the
economics and structure of the residential building industry is
preferable.
ADVOCACY: Excellent oral and written advocacy skills and communication
abilities are essential. Candidates should be solutions-oriented team
players with highly developed strategic skills.
We are seeking candidates with substantial work experience and a proven
track record of success. Salary will be commensurate with experience,
up to the mid-sixties. We offer attractive benefits and a collegial
working environment.
Please send a letter of application, resume, and writing sample to NRDC,
Department FI, Attn: Ross Robertson, 71 Stevenson Street, Suite 1825,
San Francisco, CA 94105 by May 28, 2001. No phone calls please.
NRDC is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people of color are
encouraged to apply.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 5 May 2001 00:56:43 +0200
From: Petra Wester <PetraWester@WEB.DE>
Subject: Call for comments - OCP
CALL FOR COMMENTS ON MINDO PIPELINE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The Ecuadorain Government is seeking public comments on the Environmental Im
act
Assessment (EIA) for the proposed Mindo oil pipeline. The closing date for
comments is 14 May 2001. The Ministry of Environment is then due to grant a
license to the OCP consortium in mid-June with construction due to begin in
July.
Comments can be sent by email to eiaocp@andinanet.net.
The Executive Summary of the EIA is available at www.menergia.gov.ec or
www.ambientecuador.com
further information: www.leastimpact.org;
http://worldtwitch.virtualave.net/ecuador_pipeline.htm
____________________________________________________________________________
_
Ferienklick.de - 225 Reisekataloge auf einen Blick!
Direkt zu Ihrem Traumurlaub: http://ferienklick.de/?PP=2-0-100-105-0
------------------------------
End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 3 May 2001 to 4 May 2001
*************************************************
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Thanks to discussion with TVR, I have decided to put a link to back files of the discussion group. This months back files.
The link to complete archives is available elsewhere.
This text was originally an e-mail. It was converted using a program
RUPANTAR- a simple e-mail-to-html converter.
(c)Kolatkar Milind. kmilind@ces.iisc.ernet.in