Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 26 Jun 2001 to 27 Jun 2001
There are 16 messages totalling 1104 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Genetically modified canola becoming a weed (9)
2. MS RA in Tropical Pollination Biology
3. Looking for postdoc position
4. Oryx - the International Journal of Conservation - Contents list
5. DDT vs Malaria (2)
6. measuring light
7. Ph.D. studentship: ecological modeling of vertebrate dis
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 20:02:57 -0700
From: John Gerlach <gerlach1@PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
David,
This is not an issue of semantics. The article described herbicide resistant
canola as a problem weed of agricultural fields because it is harder to kill
with herbicides. A weed is not necessarily an invasive species. My question
was simply whether either herbicide resistant canola or standard canola has
or is capable of invading natural areas or whether it is simply an agronomic
problem?
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 David M. Bryant
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2001 5:35 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
John,
Lets try to avoid semantic arguments such as what defines a weed. I am
also not confining the argument to canola. The point is simple, invasive
species are those that have a competitive advantage over native species
allowing them to dominate a community from which they were prevously
geographically isolated. When we seek to "improve" species by imparting
competitive traits through GM we take the risk of producing aggressive
invaders. My comparison with non-GM invasives undersores the our inability
to control those species that have simply been transported beyond their
geographic origin. when we provide genetic tratis that provide resistance
to pesticide application, as well as to disease and herbivory (insect), we
produce a plant with competitive advantages over native species and thus
the potential for invasion of natural ecosystems. Given this possibility
for disaster, we should not wait for evidence that it has occured but seek
proactive prevention.
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
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 08:41:55 -0600
From: Peter Koetsier <PKOET@BOISESTATE.EDU>
Subject: MS RA in Tropical Pollination Biology
Please respond to the address given in the ad:
Open Fall 2001 - Research Assistantship for a Masters of Science Degree in =
Biology* I am seeking applicants for a Masters degree in Biology to study =
pollination biology of several related species of Gesneriaceae in tropical =
America. This project is part of a larger study examining evolution of =
floral symmetry in the neotropical subfamily Gesnerioideae of the family =
Gesneriaceae. Although most genera in Gesnerioideae are bilaterally =
symmetric, some genera have evolved to radial, or nearly radial symmetry. =
The project will be examining molecular based phylogenetic relationships =
within the subfamily and examining rates of evolution of a gene responsible=
for floral symmetry. These data will provide evidence for the numbers of =
times switches to radial symmetry have occurred and if there have been =
accelerated rates of evolution in the gene controlling floral symmetry =
among genera with radially symmetric flowers. The project to be undertaken=
by the Masters student is to determine if shifts in pollinators have =
resulted in selection for the radially symmetric forms. Thus the =
pollination biology of pairs of species, representing bilaterally and =
radially symmetric genera will be examined. Field work is expected to be =
conducted in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Three years of funding =
are available at the rate of $13,000 per year. I hope for field work to =
begin either in summer or fall of 2002, therefore admission could be as =
early as fall 2001, but will be more likely for spring 2002. Applicants =
should send all enquiries to me prior to applying for admission. I am =
looking for students that are responsible, capable of conducting field =
work in a foreign country independently, are interested in systematics/ecol=
ogy and can at a minimum communicate in Spanish. More information on the =
Masters degree program at Boise State University can be found at www.boises=
tate.edu/biology/ Please send all enquiries to jsmith14@email.boisestate.ed=
u. Dr. James Smith,professor of Biology, Dept. Of Biology, Boise State =
University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, 83725
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 17:09:05 +0200
From: Juan Carlos Berrio <berrio@SCIENCE.UVA.NL>
Subject: Looking for postdoc position
Dear all,
a tropical palecoecologist (palynologist expertise since the LGM onwards)
is looking for a post doc position.
best wishes,
Juan Carlos Berrio
Drs.Juan Carlos Berrio
Universiteit van Amsterdam
Instituut voor Biodiversiteit en Ecosysteem Dymanics (IBED)
Postbus 94062
1090 GB, Amsterdam
The Netherlands
___________________________
E-mail: berrio@science.uva. nl
Tel:(+31) 205 257 950
FAX:(+31) 205 257 844
___________________________
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 14:44:33 +0300
From: "Peter N. Mwangi" <pmwangi@UONBI.AC.KE>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
This is a MIME-encapsulated message.
--------------814566705831241926501875
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Colleagues
Fast realization of ecological (or is it not an ecological if it is in
agricultural systems) hazard of GMPs could be alarming especially for some
countries like Kenya where we are just adopting the technology.
However, if the herbicide resistance is the competitive advantage I believe
reduction in use of herbicide can reduce the problem since the gene will be
load in absence of the selective advantage. This is true since the paper do
s
not claim that the weed is infesting natural settng (where herbicide is not
applied) 'I stand to be collected'
If the weedy canola is a hybrid of the cultivated and the wild or feral cano
a
than I can foresee a bigger problem since this is only five years since the
release but there is no posibility of the weed invading natural vegetion unl
ss
modification was not only for herbicide resistance. ie if modification invol
ed
increasing fecudity and pathogen resistance.
Well am writing a paper on ecological risk assessment of introduction of GMP
in kenya
Peter N. Mwangi
Dept. of Botany
University of Nairobi
P.O.Box 30197 Nairobi
Tel: +254 (0)2 449004
Mobile: +254 (0)72 700 231
Email: pmwangi@uonbi.ac.ke
--------------814566705831241926501875--
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 10:46:14 +0100
From: Martin Fisher <martin.fisher@FAUNA-FLORA.ORG>
Subject: Oryx - the International Journal of Conservation - Contents list
For the interest of subscribers to ECOLOG-L, please find below the contents
list for the forthcoming July issue of Oryx - the International Journal of
Conservation. I have also added, in reverse chronological order, the
contents for the January and April issues of 2001. Some of the articles for
these two issues are available as free downloads. In future I will post
Contents to ECOLOG-L as issues are published. Full details of Oryx can be
found on the journal's web site (address as below) and enquiries can be
addressed directly to me as the Editor.
Best wishes, Martin
_______________________________________________________________
Martin Fisher
Editor, Oryx - The International Journal of Conservation
Fauna & Flora International
Great Eastern House, Tenison Road
Cambridge CB1 2TT
United Kingdom
E-mail: martin.fisher@fauna-flora.org
Tel: +44 1223 579476
Fax: +44 1223 461481
Visit the Oryx web site at http://www.blackwell-science.com/ory
Visit the FFI web site at http://www.fauna-flora.org
________________________________________________________________
VOLUME 35, ISSUE 3, JULY 2001
181 Guest Editorial
182 Letter from the Editor
183 Briefly
193 If community conservation is the answer in Africa, what is the
question?, W.M. Adams and D. Hulme
201 Taking the broad view of conservation. A response to Adams and Hulme,
David Western
204 Time to move Out of Africa! A response to Adams and Hulme, Ashish
Kothari
206 Conservation of the coniferous forests of Lebanon: past, present and
future prospects, S.N. Talhouk, R. Zurayk and S. Khuri
216 Is there a legal obligation to reintroduce animal species into their
former habitats?, P.A. Rees
224 The conservation status of Tanimbar corella and blue-streaked lory on
the Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia: results of a rapid contextual survey, Paul
Jepson, Nick Brickle and Yusup Chayadin
234 Assessing the risks of intervention: immobilization, radio-collaring
and vaccination of African wild dogs, R. Woodroffe
245 Distribution and status of the Apennine hare Lepus corsicanus in
continental Italy and Sicily, F.M. Angelici and L. Luiselli
250 An overview of the status and conservation of the red panda Ailurus
fulgens in India, with reference to its global status, Anwaruddin
Choudhury
260 Rediscovery of relict populations of the Nile crocodile Crocodylus
niloticus in south-eastern Mauritania, with observations on their natural
history, Tara Shine, Wolfgang B hme, Hemmo Nickel, Dirk F. Thies and Thomas
Wilms
263 Conservation news
267 Meetings
269 Publications
VOLUME 35, ISSUE 2, APRIL 2001
97 Guest editorial
The Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species
99 Code of Conduct for contributors
Code of Conduct for researchers contributing articles to Oryx - The
International Journal of Conservation
101 Briefly
111 Status of a reintroduced population of mountain gazelles Gazella
gazella in central Arabia: management lessons from an aridland
reintroduction, Kevin M. Dunham
119 Five years of conserving the 'world's rarest snake', the Antiguan racer
Alsophis antiguae, Jenny C. Daltry, Quentin Bloxam, Gillian Cooper, Mark L.
Day, John Hartley, McRonnie Henry, Kevel Lindsay and Brian E. Smith
128 Conservation of Zino's petrel Pterodroma madeira in the archipelago of
Madeira, Francis Zino, Paulo Oliveira, Susan King, Alan Buckle, Manuel
Biscoito, H. Costa Neves and Amilcar Vasconcelos
137 Ecological consequences of hunting in Atlantic forest patches, S¯o
Paulo, Brazil, L. Cullen Jr, E. R. Bodmer and C. Valladares-Padua
145 Two hundred years after a commercial marine turtle fishery: the current
status of marine turtles nesting in the Cayman Islands, Jonathan J. Aiken,
Brendan J. Godley, Annette C. Broderick, Timothy Austin, Gina Ebanks-Petrie
and Graeme C. Hays
152 Population status of the Alaotran gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus
alaotrensis, Thomas Mutschler, A. Jeannicq Randranarisoa and Anna T. C.
Feistner
158 Identifying priority ecoregions for rodent conservation at the genus
level, Giovanni Amori and Spartaco Gippoliti
166 Home ranges of translocated lesser anteaters Tamandua tetradactyla in
the cerrado of Brazil, Fl¡vio H. G. Rodrigues, Jader Marinho-Filho and
Hamilton G. dos Santos
170 Conservation news
172 Letters
174 Grants and opportunities
175 Meetings
177 Publications
VOLUME 35, ISSUE 1, JANUARY 2001
1 Guest Editorial
What role for national trees in promoting biodiversity conservation?, John
Rosenow
2 Letter from the Editor
3 Briefly
14 Dramatic decline in orang-utan numbers in the Leuser Ecosystem, Northern
Sumatra, C.P. van Schaik, K.A. Monk and J.M. Yarrow Robertson
26 Causal factors underlying the dramatic decline of the Sumatran
orang-utan, J.M. Yarrow Robertson and C. van Schaik
39 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda: Gorilla census, 1997, A.
McNeilage, A.J. Plumptre, A. Brock-Doyle and A. Vedder
48 Community attitudes and behaviour towards conservation: an assessment of
a community conservation programme around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda,
M. Infield and A. Namara
61 Status of the Ganges river dolphin or shushuk Platanista gangetica in
Kaptai Lake and the southern rivers of Bangladesh, B. D. Smith, B. Ahmed,
M. Edrise Ali and G. Braulik
73 Contemporary extinctions and population declines of the monarchs
(Pomarea spp.) in French Polynesia, South Pacific, J.-C. Thibault and J.-Y.
Meyer
81 Community-based conservation and social change amongst south Indian
honey-hunters: an anthropological perspective, P.N. Anderson
84 Letters
Response to report on the CITES conference in Nairobi, insofar as it refers
to whales
86 Grants and opportunities
88 Meetings
90 Publications
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 08:54:24 -0700
From: deborah rudnick <drudnick@NATURE.BERKELEY.EDU>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Not to digress too far into semantics, but John has brought up a subject of
great interest to me- that of "weed" vs "invader" vs "non-native"- I was
just trying to give someone a good description of these terms, and found
myself rather inarticulate on the topic. These terms have probably been
discussed in this forum before, but if anyone can enlighten me on some
possible differentiations between them- John, you seem to have suggested
one below, that "invaders" actually jump to new systems, not just
outcompete locally?- I'd greatly appreciate it.
thanks,
Debbie
At 08:01 PM 06/25/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>Ok, I think something is being missed here. A "weed" is different than a
>"invasive species". Herbicide resistance and the resulting "weedyness" m
y
>have agronomic consequences but it does not mean that GMO canola can inv
de
>non-agricultural ecosystems. Is there any data that suggests that either
>genotype of canola is or can be an invasive species?
>
>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 Ron McCormick
>Sent: Monday, June 25, 2001 6:19 PM
>To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
>Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
>
>
>David:
>Scale of one's imagination and vision...yes, many things once beloved
>are now considered pests, and I've been in the trenches with many
>(cogangrass, Brazilian pepper, water hyacinth, spotted knapweed), but
>your plea to limit focus to only the nature of the plant is exactly my
>point that we are missing scaling issues...Let's say, hypothetically, we
>know canola pollen might travel 200m or so, thus everyone agrees that,
>to err on the side of caution, as you suggest, we should use a 800m to
>1600m buffer between fields, end of story, no problem, if we only
>consider the scale at which an individual plant operates...ahh, but by
>ignoring the social and economic aspects, as you request, namely that
>farmers will use animal manure (which can contain seeds) as a good,
>cheap fertilizer, and that the percentage of herbicide-resistant canola
>cover in western Canada went from less than 1% to greater than 70% in
>less than five years (certainly a political and economic consideration
>well beyond the scale of an individual plant/field or community), we
>have rescaled the system beyond that which our original, myopic,
>plant-nature-only focused caution would have covered...certainly this
>example is a simplification of the actual scenario, but I hope you see
>my point that a species behavior in human-regulated systems scales well
>beyond its inherent biology, and a complete ecological analysis, seeking
>to do the cautious things, necessarily also involves the political
>(social and economic) segments of the system. That this involves vision
>and imagination, I whole-heartedly agree, and I seek to widen my vision
>and release my imagination every waking moment...
>
>Again, just a thought....
>RMC
>
>
>
>Ronald J. McCormick, Ph.D.
>Senior Ecologist
>Compliance Services International
>253-272-6345
>rmccormick@complianceservices.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: David M. Bryant [mailto:dmbryant@cisunix.unh.edu]
>Sent: Monday, June 25, 2001 05:13 PM
>To: Ron McCormick
>Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
>
>
>Ron,
>
>Scale indeed. Scale can also apply to the scope of one's imagination.
>While GM canola may not result in an exotic species (although how did it
>attract attention in the first place?) the lack of vision that it might
>escape begs the question: What else might we forget when designing
>tommorrows crops. Might I also mention that many agricultural crops are
>now considered pests, such as hemp for instance (please focus on the
>noxious aggressive nature, rather than the political aspects of the
>plant).
> In addition, how many people expected Norway maple to become an
>aggressive exotic? Let's stick to assumptions that ere on the side of
>caution please.
>
>
>
>
>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
>
Debbie Rudnick
Aquatic Ecology Lab
ESPM-Division of Insect Biology
201 Wellman Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
drudnick@nature.berkeley.edu
(510)642-6315 lab phone
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 09:17:28 -0700
From: Steve Erickson <wean@WHIDBEY.NET>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
At 10:24 AM -0400 6/26/01, Kristie Liptak Gianopulos wrote:
>Pardon my ignorance, but was this herbicide-tolerance something
>imparted to the canola plant intentionally, or was this trait an
>unintended consequence of changing its genome? If it was
>intentional, why would we want a plant we potentially could
>not get rid of?
>
>Just wondering...
>
>Kristie G.
>
=========================================
Monsanto very deliberately genetically engineered the canola so it
would not be affected by Monsanto's proprietary herbicide Roundup
(glyphosate). Monsanto sells farmers the seed and the herbicide.
Basically, Monsanto has created a farming system package that is
predicated and utterly dependent on the use of two of its proprietary
products. The theoretical justification - other than Monsanto's
bottom line (obviously the real justification and rationale for this
system) - is that fewer applications of herbicide will be necessary.
I am unaware of any actual studies demonstrating that herbicide use
has been decreased, and it may well have ben increased. Instead of
using a more whole systems approach (i.e. manipulating the
agroecosystem with techniques such as tillage, biocontrols, crop
rotation, intercropping, timing, etc.), the only method of weed
control contemplated by Monsanto's farming system package is their
proprietary herbicide glyphsoate tolerant canola seed and their
proprietary herbicide glyphosate. This is a totally herbicide
dependent farming system.
It does bring to my kind the classic image of the drug pusher hanging
out around the schoolyard. "Hey kids, the first shot's free." The
pusher knows he'll get back his initial investment later when the
kids are hooked. No doubt, Monsanto is hard at work on a new
proprietary chemical for controlling the weed they've created. I'm
sure they'll sell it at a very good price.
-Steve
****************************************
Frosty Hollow Ecological Restoration
Box 53, Langley, WA, USA 98260
phone: (360) 579-2332
fax: (360) 579-4080
wean@whidbey.net
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 09:29:00 -0700
From: Wayne Tyson <landrest@UTM.NET>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
At 02:44 PM 6/27/2001 +0300, you wrote:
>there is no posibility of the weed invading natural vegetion unless
>modification was not only for herbicide resistance. ie if modification
>involved
>increasing fecudity and pathogen resistance.
Dr. Mwangi:
Please provide supporting references and explain in greater detail,
particularly with respect to your assertion of "NO possibility" and just
why an increase in fecundity and pathogen resistance would be "required"
for the plant to become invasive. And especially please explain the
mechanisms which restrict a species from becoming invasive and confine it
to mere "weed" status. Given that, please go on to discuss your views
regarding the advance into, or restriction from, "weed" dispersal into
other disturbed environments within uncultivated or unmanaged wildlands
(e.g. as occurs as a result of logging, grazing/trampling, and "off-road"
activities.
Respectfully submitted,
WT
WT
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 12:02:44 -0400
From: ecologist123 <ecologist123@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject: DDT vs Malaria
There is an interesting article in the Jul 2nd "New Yorker"
describing the campaign to eradicate malaria using DDT.
The fundamental premise - spray walls with DDT and
the mosquitoes will land after their blood meals and die before they can
infect another person. It was recognized that massive spraying might lead
to development of
mosquitoes resistant to DDT (which has happened).
However, I recall that even wall spraying led to the
development of mosquitoes that did not land soon after feeding and flew away
unharmed.
Dex Hinckley
703-354-1342
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 09:50:21 -0700
From: Wayne Tyson <landrest@UTM.NET>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
--=====================_162824972==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 03:20 PM 6/26/2001 -0400, David M. Bryant wrote:
>I'm not criticising GM specifically, only that we should
>take into account the threat of creating super-competitive species with
he
>capability to reproduce. This could make the current crisis of exotic
>species look like a garden party (pun intended).
David:
Why are some Crucifers (pun intended) weedy and at least marginally
invasive (since they--e.g. Brassica nigra can colonize and "hold" a
disturbed site (like a gopher mound) within a stable ecosystem that is
otherwise resistant to "invasion" but others (say, broccoli) require
cultivation? I could have used the pea family, but that's another
pun. But seriously, folks . . .
WT
--=====================_162824972==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
<html>
At 03:20 PM 6/26/2001 -0400, David M. Bryant wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>I'm not criticising GM
specifically, only that we should<br>
take into account the threat of creating super-competitive species with
the<br>
capability to reproduce. This could make the current crisis of
exotic<br>
species look like a garden party (pun intended).</blockquote><br>
<br>
David:<br><br>
Why are some Crucifers (pun intended) weedy and at least marginally
invasive (since they--e.g. <i>Brassica nigra</i> can colonize an
"hold" a disturbed site (like a gopher mound) within a stable
ecosystem that is otherwise resistant to "invasion" but others
(say, broccoli) require cultivation? I could have used the pea
family, but that's another pun. But seriously, folks . .
<br><br>
WT<br>
</html>
--=====================_162824972==_.ALT--
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 10:21:41 -0700
From: John Gerlach <gerlach1@PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Wayne,
I'm not using "simply" in the disparaging sense and the issue of
invasiveness and agronomic impact are not "either or" questions. For
example, the Europeans are using older cropping and grazing systems to
restore their "weed" floras which they also consider be wild flowers. You
can see the blooms of these wild flowers in any of the impressionistic
paintings of poppy fields in France. A few of the species being restored,
Centaureas in particular, are some of the most invasive species in the
western United States. Defining "invasiveness" has proved to be very
difficult and the best article grappling with the problem is probably
Richardson et al. Naturalization and invasion of alien plants: concepts and
definitions. (2000) Diversity and Distributions 6:93-107.
My question again, because I'm not familar with canola except for the single
field that I sometimes drive by, is: Does anyone know whether either
genotype invades non-agricultural areas? Surely, since it has been planted
for so long over such a large area if it escapes or is invasive there should
be some reports. Peter Mwangi also asks whether canola can hybridize with
other species. If it doesn't excape, invade, or hybridize then herbicide
resistance in canola is exclusively a problem for industrial
agriculturalists and not for ecologists unless the question is why it is not
invasive.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:landrest@utm.net]
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 9:36 AM
To: gerlach1@pacbell.net; ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
At 08:02 PM 6/26/2001 -0700, John Gerlach wrote:
>My question
>was simply whether either herbicide resistant canola or standard canola
as
>or is capable of invading natural areas or whether it is simply an
agronomic
>problem?
Dr. Gerlach:
Do you believe that this is an "either or" question?
If it is "simply" and agronomic problem, what is your solution?
WT
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 13:48:53 -0700
From: Ron McCormick <rmccormick@COMPLIANCESERVICES.COM>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Steve:
My uncle, cousins, and the dairy farmers I work do love their land, but
they also know the price to the penny of every bit of equipment, seed,
feed and chemical they have, and how much per acre it costs them to use.
Farmers get information from many, sometimes conflicting, sources, and
are subject to often bizarre economic controls beyond their reach, so I
think characterizing them as naive children led about the nose by
herbicide pushers is pressing a bit too far.
Simplifying the scenario by externalizing all but two elements (farmers
and agrichemical companies) and heaving oneself against the barricades
of an evil multinational is a satisfying way of defining the
system...internalizing the complexity of the many interacting elements
and learning to weave narratives incorporating multiple perspectives
with a range of alternative futures that address the socio-economic
priorities of sending four farmers kids to college is an ecological way
of defining the system...of course, this is a much harder thing to do...
Pressing a system hard in one direction, much what is being done with
the one herbicide/one variety scenario is probably not a wise, long-term
approach to agriculture, but it has occurred....perhaps because the
farmers involved were not offered another solution, or the solutions
offered did not adequately address the farmers needs...perhaps stepping
outside and walking past the multinational barricades to offer
alternative futures that do address those needs will alter the future
construction of those same barricades without ever having to toss
oneself onto them...
Just a thought...
RMC
Ronald J. McCormick, Ph.D.
Senior Ecologist
Compliance Services International
1112 Alexander Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98421
253-272-6345 (voice)
253-272-6241 (fax)
rmccormick@complianceservices.com
www.complianceservices.com
=================Original
Message==============================================
From: Steve Erickson [mailto:wean@WHIDBEY.NET]
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 09:17 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Monsanto very deliberately genetically engineered the canola so it
would not be affected by Monsanto's proprietary herbicide Roundup
(glyphosate). Monsanto sells farmers the seed and the herbicide.
Basically, Monsanto has created a farming system package that is
predicated and utterly dependent on the use of two of its proprietary
products. The theoretical justification - other than Monsanto's
bottom line (obviously the real justification and rationale for this
system) - is that fewer applications of herbicide will be necessary.
I am unaware of any actual studies demonstrating that herbicide use
has been decreased, and it may well have ben increased. Instead of
using a more whole systems approach (i.e. manipulating the
agroecosystem with techniques such as tillage, biocontrols, crop
rotation, intercropping, timing, etc.), the only method of weed
control contemplated by Monsanto's farming system package is their
proprietary herbicide glyphsoate tolerant canola seed and their
proprietary herbicide glyphosate. This is a totally herbicide
dependent farming system.
It does bring to my kind the classic image of the drug pusher hanging
out around the schoolyard. "Hey kids, the first shot's free." The
pusher knows he'll get back his initial investment later when the
kids are hooked. No doubt, Monsanto is hard at work on a new
proprietary chemical for controlling the weed they've created. I'm
sure they'll sell it at a very good price.
-Steve
****************************************
Frosty Hollow Ecological Restoration
Box 53, Langley, WA, USA 98260
phone: (360) 579-2332
fax: (360) 579-4080
wean@whidbey.net
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 13:20:21 -0700
From: Tom Kaye <kayet@PEAK.ORG>
Subject: measuring light
Dear Ecologer's,
I need to measure light beneath a canopy as part of a study of the effects
of canopy disturbance on a rare herbaceous plant, and I need to select an
efficient and relevant method. I would appreciate any suggestions on
techniques and instrumentation, including field and physiology-based
opinions of LiCor light meters, densiometers, wide angle camera lenses, etc.
Please respond directly to me, and I'll post a summary to the list. Thank
you sincerely for your time.
Tom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thomas Kaye
Institute for Applied Ecology
mail: PO Box 758, Philomath, OR 97370
street: 4550 SW Nash, Corvallis, OR 97333
email: kayet@peak.org
phone: 541-753-3099
fax: 541-753-3098
web: www.appliedeco.org
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 17:22:27 +0000
From: "Raymond J. O'Connor" <oconnor.nfa.umaine@APOLLO.UMENFA.MAINE.ED
>
Subject: Ph.D. studentship: ecological modeling of vertebrate dis
Ph.D. Research Assistantship in Wildlife Ecology
USGS-BRD Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
and Department of Wildlife Ecology
University of Maine, Orono
Strategies for Ecological Modeling of Vertebrate Distributions
We wish to recruit a Ph.D. student for a 3-4 year research project
evaluating modern approaches to modeling species distributions, to
start this Fall. The goal of the project is to develop a strong
conceptual foundation for the modeling of vertebrate species
distribution and abundance, so as to link understanding of species
dynamics and habitat requirements to the strengths and weaknesses of
the modeling approaches currently available. The research should
thus enhance the use of ecological understanding in the selection and
application of statistical and computational models to distributional
modeling. The student will work with our database of national bird
distribution and environmental data as an empirical test-bed for the
project.
The person selected will join a group of students and research
associates currently engaged in distribution modeling in our
Department, which also has substantial research interests in
conservation biology and in the ecology of forest carnivores.
Department faculty include a Pew Fellow in conservation biology and a
Guggenheim Fellow in ecology, and several of our recent and current
graduate students are NSF Graduate Fellows. About 25 other
ecologist faculty are available in UM departments elsewhere on
campus.
Candidates should have B.S. and M.S. degrees in the biological
sciences and/or biostatistics completed by Fall 2001. A strong
background in quantitative ecology to complement excellent academic
credentials is needed, and prior experience with GIS will be an
advantage. The minimum requirements for graduate study in the
Department of Wildlife Ecology are a GPA above 3.0 and GRE scores
(VQA) totals above 1800. Review of applications will begin June
30th. Applications should provide a Resume, copies of transcripts
and GRE scores, and contact details for three referees, and should be
sent to Raymond O'Connor at the address below.
Contacts:
Dr Raymond J. O'Connor
Department of Wildlife Ecology
5755 Nutting Hall
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5755
Phone: (207) 581-2880
Fax: (207) 581-2858
email: oconnor@umenfa.maine.edu
OR
Dr William B. Krohn
Leader,
Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife
Research Unit
USGS Biological Resources Division
5755 Nutting Hall, Rm 258
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5755
Phone: (207) 581-2870
Fax: (207) 581-2858
email: wkrohn@umenfa.maine.edu
Questions about the position may be directed to either of the above.
.....................................................................
Professor Raymond J. O'Connor Tel: (207) 581-2880
238 Nutting Hall Fax: (207) 581-2858
Department of Wildlife Ecology
University of Maine email address:
ORONO, ME04469-5755 oconnor@umenfa.maine.edu
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 18:33:19 -0700
From: Steve Erickson <wean@WHIDBEY.NET>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Ron:
I didn't mean to imply (and certainly didn't say) that the farmers
were "naive children". One of my points was that even in the context
of goals including economics from the individual farmer's
perspective, the Roundup Ready canola farming system might not be a
good choice. Modern advertising methods have certainly persuaded
people in numerous different cultures to take actions that were not
in either their short or long term interest. The aggressive marketing
coupled with follow up methods attempting to force farmers into
dependency on Monsanto's agri-systems (i.e. suing farmers whose
non-Roundup ready fields have been contaminated against their will)
together serve to remove the flexibility and choice of the farming
culture to attempt other agri-systems.
Is there a "villain" here? I think there is - and its not the
farmers. As you point out, they're subject to numerous forces that
they have no control over. But I don't see how this system can be
changed without challenging (either directly or indirectly) the agent
that is creating and reinforcing this system. In many respects, the
whole concept of herbicide resistant crops can be thought of as a
brilliant doctor who attacks the problem of in-grown toe nails by
creating a treatment which must be continually repeated, which has
the unfortunate side effect of causing the rest of the foot to become
repeatedly gangrenous, and the particular doctor just happens to also
have a proprietary cure for the gangrene. What more could a modern
marketer want than this sort of merry-go-round where its increasingly
difficult for the riders to get off, but they have to pay every time
they go around anyway. The Monsanto crop-herbicide system is
explicitly designed to create this dependency.
Farmers have been dealing with weeds since there has been
agriculture. They've used methods ranging from eating (or otherwise
using) the weeds to sophisticated timing of planting to tillage, to
cover cropping to flame weeding to mixed cropping systems to crop
rotation etc. There are other ways of dealing with non-crop plants
(i.e. weeds) than relying on Roundup. Agriculturists have enormously
more flexibility in this way than restorationists who frequently are
in situations where there are still plants that we don't want to
destroy. Clean tillage, rotation, etc. are not options.
To summarize: I don't think the farmers are "naive children" but I do
think they're being "led around" by pushers of systems that are
designed and consciously intended to make them dependent on the
pushers. Monsanto did not design this system to "feed the world" or
make farming more economically rewarding for the farmers. They
created and pushed this system to make money for themselves. Period.
It works really well because once people get in, it gets harder to
get out.
One final comment: you allude to the farmers you know having detailed
information about their personal economic situation. In the context
of Roundup Ready canola becoming a weed, the economic concept of
externialities bears mentioning. The people who are planting Roundup
ready Canola are likely not now the ones who pay the cost of it
becoming a weed, at least not until they attempt to grow a different
crop.
-Steve
=====================
At 1:48 PM -0700 6/27/01, Ron McCormick wrote:
>Steve:
>My uncle, cousins, and the dairy farmers I work do love their land, but
>they also know the price to the penny of every bit of equipment, seed,
>feed and chemical they have, and how much per acre it costs them to use.
>Farmers get information from many, sometimes conflicting, sources, and
>are subject to often bizarre economic controls beyond their reach, so I
>think characterizing them as naive children led about the nose by
>herbicide pushers is pressing a bit too far.
>
>Simplifying the scenario by externalizing all but two elements (farmers
>and agrichemical companies) and heaving oneself against the barricades
>of an evil multinational is a satisfying way of defining the
>system...internalizing the complexity of the many interacting elements
>and learning to weave narratives incorporating multiple perspectives
>with a range of alternative futures that address the socio-economic
>priorities of sending four farmers kids to college is an ecological way
>of defining the system...of course, this is a much harder thing to do...
>
>Pressing a system hard in one direction, much what is being done with
>the one herbicide/one variety scenario is probably not a wise, long-term
>approach to agriculture, but it has occurred....perhaps because the
>farmers involved were not offered another solution, or the solutions
>offered did not adequately address the farmers needs...perhaps stepping
>outside and walking past the multinational barricades to offer
>alternative futures that do address those needs will alter the future
>construction of those same barricades without ever having to toss
>oneself onto them...
>
>Just a thought...
>RMC
>
>Ronald J. McCormick, Ph.D.
>Senior Ecologist
>Compliance Services International
>1112 Alexander Avenue
>Tacoma, Washington 98421
>253-272-6345 (voice)
>253-272-6241 (fax)
>rmccormick@complianceservices.com
>www.complianceservices.com
>
>
>
>=================Original
>Message==============================================
>From: Steve Erickson [mailto:wean@WHIDBEY.NET]
>Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 09:17 AM
>To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
>Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
>
>Monsanto very deliberately genetically engineered the canola so it
>would not be affected by Monsanto's proprietary herbicide Roundup
>(glyphosate). Monsanto sells farmers the seed and the herbicide.
>Basically, Monsanto has created a farming system package that is
>predicated and utterly dependent on the use of two of its proprietary
>products. The theoretical justification - other than Monsanto's
>bottom line (obviously the real justification and rationale for this
>system) - is that fewer applications of herbicide will be necessary.
>I am unaware of any actual studies demonstrating that herbicide use
>has been decreased, and it may well have ben increased. Instead of
>using a more whole systems approach (i.e. manipulating the
>agroecosystem with techniques such as tillage, biocontrols, crop
>rotation, intercropping, timing, etc.), the only method of weed
>control contemplated by Monsanto's farming system package is their
>proprietary herbicide glyphsoate tolerant canola seed and their
>proprietary herbicide glyphosate. This is a totally herbicide
>dependent farming system.
>It does bring to my kind the classic image of the drug pusher hanging
>out around the schoolyard. "Hey kids, the first shot's free." The
>pusher knows he'll get back his initial investment later when the
>kids are hooked. No doubt, Monsanto is hard at work on a new
>proprietary chemical for controlling the weed they've created. I'm
>sure they'll sell it at a very good price.
>-Steve
>
>****************************************
>Frosty Hollow Ecological Restoration
>Box 53, Langley, WA, USA 98260
>phone: (360) 579-2332
>fax: (360) 579-4080
>wean@whidbey.net
Frosty Hollow Ecological Restoration
Box 53, Langley, WA 98260
(360) 579-2332
wean@whidbey.net
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 18:33:26 -0700
From: Steve Erickson <wean@WHIDBEY.NET>
Subject: Re: DDT vs Malaria
>There is an interesting article in the Jul 2nd "New Yorker"
>describing the campaign to eradicate malaria using DDT.
>The fundamental premise - spray walls with DDT and
>the mosquitoes will land after their blood meals and die before they can
>infect another person. It was recognized that massive spraying might l
ad
>to development of
>mosquitoes resistant to DDT (which has happened).
>However, I recall that even wall spraying led to the
>development of mosquitoes that did not land soon after feeding and flew
way
>unharmed.
====================
It would take a fair amount of digging to unearth the reference, but
I recall hearing of an episode in SE Asia in the 1960's where walls
were dusted with DDT. The village cats rubbed against the walls and
then ingested massive doses of DDT when grooming (licking their fur).
The cats died and no longer kept the rat population in check. This
allowed a local population explosion of rats, which harbored fleas
that carried bubonic plague that then afflicted the local humans. So
the village was saved from malaria, but ended up with bubonic plague.
-Steve
Frosty Hollow Ecological Restoration
Box 53, Langley, WA 98260
(360) 579-2332
wean@whidbey.net
------------------------------
Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 25 Jun 2001 to 26 Jun 2001
There are 12 messages totalling 1097 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. econ loss of the Dead Zone
2. Genetically modified canola becoming a weed (4)
3. eco-news June 26, 2001
4. opportunity to help support a congressional effort to increase funding
or
environmental monitoring.
5. remote drippers
6. papers in press at journal of ecology
7. postdocs available with Brown Treesnakes
8. Paid ECO internships available shortly at NOAA PART 2 (positi ons 5-10)
9. Environmental Job Openings from EnviroNetwork
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 23:26:15 -0500
From: Wendee Holtcamp <ecowriter@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: econ loss of the Dead Zone
Has anybody ever tried to estimate the economic loss caused by
the Gulf of Mexico's Dead Zone?
This is for a possible magazine article I'm proposing -- editor
was curious about the above. Any research leads or info that you
can refer me to, I'd greatly appreciate it. If you have a
reference, I would very much appreciate if you could also tell me
what university the primary author is at so I can contact
him/her.
Thanks in advance!
Wendee Holtcamp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wendee Holtcamp -- ecowriter@earthlink.net
~~ Environmental Journalism ~~ www.greendzn.com ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece
of the continent, a part of the main. -- John Donne
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 08:35:14 -0400
From: "David M. Bryant" <dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
John,
Lets try to avoid semantic arguments such as what defines a weed. I am
also not confining the argument to canola. The point is simple, invasive
species are those that have a competitive advantage over native species
allowing them to dominate a community from which they were prevously
geographically isolated. When we seek to "improve" species by imparting
competitive traits through GM we take the risk of producing aggressive
invaders. My comparison with non-GM invasives undersores the our inability
to control those species that have simply been transported beyond their
geographic origin. when we provide genetic tratis that provide resistance
to pesticide application, as well as to disease and herbivory (insect), we
produce a plant with competitive advantages over native species and thus
the potential for invasion of natural ecosystems. Given this possibility
for disaster, we should not wait for evidence that it has occured but seek
proactive prevention.
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
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 10:24:59 -0400
From: Kristie Liptak Gianopulos <kgiano@CHUMA.CAS.USF.EDU>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Pardon my ignorance, but was this herbicide-tolerance something
imparted to the canola plant intentionally, or was this trait an
unintended consequence of changing its genome? If it was
intentional, why would we want a plant we potentially could
not get rid of?
Just wondering...
Kristie G.
***************************
Kristie Gianopulos
Dept. of Biology, SCA110
University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33620
(813)974-3250
***************************
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 11:38:34 -0700
From: Ron McCormick <rmccormick@COMPLIANCESERVICES.COM>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
David:
I agree with not devolving into the discussion of "what is a
weed"...but, perhaps you can elaborate on why a "traditionally
developed" crop variety, "improved by imparting competitive traits" and
often quite specifically developed for insect/disease resistance, is any
less a potential invader/disaster than a transgenic variety? My thought
is that the method has become the focus of the debate, when the issue is
really creation of a new variety of plant/animal (through whatever
methods) and releasing it virtually unconstrained into an
informationally open system based on very short-term, small-scale
studies.
RMC
Ronald J. McCormick, Ph.D.
Senior Ecologist
Compliance Services International
1112 Alexander Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98421
253-272-6345 (voice)
253-272-6241 (fax)
rmccormick@complianceservices.com
www.complianceservices.com
-----Original Message-----
From: David M. Bryant [mailto:dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2001 05:35 AM
To: ECOLOG-L@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
John,
Lets try to avoid semantic arguments such as what defines a weed. I am
also not confining the argument to canola. The point is simple,
invasive
species are those that have a competitive advantage over native species
allowing them to dominate a community from which they were prevously
geographically isolated. When we seek to "improve" species by imparting
competitive traits through GM we take the risk of producing aggressive
invaders. My comparison with non-GM invasives undersores the our
inability
to control those species that have simply been transported beyond their
geographic origin. when we provide genetic tratis that provide
resistance
to pesticide application, as well as to disease and herbivory (insect),
we
produce a plant with competitive advantages over native species and thus
the potential for invasion of natural ecosystems. Given this
possibility
for disaster, we should not wait for evidence that it has occured but
seek
proactive prevention.
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
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 15:20:28 -0400
From: "David M. Bryant" <dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU>
Subject: Re: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Ron,
It appears that we are closer to agreement than we may realize. Yes,
development of highly competitive breeds/races/strains by any means creates
the potential for invasion into non-agricultural ecosystems. And yes the
problem transcends the debate of method, but I'm not sure that the
Terminator Concept is yet dead, as ecological arguments were not provided
in its support. I belive that I have qualified all my statements with
disclaimer that I'm not criticising GM specifically, only that we should
take into account the threat of creating super-competitive species with the
capability to reproduce. This could make the current crisis of exotic
species look like a garden party (pun intended).
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
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 17:05:01 -0400
From: Karen Claxon <kclaxon@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: eco-news June 26, 2001
BC Premier Launches Fight Against Pine Beetle
Calling it an economic crisis that threatens 25 central B.C.
communities, Premier Gordon Campbell declared war Monday on the mountain
pine beetle infestation that is killing trees across a wide swath of the
province's Interior. The worst attack of mountain pine beetles in B.C.
history has infested $4.2 billion worth of Interior timber in an area
double the size of Vancouver Island. As a first step to deal with the
crisis, B.C. chief forester Larry Pedersen announced Monday an increase
of almost 50 per cent in the amount of wood the forest industry can cut
in the Quesnel timber-supply area. But Campbell, announcing he has
established a special government task force to develop a beetle attack
strategy, indicated the province's response will ultimately be far more
wide-ranging. (6-26-01) From the Vancouver Sun.
http://www.vancouversun.com/newsite/news/010626/5008928.html
Campbell Says There's a State of Emergency In BC's Forests From the
Provence
http://www.vancouverprovince.com/newsite/news/010626/5006196.html
Liberals Want Pine Beetle Plan, From the Prince George Citizen
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/NEW/news/stories/news1.html
Task Force to Fight Beetle Infestation Killing BC Timber(6-26-01) From
the National Post.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/national/story.html?f=/stories/20010626
/601876.html
Crows Are the Bird of the Future Puget Sound Area
The bird of the future is thriving in my Seattle neighborhood. Now, I'm
not claiming we're Tokyo, where crows are so plentiful, so brazen, so
big and so menacing that the overwhelmed authorities have launched an
ineffectual campaign to destroy nests - chicks, eggs and all. But
scientists promise that Seattleites will keep seeing more and more crows
in the years to come. The same is true for residents of Pierce County
and just about any other place where there are trash cans and a growing
human population ready to fill them, researchers say. Put simply, the
crow - a shrewd, garbage-eating scavenger - is the bird of the future.
(6-26-01) From the Tacoma News Tribune.
http://www.tribnet.com/frame.asp?/news/local/0626a15.html
Developers Saving Through Deposits in Wetlands Bank
Lyndon Lee, who heads a Seattle-based environmental consulting firm that
has worked extensively on wetlands mitigation projects around the
country, said wetlands are important not just to the native plants and
animals that rely on the environment, but also help improve water
quality by filtering out or absorbing pollutants and runoff from
developed areas. He estimated that the cost to a developer or builder
for wetland mitigation would run about 10 percent of the total project
cost, depending on the type and amounts of wetlands involved. (6-25-01)
>From the Puget Sound Business Journal.
http://seattle.bcentral.com/seattle/stories/2001/06/25/focus12.html
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 19:25:47 -0500
From: "David W. Inouye" <di5@umail.umd.edu>
Subject: opportunity to help support a congressional effort to increase fund
ng
for environmental monitoring.
Dear Ecologgers,
Below is an opportunity to help support a congressional effort to increase
funding for environmental monitoring.
Sincerely,
Nadine Lymn
ESA Director of Public Affairs
Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Schumer (D-NY) are encouraging their
Senate colleagues to sign-on to a letter to Senators Byrd (D-WVA),
Chairman, and Stevens (R-AK), Ranking member of the Senate Appropriations
Commitee urging greater federal funding for national monitoring networks
for air and water.
You can help this effort by contacting your senators and requesting that
they sign onto the 'Dear Colleague' letter to support funding for national
environmental monitoring.
Leahy and Schumer's letter calls for an increase of the baseline annual
funding to air quality monitoring networks of $13.6 million and a one-time,
modernization/upgrade investment of $13.6 million. The senators note in
their letter the great value of U.S. monitoring programs and the need to
repair, upgrade, and add additional sites to sustain the long-term,
scientific record of air and water quality trends that informs policy and
decision-makers on key environmental legistlation, such as the Clean Air Act
To find your Senators' contact information, visit
http://congress.nw.dc.us/c-span/elecmail.html
Letters should follow the format below and whenever possible, offer
examples drawn from your Senators' state (examples of network gaps are
included below).
The Honorable (name of Senator)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (last name of Senator):
===========================
According to the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation, examples of network
gaps include:
- No Clean Air Status and Trends Network sites (CASTNet) in the central
U.S., incomplete coverage in the southeast and western U.S., and approx.
20% annual data loss due to equipment failure. Researchers are unable to
develop methods for estimating regional dry deposition due to limits in
coverage.
- There are no mercury monitoring sites in high-emitting states such as
Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, and fewer than 10 sites are conducting
speciation measurements.
- Equipment for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) was
developed in the mid-1970s and there is currently a 15% data loss due to
equipment failure. Improved design for NADP collectors would provide:
increased mechanical reliability of equipment, significant protection of the
equipment from lightening strikes (the primary cause of failure), improved
accuracy and efficiency of rainfall measurements.
- Flat funding for the Atmospheric Integrated Research and Monitoring
Network (AIRMon) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration led
to the closing of three sites: Sequoia, CA; Panola, GA; and Burlington, VT.
It is anticipated that the Smith Island, MD site will be closed this year
due to lack of funding.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 15:42:04 -0600
From: Kurt Reinhart <Reinhart@SELWAY.UMT.EDU>
Subject: remote drippers
Please respond to Judy Perkins at jperkins@selway.umt.edu.
Judy is trying to setup a dripline in an alpine area with a natural
spring but no other sources of water. Have any of you created a
dripline or dripping system that operates without typical forms of water
pressure? If you have, please send your responses to Judy.
Thank you in advance.
--
Kurt Reinhart
University of Montana
Division of Biological Sciences
Missoula, MT 59812
Office: (406) 243-5935
Fax: (509) 756-8036
E-mail: Reinhart@selway.umt.edu
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 18:56:53 +0100
From: Lindsay Haddon <lindsay@ECOLOGY.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: papers in press at journal of ecology
Journal of Ecology : Volume 89 issue 4
(August 2001)
CONTENTS
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
Insects and plants in a changing atmosphere
J.B. Whittaker
STANDARD PAPERS
Growth strategies of a shade tolerant tropical tree: the interactive
effects of canopy gaps and simulated herbivory
A.G. Blundell & D.R. Peart
Canopy seed bank of mediterranean pines in Southeastern Spain
R. Tapias, L.A. Gil, P. Fuentes-Utrilla & J.A. Pardos
Patterns of fruit production in the subdioecious plant Astilbe biternata
M.S. Olson
Alternative successional pathways in the amazon basin
R.C.G. Mesquita, K. Ickes, G. Ganade & G.B. Williamson
Multiple scale composition and spatial distribution patterns of the NE
Minnesota pre-settlement forest
S.K. Friedman, P.B. Reich & L. Frelich
Competitive effects of grasses and woody plants in mixed-grass prairie
D.A. Peltzer & M. Kochy
Frugivory at Juniperus communis depends more on population characteristics
than on individual attributes
D. Garcia, R. Zamora, J.M. Gomez & J.A. Hodar
Shading by shrubs in a desert system reduces the physiological and
demographic performance of an associated herbaceous perennial
I.N. Forseth, D.A. Wait & B.B. Casper
The effect of plant species on soil nitrogen mineralisation
T.A.J. van der Krift & F. Berendse
Rodent limited establishment of bush lupine: field experiments on the
cumulative effects of granivory
J. Maron & E.L. Simms
Cross-scale vegetation patterns of flooding pampa grasslands
S.B. Perelman, J.C. Leon & M. Oesterheld
Dispersal potential and early growth in 14 tropical mangroves: do early
life history traits correlate with patterns of adult distribution?
P.J. Clarke, R.A. Kerrigan & C.J. Westphal
Aapa mires as carbon sink and source during the holocene
M. Makila, M. Saarnisto & T. Kankainen
Periodic spotted patterns in semi-arid vegeation explained by a
propagation-inhibition model
P. Couteron & O. Lejeune
Tragedy of the commons as a result of root competition
M. Gersani, J.S. Brown & E. O'Brien
-------------------------------------------------
Forthcoming papers (provisional contents - Oct/Dec)
Issue 89/5:
STANDARD PAPERS
Root proliferation, root turnover rates and biomass production of two
perennial grass species: the long-term disadvantages of selective root
placement
B. Fransen & H. de Kroon
Shoot damage effects on regeneration of maples (Acer) across an
understorey-gap microenvironmetal gradient
T. Sipe & F.A. Bazzaz
Demographic consequences of canopy and substratum heterogeneity to the grey
mangrove Avicennia marina
T.E. Minchinton
Short-term epidemic dynamics in the Cakile maritima-Altenaria brassicola
host-pathogen metapopulation association
P.H. Thrall, J.J. Burdon & C.H. Bock
Variation in resistance and virulence among demes of a plant host-pathogen
metapopulation
P.H. Thrall, J.J. Burdon & A. Young
Degradation of mangrove tissues and implications for peat formation in
Belizean island forests
B. Middleton & K. McKee
Leaf dynamics and maintenance of tree crowns in a Malaysian rainforest
stand
N. Osada, H. Takeda, A. Furukawa & M. Awang
Maintenance of the fruit-colour polymorhism in Myrtus communis and
differential effect of mammals and birds on seed germination and seedling
growth
A. Traveset, N. Riera & R.E. Mas
Abrupt vegetation changes in the Segura mountains of southern Spain
throughout the holocene
J.S. Carrion, M. Munerva, M. Dupre & A. Andrade
Differential facilitation by a nitrogen-fixing shrub during primary
succession influences relative performance of canopy tree species
P. Bellingham, L.R. Walker & D.A. Wardle
The relative importance of dispersal limitation in secondary forest
succession
K. Verheyen & M. Hermy
The effect of reproduction on nitrogen use efficiency of three species of
the carnivorous genus Pinguicula
R.L. Eckstein & P.S. Karlsson
Nitrogen deposition and forest expansion in the northern Great Plains
M. Kochy & S.D. Wilson
Issue 89/6:
Seedling recruitment patterns over four years in a fragmented perennial
grassland community
J.W. Morgan
Environmental control on biomass production and species density in meadows
and fens
H.O. Venterink, M. Wassen, J.D.M. Belgers & J.T.A. Verhoeven
Root proliferation in decaying roots and old root channels; a nutrient
conservation mechanism in oligotrophic mangrove forests
K. McKee
Fire intervals changed c.2000 years ago in the eastern Canadian boreal
forest. Does vegetation or climate trigger the fire regime?
C. Carcaillet, P. Richard, B. Frechette, Y. Bergeron, S. Gauthier & Y.T.
Prairie
Tree mortality rates and longevity in mature and old-growth
hemlock-hardwood forests
C.G. Lorimer, S.E. Dahir & E.V. Nordheim
Root system size and precision in nutrient foraging: responses to the
spatial pattern of nutrient supply in six herbaceous species
D.K. Wijesinghe, E. John, S. Beurskens & M.J. Hutchings
Relationships between productivity, number of shoots and number of species
in bryophytes and vascular plants
A. Bergamini, D. Pauli, M. Peintinger & B. Schmid
Biodiversity and phytomass accumulation in a semi-arid grassland
T.G. O'Connor, L.M. Haines & H.A. Snyman
Habitat associations of trees and shrubs in a 50ha neotropical forest plot
K. Harms, R. Condit, S.P. Hubbell & R.B. Foster
Integrating vital rate variability into perturbation analysis: a simulation
approach for population matrix models
P.A. Zuidema & M. Franco
The influence of nutrient loading, dissolved organic carbon and higher
trophic levels on the interaction between submerged plants and periphyton
J.I. Jones, J.O. Young, J.W. Eaton & B. Moss
Forest canopy and community dynamics in a temperate old-growth evergreen
broad-leaved forestin SW Japan: 7-year and 4-ha plot study
M. Miura, T. Manabe, S-I. Yamamoto & N. Nishimura
Global change and arctic ecosystems: is lichen decline a function of
increases
in vascular plant biomass?
J.H.C. Cornelissen, T.V. Callaghan, J.M. Alatalo, A. Michelsen, D.S. Hik,
S.E. Hobbie, M. Press, C. Robinson, G.R. Shaver, G.K. Phoenix, D.
Gwynn-Jones, S. Jonasson, F.S. Chapin, U. Molau.
Retarded hydrosere: anthropogenic and climatic signals in a holocene raised
bog
profile from NE Hungary
E. Magyari, P. Sumegi, M. Braun, G. Jakab & M. Molnar
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Executive Editor:
Anthony J. Davy (a.j.davy@uea.ac.uk)
Managing Editor:
Lindsay Haddon (lindsay@ecology.demon.co.uk)
Editorial Office:
Journal of Ecology
British Ecological Society
26 Blades Court
Deodar Road
London SW15 2NU
UK
Websites:
www.demon.co.uk/bes/journals (for data archive and index to biological
flora)
www.blackwell-science.com/jec (for instructions to authors, contents of
recent issues
and forthcoming papers)
www.blackwell-synergy.com (for electronic versions, volume 87-present)
www.jstor.org (for the JSTOR journal archive covering volumes 1-85)
Please reply to lindsay@ecology.demon.co.uk, unless you intend to attach
graphics, .pdf or other large (>1MB) files (please use
journal@ecology.demon.co.uk for these).
---------------------------------------------
Lindsay Haddon
Managing Editor, Journal of Ecology
British Ecological Society,
26, Blades Court, Deodar Road
Putney, London SW15 2NU, UK.
e-mail: lindsay@ecology.demon.co.uk
phone: 0208-871-9797
fax: 0208-871-9779
***I check e-mail most days although I'm only in the Putney office on
Tuesdays and Thursdays***
The British Ecological Society is a limited company, registered in England
No. 1522897 and a Registered Charity No. 281213. VAT registration No
199992863. Information and advice given to members or others by or on
behalf of the Society is given on the basis that no liability attaches to
the Society, its Council Members, Officers or representatives in respect
thereof.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 10:13:05 -0600
From: Kathryn Dean-Bradley <kathy_dean-bradley@USGS.GOV>
Subject: postdocs available with Brown Treesnakes
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
POSITION: 2 Post-doctoral Fellows ? Brown Treesnake Biology and Control=
LOCATION: Guam; administered out of the Department of Fishery and Wildl=
ife
Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
APPOINTMENT: Ongoing project; 1-year commitment expected
QUALIFICATIONS: Required: 1) Ph.D. by August 2001 in a discipline relat=
ed
to duties described below, 2) Practical experience in the design, condu=
ct,
and statistical analysis of ecological field studies, and 3) Demonstrat=
ed
ability to present results at professional meetings and publish in refe=
reed
journals.
Highly Desirable: 1) Field experience with terrestrial ectothermal
vertebrates, 2) Demonstrated leadership in the organization and conduct=
of
a field research team, 3) Willingness to act as on-site coordinator and=
spokesperson for a complex biological research program involving multip=
le
institutions, and 4) Ability and drive to communicate research results
through frequent presentations at professional and stakeholder meetings=
,
and through refereed publications.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The positions are part of a collaborative
effort between Colorado State University and the US Geological Survey's=
Midcontinent Ecological Science Center (USGS-MESC) to address ecologica=
l,
cultural, and economic problems created by the accidental introduction =
of
the Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis) to the island of Guam. These a=
re
applied research positions with the primary responsibility to identify =
and
develop cost-effective tools to control and contain populations of the
Brown Treesnake on Guam. Specific research foci will be selected in li=
ght
of the expertise of the applicants, but could include physiological,
behavioral, sensory, pest-management, population biology, or
epidemiological emphases within the general area of empirical ecology. =
The
primary research program will be developed in cooperation with project
personnel, and may be augmented by supplementary research directions ch=
osen
by the successful candidates. The successful candidates are encouraged=
to
engage in collaborative studies within the overall scope of the project=
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 11:36:01 -0400
From: Keri Salzillo <ksalzillo@ECO.ORG>
Subject: Re: Paid ECO internships available shortly at NOAA PART 2 (positi o
s
5-10)
WEB PAGE DEVELOPMENT AND GIS ASSISTANT (#944) $26,000 stipend, 52
weeks, $300 relocation, Silver Spring MD (NOAA)
Deadline to Apply August 1st (but rolling consideration is given)
Marine Modeling and Analysis Programs (MMAP) develops
real-time, short-term numerical forecast systems for our nations ports and
estuaries to support marine navigation and coastal stewardship. These
forecast systems require real-time meteorological, oceanographic, and
hydrological observations and forecasts. However, there is no centralized
Web site which provides NOS modelers or NOAA users with a view of all
available real-time information for a particular port or estuary. MMAP has
received funding to develop a spatially-referenced Web portal to access
real-time meteorological, oceanographic, and river observations from
traditional and non-traditional observing networks and NOAA forecasts for
major U.S. estuaries and the coastal ocean. The web portal will provide the
coastal stewardship and prediction community with the capability to access,
synthesize, assess, and apply regional and nationwide real-time information
to priority coastal issues such as coastal monitoring, assessment and
prediction, estuarine eutrophication, and sustainable development.
The selected intern will be directly involved with the
development of the spatially-referenced Internet portal for over 12 major
U.S. estuaries and contiguous coastal regions of the Atlantic and Gulf
Coasts. The portal will provide NOAA customers with a location on the Web
to view all available real-time and near-real-time NOAA weather, estuarine,
oceanographic, and river observations for a particular estuary or coastal
area. It will provide links to observations from other federal agencies
including the U.S. Geological Survey's river gauges operating in the
estuary's watershed. The Web site will be constructed using off-the-shelf
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software such as ArcView and ArcIMS and
several other software packages. The code will include HTML as well as
Java, JavaScript, XML, and ASP. ArcIMS will allow flexibility for portal
users to access predefined map views or specify map backgrounds, geographic
features, and map scale for their particular application.
The project will employ spatially-referenced links to
oceanographic, hydrologic, and atmospheric observations and forecasts. The
selected intern will be responsible for obtaining and establishing the links
to these observations and forecasts, assisting in the set-up and operations
of the Internet Map Server, and monitoring changes needed for the Web pages.
To create the desired Web pages on the Windows NT web
server, the intern will maintain a database in Microsoft Access to assemble
the required points and Internet links. This data will be used with ArcView
and ArcIMS to generate interactive maps for the Internet. Customization of
ArcIMS will be necessary to accomplish these tasks.
The selected intern will learn advanced skills in GIS and
web page development with a concentration in the growing field of Internet
Map Server technology. On-the-job skills will be acquired in creating and
maintaining geo-referenced databases and advanced web page development
utilizing ASP and ArcIMS. Some outside training may be available.
A minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree is required in
physical geography, or related science such as meteorology, hydrology, or
oceanography. A Masters degree is desirable. The candidate should have
intermediate web page development experience and experience with Geographic
Information Systems.
The candidate should have web page development experience
using HTML, JavaScript, VBA, XML, and/or ASP and GIS experience preferably
utilizing ESRI software products (i.e. ArcView, ArcIMS/ArcViewIMS/MOIMS).
Also, familiarity with NT workstations and servers is beneficial.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT (#945) $26,000
stipend, 52 weeks, $300 relocation, Silver Spring MD (NOAA)
Deadline to Apply August 1st (but rolling consideration is given)
The National Estuarine Research Reserve (reserve) System helps to fulfil
NOAA's stewardship mission to sustain healthy coasts by improving the
nation's understanding of estuaries. Established by the Coastal Zone
Management Act of 1972, as amended, the reserve system is a network of 25
protected areas that represent different biogeographic regions of the United
States. Each reserve is a "living laboratory" for scientists to conduct
research and for educators to communicate research results.
Reserve staff work with local communities and regional groups to address
natural resource management issues, such as non-point source pollution,
habitat restoration, and invasive species. Through integrated research and
education, the reserves help communities develop strategies to deal
successfully with these coastal resource issues.
The reserve system is a federal-state partnership administered by NOAA's
Estuarine Reserve's Division (ERD). ERD sets national priorities and
provides support, and each reserve is managed on a daily basis by a state
agency or university. National Programs in research and education include:
* the Graduate Research Fellowship Program which supports graduate
students to conduct estuarine research in reserves;
* the System-Wide Monitoring Program which involves the monitoring of
abiotic water quality and weather parameters in a consistent manner at every
reserve;
* Coastal Decision Maker Workshops which provide training to coastal
managers and elected officials at every reserve;
* Coastal Training Institutes which are being developed at most
reserves in the system.
*
* National Initiatives being developed include:
*
* development of a restoration science strategy; and
* development of an invasive species monitoring strategy for aquatic
estuarine environments.
The Intern will provide policy and operations guidance to selectedreserves,
including assistance in the review of management plans, site
profiles, facility plans; participation in program evaluation;processing of
grant awards, and the resolution of concerns and issues
around national policies as they relate to reserve management and
operations. Additionally, the Intern will be encouraged to participate,
based on personal interests and competencies, in cross-cutting and external
efforts of benefit to the National Estuarine Research Reserve
System (NERRS) and the Reserves Division. Current cross-cutting initiatives
and policy investigations include: the development of a
habitat restoration program; invasive species monitoring; training and
education programs for coastal decision-makers; development of policy
guidance for system expansion; strategic planning for the NERRS; and others.
The Intern will receive ample support and opportunity for
professional development and interaction within the NERRS and externally,
based on his/her interests and background.
Because the intern will have many interesting opportunities upon which to
focus, the intern will have the flexibility to pursue those areas of the
reserve program that are of primary interest. The intern will gain valuable
experience in policy development, a natural resource management including
conflict resolution, integration of research and education to address
management issues, and program development. The intern will experience
developing national programs and policies that balance site-based
priorities.
Requirements: The intern should have a masters degree in a field related to
natural resource management. Courses in science and policy would be
desirable.
Good communication and writing skills; GIS would be helpful but not
necessary.
Additional information : Travel will be included in the internship. The
intern will travel to individual sites and national meetings of the reserve
system.
SPATIAL DATA AND GIS ASSISTANT (#946) $35,000, 52 weeks,
$300 relocation, Silver Spring MD (NOAA)
Deadline to Apply August 1st (but rolling consideration is given)
The mission of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System (NMSS) is to
serve as the trustee for the nation's system of marine protected areas, to
conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity and
cultural legacy. Its goals are appropriate to the unique diversity contained
within individuals sites. They may include restoring and rebuilding marine
habitats or ecosystems to their natural condition or monitoring and
maintaining already healthy areas. Yet all share in common the program's
ocean ethic--to preserve, protect and respect our nation's marine
environment.
The NMSS is a system composed of 13 Sanctuaries and a head quarters
office in Silver Spring, Maryland. The priorities, regulations, existing
programs and projects, and guidance for future growth and development for
each sanctuary are defined within the Sanctuary Management Plan for that
sanctuary. Two years ago, the NMSS began a process to systematically review
and revise the management plan for every sanctuary. The general approach to
this process will be a community-based public process organised by the
individual sanctuary and co-ordinated through the national office. These
reviews will address both issues on a site-specific level as well as issues
of national concern.
Currently 3 sanctuaries located off the central and northern coast
of California (Cordell Bank NMS, Gulf of the Farallones NMS, and Monterrey
Bay NMS) are beginning the management plan review process, and due to the
geographical location of these sanctuaries, these three reviews will be
conducted simultaneously. The intern will be involved with providing GIS
support to this review process.
This project will involve several different applications of spatial
data and GIS technology. On the most basic level, the intern will be
involved with the development of visual aides that will be used in the
public components of this process. These maps will depict various NMSS
resources (boundaries, proposed reserve locations, habitat classifications,
migration routes, even anthropogenic activities such as vessel traffic
patterns). This work will include the development of base data layers for
each sanctuary and the display of these data in various formats.
On a more detailed and involved level, the intern will assist in the
development and maintenance of specific spatial data sets, and a database
management system (DBMS) for data pertinent to the regions in and around the
three sanctuaries. This data and database will be used to support a
bioregional assessment that will be conducted as a component of this review
process.
The intern will create GIS products to showcase NMSS resources and relevant
information to the general public and other governmental entities; create
and document specific data layers and the development of a GIS and DBMS to
be used as a component of a bioregional assessment of the three sanctuaries.
This project will offer some training in GIS technology as well as
hands on experience and opportunities in mapping and the development of GIS
products for the general public. The intern will also gain experience and
exposure to applied GIS technology in support of bioregional assessments,
data mining, standardization, compatibility, and the creation for FGDC
compliant metadata records.
Minimum qualifications: A master's degree in natural sciences, geography, or
cartography with a primary concentration in GIS.
Desired background :A good working knowledge and hands on experience in the
following GIS products is important: ESRI's ARCView or ARCInfo. Experience
with data base development and management is desirable. Experience with
marine-based spatial data sets is desirable. Experience with GIS projects
that involve projection and datum conversions and transformations, point
data set analysis, and other vector and raster data processing strongly
recommended. Experience with spatial analysis is a plus.
TIDAL DATA ANALYSIS ASSISTANT (# 947) 52 weeks, $26,000 stipend, $300
relocation, Silver Spring MD (NOAA)
Deadline to Apply August 1st (but rolling consideration is
given)
The National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic
Products and Services (CO-OPS) collects and distributes observations and
predictions of water levels and currents to ensure safe, efficient and
environmentally sound maritime commerce. The Products and Services Division
ensures the quality of all data collected by CO-OPS, and
produces/disseminates operational products from this data stream. The
Division: performs operational data quality control/data analysis; produces
oceanographic products; manages the content of CO-OPS data/product delivery
systems; develops web page services; distributes real-time data to CO-OPS
customers; produces and disseminates tide and tidal current predictions:
produces/distributes CD-ROM products; provides information for matters such
as litigation and boundary disputes (e.g., certified water level and
benchmark information); provides technical assistance to customers regarding
the use of CO-OPS products and services; designs new products and services
to meet user needs. One intern will be integrated into the Special Projects
and Datums Team of the Products and Services Division to update tidal datums
for the nation through data quality analysis, data visualization,
computation of tidal datums, and maintenance of the National Water Level
Observation Network database.
Tidal datums and published bench mark elevations are two
critical products of the Products and Services Division (PSD) necessary for
hydrographic surveying, coastal mapping and marine boundary demarcation, as
they are the national vertical baseline references from which ocean depths
and shoreline heights are determined. Due to sea level changes caused by a
combination of land subsidence, uplift and the affects of global climate,
the tidal datums and their associated bench mark elevations must be
periodically updated (approximately every 25 years) to maintain accuracy
standards reflected in NOS nautical chart products, civil engineering
projects and legal boundaries. CO-OPS is now in the process of creating and
verifying digital files and the original metadata from which they were
developed, based on an updated tidal datum Epoch(19-yr period).
The National Tidal Datum Epoch update project will offer
training and hands on experience in tidal data analysis and the development
of digital data products for dissemination through a variety of electronic
media, especially through the internet.
The existing data from which tidal datums and bench mark
elevations are derived must be verified, updated, and analyzed. Tidal
datums must be computed based on the new epoch, and bench mark sheets and
other tidal products must be updated and made available on our web pages.
The intern will benefit from experience in tidal data
analysis, tidal datum computation techniques, developing oceanographic data
products, and an understanding of the use of tidal datums in a variety of
applications such as hydrographic surveying, wetland mitigation, coastal
engineering and coastal zone management.
Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree in Oceanography, Environmental
Science, or related science background with strong computer skills is
required.
Desired Background: A good working knowledge and experience with Excel
and other standard software
applications. Knowledge of relational data base operations would
also be helpful.
TOPO/BATHY PROJECT ASSISTANT (#943 ) 52 weeks, $35,000 stipend, $300
relocation, Silver Spring MD (NOAA)
Deadline to Apply August 1st (but rolling consideration is
given)
The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) produces a wide variety of
navigational products including traditional paper charts, electronic vector
and raster charts, and related aids. The Coast Survey Development
Laboratory (CSDL) is on the forefront of developing new technologies to aid
in the production of OCS products and looking to the future at what new
products will be. Techniques and software developed by the laboratory are
used by both navigational and non-navigational users in the Federal
Government. The Intern will be part of the National Ocean Service (NOS)/US
Geological Survey (USGS) Topo/Bathy Prototype Project.
Topo/Bathy Project: In this joint demonstration project for
the Tampa Bay region, NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) and the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) have blended their bathymetric and topographic data
sets into a digital elevation model (DEM) with all data initially referenced
to the ellipsoid, but transformable to any of 26 orthometric, 3-D, or tidal
datums. The datum transformation tool used to transform the bathymetric and
topographic data is being provided as a user-friendly tool. A fully
calibrated hydrodynamic model of Tampa Bay was used to determine the
geographic distribution of the tidal datums. Recent high-resolution third
party bathymetric and topographic data are being incorporated into the DEM.
Up-to-date high-resolution shoreline is also being developed using data from
various airborne and satellite remote sensing sources. A number of
visualizations (including fly-throughs) have been created.
This project will offer training and hands on experience
opportunities in the development of mapping, CD-ROM and GIS products for the
general public.
The intern will create CD-ROM/GIS products to showcase the
Topo/Bathy Project to the general public and other governmental entities.
The intern will receive training in GIS, GIS programming and
development.
Minimum qualifications for the internship :A masters's degree in geography
or cartography with a primary concentration in GIS.
Desired background of the Intern :A good working knowledge and hands on
experience in the following GIS products is important: ESRI's ARCView or
ARCInfo. Experience with the following data base products is desirable:
Oracle RDBMS or ACCESS. Experience with GIS projects with employ
projection and datum conversions and transformations, vector and raster data
required. Spatial Analysis experience a plus.
HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY PROJECT ASSISTANT (# ) 52 weeks, $25,000 stipend, $300
relocation for those outside of metropolitan D.C. area., SIlver Spring, MD,
Deadline to apply August 1st (but rolling consideration is given)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Coast Survey
performs surveying and mapping of the marine environment. The Hydrographic
Surveys Division (HSD) is directly responsible for acquiring data for the
nautical chart and producing the final hydrographic survey. The data are
acquired by both NOAA vessels and under contract with private firms. Within
HSD, the Operations Branch is responsible for providing NOAA and contracted
survey platforms with written instructions and background information for
the project area in which hydrography will be performed. The instructions
specify the location, coverage, and accuracy requirements, which the
contractors must meet while performing the survey work. The Operations
Branch also produces various custom reports, which identify hydrographic
survey priorities and accomplishments. The branch is also involved in
gathering information specific to the NOS hydrographic survey program and
making it available on the Internet.
Part of the planning and support for a hydrographic survey project requires
the research of existing charted information. Of primary concern are
charted wrecks and obstructions hazardous to surface navigation. After
identifying the source of the charted wrecks or obstructions the items are
entered into the automated wreck and obstruction system (AWOIS) database.
The items selected for investigation are plotted into a Geographic
information system program (GIS) (i.e. MapInfo) As part of the graphic
background project information provided to field, branch personnel assemble
scanned prior surveys and topographic information to be displayed in a GIS
system. Various GIS produced products are generated to indicate the
location of survey support information relevant to a particular project or
to report the current status of the NOS hydrographic survey mission. A
portion of this information is to be posted on the Internet.
In support of the NOS and contracted survey effort, the intern will perform
office reconnaissance (research of prior surveys, the charts and the AWOIS
items) and prepare required graphics for the Hydrographic Letter
Instructions or Statement of Work using a geographic information system
(GIS) program. The approved AWOIS items will be entered into a database by
the intern. In addition the intern will provide support to the HSD Internet
site.
The Office of Coast Survey and its parent organizations maintain a high
level of interaction with the users and managers of the marine environment.
The intern would learn about the particular marine data they help collect
and about computer technology used in GIS and environmental mapping. The
participation of the intern in these interactions will provide experience on
the issues facing the environmental community, and help establish a network
of professional connections that will be useful throughout their career.
The selected interns will be trained in the operation of GIS systems, and in
the principles of cartography specific to navigational concerns
Minimum qualifications : Baccalaureate degree and experience in operating a
personal computer.
Desired background of the Intern : Course work should include geography or
related earth sciences. Computer courses directly related to Geographic
Information Systems, Engineering, and/or Computer Aided Design software are
highly desired.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 16:01:00 -0400
From: EnviroNetwork@NATURALIST.COM
Subject: Environmental Job Openings from EnviroNetwork
Title: Spanish-Speaking Environmental Journalists
Company: International Center for Journalists
Location: Central and South America, Mexico
For more information click below:
http://www.naturalist.com/eco-jobs/index.cfm?temp=job&job=4062
Title: Special Assistant to the President
Company: Institute for Sustainable Communities
Location: Montpelier, Vermont
For more information click below:
http://www.naturalist.com/eco-jobs/index.cfm?temp=job&job=4061
------------------------------
Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 23 Jun 2001 to 24 Jun 2001
There are 3 messages totalling 128 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. job announcement- please post
2. Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
3. "Ecosystem Approach" in Building US Interstate Highways; How Much Land
o
they Cover?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 18:54:13 -0400
From: Belle Bergner <bellebergner@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: job announcement- please post
Please post the following job announcement on your listserv. Feel free to
edit if it is too big.
__________________________________________________________________
Full-time, temporary research assistants needed to work at the Cedar Creek
Natural History Area in Central-Eastern Minnesota
(http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu) from August 6 - September 7. Start and end
dates are flexible. $8.25 /hour. Field experience preferred but not
required. Job requirements: outdoor field work, measurement of goldenrod
plants, data recording. Project description can be found at:
http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/grants/gherbiv/gherbiv.html. Send email
stating interest, qualifications, and the names and addresses of at least 2
references to: Belle Bergner, Research Supervisor bellebergner@hotmail.com
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2001 14:52:41 -0400
From: "David M. Bryant" <dmbryant@CISUNIX.UNH.EDU>
Subject: Genetically modified canola becoming a weed
Thanks to Karen for this one:
GENETICALLY MODIFIED WHEAT BECOMING A WEED
Western farmers are struggling with a new pest in their fields - a crop
that was supposed to make their lives easier.
FULL STORY: http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/view?/news/2001/06/21/gm_canola010621
I think everyone on the list should forward this to everyone they know who
has an opinion, for or against, GM foods. In my humble opiion this is the
TRUE danger of GM technology. Exotic plants have gained considerable
attention recently on this list and in the popular media. I've also
noticed major research projects recently being funded on the subject. The
attention has been focused on geographically misplaced exotics and I fully
support this, it will provide good practice for the future...
While very little data has been provided for the threat of GM on human
health, (yes I'm ready for the backlash that statement will provide) the
potential for creating super-exotics is horrific. While we have finally
begun to address the results of global transport and distribution of
naturally evolved exotic species, I have heard no discussion of what
precautions will be taken to protect our natural ecosystems against the
threat from the species that WE create.
Make no mistake that these ARE new species. New species that, not only
lack LOCAL predators or pathogens, but have none in EXISTENCE! If we
produce species that out grow, compete, resist and produce those of Earth's
current biota, which ones will persist?
I'm not criticizing GM in general, as technology is not inherently
threatenting only its application. We as a scientific community should
consider advising and informing the boiotech industry on the danger of
producing GM species with the capability of reproducing and out-competing
native species. Obviously, from the article that KAren provided, the
danger already exists and will only increase with time.
Any ideas?
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
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2001 20:53:00 -0400
From: Debby Andreadis <dka@UTK.EDU>
Subject: Re: "Ecosystem Approach" in Building US Interstate Highways; How Mu
h
Land do they Cover?
Hello,
I did a quick search using Google with the keywords interstate total area
and came up with this URL:
http://www.worldwatch.org/chairman/issue/010214d2.html
It has estimated mileages based on average width, not an exact
measurement, but it should be a good starting point. The data sources are
linked at the bottom of the page. I hope this is helpful.
Debby Williams Andreadis
Graduate Assitant
School of Information Sciences
University of Tennessee
dka@utk.edu
On Sat, 23 Jun 2001, Ted Mosquin wrote:
*Dear All:
*I am participating as a witness in some Tribunal hearing and the matter of
an
*"ecosystem approach" to land use planning has come up. There is plenty of
*material on the web and including that of the US Federal Highways
Administration
*who claim to use the "ecosystem approach" in their planning, management and
*construction the nation's Interstate Highway system.
*
*Does anyone know where I can obtain a fairly good estimate of the total ar
a
of
*land and/or water that has been covered by the Interstate Highway system,
*including the cloverleafs, ramps, and the center and side strips?? Is suc
an
*estimate and discussion available on the web, perhaps? Would appreciate
*suggestions. Thanks.
*Ted
*
*--
*Ted Mosquin, Ph.D. Box 279, Lanark, Ontario K0G 1K0 Canada
*Tel: (613) 267-4899; Fax: (613) 264-8469
*URL: <http://www.ecospherics.net> (literature on ecocentric/ecospheri
ethics)
*
------------------------------
End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 23 Jun 2001 to 24 Jun 2001
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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