Subject: ECOLOG-L Digest - 22 Jan 2003 to 23 Jan 2003 (#2003-23)
There are 11 messages totalling 752 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Western Section of The Wildlife Society conferences and workshops
2. contents of Jouirnal of Ecology
3. POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITY IN POLLINATION BIOLOGY
4. Outreach Assistant Job Posting
5. Position: Garden Mosaics Project Leader
6. CV's - Questions for Faculty
7. WORLD WOLF CONGRESS 2003 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION INFORMATION
8. Program Dean position available at The School for Field Studies H Q in
Salem, MA
9. Position: Wetlands Educator
10. microbial ecologist faculty position
11. Research and Environmental Conservation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:37:15 -1000
From: Bill Standley <standleyb@WILDLIFER.COM>
Subject: Western Section of The Wildlife Society conferences and workshops
The Western Section of The Wildlife Society is sponsoring several
conferences and workshops in 2003. Please visit our web site at
http://www.tws-west.org for information on each and special savings from
Southwest Airlines.
February 27-March 1, 2003, Irvine, California: 2003 Annual Conference "Walk
a Mile in My Boots", with John Wiens, Kent Smith, Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Jared Verner, and Rebecca Lent as plenary speakers. Several workshops are
scheduled including "Reviewing the Boundaries of Professional Conduct", "TWS
Certification", and "Ecology and Management of Invasive Species". The
preliminary program is posted on our web site at http://www.tws-west.org on
the "Meetings/Workshops" page and an online registration form is available.
April 2-3, 2003, Sacramento, California: "Opportunities for Endangered
Species Recovery and Habitat Restoration in California's Central Valley":
sponsored by TWS-WS, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of
Reclamation. Who should attend: wildlife biologists, land use planners,
natural resource specialists, endangered-species biologists, representatives
from private land conservancies and other conservation organizations such as
county land trusts, watershed conservancies, and national conservation
groups; researchers; representatives from resource-management agencies and
local or state municipalities interested in seeking public funding for
habitat-restoration activities.
Topics covered will include the U.S. Department of the Interior's Central
Valley Project Improvement Act Habitat Restoration Program and the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation's Conservation Program; using land acquisitions and
conservation easements as a tool for species recovery and habitat
protection; captive breeding and reintroduction of endangered species;
implementation of riparian restoration projects; and submitting restoration
and recovery proposals for funding through U.S. Department of the Interior
programs. The preliminary program is posted on our web site at
http://www.tws-west.org and an online registration form is available.
May 8-10, 2003, Riverside, California: Ecology and Identification of
Sensitive Amphibians and Reptiles of Southern California: Several
biological communities in the southern-California region are influenced from
many human impacts that result in loss of habitat for our native species.
Several species of amphibians and reptiles are particularly vulnerable and
have declined significantly in recent years. This workshop is designed to
provide biologists with the knowledge necessary to identify and understand
the ecology of several sensitive species in the southern-California region.
Leading experts in the field will present information on identification,
ecology, and survey techniques. There will also be presentations covering
diseases relevant to the species covered. The workshop will culminate with
a Saturday field trip in which participants will get a chance to observe a
subset of the species covered. A preliminary program and an online
registration form are available on our web site at http://www.tws-west.org.
Space is limited so please sign up early.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 13:48:56 -0000
From: Lindsay Haddon <lindsay@BRITISHECOLOGICALSOCIETY.ORG>
Subject: contents of Jouirnal of Ecology
Journal of Ecology
**ONLINE SUBMISSION AVAILABLE NOW**
In order to streamline the review process further, Journal of Ecology
has implemented a fully web-based system for submission and review of
manuscripts.
Please see 'Author Guidelines' at
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journals/jec/
before proceding to
http://britishecologicalsociety.manuscriptcentral.com/
--------------------
Volume 91, issue 1 (February 2003)
CONTENTS
TANSLEY LECTURE
Carbon limitation in trees
C Korner
STANDARD PAPERS
Overlapping resource use in three great Basin species: implications for
community dynamics
M S Booth, J M Stark and M Caldwell
Year to year variation in plant competition in a mountain grassland
T Herben, F Krahulec, V Hadincova, S Pechackova and R Wildova
The interacting effects of genetic variation, habitat quality and
population size on individual performance of Succisa pratensis
P Vergeer, R Rengelink, A Copal and N J Ouborg
Reviewing the acrotelm-catotelm model of blanket peat hydrology
J Holden and T P Burt
Differences in performance between clones with different degrees of
resource sharing in Fragaria chiloensis
P Alpert, C Holzapfel and C Slominski
Do ants feed plants? A 15N-labelling study of nitrogen fluxes from ants
to plants in the mutualism of Pheidole and Piper
R C Fischer, W Wanek, A Richter and A Mayer
Environmental sex determination in response to light intensity and
biased sex ratios in Equisetum gametophytes
J M Guillon and D Fievet
Spatial and temporal variations in mortality of the biennial Lysimachia
rubida: effects of intraspecific competition and environmental
heterogeneity
R Suzuki, H Kudoh and N Kachi
Integrating lateral expansion into models of peatland development in
temperate New England
R Anderson, D Foster and G Motzkin
Are trade offs in allocation pattern and root morphology related to
species adundance? a congeneric comparison between rare and common
species in the SW Australian flora
P Poot and H Lambers
Growth and mortality in high and low light: trends among 15 shade
tolerant neotropical tree species
J Bloor and P J Grubb
Decomposing disturbance intensity: the contribution of flood duration,
depth of submergence and underwater light availability to the zonation
of riparian plant secies
P J A Vervuren, CWPM Blom and H de Kroon
------------
Forthcoming papers
Issue 91/2:April 2003 (probable contents)
STANDARD PAPERS
Soil dynamics in relation to leaf litter quality and soil fertility in
north-western Patagonian forests
P Satti, M J Mazzarino, M Gobbi, F Funes, L Roselli and H
Fernandez
Influence of habitat quantity, quality and isoloation on the
distribution and abundance of two epiphytic lichens
P Johansson and J Ehrlen
Responses of tree populations to hurricane disturbance in old-growth
mixed-species hardwood forest in SE USA
W R Batista and W J Platt
Multiple pathways for woody plant establishment on floodplains
D J Cooper, D C Anderson and R C Chimner
Ecological aspects of seed desiccation sensitivity
J C Tweddle, J B Dickie, C C Baskin and J M Baskin
Spatial and temporal variation of biomass in a tropical forest: results
from a large census plot in Panama
J Chave, R Condit, T Guynup, S Lao, J P Caspersen, J P Megonigal,
R B Foster and S P Hubbell
Effects of life state on detectability in a demographic study of the
terestrial orchid Cleistes bifaria
M Kery and K B Gregg
Temporal heterogeniety of soil moisture in grassland and forest
S James, M Partel, S D Wilson and D A Peltzer
Effects of seed history, water level, shade, and time on germination and
growth of freshwater marsh plants along a simulated successioinal
gradient
C H Kellogg, S D Bridgham and S A Leicht
Resprouting of woody saplings following stem snap by wild pigs in a
malaysian rainforest
K Ickes, S J DeWalt and S Thomas
The effects of spatial pattern of nutrient supply on the early stages of
growth in plant populations
K J Day, M J Hutchings and E John
Mire responses to flood plain water table fluctuations at the fen-bog
transition: palaeoecological evidence from the Tregaron bog complex
Teifi valley, Wales
P D M Hughes and K Barber
Fine-scale environmental variation and development of understorey palnt
communities in two old-growth pine forests
L Frelich, J L, Machado and P B Reich
FORUM
Large spatial scale dynamics of plants: a response to Freckleton and
Watkinson
J Ehrlen and O Eriksson
Are all plant populations metapopulations?
R P Freckleton and A R Watkinson
------------
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
Information on the journal is now available from its homepages on the
British Ecological Society (
<http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/publications/journals/ecology>
www.britishecologicalsociety.org/publications/journals/ecology) and
Blackwell Science ( <http://www.blackwell-science.com/jec>
www.blackwellpublishing.com/journals/jec/) websites.
The BES site describes the journal's editorial policy and procedures
but, before submitting a paper, authors should consult the most recent
version of the Instructions to Authors on the Blackwell Science site.
The BES site should be consulted for the index to Biological Flora
accounts and the probable contents of forthcoming issues.
A selection of recent papers is available to download free of charge via
the Publishers website. Supplementary material associated with published
articles (formerly known as the Journal of Ecology archive) is available
via the electronic version of the journal on Blackwell-Synergy (or, for
the most recent papers, using the URL given in the printed version).
Readers having difficulty accessing a particular entry should contact
the editorial office.
See www.blackwell-synergy.com <http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/> (fo
electronic versions, volume 86-present) and www.j
<http://www.jstor.org/> stor.org (for the JSTOR journal archive,
covering volumes 1-87).
--------------------------------------------
Message sent by
Lindsay Haddon
Managing Editor, Journal of Ecology
British Ecological Society,
26, Blades Court, Deodar Road
Putney, London SW15 2NU, UK.
e-mail:Lindsay@BritishEcologicalSociety.org
phone: 0208-871-9797
fax: 0208-871-9779
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: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 17:23:40 +0200
From: Steve Johnson <JohnsonSD@NU.AC.ZA>
Subject: POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITY IN POLLINATION BIOLOGY
POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITY IN POLLINATION BIOLOGY
Here is an opportunity for someone who has finished a PhD in the past
five years, or is about to do so, to carry out pollination research in
South Africa, one of the most biologically diverse parts of the world
with its own Cape Floral Kingdom and a plethora of fascinating
pollination systems. We have a very active pollination research group at
the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, a pleasant university town
near the botanically rich Drakensberg mountains. Facilities are very
good, with an extensive library, spectrometers for flower colour
analysis, microscopes (light and SEM), herbarium, four-wheel drive
vehicles etc....
The value of the postdoc is either US$ 10 000 for 12 months or US$ 5
000 for six months (both options are available), which is enough for an
individual or family to live comfortably in South Africa, afford a 2nd
hand car etc. A furnished apartment at the University costs about US$
120 per month and a meal in a good restaurant is about US$ 5-6.
Successful applicants would be free to pursue any kind of research in
pollination biology on a collaborative basis. We focus on pollination
biology in the South African flora, especially formation of pollination
ecotypes and plant speciation, plant breeding systems, ecological
determinants of fruit and seed set, floral mimicry in orchids,
interpretation of ecological traits using cladistic analysis, convergent
evolution in plants with specialized pollination systems, pollen
dispersal, uncoupling of plant-insect mutualisms in fragmented habitats,
and studies of pollination at the community level.
Applicants who are interested in exploring genetic variation among
populations in the context of evolution or conservation questions will
also be considered. We have a fully equipped molecular lab with an
ABI3100 sequencer.
Applicants must include a full CV with publications, a brief outline of
research interests, and the names and email addresses of two people who
can act as referees, and must reach me (JohnsonSD@nu.ac.za) by 20
February 2003. Starting time would be any time after that, but no later
than September 2003. The main flowering season in this region is from
October to March, but there is also the possibility of working on
bird-pollinated species during the mild southern hemisphere winter (June
to August)
For some representative recent publications from our lab, see
http://www.botany.unp.ac.za/staff/johnson/steve.htm.
Steven Johnson
School of Botany and Zoology
University of Natal
Private Bag X01 Scottsville
Pietermaritzburg 3209
South Africa
Tel 033-2605148
Fax 033-2605105
JohnsonSD@nu.ac.za
Dr Steven Johnson
School of Botany and Zoology
University of Natal
P. Bag X01 Scottsville
Pietermaritzburg 3209
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel 27- (0)33-2605148
Fax 27 -(0)33-2605105
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 10:27:12 -0700
From: Tammy VerCauteren <tammy.vercauteren@RMBO.ORG>
Subject: Outreach Assistant Job Posting
Hi-
Please post the enclosed job announcement. I appreciate all your help in
spreading
the word about the opporunity.
Outreach Assistant needed for bird conservation efforts in Eastern Colorado
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, a non-profit membership based conservation
organization, is hiring a seasonal outreach assistant for the Prairie
Partners program. The goal of Prairie Partners is to build a coalition of
landowners who are actively involved in the conservation of lands important
to prairie birds. Outreach is the foundation for Prairie Partner^Ò success
and is a critical element to this position.
The outreach assistant will be responsible for assisting the Prairie
Partners outreach coordinator with Mountain Plover conservation activities,
workshops, and other outreach activities. The assistant will help with the
development of an outreach video on Mountain Plovers for landowners and
resource managers. They will also help setup, coordinate, and implement
workshops across eastern Colorado. Workshops will focus on bringing
landowners, state, federal, and private entities together to discuss habitat
conservation and partnerships. Workshops will also be conducted on nature
tourism as well as conservation and economic opportunities for landowners.
Two workshops will focus on putting the urban public in touch with where
their food comes from and the importance of farmers and ranchers for food,
fiber, habitat, and wildlife conservation.
People with strong written and oral communication skills are encouraged to
apply. Also, people familiar with farming and ranching practices and rural
lifestyles are also encouraged. Applicants should have a natural resources
and or agricultural background and at least a B.S. or B.A.
The position will begin March 1st and run through August, pending funding.
The position will be filled as soon as a suitable applicant is found.
Please send a cover letter, resume, and at least 3 references to Rocky
Mountain Bird Observatory, c/o Tammy VerCauteren, 1510 South College Ave,
Fort Collins, CO 80524. To learn more about Rocky Mountain Bird
Observatory, please visit our website www.rmbo.org. If you have questions,
please feel free to contact Tammy via email tammy.vercauteren@rmbo.org or
phone
(970) 482-1707.
Thank you,
Tammy VerCauteren
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
1510 South College Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 12:39:41 -0500
From: Marianne Krasny <mek2@CORNELL.EDU>
Subject: Position: Garden Mosaics Project Leader
Project Leader, Garden Mosaics. Cornell University is seeking a project
leader to help provide leadership for and coordinate a nationwide informal
science education program called Garden Mosaics. Position is 22 months,
with an anticipated start date of April 15, 2003. Applicants should have
experience or be familiar with informal science education for youth aged
10-18, research science, urban youth, Citizen Science, social action, and
collaborating with teachers or community educators. Applicants should have
an MS or PhD in horticulture, environmental science or related field, or in
science, international, or Extension education. (This position is being
advertised at the Extension Associate level, which provides higher salary
and better benefits than a post-doc. However, PhD candidates should
consider the experience similar to what would be provided in an education
post-doc with a primary focus on program development and secondary focus on
research.)
Project leader will work with community educators in 11 cities across the
US, who guide youth in conducting research and action projects with elders
in community and home gardens. Garden Mosaics participants contribute to
national databases on community gardens and ethnic and traditional
gardening practices. See at http://www.gardenmosaics.cornell.edu for more
information about Garden Mosaics.
To apply, send cover letter, resume, and names of three references to: Ms.
Nancy Bowers, Department of Natural Resources, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY
14853-3001. For further information, contact Ms. Bowers at email:
nlb6@cornell.edu or phone 607-255-2807. Review of applications will begin
February 1, 2003, and will continue until a suitable candidate is found.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 12:58:07 -0500
From: David Raikow <david@RAIKOW.COM>
Subject: CV's - Questions for Faculty
Dear Colleagues,
I am exploring the idea of writing a how-to book on writing CV's and I'd
like to ask you a few questions.
1) Do you see a need for a new book on this subject? I've found three, but I
see where improvements can be made. I'd like to take the approach of
comparing CV's across disciplines and going to source (you) concerning what
makes a good CV.
2) What do you look for in a CV?
3) Have you seen poor CV's, and if so how did they fall short?
4) May I use your CV as an example in the book (or any recent version
thereof, e.g. a short version for a grant proposal) in whole or in part,
with names and details altered to hide identity? If so, please email it to
david@raikow.com. If not, why not?
Thanks in advance.
- Dave Raikow
_________________________________________
David F. Raikow, Ph. D
Aquatic Community and Ecosystem Ecologist
david@raikow.com
_________________________________________
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 13:07:42 -0500
From: Central Rockies Wolf Project <congress@GRAYWOLF.CA>
Subject: WORLD WOLF CONGRESS 2003 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Dear Members
This is a quick reminder that the Central Rockies Wolf Project is inviting i
terested individuals to submit abstracts, either for oral presentations or p
ster presentations for the World Wolf Congress 2003 - Bridging Science and C
mmunity (September 25-28, 2003) in Banff, Canada.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE REMINDER
We invite you to submit oral and/or poster abstracts by March 15, 2003. Inst
uctions are on the website. Please visit www.worldwolfcongress.ca for comple
e details on abstract submission guidelines.
IMPORTANT!
We discussed the abstract review process within the provisional Scientific A
visory Committee. We encourage all people to send abstracts. We will pay muc
attention to new ideas and information presented by both established wolf r
searchers and newcomers (for example, students)! This is an international co
gress and data are needed about wolves worldwide. Please make sure to includ
attention-grabbing facts in your abstracts. The committee will focus on fac
s, not just reputation.
Please note that some universities, and governmental and non- governmental o
ganizations provide financial support in particular if your contribution is
ccepted at the congress. Please check with your institution. According to a
anadian survey (by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council), t
e major cause of rejection in applications is a last-minute decision not to
ubmit. This is another reason for submitting an abstract in any case.
REGISTRATION
To date, we have congress attendees registered from Switzerland, Japan, Bulg
ria, Slovakia, Germany, Great Britain, USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Please be reminded that if you register to the World Wolf Congress 2003 by J
nuary 31 you will save some money. Please see the web site for complete deta
ls. Prices are in Canadian Dollars (One Canadian Dollar roughly 0.65 of a U
Dollar). Online registration and other instructions are available at the co
gress website www.worldwolfcongress.ca.
We hope to receive your abstract submission as well as your registration.
Best Regards,
Marco Musiani
Scientific Advisory Committee - World Wolf Congress 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
Marco Musiani
Faculty of Environmental Design
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive N. W.
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
Canada
Telephone (+1 403) 283 6803, 220 2475,-2169
Fax (+1 403) 289 6205
E-mail mmusiani@ucalgary.ca
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~mmusiani
The Central Rockies Wolf Project Presents
World Wolf Congress 2003 - Bridging Science and Community
September 25-28, 2003
www.worldwolfcongress.ca
"Wolf Conservation Through Research and Education"
The Central Rockies Wolf Project
502 Bow Valley Trail, Suite 203
Canmore, Alberta
Canada
T1W 1N9
Tel: 403-678-9633
Fax: 403-678-9729
www.graywolf.ca
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 14:50:24 -0500
From: Jessica Lomanno <jlomanno@FIELDSTUDIES.ORG>
Subject: Program Dean position available at The School for Field Studies H Q
in
Salem, MA
Program Dean
Position Announcement
The School for Field Studies
Salem, Massachusetts
The School for Field Studies (SFS) seeks an energetic and enthusiastic
Program Dean to join our Headquarters Team. You will work with one other
Program Dean, a dynamic team of Salem-based staff, as well as the Directors
and faculty members of our field centers in Kenya, Mexico, and the Turks &
Caicos Islands. Since our founding in 1980, more than 11,000 students have
learned hands-on field research skills and natural resource management
strategies at SFS Centers around the world in Australia, British Columbia,
Costa Rica, Kenya, Mexico, and the Turks & Caicos Islands. Join us to help
deliver the SFS program model to a new generation of students.
Anticipated Start Date:
As Soon As Possible
Institutional Mission:
The School for Field Studies (SFS), an international non-profit academic
institution, provides environmental education and conducts research through
its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on,
interdisciplinary education and environmental research in partnership with
natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to provide
students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience that
assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled
professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local community
stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management of their
natural resources. Since our founding in 1980, more than 11,000 students
have studied abroad at SFS field stations in Australia, British Columbia,
Costa Rica, Kenya, Mexico, and the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Summary: The purpose of this position is to oversee the delivery of the
academic programs at three of the six SFS field centers in order to ensure
that they meet the mission of the School. Duties include: working with
Center Directors and faculty to design academic program content and research
directions; approving faculty hires; monitoring program quality; and
providing training to field staff on an as needed basis. The two SFS
Program Deans are responsible for monitoring and evaluating field-based
programs on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance with academic standards
set by the School, its Affiliates, and Boston University.
Requirements: Ph.D. in marine resource management, marine ecology, marine
policy, or community-based marine conservation; Applied, international
community-based research and field experience; Minimum two years university
teaching and curriculum development experience; Demonstrated ability to be
part of an interdisciplinary team. Demonstrated ability to resolve academic,
research, group dynamics and program management issues in remote locations.
Legal authorization to work in the USA is required. SFS alumni are
encouraged to apply.
Expectations: Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues; Willingness
to work flexible hours; Ability to travel internationally (up to 30%) to
support field-based academic programs; Ability to communicate effectively
with multi-cultural staff; Spanish language skills and residential program
experience desirable.
To Apply: Send CV and cover letter outlining relevant experiences to: Job
Reference 1162, The School for Field Studies, 10 Federal Street, Salem MA
01970, USA; Email: jobs@fieldstudies.org; Fax: 1-978-741-3551. EOE.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 16:45:02 -0500
From: Bronwyn Mitchell <Dir.Educate@WETLAND.ORG>
Subject: Position: Wetlands Educator
Environmental Concern Inc (www.wetland.org), a national leader in the
field of wetlands for over thirty years, is seeking a wetland educator.
This motivated and committed individual will be responsible for
expanding, promoting, and coordinating the national wetland education
program, WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands. Responsibilities will include
but are not limited to:
* Successful scheduling, filling and teaching of WOW! workshops
both locally and nationally.
* Assist in securing funding for WOW!
* Enhance WOW! with effective extensions
* Building of an active network of WOW! facilitators
* develop, initiate and participate in new and dynamic wetland
education initiatives
Environmental Concern offers competitive salaries and an excellent
benefits package including 2 week paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, 5
personal/sick days, health, vision and dental insurance, disability
insurance, life insurance.
To apply, send cover letter, resume, and names of three references to:
Ms. Bronwyn Mitchell, Education Director - Environmental Concern
(dir.educate@wetland.org) P.O. Box P, St. Michaels, MD 21663. Review of
applications will begin February 6, 2003, and will continue until a
suitable candidate is found.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 12:35:23 -0800
From: John Demboski <jrdemboski@CSUPOMONA.EDU>
Subject: microbial ecologist faculty position
Microbial Ecologist/Phytobacteriologist
The Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic
University, Pomona, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant
Professor position, beginning September 2003. Candidates must have a
strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research. Teaching
responsibilities include an introductory biology core course, lower
division microbiology and upper division/graduate microbiology courses
such as microbial ecology and phytobacteriology. The successful
candidate is expected to develop an extramurally funded research
program involving undergraduate and Master^Òs level students. PhD
required; teaching and post-doctoral research experience is preferred.
The university has a highly diverse student body and candidates are
expected to be responsive to their needs. Send a letter of application,
including teaching philosophy, research interests and plans, curriculum
vita, 3 recent letters of recommendation, names and contact information
for 2 additional references to Dr. John K Chan, Chair, Microbial
Ecologist/Phytobacteriologist Search Committee, Biological Sciences
Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768
(e-mail: jkchan@csupomona.edu). Review of applications will begin March
10, 2003. Official transcripts will be required of all finalists.
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Women and minorities are
encouraged to apply.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 04:41:50 +0530
From: martz68 <martz68@INDIATIMES.COM>
Subject: Research and Environmental Conservation
Fellow ecologgers ( and ecodreamers ),
I'm writing some thoughts that have been going on in my mind for the last se
eral years..
Tropical ecological research is NOT tropical environmental conservation, its
largely an intellectual exercise. 95% of the work involved in conservation h
s to be done at the grassroots level, involving local communities, govt agen
ies, polititians, battling vested economic corporate interests, urban resour
e demand and poverty of local communities.
How many countless hours, weeks, months, years have we spent on writing prop
sals for grants, few of which the average reserarcher gets ? Compared to oth
r fields of work, there are few ecologists, but even these handful of souls
ave to scramble and compete for a pathetically small pot of money.
All of us know better than the average man on the street, about the sheer ur
ency of conservation of habitats and natural resources, that is under attack
from various sides. Those of whom have spent time travelling in natural area
, and living with rural people whose sustenance largely depends of availabli
ity of natural resources, realize the tremendous scale of the degradation, a
d the tremendous amount of effort required on various fronts to halt the ext
action of resources, conversion of land, pollution and destruxction of habit
t, sustainable development of third world rural areas, population growth slo
down, massive decrease in personal per capita consumption..
Many of us feel that environmental conservation should be put on a war footi
g. And instead the world is embroiled in a dozen wars at any given time, wit
the US creating the biggest ones. Wars are good business. But it is up to u
, the ecologists to unite and get militant about diverting some of the money
from killing to conservation. If we do not do it, who will ? If we do not do
it, then we are failing the fraction of taxpayers out of whose taxes and don
tions our grants get funded.
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) should also be focussing on getting
ore funding for ecologists to carry out research, for conservation initiativ
s, so that it could be a viable career for more young people. People are req
ired at the grassroots for conservation. At present, there are many people w
o are interested but have to be satisfied with a bit of volunteering on week
nds, or who are rich enough to participate in some Earthwatch expedition, ju
t because there is a dearth of opportunities, and people need to be able to
arn money to put food on the table. Are you listening, ESA folks ? If you co
ld annual conferences in less glamorous expensive locations and get more voc
l about conservation with the folks in Capitol Hill. Shed some of the compla
ency. Knock off some of the intellectual highbrowed writing style and write
apers in a more direct manner.
Ecological conservation is not just studies and research. How many billions
f kgs of journals are lying in libraries worldwide, most of which are not us
d directly in actual conservation? In most cases, ecological studies are not
critical to conservation -- before you jump at my throat, or delete this mes
age, read this at least..
conservation involves
1. preserving existing wildland habitat
2. preserving and restoring natural habitat in areas settled by humans.
In this age, whats important is to SET ASIDE land and habitat, as much as po
sible for national parks. Studying ecological propcesss inside has to go on,
but the creation itself has no bearing with the studies, except perhaps to c
nvince the government for a minimal area required to preserve ecosystem func
ion.
And national parks are not enough, as very rarely will it be posible to have
the UN suggested 33% of a country's area under national parks with no human
nterference. Most of the land is already occupied by humans, so plans have t
be designed AND implemented for sustainable development along with biodiver
ity protection in lands settled by humans, very often as a contigiuos corrid
r between two wildland patches.
In my experience, the implementation is equally important along with the ide
tifying of problems and solution, all of which require the pesonnel to live
n the field and interact positively with local communities. This is the bigg
st challenge, requiring manpower, manpower which is simply not there on acco
nt of this career being unsustainable, as well as most people do not even kn
w of this.
Whats the use of the research, apart from intellectual satisfaction ?
In the end, we have to unite in every univ, research institute, ecological b
dy across the nation, across the world, to bring some sanity into the world,
however little it may be, to make people more aware, to get more funds, to e
able more people to work towards conservation, and yes, lesser competition f
r research grants, which can free up time for more effective work than just
itting in front of a word processor typing proposals. And what I'm saying is
nothing new,we all know it one way or the other, but do not do anything abou
it, while some of us are deluded to think we are working towards conservati
n...
Sincerely,
Martes D'Sa
Indian Institute of Technology,
Mumbai, India 400 076
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End of ECOLOG-L Digest - 22 Jan 2003 to 23 Jan 2003 (#2003-23)
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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